purchasing enough points question and traveling to the caribbean locations

[mab7]

Does most of the people buying into DVC only use there points to return to Disney every year? or does anyone actually use them to travel to the caribbean etc?? Its hard deciding how many points to actually buy if we are planning to travel to the islands every other year as a fam of 4 with 2 girls 11/13. we figured a 2brd is practical to purchase for space and if we want to bring a guest. But if you end of having extra points after you travel, and not enough to return to disney, is it easy to sell them to other DVC members? I would hate to have extra points that go to waste. SOme people say to just purchase 160 points and then add on, while others say buy 270 points at once.... any advise from all of you is well appreciated... thankyou so! I want to make the right decision...

 

[dianeschlicht]

As timeshares go, DVC is a relatively expensive one. It works best if you are planning to use it for Disney accommodations most often. If you like to do Carribean exchanges that often, you might be best off buying a smaller DVC contract for you Disney trips and a Carribean resale for those trips. You will pay less in maintenance fees that way and probably less initial cash layout as well.

Extra points are not something we worry about, because they can be banked into the next use year, and used then. We are usually in a state of banking, but plenty of others are usually in a state of borrowing. You certainly could rent your points out if you chose to, but we usually use ours ourselves or give them to friends.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I agree, DVC points should be used at DVC, if at all possible. If you want to travel to the Caribbean, buy a timeshare resale either in the Caribbean itself, or for cheap in Florida, and trade. Marriott is a beautiful resort group, has timeshares in the Caribbean, and enough people want to come to Florida that you will trade with no problems. You can get a Florida timeshare at Marriott for $5000-$10,000 for a two bedroom.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

To get the islands you need to have a really flexible schedule and should book as far out as possible. You'll have a better chance giving Member Services a few destinations in the islands and tell them you can go anytime over a three or four month period. It is a lot tougher to pick one resort, during a specific week.

I have three kids. A son 14. (Your girls dating yet? ) Also, two girls, ages 8 & 10. YOU DEFINATELY WANT 2-BEDROOM ACCOMADATIONS!

We have 300 points and it has worked perfectly for us. Going to Hilton Head, S.C. in about 3-months.

If you plan on vactioning using DVC every year, which I do, you need the higher amounts. If you plan on using DVC every two to three years, than a lower amount that is banked each year will work. Usually, what I do is, spend a week using DVC...then take additional long weekends elsewhere. For instance, we will probably spend a long Labor Day weekend at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. We are also doing 3-days in Vegas. Just some suggestions, good luck!

 

[Dean]

I agree, DVC points should be used at DVC, if at all possible. If you want to travel to the Caribbean, buy a timeshare resale either in the Caribbean itself, or for cheap in Florida, and trade. Marriott is a beautiful resort group, has timeshares in the Caribbean, and enough people want to come to Florida that you will trade with no problems. You can get a Florida timeshare at Marriott for $5000-$10,000 for a two bedroom.

I'd agree, don't buy DVC to trade. Just buy the number of DVC points you'll need then look at other options for the Caribbean. Remember that there are relatively few 2 BR units in the Caribbean so you may want to consider a 2 BR or larger 1 BR to use then trade it when you want to do elsewhere. Aruba and Cancun are good options. You may also consider points systems like Bluegreen or systems with internal trading like Marriott. Got to TUG at tug2.net and spend 6 months getting educated on regular timeshares before you proceed, you'll be glad you did.

 

[mab7]

Thankyou all for your great advise, you all are the best!!! TUG is a world of information and I will absorbe what I need and hopefully make a wise choice. i wish I had the $ to buy both! For we lovvvvvvvve Disney, but also enjoy a delux island inbetween or maybe a mountain retreat for a few days in the fall. Disney does offer all these things through member getaways as well as Marriott. Just wish I could be comfortable with my decision without all the pressure of properties going up etc... all the things both parties are telling me. I will research and continue to check the DVC boards. Love you guys!!!

 

[Dean]

Thankyou all for your great advise, you all are the best!!! TUG is a world of information and I will absorbe what I need and hopefully make a wise choice. i wish I had the $ to buy both! For we lovvvvvvvve Disney, but also enjoy a delux island inbetween or maybe a mountain retreat for a few days in the fall. Disney does offer all these things through member getaways as well as Marriott. Just wish I could be comfortable with my decision without all the pressure of properties going up etc... all the things both parties are telling me. I will research and continue to check the DVC boards. Love you guys!!!

You would pay far more using simply DVC than buying the points you need to only stay at DVC resorts and either paying cash or using other timeshares. Go through 10 years of possible stays and trades and you'll see. 160 points will not get you much if you plan to use the DC, DCL, CC and the like, you'll likely need far more to do what you are thinking, maybe twice that or even more depending on specifics.

 

[Cruelladeville]

mab, If you don't have money to really buy different properties, then you need to ask yourself which thing do you want to do most, stay at Disney or travel to other places? That's the direction you need to move toward, and educate yourself about the purchase you have decided upon before you buy. Join TUG for $15, and you will get all the info you need, and more besides,

 

[DMDSTPRGIL]

The value of DVC is staying at Disney.And staying at a DVC resort. It is a great vaule for doing that. If you use it for any other resort or any other vacation location U lose that vaule...U are better off buying another timeshare for that other trip.......But statying at Disney, U just can't beat the way Disney has it set up.....