Question about adding on points

[**eeyore**]

I'm pretty new to the whole DVC "thing", but am seriously considering purchasing with the current incentives they are offering. I especially like that they are offering 100 point buy-in's right now, since I'm not sure that I am ready to take the plunge and buy 160 right away.

So, my question is about adding more points later. How does this work? Can I go direct through DVC and add amounts smaller than 160? I guess I'm thinking that we would have 100 AK points and I am very interested in the rumored villas at the CR. Could we add on 50-60 points for those later on?

If yes, how does that affect your booking month? Let's say we had 50 points at CR and 100 at AK. Would we be able to book 11 months out at both resorts? And, could we book all 150 points at either resort or just 50 at CR and 100 at AK (at the 11-month window)?

Sorry for all the questions, and hopefully I haven't made it too confusing, but I'm just trying to get my arms around the whole idea since it is such a big "investment".

TIA!
Margaret

 

[chalee94]

How does this work? Can I go direct through DVC and add amounts smaller than 160?

yes. (that's where small resale contracts come from.) you can buy 25 or more pts for cash or 50 or more pts if you finance. (there is no "incremental" requirement either. you can buy 27 pts or 53 pts if that suits you.)

I guess I'm thinking that we would have 100 AK points and I am very interested in the rumored villas at the CR. Could we add on 50-60 points for those later on?

generally speaking, if it becomes another DVC resort, then we expect the answer to be yes. (although the 100 pt deal is new, and they may limit adding-on for those buyers...i have no idea... )

If yes, how does that affect your booking month? Let's say we had 50 points at CR and 100 at AK. Would we be able to book 11 months out at both resorts? And, could we book all 150 points at either resort...

nope.

or just 50 at CR and 100 at AK (at the 11-month window)?

winnah!

you can't get around the requirement to own those pts at the resort you are booking 11 months in advance. you may bank/borrow pts but they still have to have that resort as a home base before you can book there at 11 months.

at 7 months, your add-on pts can be combined with your master contract to book anywhere you like.

 

[mommomtoJoseph]

So if the OP plans on combining the points at 7 months would the 11 month reservation be able to reflect the combined points, or just what is available at the time the reservation is made. In other words, would he/she be able to reserve a 1 bedroom at 11 months instead of a studio if he/she only had enough points for a studio until combining them? If OP reserved a studio at 11 months how hard would it be to upgrade the studio to a 1 BD at the 7 month date? Would that be a new reservation or an upgrade? Am I talking in circles?!?

 

[cseca]

So if the OP plans on combining the points at 7 months would the 11 month reservation be able to reflect the combined points, or just what is available at the time the reservation is made. In other words, would he/she be able to reserve a 1 bedroom at 11 months instead of a studio if he/she only had enough points for a studio until combining them? If OP reserved a studio at 11 months how hard would it be to upgrade the studio to a 1 BD at the 7 month date? Would that be a new reservation or an upgrade? Am I talking in circles?!?

You can only use the 11 month window if ALL your points are from that particular resort.

For example:
100pt BW
50pt AK

And you want to use 150 points at BW - you can only use 7 month booking window. OR book as many nights as you can at each respective resorts (100 pts at BW and 50pts at AK) and then when the 7 mth window opens up switch the 50pts at AK to BW.
Yes, it is rather confusing.

or, to make it even more confusing.
You can always bank and borrow.
I mean, bank your 50pt AK to next year and borrow 50pt BW from next year to fulfill your requirement.
That means you'll have 150 BW points this year and 150 AK points next year.
Keep in mind the bank/borrow usage rules.

or, as the last resort: Renting
You can rent out your current AK points and then renting BW from some other member. - This option is really complicated.

Regarding your question on studio to 1 bedroom, you can always do it if you have enough points and there are availability.
And how hard is it? Depending on the time of the year, accommodation type and the resort in question. Christmas time at WLV I heard is really hard. Any months at AKL concierge is pretty impossible too (again, I heard from the board). So good luck!