Question about points chart

[Sweetpeamd]

I have been looking into DVC and I have a question about the points chart. One of the "benefits" of buying into DVC is to hedge against inflation, according to the information I have read. How is that true when each yr the number of points required for a stay increases? I would have to eventually add on points in order to stay the same amount of time at the same resort, wouldn't I? That would involve paying more money. The video that I watched from DVC said that the number of points on the points chart will never change. How then does the number of points required for a stay seem to go up every yr? For example, a 1 wk stay for my family during our usual vacation time at SSR is 251 this yr and next yr will be 253. If the points required go up each yr, isn't that the same as inflation? I would really appreciate it if someone could explain this to me better, I feel like I'm missing something. Thanks so much!

 

[Chuck S]

They do not necessarily increase every year. In fact, overall, they do not increase at all. The total number of points to reserve the entire resort for a year can not change, but the points can be rearranged (reallocated) within the chart. If something goes up, something else must go down.

The charts did not change in 1991 to 1995, in 1996 there was a reallocation, and then not another reallocation until 2010 and 2011. DVC has the right to reallocate the point charts to even out DVC Member demand. If you look at the Public Offering Statement, there is a maximum reallocation for each resort...meaning that all seasons and weekday/weekend differentials are discontinued and each day caost the same, 365 days a year, with the only variation being between unit sizes and types.

All of this applies only to DVC Resorts. Disney collection, Adventures by Disney, cruises, etc. are renegotiated every year or so and may truly rise in point cost every year.

 

[joandegennaro]

This is the exact thing that I had a hard time explaining to my DH. When we went on a tour in 2007 we were told that the amount of points for any given season would NOT change, that what it costs for a week in say Oct will be the same 10, 15, 20 years from now. This in fact is not exactly right. The amount of points are spread out over a resort (in our case a "sold out" resort) and they can shift the amount of points any which way they(DVC) choose as long as they total the amount of points for the resort for the year. I would suggest you give yourself about a 25 point buffer. This should help with any change in points and any extra can be carried over into the next UY. Eventually you will have enough (of course this is assumming you aren't borrowing) to stay an extra night or two.

What we did was make sure we could stay for 7 nights in every season with the exception of Dream (we've done X-mas at Disney 3 years) and if we decide to go again one year we will just borrow those extra points or maybe even consider the one time purchase of point from disney as the 24 point maximum is about what we would be short.

 

[adminjedi]

What we did was make sure we could stay for 7 nights in every season.

Good advice!

 

[bumbershoot]

"How is that true when each yr the number of points required for a stay increases?"

But they don't. If they increase the cost of one particular stay, they have to lower it for another. The trip I'm taking THIS year would be cheaper NEXT year, thanks to the way '11 has changed.

 

[joandegennaro]

I agree with PP. The cost for a week in Spring Break was 106 in an OKW studio....in 2011 it is 208 (up 2 points) but a stay in Oct in same accomodations has gone down in points from 2010 to 2011. This is how they balance the points across the resort over a year. When they add points to a certain night/accomdation they remove points from other nights/accomodations. You may find the point difference in a Studio and a 1 Bedroom increases or decreases from season to season for example. DVC finds where the demand is and adjust points accordingly. Reducing points to stay in a slower DVC time might encourage more people to shift their usual vacation times this will help them to run most Resorts at full capacity at all times.

 

[Sweetpeamd]

Thank you so much for your explanations. I finally understand!!! That was a tough concept for me to grasp. I was only looking at the points for the exact stay that we would be needing and not really studying the whole chart. Thanks for taking the time to make it clear.

 

[joandegennaro]

Glad you understand it now. It takes a little time to "get it" when you've been told by the sales people that it stays the same over and over. This was a question my DH asked repeatedly and still was given misinformation (was it deleberate or just a CM who didn't really get it themselves who knows) It took me a while to finally explain it all to him to where he got it!

 

[JWG]

We're looking at an addon and have decided we want to make sure we have enough points for a week in a studio every other year during Magic Season (spring breaks and summer period). Dream season is Easter and Christmas week, no plans to go then.

So, we flipped through the point charts for 2011 to see what a week would cost in that season, divided by 2 (every other year, will use banking) and now know how many points to look for.

Those points could be reallocated, though we hope that after 2010 and 2011, the won't be. With Choice and Adventure season going down already we're hopeful they won't up Magic anymore.

 

[RobDoc]

...It takes a little time to "get it" when you've been told by the sales people that it stays the same over and over. ...

That is why it's also important to understand the contract documents. There is a clause in there stating that the written statements supercede all verbal explanations given - whether stated by your guide or even here on the DIS!

The POS covers this in great detail and, IMO, it's very important to at least read it over yourself if you choose not to have it reviewed by your attorney.

Also, from 1996 until 2010, the point charts did not change. In some cases, the question posed to the guides is simply "Can the points change?" and the answer "No, they can't" is a correct (but incomplete) response. We often assume that the guides are privy to all information about the future of DVC and the truth is that they are not part of the decision making process regarding the management and operation of the program - including new resorts, point charts and all other management aspects.

Many guide (and member) responses to operational questions are based solely on their own personal experience of how everything works - right or wrong.

 

[Anal Annie]

When we bought we calculated what we'd need to stay 2 weeks in a studio at SSR in Magic Season (figuring that covered most of the dates we'd likely travel and it DOES for the most part). We HAVE also gone in May & late August (Dream) and in March (Premier) and once in January (Adventure). The point cost USED to run 123 for a week in a studio in Magic so we bought 250 which gave us a 4 point buffer and now it's down to 120 / week so we have 10 to spare. That still isn't a lot extra and they come in handy if we stay somewhere that uses more points. Always round UP a few from what you THINK you need.

 

[william1375]

Big changes in 2011 with Fri/Sat point costs.

 

[chalee94]

Big changes in 2011 with Fri/Sat point costs.

yep - fri and sat got cheaper and sun to thursday got more expensive. for those that missed it, the original discussion about the 2011 changes can be found here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2346668&page=14

 

[DVCGeek]

Because I like to travel and various times during the year, I like to make sure my contracts are large enough (# of points) to at least cover the number of nights we want in the size we want at the maximum reallocation rates for that resort [in some cases with banking and borrowing, depending on how often you plan to travel]. GL and glad it sounds like you understand things better now!

 

[colebread]

Just joined the DIS board and I can not tell you how helpful this (and the originally discussed link) is. We purchased DVC for the Boardwalk in 1996 and as one of the MODs indicated, we hadn't seen any change in the points required for our Sun thru Friday stay druing the past 13 years. Last year we went to Hilton Head (great time) so this year I called and found out what had been 160 pts for years has now become 205 pts. This thread has clarified the confusion and answered the questions I had. Thanks to both the bloggers and the MODs.

 

[Garthilk]

Also,

If you ever plan on using your points at another Disney Resort, like Paris, etc. Those point charts do change from year to year. Unlike the DVC resort charts, where the total points do not go up. At Paris for example, the total points went up significantly.