question regarding points for veteran users of dvc?

[kfalsey]

I realize that you may have bought one bedroom villas for the time you had children but as older adults do you wish you had only bought enough for studios in later life. Statistically in planning what is the ideal amount of points that you think is a nice balance for lifetime use? I know this will vary on opinion some, but for familys of 4 must be a good number for this.

 

[Grandbuddy]

I realize that you may have bought one bedroom villas for the time you had children but as older adults do you wish you had only bought enough for studios in later life. Statistically in planning what is the ideal amount of points that you think is a nice balance for lifetime use? I know this will vary on opinion some, but for familys of 4 must be a good number for this.

I'm just now buying into DVC, and my plans (hopes) are to have enough points to have a grand villa every other year, to host my two sons and my grandchildren; and to provide for five or six days in a one-bedroom each year, for each of the boys' families to use on alternating years. (I'm still trying to see if about 320 points will accomplish this. I think it will.)

 

[Cap]

Our kids are in their early 30's and we don't have any grandchildren yet. My wife and I tried stepping down to staying in studios and now exclusively stay in one bedroom units.

The greater amount of space, washer / dryer, full kitchen, and ability for one person to be doing one thing (e.g tv or sleeping in an hour later) while the other is in the other room doing something else makes the one bedroom our choice.

 

[Laxmom]

We are just buying in also. Our boys are 24 and 17. The 24 yo is married. We have another timeshare ownership in Orlando that is a 2 bedroom/sleeping 8 for when we travel with them. Our DVC will be a getaway for DH and I annually with maybe a stay for the kids occasionally. We are looking at 130-150. (We could then do a Grand Villa by banking and borrowing or renting points.) When we get to that number, it may just increase!

 

[SSRFred]

I realize that you may have bought one bedroom villas for the time you had children but as older adults do you wish you had only bought enough for studios in later life. Statistically in planning what is the ideal amount of points that you think is a nice balance for lifetime use? I know this will vary on opinion some, but for familys of 4 must be a good number for this.

In preparation for this event, I am maintaining multiple smaller contracts. Smaller contracts are easier to part with when the time comes and they sell faster and for more money. For example; if your current need is 320 pts. I'd break the contracts into 160, 60, 50, 50.
If I had to choose one number for a lifetime, I'd get the amount that is less than what I need for my preferred room size but more than what is needed for the room below it on a yearly basis. In essence I would borrow and take years off early in the life of the contract. Later I would bank and splurge. What that number is will vary by preference and travel habits.
I'd say start off smaller and add-on as you go.

 

[Laxmom]

Great advice on the point total. I like that idea.

That is what we are doing. Adding small contracts. We are waiting ROFR on a 50 pt contract with all '07 and '08 pts. That gives us enough to take our trip next year. By the time we are ready to travel in '10, I hope to have added the rest of our goal total.

 

[lizanne]

When we purchased our first contract in '92 it was for 240 pts. and our 5 kids ranged in age from 9 to 16. We had a two bedroom that first trip and right after we got home we added another 100 pts. Soon after that it was 60 more and we've used all 400 pts every year since. My kids are now adults ages 25 thru 32 - none married - no grandchildren - and with work schedules to deal with instead of school schedules, it's usually only my DH and I.

My DH and I now go for longer periods of time in a one bedroom, we've stayed at other resorts (Grand Floridian for example), we've used the points for 2 Disney Cruises and just this past December we had my sister and another couple join us and stayed in a Grand Villa. (I know most will say this is not the best use of points but we've gotten more than our moneys worth at this point so we just enjoy it).

We are not sorry that we bought the 400 points, but at today's prices I don't think we would do the same, however I would want enought points to stay in a one bedroom even when it's only the two of us.

 

[dhluvsDisney]

We purchased based on a 2 bedroom, as we have had our kids bring friends along with them, or have had family join us. That's really half the fun! If we don't use the 2 bdrm points, we just have enough left for an extra trip! Win Win for everyone!

 

[Disneyaholic]

Our kids were 8 and 5 when we purchased DVC. We originally thought a 1BR for a week would be fine.

Then, our very first trip, we went in a "less expensive" season and decided to try a 2BR. We were hooked. It's so wonderful to be able to close the door and let them have their own place, rather than having to worry about waking the kids up if we get up early to make coffee, etc.

Now the kids are almost 23 and 20. Neither is married. (One is still in college.) They still come with us to Hilton Head for Thanksgiving, and sometimes for a few days on other trips to HH or WDW. We're glad we have the points for a 2BR at those times!

When it's just DH and me, we go for a 1BR. We're spoiled. But this is why we joined DVC instead of staying in other resorts.

If forced to because of a lack of points, we would stay in a studio, but for us, the kitchen, washer/dryer, and extra space are what we have worked hard for for so many years.

 

[kfalsey]

would you still want a kitchen with 4 or 5 day trips?

 

[Cruelladeville]

Absolutely, I still want a kitchen, no matter how many/few days I stay, because I also get a washer/dryer. My kids are 30 and 27, and they usually go with us to Florida. When DD's stepson was invited to go with us to Florida, the whole family felt that we HAD to have a GV so we had enough room. With the stepson that makes 7 in our villa! We've gotten used to spreading out.

 

[Stuart D]

It's one of those sick irony's in life that when the kids are younger and you could do with more space, money is tighter and the larger contracts are less affordable - well to me anyway.

We didn't really have the option. 230 points was the maximum we could afford - getting us two weeks in a studio throughout most times of the year. I'd love the luxury of more points and I'd happilly see out my days with my wife and I heading over for two weeks every year in a one bedroom villa and hopefully that will happen one day but right now we are more than happy with what we've got.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've already sold 175 of our points and have one more contract for sale. That leaves us with 275 points, more than enough for a week in a one bedroom. We will never stay in a studio because we are just more comfortable in the one bedroom. Even if we never use the sleeper sofa in the living room.

Our original contract was 175 points, added 75, 50, 100, 100. So if you don't need as many later on (or the dues get to high - we hated spending so much on monthly dues), you can sell some of those off if they are smaller contracts.

 

[OlderMan]

FWIW, the only time we stayed in a studio was when a 1 BR was not available.

With our DD's getting older, now we're using 2 BR's. Must be "add-on time!"