Questions yet again

[irishwolf]

Hello again, here I am asking the same question that I asked before just worded a lil diferent. First let me start by saying I've done alot of internet and paper homework on this process and have only one hang up, going to Disney every year at this time is not an option Im looking for. I love the place but as before I want to see more of the rest of the world first. I really want to hear from members who have used thier points towards the world passport collection. Are there any "catches" over the DVC points stated per low mid and high season. Obviously I would be paying more for airfare than by way of a travel agent due to packages and such. Also what are the other resorts like, how would they rate and compare against Disney resorts. Also looking for the Getaways discosure guide about Interval International. Still have so many more questions. Thanks again

 

[disneynutz]

Using points for vacations other than DVC resorts are not the best use. It would be better waiting to buy DVC when you plan to vacation at Disney every couple of years.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

You can always buy, and rent your points out to other people. Using your points at Non-DVC resorts is not the best use of your points. Example: A Disney Cruise requires 67 points for the first and second adult, and for the 3rd-4th 46. So 226 points for a 3 day cruise for 4 people, compared to 85 points for a week for 4 people in Jan in a Studio at BWV.

Hope this helps.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you want to visit Disney every third year, you could buy a smaller resale, use banking and borrowing to use your points every third year. Then use the rest of the money you were looking at spending on DVC to travel elsewhere to buy a time share that has better trading power and more ease in getting your trades.

For example, a 50 point contract could be banked one year, and then the next year borrow from the upcoming year and have 150 points for a single reservation. Then use your other timeshare to vacation the other two years.

 

[lmgustafson]

Just my two cents. I am about to purchase points at BLT but do plan on doing alot of travel to other places in the years to come. I have a 4 and 6 year old so for the next few years we will go to Disney most years. I expect that after 5 or 6 years we may only go every 2 or 3 years so I plan on using my points for other areas. Then when the kids are out of the house, my wife and I will likely go fairly frequently for EPCOT food and wine or use the points at places like Hilton Head or Vero Beach to vacation with the kids, but I can see us using them still for travel to other places as well. Finally in the distant future (hopefully) we will go with the grandkids every year for a long while. So I see my investment as great for the next 10-12 years, so so for about 10 to 15 years after that then absolutely great for the last years when the cost of disney accomidations have gone way up and I am still using the same number of points as I did 25 years ago. So with that view I don't view the poor exchange for other areas as a big deal. I was reading my paperwork last night and in the accounting document (which many may not have read. I was bored and really trying to make sure I covered all my bases as well) they list the percent of successful exchanges for 2007 for the Disney trips (cruises, adventures by disney, non-DVC stays), Concierge collection and the other trips (the majority). The success rate for requested exchanges and all alternatives (emaphasis mine) was 63% for the disney and concierge group and 93% for the rest. I thought that was very high. That of course included all alternatives so people who offered several hotels and times may have gotten their 3rd or 7th choice but it appears that the vast majority of them matched. Now that does not mean that it was the best use of their money using points for that trip but if you think either now or at some point you will be going to disney alot then I would not fret over the other years. If you really never plan on going to disney alot either now or later in life then DVC is not worth it. I think I am going to get my money's worth especially later on and definitely plan on using points to travel to other locations. I have a very flexible schedule so other than my kids schedule we can really travel when we want which makes the exchanges easier. Again just my two cents.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Exchanges will need lots of flexibility and lots of lead time. You may need to start looking a year or two in advance. And give multiple possible matches.

 

[duffy]

If you want to visit Disney every third year, you could buy a smaller resale, use banking and borrowing to use your points every third year. Then use the rest of the money you were looking at spending on DVC to travel elsewhere to buy a time share that has better trading power and more ease in getting your trades.

For example, a 50 point contract could be banked one year, and then the next year borrow from the upcoming year and have 150 points for a single reservation. Then use your other timeshare to vacation the other two years.

This is going to be my strategy. My husband is skeptical, and says he doesn't want to go every year. Frankly, I don't either. Every 2 or 3 years is sufficient for me. Our best strategy, I think, is going to be to buy 50 points at either the Wilderness Lodge Villas or the Beach Club Villas, and bank and borrow so we can go every 3 years.

 

[irishwolf]

Thanks again everyone for your help with this not many other places can you go and get such fast and thoughtful replies. For your two cents thank you alot that pretty much put the whole thing into perspective. I have 4 and 7 year old sons so this would really pay off now and later in the future. Thanks again. John and his very happy sons for many years to come.

 

[msabol01]

We said we wouldn't be going every year yet we are averaging two trips a year. And while it isn't the best value for our points we did do a cruise with them and plan other non-Disney vacations through II. We're aware we are not maximizing our value, but we are sure maximizing our vacation fun. My advice it to be aware of the trade-offs as well as your tolerability to accept them.

Good luck!

 

[stitchineeyore]

A couple of other things to consider re-exchanges. We have done three interval international exchanges in the last 10 years. each one has been terrific. Not only did using the points this way get us a better "rate" at the resorts where we stayed than if we had booked it ourselves or through a travel agent, disney screens the interval international exchange possibilities and only offers the best. we have never been disappointed. So - yes, it is absolutely more cost-effective to use your points at WDW than any other option, but you are not "paying" full freight at the exchange resorts the program offers and getting the benefit of knowing you will not be disappointed in your exchange resort.

 

[Teyedoubleguhrrrr]

We have used our points through the Conceirge collection before to tie in with trips we were already taking (extending a conference, etc) to reduce the out of pocket costs for that trip. We tend to take longer WDW trips with more time in between since our kids are in school, and I am a teacher. We hope to use it more frequently in the future for WDW once DH accrues some vacation time at his new job.

Last Feb, DH and his bro stayed at Squaw Creek last Feb for a ski trip, and we are hoping to stay at the Grand Wailea in Maui this Jan. Again, these are trips that we had already planned on taking, we are just looking to get great accomodations. The only hiccup we have come across is with the change in the booking/banking policy. We have a March UY, and we cannot book a trip after Oct. 31. Right now, we are calling almost every day to see if we can book the Hawaii stay yet. It is a bit of a pain because it was not this way when we bought our points, so it was less of an issue last year (Squaw Creek was the same way in terms of the delay - but that was before the rule change). However, in talking with MS, they are trying to be accommodating to those of us wanting to book, but in this situation But you can't guarantee that it will always be this way. The resort at Squaw Creek was fabulous, but because the contracts are renegotiated every year, there is a gap when moving year to year. Sometimes, too, the resorts themselves hold off on allowing DVC reservations to take place for a while, which can get frustrating.

Overall, I think the system is good. You just have to understand how it works and have patience at times.