Quick Questions

[jollymon2]

Hi all, thinking of purchasing and I have a couple of questions for you all.

First) It appears that you can only bank one years of points at a time. Is this correct. I ask because we just got back from Disney and won't be going again this year, hopefully we'll be having another baby in 2005, so 2006 would be the next year we'd be able to go. Thus, if we were to purchase now we'd like to bank 2004 and 2005, but I don't think that's possible, am I right?

Second) This requires some speculation on your part. If we don't buy now, do you think they would still be selling SSR in 2005? I just don't know how well or quickly it sells, so any thoughts or insight you might have would be appreciated.

Third) Financially right now, 150 points is really all we can afford. Being so new, would it be difficult to pick up another 100 at SSR if need be in like five years or so? Again, I know it calls for speculation.

It seems like there was something else, but that is all I can think of right now. Thanks in advance for your help

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by jollymon2
Hi all, thinking of purchasing and I have a couple of questions for you all.

First) It appears that you can only bank one years of points at a time. Is this correct. I ask because we just got back from Disney and won't be going again this year, hopefully we'll be having another baby in 2005, so 2006 would be the next year we'd be able to go. Thus, if we were to purchase now we'd like to bank 2004 and 2005, but I don't think that's possible, am I right?

You are correct. You may only bank one year ahead. If you bank your 2004 points, they must be used prior to the end of your 2005 use year. You could bank your 2005 use year points into 2006, but not any points that were originally from the 2004 use year.

Second) This requires some speculation on your part. If we don't buy now, do you think they would still be selling SSR in 2005? I just don't know how well or quickly it sells, so any thoughts or insight you might have would be appreciated.

Yes, I do. SSR is going to be quite large and they are building it in phases. I really doubt if they will be able to sell it all out prior to 2005.

Third) Financially right now, 150 points is really all we can afford. Being so new, would it be difficult to pick up another 100 at SSR if need be in like five years or so? Again, I know it calls for speculation.

SSR should be available on the resale market by then. Sometimes you need to be patient to find the contract that will meet your needs, but IMHO, most are able to eventually find what they want/need on the resale market.

It seems like there was something else, but that is all I can think of right now. Thanks in advance for your help

You're welcome!

P.S. You can always post again if you think of more questions.

 

[dianeschlicht]

buying sooner is always better than later, since the price tends to go up. If you don't think you would be using either this year or next years points for a WDW trip or exchange through II, then you might try renting this years points and banking next years. That would help pay your maintenance fees too.

 

[DebbieB]

You can only bank 1 year ahead. 2004 points could only be banked to 2005 use year, not beyond. Depending on the use year, there may still be banked 2004 points available in 2006. For example, if your use year is June, your 2004 points would be good 6/1/04 to 5/31/05, if you bank them they will be good 6/1/05 to 5/31/06.

SSR is going to be huge if all is built as planned. It will still be available in 2005. But there may be a price increase.

My guess is they still may be selling SSR direct in 5 years. If not, resales should be available.

I would hold off on your purchase unless you plan to rent your 2004 points. The money you save on dues may override any price increase before 2005 or 2006.

 

[Dean]

Plan your trip in 2006 before the end of your 2005 use year. You could always rent your points or use them for other items like the Concierge Collection. I'm sure SSR will be selling for some years to come. If the entire resort happens (600 units), it will likely take 8-10 years to completely sell out and I think you can count on a min of 6 from presell date. As noted, resales as well would be there. One other option is to buy a resale at another resort, this should be cheaper anyway.

Unless you are set on SSR most trips and particularly need a GV, you should be able to get SSR any time of the year. SSR is the one exception I'd see to "buy where you want to stay" for most situations. I think ANY time of year one can get in with only the GV being in question. OKW will also have cheaper dues and is less points, especially for the GV there. I know that for some the extra 12 years os so will have a major impact on their decision though personally I think it should be a major point ONLY for those less than around 25.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I have a few suggestions for you. I know how it can be planning vacations around "possible pregnancys". I have an almost 3 year old DD and we are expecting our second child Aug 2004. We just got back from our 3rd DVC trip in 10 months (I was 8 weeks pregnant for the trip and everythig went really well, infact it was the best I have felt the whole pregnancy.)

My idea is get in another trip in before the 2nd baby is born (or concived.) Or maybe just a beach trip to Vero Beach or HH. (no park tickets needed.) WDW can and has been done pregnant by many a women. With only 150 points you will have to borrow or bank for a one bedroom, so use them up and then save the remander for after the 2nd child is born. We have learned if you are always borrowing from the next year, you never lose any points. (we have 170 at VWL, but we really could use at least 50 more.) Starting at 150 is just fine and doable, especailly if that is all you can aford, it is better then waiting until you can afford 300.)

One word of warning. A studio really is fine for a small family, but once you get used to a one bedroom it is difficult to go back.

If you have a young child I recomend trying to get in BCV, the pool (SAB) is just wonderful for young kids.


We are so glad we joined DVC, the best decssion we have made (besides starting a family.)
Or use the points for a place closer to home for a mini trip.

 

[jollymon2]

Thank you all for your great advice. You all brought up some really great points and I appreciate all of them. I finally remembered my other question.

-A one bedroom at SSR during dream season is 25 points for a weekday. Will a one bedroom during dream season (I realize dream season dates will change) 30 years down the road still be 25 points or will that go up? Just wondering if 150 points will get me as far then as it will now?

Thanks again.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The number of points needed will not change, but may be reorganized. By that, I mean they can possibly make weekdays more and weekends less, but a week will not change.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
The number of points needed will not change, but may be reorganized. By that, I mean they can possibly make weekdays more and weekends less, but a week will not change.

I'm sure dianeschlicht is thinking correctly but here statement is not totally accurate. The total points for the resort for a year cannot change but they can reallocate more than just weekends and weekdays. They could raise one time of year while lowering another. As I understand the setup, they could even in some case raise one unit size while lowering another. Of course they could also change weekends vs weekdays as suggested above.

Still the bottom line is there are some major protections in this area and one can assume there will be no signficant changes over time unless one is looking at low season and smaller units exclusively.

 

[mom2alix]

I ask because we also bought while on a trip we had paid cash for. Our DVC rep let us put the value of our first year's points toward our payment. You might check into that as it sounds like it might make the purchase a little easier.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by mom2alix
I ask because we also bought while on a trip we had paid cash for. Our DVC rep let us put the value of our first year's points toward our payment. You might check into that as it sounds like it might make the purchase a little easier.

That's called the Magical Beginnings program. They take your first years points and give you a credit usually $10 pp up to a max of $2000. That program is not in effect not at SSR though they do have a $5 discount and you keep the points, a much better deal since you also have to pay some maint fees on the MB program. The deal recently was actually a $10 credit and keep the points. It has been rumored that the $5 credit is about to vanish and be replaced by MB, we shall see.