Really -- What does someone do with thousands of points?

[calypso*a*go-go]

I was researching a resale contract and just happened to stumble across another person that owns more DVC points than I'll ever see in my lifetime, and just wondered to myself: "What does someone do with all of them?". I know the obvious answer would be...duh, use them! Well, there appears to be several individuals that own enough points that personal use would seem almost impossible (I'm not talking hundreds -- I'm talking thousands).

Don't want any witch hunts and will not give out any names (so please don't PM me), but it seems that it would be a nightmare to keep track of so many contracts at different resorts with different use years. Are these people owners of travel companies that actually create their own packages using DVC accomodations, are they owners of large corporations that are using DVC stays as an employee benefit of some kind, or are they investors that bought when prices were low and still hope to sell and make a profit (even after MFs).

Also, could there be some type of "repo" market that Joe Average is not aware of that allows the purchase of distressed points, or does Disney sometimes not want to buy points back themselves but has a select group of business associates they are offered to as if it was ROFR'd, but really isn't?

Plus, why would you really want that many points? Don't you think at some point you'd want to liquidate some of them and I don't know, maybe buy a private island somewhere?

 

[Caskbill]

There are quite a few members with over 1000 points. There use to be a thread that listed them as being in the 1000 point club.

Some are up to 3000 points or so.

Many of the high point owners do a lot of rentals.

 

[jade1]

Christmas week for a GV at BWV is 966 points. I could see an indivual in this world with the money and desire to do that each year.

 

[CarolAnnC]

My husband and I own over a thousand points. I have no desire, however, to rent any out. We just booked the DCL Mediterranean cruise for this summer which swallowed up 1786 of our points for our family of 4 in two staterooms.

Long range goal will be to use points for winter months retirement stays. I can envision January and February at WDW!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I could easily see where 1,000-2,000 pts. would not be too difficult to manage. But what about 10,000+ that are spread out all at different resorts, with different use years. It just seems like it would be a nightmare to keep track of all the points and their use-it-or-lose-it dates. What about "tipping" (if that's the correct real estate term). Are there investors that are savvy enough to buy as low as possible, then turn around and sell quickly, making a $5-$10 profit per point? It's doesn't seem like a person would make very much money at this (especially with ROFR). Anyway, just curious.

 

[byoung]

So far I am happy with my 200 pts.

 

[Boston5602]

ok not that I have the money , but I wish I had thousands of points actually I wish I had 2448 points at least. This is how many points I would need for a 1 bedroom at BWV for Jan Feb and half of March. I HATE winters in Boston!

Hey the good news is in 30 years when I retire BWV points shouldn't cost too much and I should be able to afford an add on then <G>

 

[tammydel]

Long range goal will be to use points for winter months retirement stays. I can envision January and February at WDW!!

Wow, I can envision this as well.....very clearly.....so clearly that my 210 points are seeming inadequate.

Time to work on my retirement plan!
Tammy

 

[MommaX03]

ok not that I have the money , but I wish I had thousands of points actually I wish I had 2448 points at least. This is how many points I would need for a 1 bedroom at BWV for Jan Feb and half of March. I HATE winters in Boston! <G>

On our first really cold fall day in NY recently, I thought about the snow birds going south, and I wondered if any DVCers actually use the DVC as their home base. Not a bad way to retire!

 

[isyt]

Hubby and I have around 1300 points. I have rented before but we are planning to use it alot for retirement. We are going to Vero for Thanksgiving in a cottage ! Than a week in OKW. This we did take 6 weeks in vacation and used it in different places. I only rent enough to cover the fees. Although I have my eye on a Contemporary add on !

 

[senecabeach]

calypso*a*go-go.....

Good question... I used to ask the same questions...before I retired!

Now...well it costs me anywhere from $3-4,500. per (winter) month, for a condo rental on the beach or whole house nearby in Fla's west coast. Ah...snowbirding...can't believe I'm this old now...Gurrrr

Would be "wonderful" to be in the "Middle of the Magic" that long.. Humm....

 

[DVCLiz]

I don't think an individual can own 10,000 points, can they? I thought the DVC limit was 5,000, with a maximum of 2,000 at any one resort. Of course, a couple could get to 10,000 if each of them had those limits individually.

I'm sure many people who have those large contracts rent out some or all of those points. Wonder how long it takes to sell them - I see 3 thousand pointers for sale right now!!!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We only have 200 and until we have retired and moved south from Va we couldn't afford the transportation or time off from work to utilize 1000 points. I'm guessing the majority of massive point owners are either in business or retired.

 

[mikesmom]

When we were at BWV the very first time and debating about buying in, we were in the gift shop discussing it and the CM leaned over and said "that man over there has been a member quite a while and maybe can answer your questions." Anyway, he told us about spending several weeks at OKW, then going down to Vero for a month, coming back to BWV for several weeks, then a trip to Hilton Head, etc. Sometimes he and his wife traveled alone, sometimes with extended family. He was retired and apparently spent as much time as he could get away with at one or another DVC resorts. He also had a (non DVC) cabin in the mountains somewhere he used when Florida was too hot. The way he talked we weren't even sure he had a regular house somewhere.

Actually he was SO enthusiastic about DVC he almost talked us out of it! From him it almost sounded like some kind of cult

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I don't think an individual can own 10,000 points, can they? I thought the DVC limit was 5,000, with a maximum of 2,000 at any one resort. Of course, a couple could get to 10,000 if each of them had those limits individually.

We've already seen a couple of cases where ownership was placed in different names to get around the maximum point issue: contract in husband's name, contract in wife's name, contract in both names, etc. It's definitely do-able.

I'm sure the retirement theory is a good one. But as an example, the MFs on 10,000 pts would be about $45,000/yr (based on an average of $4.50/pt), I would think that many people in that situation would take that money and just buy a vacation home outright. Oh well, whatever the reason, I wish it was a problem I had!!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Actually he was SO enthusiastic about DVC he almost talked us out of it! From him it almost sounded like some kind of cult

That is too funny! I'm sure everyone one of us has talked about DVC/WDW a tad too long at times. I very rarely even tell anyone about our membership as I feel the need to explain how the whole system works and people look at me like they want to say: "Would you just shut-up already!".

More than once our family has been called Disney Freaks and it stings a bit, as there's just enough sarcasm in the tone that you know they're not really joking as much as they try to seem, but I just have to remind myself that in most cases it because people are jealous of what we have...not what we are. So poo-poo to them!!!

 

[Boston5602]

That is too funny! I'm sure everyone one of us has talked about DVC/WDW a tad too long at times. I very rarely even tell anyone about our membership as I feel the need to explain how the whole system works and people look at me like they want to say: "Would you just shut-up already!".

I've gotten myself to just say DVC is Disney's version of a Timeshare , BUT if they ask what week I own , then I go ahead and tell them the WHOLE DVC story <G>

 

[TEK224]

I only have 150 points, but will definitely eye up more when the CRV comes along. I also hope to have enough points to spend part of the winter in WDW. What a way to get away from the snow!

 

[bluslag]

We don't have 1,000 points so I'm not sure I should respond to this thread. We have met 2 couples down at Disney that own well over 1,000. The first one had about 6,000 points and seemed to rent them. Last year while we were at OKW we talked to a couple that rented below us and they stayed for 5 weeks straight every year. I think they had well over 1,000 points and over the years had sold and bought so they ended up with just OKW points to make booking easier. I own 600 points and that seems to be enough for us but it sure would nice to have enough to spend a couple months at Disney. Wouldnt like the MF though.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

since we're a family of 6 we HAVE to get a 2 bedroom each time and I could easily see us spending 1000 points!

Of course we don't have it to spend, but we could do it