Seeking advice on points - About to buy into SSR as a new DVC member

[DVC-curious]

Ok, so my family of 4 is ready to take the plunge and buy into SSR from DVC. We want to go one week per year (on average) and have the flexibility to NOT take the kids out of school as they get older.
Looking at the points for the different resorts - it looks like 270 points will guarantee a 1 BR in any DVC resort in any season except for Christmas week and a week or two around Easter.

On occasion we may borrow or bank to take additional friends or family.

Has anyone out here done a similar analysis and decided upon a number of points ? If so, how many did you pick and how did it work for you ?

Thanks,
Neal

 

[bluecdr]

I only bought 150 points as I figured that the weekend points are too many and I can pay cash for those nights.
If I want to use points for the weekend then I can borrow from next year or rent points from another owner. Also I can add on extra points later. And I did add on but not at SSR. I bought points at another DVC resort so I can choose where to stay. I bought these points through this sites sponsor The Timeshare Store and it was cheaper and very easy. Only difference was I had to wait a few weeks before I could start making reservations.
Regards

 

[disworldnum1]

Well we like to go in May and August.So I figured out exactly how many points I needed for a week at this time of year.I decided I did not want to pay a penny more on dues then I had too so I bought the minimum amount of points necessary for our stay.I also figured that If I needed more I could always pay cash,borrow or rent points for an extended stay.For me the cost of the yearly dues was a big factor in our decision.Good luck and congratulations on your decision.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Welcome to the Dis-Boards. Yes, we did that type of analysis when we first purchased DVC. Since that time, we added on 5 more times. Some small amounts of 25 points, other larger amounts when the BCV opened.

If you like Disney and DVC, no matter how many points you buy, unless you are very disciplined, you will find that you need more.

Good luck. It sounds like you are at a good place to start. See how you like it and then get ready to add on if you do.

HBC

 

[sleepydog25]

Appears to be a sound analysis to me. Keep in mind that if that number of points don't wind up being enough, you can always buy more. Since you've thought through your needs and come to the figure of 270, I'd settle for that number (okay, maybe bump it up to 300 just to be even) and take a wait-and-see approach. Good luck.

 

[pat-rick]

Bump it up to 300 and make it 2 x 150 point contracts.

 

[JLS]

We agonized over how many points to buy - couldn't decide. We ultimately went with the guide's (self-serving!) recommendation: buy as many points as you can afford - because we knew from these Boards that people tend to feel like they don't have enough, the price keeps going up, etc. We felt like we could determine for the next few years when we would want to go, but over 40 years it was impossible to say, OK, we need exactly this number of points because we will always want to do a week in May in a 2 bedroom ... or whatever. So we just chose a nice round number of 300 because we were comfortable with the cost and it seemed that we could do a lot with that number of points. I agree with the suggestion of getting 2 150 point contracts - I wish we had done that, because we have 300 BCV points, but I would love to have some VWL points. I don't want to add on more points, but if we could sell one contract and get a VWL contract in its place, I would probably do that.

 

[DVC-curious]

Thanks for the tips ! But they have led me to more questions.... So to do this I would buy 150 at SSR immediately and then ask to be on a wait list for 150 somewhere else like Wilderness Lodge or Boardwalk ?

1. How long of a wait is it to get 150 pts off a waitlist on one of these ?

Then another question....

2. If I have 150 at SSR and 150 at Wilderness Lodge or Boardwalk could I use all 300 points to book 11 months in advance at any one of my home resorts or could I only use the 150 points from the home lodge that I am booking 11 months in advance ?

Thanks again !!!

 

[Beca]

Thanks for the tips ! But they have led me to more questions.... So to do this I would buy 150 at SSR immediately and then ask to be on a wait list for 150 somewhere else like Wilderness Lodge or Boardwalk ?

1. How long of a wait is it to get 150 pts off a waitlist on one of these ?

Then another question....

2. If I have 150 at SSR and 150 at Wilderness Lodge or Boardwalk could I use all 300 points to book 11 months in advance at any one of my home resorts or could I only use the 150 points from the home lodge that I am booking 11 months in advance ?

Thanks again !!!

No one knows how long the waitlist is, but I bet you can get VWL or BWV right now if you ask (and, I KNOW you can get OKW).

And, no...you cannot combine points to get the 11 month window, but you could "bank and borrow" so that at each resort, your get 300 points every other year.



Beca

 

[sleepydog25]

1) The waitlist for each resale varies. I've read posts on here where people have waited over a year for the likes of VWL; others have said it's only a few months. I suspect it depends on where you're buying resale into and with whom you choose to do your business with. Keep in mind that Disney always has the right of first refusal (ROFR), too, so that could lengthen the wait.
2) Unfortunately, you can only book the number of points you have for that home resort the 11-month out point. So, if you had 150 at SSR and 150 at VWL, you would only have 150 at each to book out 11 months--the others are good only for 7-months. Some recommend booking 11 months out at the home resort, then when 7 months hits for the resort you really want, trying that one. If it works, you can always cancel the 11-month one and pull your points from there to your new ressie.

 

[DVC-curious]

Thanks Beca and everyone else for all of the help. I am leaning towards keeping all of the points in SSR for two reasons....

1. ease of book-keeping....one set of points, 1 use year....

2. being able to book an extended stay 11 months in advance even in a more popular month.

But I'm still listening on this one......other pros/cons ?

Thanks again !

 

[LIFERBABE]

Thanks Beca and everyone else for all of the help. I am leaning towards keeping all of the points in SSR for two reasons....

1. ease of book-keeping....one set of points, 1 use year....

2. being able to book an extended stay 11 months in advance even in a more popular month.

But I'm still listening on this one......other pros/cons ?

Thanks again !

You can accomplish #1 and #2 and still break your 300 point contract into 2. The example given with 2 different resorts may have confused the recommendation.

I will try to clarify. You can still purchase 300 points at SSR, but instead of having all 300 points on one contract, request your DVC guide divide it equally into 2 contracts with the same UY. If you choose to do this, you will have to put a separate deposit on each contract, but having 2 contracts instead of one lump sum could benefit you down the road if you ever want to downsize or sell. With one 300 point contract, you cannot downsize you would have to sell the entire contract.

Larger contracts normally sell for less per point than the smaller contracts on the resale market. Not sure how many children you have, but I have 2 boys and therefore separate but equal contracts will make it easier for me to will to them.

I have several small contracts that make up my total sum of points. Yes they are split among several DVC's but even my 300 SSR points are broken down in smaller add-on contracts. This way I can will/sell off as needed.

I do receive tax documents for each contract at the end of the year, but other than that MS is able to see my points quickly in total by resort when I call to make a ressie and there is no need to track your points by contract, just total points by resort. (as long as they are the same UY)

 

[jel0511]

Even if you buy all your points at SSR, you can still buy two 150 point contracts. The advantage to doing that is that as years go by, you might realize that you don't need all the points, and you can then sell 150 of the 300 points. You can not break up a contract once it's written, so to sell you'd have to sell the whole lot. Also, two contracts is nice if you have two kids, each gets one. It really isn't much more work for DVC and for the member it's seemless. Really consider this.

 

[DVC-curious]

This board is a tremendous source of information !!! I am no longer DVC-curious.....I am now a DVC member ! Thanks again for all of the advice...

 

[athenna]

Congratulations & Welcome Home!!

 

[mommary]

I am confused about this whole process.
My first question is should I buy from Disney directly or through someplace like the timeshare store.
Please advise.
Thanks
mommary

 

[KellyDVC]

I hope this recommendation is not a repeat - I admit I did not read all of the replies. My suggestion would be to buy a 150pt contract and add-on the 120 pts (or whatever add'l pts you decide upon). There are benefits to having smaller contracts when (or if) you ever sell (smaller contracts do seem to go quicker), and the add-on has some add'l incentives over and above the original purchase. These add-on incentives have been discussed at length on these boards. I do not know any of the rules regarding how long you have to own before a purchase is considered an add-on - but it is worth it to find out.

By the way, just so you know that I walk-the-walk, we bought 300 pts last year at SSR, and did it via two smaller150 pt contracts.

Good Luck. We've been in since 1999 and LOVE it!!!

Brian