Smaller contracts at DVC

[Magic Fanatic]

I see quite a few posts here where people will have a large contract at one resort, say SSR and then go on to say they will buy a smaller contract at another resort, maybe Animal Kingdom. I would imagine that is so they can take advantage of the 11 month booking availability. My questions is if it is only a small contract, you would have to reley on banking and borrowing in order to book for any real length of time, is that right? There is no way to combine points from different resorts is there? I am just trying to understand what the benefit is to several small contracts at several resorts.

 

[jodifla]

I see quite a few posts here where people will have a large contract at one resort, say SSR and then go on to say they will buy a smaller contract at another resort, maybe Animal Kingdom. I would imagine that is so they can take advantage of the 11 month booking availability. My questions is if it is only a small contract, you would have to reley on banking and borrowing in order to book for any real length of time, is that right? There is no way to combine points from different resorts is there? I am just trying to understand what the benefit is to several small contracts at several resorts.

Yes, we did this. Started off with 150 and OKW, and added 56 points at BCV a few years later. This is good for a few studio nights, or I can borrow/bank and get longer stays/bigger accommodations.

Hidden somewhere in all that paperwork is that fact that you truly only have rights to stay at the resort you bought at. Not that it would ever come to that, but we decided to buy some points, and the 11 month window advantage, before they sold out.

 

[hellerjw]

If you buy the add-on direct through Disney you will have the same UY as the master contract. You can then combine the points at the 7-month mark, you just can't combine them in the 11-8 month timeframe. I'm not sure how the timing would work if you bought resale and had 2 master contracts, one at each resort, with different UYs.

As you mentioned, with banking and borrowing you could use a small contract (say 50 pts) to stay at its home resort for about a week every 3rd year. The main advantage being the 11-month booking window to secure those nights at a popular resort and time.

 

[MikeyNS]

We're going to do a small addon at the AKV, probably around 30 points. So every 3 years we can have a 1BR during choice season for 5 days (S-Th) and still have 5 points left over.

It will take some planning, luck and day by day at the 11 month window, but will also take some pressure off our main account. Those other 2 years we will stay at other resorts. Pretty good use of additional points IMHO. 90 points can still get you a pretty decent standard room as well at the AKV!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I see quite a few posts here where people will have a large contract at one resort, say SSR and then go on to say they will buy a smaller contract at another resort, maybe Animal Kingdom. I would imagine that is so they can take advantage of the 11 month booking availability. My questions is if it is only a small contract, you would have to reley on banking and borrowing in order to book for any real length of time, is that right? There is no way to combine points from different resorts is there? I am just trying to understand what the benefit is to several small contracts at several resorts.

One strategy is to book as many rooms as possible at the 11 mon. period with the small contract, then at 7 mos. use the larger contract pts. to add-on to the original ressie.....they will link the reservations. So, if you can only book 2 nights with a 50 pt. contract at 11 mos., then book the remaining nites at 7mos. and link the ressies. You have a better chance to get say 2 or 3 nites at 7 mos than all 5 nights at high demand times.