Some questions for the experts...

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

We are just about ready to sign, however I do have some questions which will probably be best answered by you rather thatn my guide. Ok, I first thought we would go for 210 pts , however, we already have our annual trip planed for next month 1/2 off site 1/2 AKL already paid for so I'm not interested in trying to arrange it around the hotel incentive. My thought now is buying 150 pts, taking the 5 nite hotel in lieu of the $5.00 discount. So thank I would have 150 pts from my use year 4/02 which I would bank w/ 4/03 giving me 300 pts plus we could do the 5 nite hotel on our next trip (sometime March-May of 03) and than use our 300 pts for something nice..

And then after we figure how this will work for our family we could always add on. Does this sound like a good plan and I really welcome any comments,suggestions etc.

Thanks,

Laura

 

[ohiominnie]

That's an idea, but then every year after that you'll only have 150 points to work with. If you get the 210 you're considering I think you'll find that you'll have more lee-way to do more things. If all you could afford was 150, I'd say go for 150, but you indicated you were ready to buy 210, so I suspect that 210 is not out of your price range.
With a price hike imminent and more to come in the future you'll get more points for your buck if you buy as many as possible now.

Just my humble $0.02. Someone may be able to type it out more eloquently.

 

[brittsmum1998]

We started w/ 210 pts figuring a studio was enought for 2 adults and one dd. Family won't get any bigger. We found we loved the 1 bdrm (std view hopefully) and 210 wasn't enough to spend about 10 days down there depending on season. We did a small addon for an add'l 25 pts. Allows us a little leeway. We just planned a 6 day trip for January so we could watch the Superbowl at the ESPN club and still have anough to spend 10 days in October. the add'l 25 pts just gives us a little more "banking/borrowing" room to play.

 

[Basser]

We started with 250 points. We found that we would be happier with at least a one bedroom villa. Now we go every year for nine days in a one bedroom villa at OKW. At first we thought 250 points was more than we needed. Now we wish we had more so we could go twice a year.

 

[DVC1996]

Another reason to go with the 210 points is that it will give you the needed reservation points if you ever want to make an exchange in the World Passport Collection. When we joined in 1996, our guide recommended the 210 points for just this reason. Of course, you could come up with the necessary points by banking or borrowing. Just food for thought

 

[ceejay13]

I agree, if you can afford it I would go with the 210 points. When we joined we thought 230 would be all we would need but we just added on for the second time. These DVC vacations are addicting.

 

[llp479]

The 5 hotels nights are a one time thing. Those extra 60 points - 40 years of vacation memories.

We started with 270 at BWV. Initially, we thought that was enough. Then when we thought about adding on, BWV was sold out. So, we just bought a resale of 232 at OKW. I guess my point is the add-on may not be available when you're ready to add those 60 points at a later date.

Just another opinion from another Laura.

 

[chris1gill]

I have to agree with what's been said here... Look at the point charts, think about when you typically go & how long you stay... I thought we would go for six nights, and now we're up to 10 a year... Our DVC home is so wonderful, we just like being there!

We initially purchased 150, then added 100 & just recently added another 50... apparently 300 is the number we'll stay at for quite a while! The other (problem?) with your plan, if you plan to add on at BC, you won't have long to do it. Once it sells out, you would have to wait on a waiting list & hope your name came up for an add on there, or you'd have to buy at whatever else DVC was selling at that time... We waited on the BWV wait list a long time & just had our name come up luckily... but it was a very long wait.... If I were you, I think I'd buy 250 so you could stay in a 1 bedroom & save on food costs!!

 

[Mooobooks]

I think everyone on this board will tell you the same thing: you can NEVER have too many points! The best way to buy more points than you think you can afford is NOT to buy retail directly from Disney.
Buy a resale from a place like The Timeshare Store, which is where I purchased my 460 point contract. I was able to purchase my contract for almost $20 less per point than Disney was asking, and I got EXACTLY the same thing, so I could buy a much larger contract.
Remember the mantra: "You can NEVER have enough points. You will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You will always want more."

 

[madcoco]

Boy isn't that the truth.We have 3 contracts at VB for 800 and we still end up using every one. Impatiently waiting now for DI

 

[Hilary]

Whilst I totally agree that "you can never have too many points", I'd just say to bear in mind that not only will you have the extra points for the next 38 years, but you'll also have to <i>pay the dues</i> on those extra points for the next 38 years!

Maybe the extra amount of dues on another 60 points or so isn't going to break the bank, but it's certainly something I kept in mind when making a small add-on recently. If, however, the finances aren't a problem then (like everyone else has said) I don't think you'd regret buying the extra points.

 

[Richnj]

If you have the cash now, go for the extra points. We only have 150 points and wish we had more. Extra points will give you more options.

 

[JonHM]

I would say go for the extra points. *Particularly* if all of your calculations on how many points you would want to stay are based on staying in a studio. NOTHING against the studios, they are *wonderful* compared to any hotel room I've ever been in. BUT the 1 bedrooms and up are AMAZING - once you've stayed in them, it's very very hard to go back to a studio.

Definitely 210 over 150, IF you can afford it. Just my 2 cents.

Good Luck!!!

 

[Mooobooks]

Remember the mantra: "You can NEVER have enough points. You will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You
will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You
will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You
will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You
will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You
will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You
will always want more.""You can NEVER have enough points. You
will always want more."

 

[PKK/MJK]

I agree with everything that has been said. Get as many points as you can afford. Even if there are points available to purchase when you want to do an add-on, the price per point for them will be higher than it is now. If 210 is in your budget, go for that!!