Sorry...Newbie question.

[joandegennaro]

hello all,

When on my tour a few years ago I was told that the points chart would never change. It seems to me that this in fact was not true. I'm reading all about point reallocations on the boards. If I were to purchase enough point to stay at say premire season for 1 week would the points needed ever go up from this? I understand that they can reduce the number of points on a weekend as long as the points are added to the weekdays. Does this mean that the week total stays the same?

 

[Hunclemarco]

When the guide said that the points will never change, they meant that the total number of points for that resort will never change.
They do have the availbility to change the usage of those points within the resort though.
So, they can add or subtract from the weekday/weekend or within the "seasons".
When a person buys points, they should always add enough for the discrepancy that may be created when disney changes points around. If an exact point purchase is made, many will be disappointed, as in the case of the 2009 point allocation changes.
I'm sure someone can explain better, but this is a start

 

[Sandisw]

When looking at the point charts, things throughout the chart can move around but at the end of the day, the # of total points for the resort has to remain the same.

The goal of a reallocation is to ensure that DVC rooms are filled all year round. If one time period seems to be garnishing a high demand and others when there a lot of vacancy, then DVC will shift things to equalize it.

One of those were the weekday/weekend shifts that happened in 2010. It can also happen with seasons as DVC can move certain dates from one season to another.

Some are even thinking that might happen in 2011 with early December (popular time, lower points).

So, as a new buyer, I would certainly plan for needing a few points here or there, especially if you are planning week stays. Those that only did Sun through Thurs stays seem to have been hit the hardest last time, but if you compare what a whole week cost in 2009 to that cost in 2010, I don't think the changes were drastic.

We travel in Magic Season (I am a teacher) so my point cost is one of the higher ones. My hope is that I shouldn't be looking at too much higher and would even like to see the weekends go down a bit further (gives me more flexibility in picking days with lower airfare).

 

[joandegennaro]

When the guide said that the points will never change, they meant that the total number of points for that resort will never change.
They do have the availbility to change the usage of those points within the resort though.
So, they can add or subtract from the weekday/weekend or within the "seasons".
When a person buys points, they should always add enough for the discrepancy that may be created when disney changes points around. If an exact point purchase is made, many will be disappointed, as in the case of the 2009 point allocation changes.
I'm sure someone can explain better, but this is a start

So basicly she was giving me misinformation to encourage me to by in. She made it sound that if I needed 9 points per night for a studio in a certain season that this would never change. She really hid what she actually meant within the phrasing. This is why I was unsure of buying directly from Disney. I think that I might just consider renting for the next few years till I get a better handle on the ups and downs of DVC. Cruising these boards the last month has given me alot of information I wasn't made aware of by the DVC rep at the tour.

Thanks to all you DVC members who take the time to answer all our newbie questions.

 

[Tigger031266]

While it is true that she could have said the wrong thing. It could be in your favor as well for the shift. If you like to stay Friday or Saturday nights, the points were reduced.

Of course, holiday weeks change every years so those will change (Easter...)

But changing between seasons could also lower or raise your points, depending on when you travel.

I doubt she was trying to mislead you. She probably just thought you did not have the brains to understand You know I am kidding. Sorry!

Serriously, DVC is great and this board is a good place to know the truth about club

 

[DebbieB]

hello all,

When on my tour a few years ago I was told that the points chart would never change. It seems to me that this in fact was not true. I'm reading all about point reallocations on the boards. If I were to purchase enough point to stay at say premire season for 1 week would the points needed ever go up from this? I understand that they can reduce the number of points on a weekend as long as the points are added to the weekdays. Does this mean that the week total stays the same?

The week total can change. The annual total for the entire resort has to stay the same.

The part that I did not know is they could shift the points between different room sizes. For example, the annual total for studios went up and the grand villas went down.

 

[joandegennaro]

While it is true that she could have said the wrong thing. It could be in your favor as well for the shift. If you like to stay Friday or Saturday nights, the points were reduced.

Of course, holiday weeks change every years so those will change (Easter...)

But changing between seasons could also lower or raise your points, depending on when you travel.

I doubt she was trying to mislead you. She probably just thought you did not have the brains to understand You know I am kidding. Sorry!

Serriously, DVC is great and this board is a good place to know the truth about club

No offence taken.

I agree with your last statement. It is only through my reading these boards that I have gotten a real sense of what DVC is all about. I really want to purchase however DH is not so sure. With all the problems with air flight I don't see us traveling to the Caribbean or even to Europe (where all my family is). Driving down seems to be the easiest and safest, at least for now. I think that DH might see the value after our first DVC trip this March. Here's hoping! If not he does at least see the value in renting points. This trip alone is a $700 savings renting points from a friend vs. Disney with the 45% off room only rate....just think of the savings without the discount.

 

[Tigger031266]

I agree with your last statement. It is only through my reading these boards that I have gotten a real sense of what DVC is all about. I really want to purchase however DH is not so sure. With all the problems with air flight I don't see us traveling to the Caribbean or even to Europe (where all my family is). Driving down seems to be the easiest and safest, at least for now. I think that DH might see the value after our first DVC trip this March. Here's hoping! If not he does at least see the value in renting points. This trip alone is a $700 savings renting points from a friend vs. Disney with the 45% off room only rate....just think of the savings without the discount.

Well, my wife is affraid to fly so we drive down 3 times per year about 1000 miles (from PA). It takes about 16 hours. But we are a family of 4. I figure it would be about 800 by air. We can get down in 1 day driving so it is just gas (and car wear) so it only cost about $300. Flying would still take about 6-7 hours. Driving also saves costs of rental cars. So for the extra 8 hours driving, I figure we save about 1K.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Well, my wife is affraid to fly so we drive down 3 times per year about 1000 miles (from PA). It takes about 16 hours. But we are a family of 4. I figure it would be about 800 by air. We can get down in 1 day driving so it is just gas (and car wear) so it only cost about $300. Flying would still take about 6-7 hours. Driving also saves costs of rental cars. So for the extra 8 hours driving, I figure we save about 1K.

Plus you get to pack whatever you need and nobody is checking your underwear for explosives. We now take the Auto Train From Lorton to Orlando. Takes a little longer and costs a bit more, but we love the train.

 

[mckryan]

FWIW, we bought 270 points at BCV in 2003. We bought that many because it gave us 1 week in a 1 bedroom villa during Magic season. While the points have been reallocated, in 2010 it is still 270 points to stay in a 1 bedroom at BCV during Magic season.

 

[whitfamily]

We actually found the shift in 2010 to be in our favor or a break even in most cases.

But, in Virginia we have to capability to utilize the last two weeks of August, and for 2009 and 2010 first week of September, because our schools do not legally begin before Labor Day. We also get a four-day weekend in January separate from MLK Day, which is usually a very cheap time as well.

One of the other posters is correct, the goal is to drive members to non-peak times for DVC, which is not always the same as non-peak times for the parks themselves. If we don't fill the resorts for most of the year than the system does not work properly.

 

[Tigger031266]

Plus you get to pack whatever you need and nobody is checking your underwear for explosives.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Plus you get to pack whatever you need and nobody is checking your underwear for explosives.

At my age, that's the highlight of the trip!