Starting off small??

[5mouseketeersforus]

This is a really odd question; and my brain is still a little mushy with a newborn but........if we are thinking of buying at WDW - but still not 100% sure, would it make sense to buy a really low amount of points (25 pts for less than $2K), continue staying on site and go annually or every other year and then decide once we have checked out a few places in detail??? By purchasing just 25pts, then "technically speaking" we are DVC members so we can take advantage of all of those awesome member benefits (discounts, etc) but still not be locked in with big $$$????

Has anyone done this?? Buying resale of course.

 

[chalee94]

i would recommend starting with a 40-50 pt contract as 25 pts is really too small for much of anything, but yeah...if all you need is a studio, that can be a great way to start.

i did the same thing. i have a small contract for my DVC trips and bought a different timeshare to trade for non-disney trips...

 

[disneynutz]

This is a really odd question; and my brain is still a little mushy with a newborn but........if we are thinking of buying at WDW - but still not 100% sure, would it make sense to buy a really low amount of points (25 pts for less than $2K), continue staying on site and go annually or every other year and then decide once we have checked out a few places in detail??? By purchasing just 25pts, then "technically speaking" we are DVC members so we can take advantage of all of those awesome member benefits (discounts, etc) but still not be locked in with big $$$????

Has anyone done this?? Buying resale of course.

Buying small IMO is a very smart thing to do, problem is small contracts are hard to find and sell at a premium.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

i would add that i would NOT buy in at vero beach or hilton head if you intend to stay onsite at wdw. go ahead on buy onsite at SSR or OKW...

 

[5mouseketeersforus]

Thanks all!

With 5 kids, i think we would need more than a studio but then again, with 5 kids, i can't afford more than 50pts right now LOL

I am wishing i had figured this out sooner as we leave for our trip in just over 3 weeks so no time to buy anything and have it all finalized before then

 

[chalee94]

I am wishing i had figured this out sooner as we leave for our trip in just over 3 weeks so no time to buy anything and have it all finalized before then

DVC is not for everyone. if you can't use the accommodations, that is all you are really promised with DVC. the perks and discounts will come and go - i would not buy in for those.

have fun on your trip...

 

[MrShiny]

Well, I won't urge you to go into debt, but I think you will find 100-150 point contract (or contracts) will be better (even if you don't buy from DVC - and if the things like RCI trades or DCL aren't important to you, then that's fine).

Disney does have one advantage in very easy financing that is not reported to credit bureaus. It is a higher rate of course, but don't forget in most cases you can deduct the interest from your taxes (not a tax pro here, so take that as just my experience).

Studios run from about 10 points (OKW 2014 Jan, Sep, early Dec weekdays) to 38 points (BLT theme park, weekend Easter/Christmas).

One tactic a number of folks use is have enough points for you vacations plus enough to rent to pay your dues. As rentals are about double dues in most cases, that would mean having twice as many points as you "need."

So if you are planning a 3 night stay off season for 30 points each year, buy 60 points and rent the other 30 to pay your dues.

If you already own a home (and aren't underwater on your mortgage!) a credit line can be a very economical way to finance a purchase too.

 

[MrShiny]

It sounds like one of those 5 kids is a baby, so you could do a studio until the child is 2. You could always add-on then!

Also, if you don't buy from Disney, the only thing you miss out on are trading for non-DVC. I believe you'd still be a member for discount purposes. Also the closing costs might be high and financing might not be as easy.

 

[disneybass]

This is a really odd question; and my brain is still a little mushy with a newborn but........if we are thinking of buying at WDW - but still not 100% sure, would it make sense to buy a really low amount of points (25 pts for less than $2K), continue staying on site and go annually or every other year and then decide once we have checked out a few places in detail??? By purchasing just 25pts, then "technically speaking" we are DVC members so we can take advantage of all of those awesome member benefits (discounts, etc) but still not be locked in with big $$$????

Has anyone done this?? Buying resale of course.

Lots of folks start with a small resale and just test the waters to see if it is right for your family without a huge investment. We started with a 50 point resale in 2006 and added on 3 small contracts over the years as we needed them.

 

[chalee94]

It sounds like one of those 5 kids is a baby, so you could do a studio until the child is 2.

not accurate.

2 adults + 4 kids over 3 = 6 (+1 under 3).

studio occupancy maxes out at 4 + 1 under 3.

 

[myxdvz]

not accurate.

2 adults + 4 kids over 3 = 6 (+1 under 3).

studio occupancy maxes out at 4 + 1 under 3.

I was just gonna say this! Not a family of 5, but 5 kids (family of 7).

We were a family of 5 when we purchased so I budgeted for 1 BR.

But now we're a family of 6, so we only have 2 more years in a 1BR, then w have to start looking at 2BRs.

You can always rent the point you need for this years trip. Then bank what you have from the resale this year for next year.

 

[DizBub]

Ok, with 5 kids I'm assuming that's a party of 7. Studios aren't going to work for you and some of the 1brs won't be near big enough. I'm pretty sure they won't even let you book anything less than a 2br in a couple of years. My daughter took 4 of her kids and stayed in a 1br at SSR and it was tight.

If you can find a 25 point contract, and that's a big "if", jump on it. You can use your membership for whatever discounts they offer, but there's not that many. Plus those "perks" come and go.

Good Luck and have a good time on your trip!!

 

[5mouseketeersforus]

Wow! Thanks for all the input.

There are a few 25pt contracts at BLT IIRC?
May have to look at this in more detail.
I do like the concept of testing the waters a little bit at a time.

 

[momto3pirates]

Have you looked to see what 25 points will get you though? You will need a 2 bdr at BLT and 25 points even with banking and borrowing will not get you many nights. I am not trying to discourage you but also don't want you to waste money. The "extras" are really not worth it if you can't use the points to book a vacation. I would wait until you can buy a larger contract, then jump in.

 

[5mouseketeersforus]

Yep! Lots to discuss and lots to learn from all of you here. I will be spending any free moments reading all about it!

I am convinced that we will need to start small. Just need to figure out the lowest amount we can get away with - and yet enough for what we need. My sig shows the kids ages but I am pretty sure a 2BD will be what we are looking for.

So if we are looking for a 2BD - I think BLT would be at a premium? So better to look at other resorts, correct?

Sorry - this is probably not the right sub-board for all of these questions is it? If not - maybe someone could re-direct me?

 

[chalee94]

OKW is probably the best value for 2BR villas onsite. you might take a look at those.

have you looked into the value suites? i don't know what the occupancy limits are there.

if you are not completely determined to stay onsite, windsor hills has some rental homes and several offsite timeshares have some 2BR and 3BR villas for more reasonable prices than DVC.

just some ideas...

 

[staceymay00]

Thanks all!

With 5 kids, i think we would need more than a studio but then again, with 5 kids, i can't afford more than 50pts right now LOL

I am wishing i had figured this out sooner as we leave for our trip in just over 3 weeks so no time to buy anything and have it all finalized before then

Look into OKW and see if it appeals to you. We have three kids...we could stay in a 1BR at OKW, but we stay in 2BRs for the extra space and 2nd bathroom. The villas at OKW are more spacious than at other resorts and the point cost is lower. A 2BR at OKW tends to require about the same number of points as a 1BR lake view at BLT. It is less expensive than other WDW resorts, both resale and direct. We happen to love OKW for many other reasons, but the point structure and cost are an added bonus. Other resorts with lower costs for 2BR units are BWV if you book standard view, and AKV booking value or standard view.

I recommend starting with more points since you'll need a 2BR, maybe 75 will work if you can travel during the lowest point cost seasons once every third trip or have a short trip every other year.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[5mouseketeersforus]

Awesome - thank you so much.

 

[Dean]

This is a really odd question; and my brain is still a little mushy with a newborn but........if we are thinking of buying at WDW - but still not 100% sure, would it make sense to buy a really low amount of points (25 pts for less than $2K), continue staying on site and go annually or every other year and then decide once we have checked out a few places in detail??? By purchasing just 25pts, then "technically speaking" we are DVC members so we can take advantage of all of those awesome member benefits (discounts, etc) but still not be locked in with big $$$????

Has anyone done this?? Buying resale of course.

While I'm generally a fan of buying less than more, I don't think simply buying 25 points just to figure out what you like and want to buy makes sense to me. I'd far rather see you rent or stay on cash until you're more comfortable with your possible choices. IF one were going to start smaller in this situation, it wouldn't be that low and it wouldn't be BLT. If this were my choice I'd buy enough to do a 2 BR at least every 3rd year that matches your normal trip situation as a MINIMUM.

BEST CHOICE - investigate over time then buy what fits your needs. Possibly renting along the way.
SECOND BEST CHOICE (assuming DVC makes sense and you can pay cash) - buy the cheapest WDW resort per year on an undersized contract, likely in the range of 100-150 points at SSR, OKW or AKV. That'll give you a 2 BR for a week every 2-3 years.
WORST CHOICE - buying VERY small at BLT in this situation.