Talk Me Out of Adding On Extra Points

[npatellye]

We decided to finally add on. We were sold on adding on 100 at SSR or OKW direct since there’s almost no difference right now with resale prices. My husband was was the one who convinced me that, for a minimal difference, it was better to have unrestricted points and not stress ROFR.

We spent a night at Jambo this last trip an now my husband wants to add on at AKV. But he told me this evening he wants to add on 150-160 resale because he thinks having the extra 50-60 points for not much more than the cost of 100 direct (at SSR or OKW) will give us a bit of breathing room, especially as our kids get older (recently turned 8 and soon to be 6) and we can no longer pull them out of school for trips once the older one enters 4th grade. He thinks we will end up either being spring or Thanksgiving trip takers because of the way their academic calendar tends to be up here in CT.

How do I convince him we don’t need those extra points? Do we need those extra points?

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

I'm with you there as well! Seeing the VGF addition coming, I want to try to add cheap points! This isn't helping, is it? I'm trying to be patient and go resale. Maybe resale gets cheaper in the next month or so.

 

[princesscinderella]

We love AKV kidani that extra bathroom when the kids get older is invaluable. I think more points is always better .

 

[npatellye]

I'm with you there as well! Seeing the VGF addition coming, I want to try to add cheap points! This isn't helping, is it? I'm trying to be patient and go resale. Maybe resale gets cheaper in the next month or so.

We may be in the minority here but the VGF addition is actually not of interest to us. We just spent 7 nights in a 2 bedroom at VGF. The kids liked it fine. My MIL loved it because she has always dreamed of staying at GF and she got to do that for free (we took her and my FIL). My husband and I decided VGF was definitely a one and done for us. I expected to fall in love with it but it just wasn’t for me, which surprised me to no end. I think resale may keep climbing a bit, especially if they raise direct prices.

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

We love AKV kidani that extra bathroom when the kids get older is invaluable. I think more points is always better .

OH CRAP! I didn't even think of this. Welp...

 

[npatellye]

We love AKV kidani that extra bathroom when the kids get older is invaluable. I think more points is always better .

Oh man, you’re going to get me to agree with my husband I’m trying to talk him around to our original plan of 100 direct at OKW or SSR.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

How many points (x) do you have now and which home resort?

Look at the points charts to see if you need x+100 or x+160. Also think about what those extra 60 points would cost in maintenance fees - an extra $600/year in the near future. You also might only plan to be pulling the kids out of school for 5-10 years of a 50 year contract, so 100 more might be enough.

It looks like AKL has a $6/point incentive for existing members if you add 150 points. Maybe you end up buying 150 direct at AKL.

Also, are we supposed to be talking you out of this entirely, or just helping you decide 100 direct SSR/OKW or 150 resale AKL?

 

[Heather07438]

Also, are we supposed to be talking you out of this entirely, or just helping you decide 100 direct SSR/OKW or 150 resale AKL?

Yeah . Are we talking you out of extra points or the extra extra points?

 

[npatellye]

How many points (x) do you have now and which home resort?

Look at the points charts to see if you need x+100 or x+160. Also think about what those extra 60 points would cost in maintenance fees - an extra $600/year in the near future. You also might only plan to be pulling the kids out of school for 5-10 years of a 50 year contract, so 100 more might be enough.

It looks like AKL has a $6/point incentive for existing members if you add 150 points. Maybe you end up buying 150 direct at AKL.

Also, are we supposed to be talking you out of this entirely, or just helping you decide 100 direct SSR/OKW or 150 resale AKL?

We have 200 at Riviera. I definitely think 100 is enough at either OKW or SSR. I probably could use the 150-160 resale my husband wants just to have some extra to bank or to cover the changing point charts or maybe to add an extra day to our trips. I don’t think we will be pulling the kids out two years from now and either summer or Thanksgiving would probably be the most likely times for us to go, unless we shift to Christmas or bank on them having a long weekend when I’m on spring break from work in March.

I’m trying to talk my husband out of the 150-160 he thinks we need resale at AKV. His rationale actually does make sense to me (why buy only 100 direct when you can add on 150-160 for only a tiny bit more) but I just don’t really think we need the extra 50-60 points. I think we would be okay with 100 point direct add on.

 

[npatellye]

Yeah . Are we talking you out of extra points or the extra extra points?

Oh I need extra points for sure I need to be talked out of extra extra points so I can talk my husband out of extra extra points.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

We have 200 at Riviera. I definitely think 100 is enough at either OKW or SSR. I probably could use the 150-160 resale my husband wants just to have some extra to bank or to cover the changing point charts or maybe to add an extra day to our trips. I don’t think we will be pulling the kids out two years from now and either summer or Thanksgiving would probably be the most likely times for us to go, unless we shift to Christmas or bank on them having a long weekend when I’m on spring break from work in March.

I’m trying to talk my husband out of the 150-160 he thinks we need resale at AKV. His rationale actually does make sense to me (why buy only 100 direct when you can add on 150-160 for only a tiny bit more) but I just don’t really think we need the extra 50-60 points. I think we would be okay with 100 point direct add on.

Here's another thing to consider: the Home Resort Advantage. Do you really want OKW or SSR, or do you really want AKV? Or are you mostly getting Sleep Around Points for the 7-month mark? All three of those resorts tend to have reliable availability at the 7-month mark for much of the year, but you are mentioning going in the fall. You'll likely need that home resort advantage at that time of year.

Also, since you have Riviera for your other points, do you want to have restricted points to manage or points that play nicely together? (This assumes your new contract is the same use year and people on the deed.)

 

[npatellye]

Here's another thing to consider: the Home Resort Advantage. Do you really want OKW or SSR, or do you really want AKV? Or are you mostly getting Sleep Around Points for the 7-month mark? All three of those resorts tend to have reliable availability at the 7-month mark for much of the year, but you are mentioning going in the fall. You'll likely need that home resort advantage at that time of year.

Also, since you have Riviera for your other points, do you want to have restricted points to manage or points that play nicely together? (This assumes your new contract is the same use year and people on the deed.)

Oh I really like OKW and SSR. I also like AKV. I love being away from the parks for part of every trip. They’re all places I would love to do a split stay every year and would be totally content. I can’t imagine we will keep this add on contract forever. It’s more of a stopgap to get us through the next 10-15 years. But I think we could just as easily do that with 100 direct points instead of the 150-160 resale points. Though I supposed having the extra 50-60 would cover any potential points increases for a little while.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Oh I really like OKW and SSR. I also like AKV. I love being away from the parks for part of every trip. They’re all places I would love to do a split stay every year and would be totally content. I can’t imagine we will keep this add on contract forever. It’s more of a stopgap to get us through the next 10-15 years. But I think we could just as easily do that with 100 direct points instead of the 150-160 resale points. Though I supposed having the extra 50-60 would cover any potential points increases for a little while.

Here are some more things to ponder:

What if you get 100 direct points as your add-on, then decide to sell the 200 Riviera when you downsize? You'd lose your blue card. You could avoid this by adding-on 125 direct (or 150 to get to the incentives).

Maybe you get the 150 resale and then you sell your Riviera; you'd lose your blue card.

In both of these scenarios, you'd also have a contract that expires earlier than Riviera would.

If you plan to sell in the 10-15 year time period, you'd have a better chance of recouping most of your outlay costs by buying resale for your add-on, and keeping your Riviera.

 

[npatellye]

Here are some more things to ponder:

What if you get 100 direct points as your add-on, then decide to sell the 200 Riviera when you downsize? You'd lose your blue card. You could avoid this by adding-on 125 direct (or 150 to get to the incentives).

Maybe you get the 150 resale and then you sell your Riviera; you'd lose your blue card.

In both of these scenarios, you'd also have a contract that expires earlier than Riviera would.

If you plan to sell in the 10-15 year time period, you'd have a better chance of recouping most of your outlay costs by buying resale for your add-on, and keeping your Riviera.

You make good points. Our Riviera is split into two contracts of 100 points each, which are both blue card eligible since they were purchased in 2019. You’re right though, and so is my husband (darn it). It does make sense to buy the 150-160 resale instead of 100 direct. Oh it pains me to say this because he will never cease to remind of that time I said he was right

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

You make good points. Our Riviera is split into two contracts of 100 points each, which are both blue card eligible since they were purchased in 2019. You’re right though, and so is my husband (darn it). It does make sense to buy the 150-160 resale instead of 100 direct. Oh it pains me to say this because he will never cease to remind of that time I said he was right

I was just trying to give counter points to consider for most things you were saying. Good luck making the right choice for your family.

 

[WestCoastDVC]

Why not get only 100 points resale at AKV? You would be right regarding amount of points needed and he would be right on savings through resale (also saves some maintenance fees)

 

[sethschroeder]

If you want more points then skip AKV and stick with SSR resale.

Also one night at AKV is much different than a good amount of your trip. Would you just split stay 1-2 nights when you go to AK?

 

[RanDIZ]

You can ever go wrong with more points. You can offset maintenance fees and rent extra points out. I also don’t think it’s mentioned enough how hard it will be booking future resorts at the 7 month mark. It’s bad enough trying for certain O14 DVC now. So as far as restrictions go, I wouldn’t be too concerned. I also wouldn’t be mad if the only place I could stay was AKV. So if buying resale means having AKV as your home, I’d definitely do it. Point friendly, arguably the best restaurants on property and a savanna.

 

[npatellye]

Why not get only 100 points resale at AKV? You would be right regarding amount of points needed and he would be right on savings through resale (also saves some maintenance fees)

This is a good compromise. I will need to see what the price difference is on 100 points direct versus resale.

 

[npatellye]

If you want more points then skip AKV and stick with SSR resale.

Also one night at AKV is much different than a good amount of your trip. Would you just split stay 1-2 nights when you go to AK?

We’ve done Kidani before for 8 nights (before buying DVC) and we liked it. But he says he really liked Jambo. We would probably do split stays for 3-4 days for the latter part of our trip to have some downtime.

I definitely prefer the parking at SSR and the proximity to DS.