thinking dvc but have questions

[excitedmom]

*disclaimer: already posted this to several other boards but am trying to cover all my bases *

we were at disney for the first time last sept and LOVED it! we took some brochures for dvc but didn't really understand how it worked. we got more info in the mail and have really been thinking hard about it but we have a few questions
1. if we were to buy now when would they expire?
2. if we bought now would we be able to use the points this year
3. how often do the "points per night" go up? it's 95/wk for saratoga springs for example right now, how much will that go up in the next few years?
4. we were really interested in the 400 places worldwide that we could go but seen on a different site that we have to find someone to use our points or something to that effect, how difficult is it to use out points or trade our points for different vacations worldwide?

 

[tinkgrl]

Originally posted by excitedmom
*disclaimer: already posted this to several other boards but am trying to cover all my bases *

we were at disney for the first time last sept and LOVED it! we took some brochures for dvc but didn't really understand how it worked. we got more info in the mail and have really been thinking hard about it but we have a few questions
1. if we were to buy now when would they expire?
2. if we bought now would we be able to use the points this year
3. how often do the "points per night" go up? it's 95/wk for saratoga springs for example right now, how much will that go up in the next few years?
4. we were really interested in the 400 places worldwide that we could go but seen on a different site that we have to find someone to use our points or something to that effect, how difficult is it to use out points or trade our points for different vacations worldwide?

Hi,

I'll try & help!!!

1. If you bought Sarasosta Spring (currently what you can buy through Disney) it expires in 2054. If you buy a resale @ any of the other 6 resorts it expires in 2042. So by buying SSR you get 12 extra years.

2. You don't have to sell back this your points for the $$ that goes towards your mortage. But you could always burrow from 2005 to go now.

3. Points can't go up @ the 6 DVC resorts. It will pretty stay the same.

4. I don't know much about trading. I do know that most members only do it every so often, as it uses a lot of your points!! Most members like to conserve points but they are yours to do as you wish. Good Luck!!!

Allison an associate

 

[JeffPort]

1.) If you buy through Disney, your only choice is Saratoga Springs and you'll get a lease through 2054. If you buy a resale property for one of the other resorts, your lease will expire in 2042.

2.) If you buy through Disney, it will depend on which special offer you apply to your purchase. One of the offers gives up the current year points. If you buy a resale property, it will depend on what points have been used on the account. All resales will list the current point status in the listing. The best properties will not only have points for use this year, but will also have "banked" points from last year that you can add on to your first stay.

3.) Point charts for the resorts are never allowed to "go up." Disney is allowed to shuffle the point mix up (raising the points for one type of room or time period and lowering them for another by an equal amount). However, the total number of points for a particular resort cannot change -- meaning that your point cost is essentially fixed for the DVC resorts. Disney has only shuffled point charts a few times in its 12 year history. The points for the other Disney properties (including the cruise and Disneyland) can go up every year.

4.) I can't fully answer this one as we are new members and have never made an exchange through II. (I doubt that we ever will.) I can tell you that my understanding is that you simply call DVC member services. They will take enough of your points to cover a 1 or 2 bedroom DVC resort stay for 7 days. (That is your "exchange.") They will then put that in inventory and try to match up your room with your request for another resort. (There is also a $95 fee to make the exchange.)

Best of luck to you on your decision. Feel free to use these boards to gain more insight into DVC. They were invaluable to us when we were trying to make a decision on whether or not DVC was right for our family.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by JeffPort
Disney has only shuffled point charts a few times in its 12 year history. The points for the other Disney properties (including the cruise and Disneyland) do go up every year.

The DVC point charts were only re-allocated once in the history of the program, and that was back in 1996.

Points costs for non-DVC properties can change annually, but they haven't ALWAYS gone up.