Thinking of buying in - Does this sound like a good plan?

[samples78]

I have been wanting to buy into DVC for at least a couple of years now, but the time has not been right. My family (DH, me, and 3 DD) as well as my parents are planning a trip for the end of May, beginning of June 2011 and I think now would be the best time to buy so that we will have the points for this trip. I have rented points twice in the past - once for the group above in a BCV 2 bdrm in May 2009, and my DH and I stayed for 3 nights in a studio at AKV this past May. We loved both trips.

Here is where I would like your advice. I am planning to buy a small contract (around 50-75 pts) at SSR that will have enough (or almost enough) points to cover our trip in 2011 using banking and borrowing (I am thinking of a standard 2 bedroom at AKV for 5 weeknights for 175 points). I have the cash to cover the upfront cost and will only be left with a small monthly payment for dues ($20-30 a month). I would then transfer in the remaining points needed for the reservation, or if the gap is small enough, pay the $15 a point from Disney. Does this sound like a decent plan? Any problems you can foresee? I do understand that the room I want might not be available at 7 months, but I would also be OK with other locations if needed.

I am thinking this will be a good way for our family to see if DVC works for us (well for my husband, I already know it would work for me ) without having to sacrifice to much money up front as well as not being stuck with too much in the way of yearly dues. My plan would be to use the points either for short stays in a studio (either for an adults only getaway or for myself and my daughters) or to bank and borrow points for longer family gatherings. Then, hopefully, an add-on will be in our future in a few years.

 

[robert@dvcstore]

Your plan sounds like a good one to me. We have many buyers call the Timeshare Store, Inc.® and do the very same thing, start with small contracts to "try it out" and then add more points to their membership in the years to come.

It seems you have a good background of DVC and staying at a DVC resort. Since Animal Kingdom Villas is the 3rd largest DVC resort at WDW, I think you have a fairly good chance of getting that 2 bedroom at the 7th month window (depending on the time of year).

Good luck and here's hoping you have many years of DVC memories.

Robert

 

[Tigger031266]

I would then transfer in the remaining points needed for the reservation, or if the gap is small enough, pay the $15 a point from Disney.

I am not sure that Disney does this.

My advice is that depending on yor use year, you shuold be able to do your plan. So if your use year is June, you will get your first 75 points in June 2010(past), another 75 points June 2011 (for your trip) and be able to borrow 75 points rom 2012 for your trip. That should give you 225 points.

I am no expert though but I would work with your guide.

 

[william1375]

Looks like a good plan. I assume its resale for the SSR points?

 

[wdwnut]

Would you be okay if you cannot get to stay at Kidani or Jambo and can only stay at SSR? It is sometimes hard to get what you want at the 7 month mark. If you'll be content to stay at SSR, then go for it.

 

[samples78]

Would you be okay if you cannot get to stay at Kidani or Jambo and can only stay at SSR? It is sometimes hard to get what you want at the 7 month mark. If you'll be content to stay at SSR, then go for it.

We would be fine with SSR, although it would not be our first choice for this trip. I guess we would be following the philosophy of buying where you don't mind staying. For us, the advantage of low buy in cost, low dues and later expiration are enough to "risk" not having our first choice of accommodation. Also, we are pretty flexible with our travel schedule and I feel confident that we could always find something we like (actually I don't think there is a resort I would mind being "stuck" at - they are all lovely and I would like to visit every one). My ideal plan would be to buy a smaller SSR contract now, and if everything works well for us, save up for a few years and buy a larger contract at whatever resort we see ourselves wanting to visit the most (probably AKV or BLT, or if there is ever DVC at GF that would be perfect ).

 

[ToddyLu]

Keep in mind you can only buy the $15 points from DVC at the 7 month mark...so it wouldn't help at your 11 month booking window. That might limit your resort choices or room options, transferring in would be better if you want the 11 month booking window. Other than that I think yu have a well thought out plan. Life happens so you never know, but you definitely seem to understand use of points realistically. Good Luck!!

 

[ecualumni06]

This is actually my plan to by like 50-75 points. See if I really like it and then purchase more in the near future. I have agonized on whether this is a good plan or not. When I spoke with CM at the DVC line the other day they said you could buy in at 50 points being a newbie and you could bank 2009 points, I am assuming that you will get 2010 points and 2011 is around the corner. So you could possibly have 150-225 points by 2011. My only other question is if your UY is say october november doesn't that hurt you if you want to book a vacation for say October or november in Febuary. So you wold not have access to those points until the month of october.

 

[LJM721]

I just recently did the same thing with a BLT contract. Banked 2010 points and borrowed 2012 points and booked a 2br villa at BLT in 2011. Good luck with your plan.