Thinking of buying into DVC

[lovin'Mickey]

I am thinking of buying into the DVC family, howver I am a family of 5. I would like to visit for a full week when we vacation so if I bought SSR and stayed in March I would need 316 points each year to stay in the two bedroom! But if they would let me stay in the one bedroom it would only be 243 points. Do I have to stay in the two bedroom that sleeps 8 or will they let me have 5 in the one bedroom? Have any of you run into this problem and how did you handle it?

 

[Caskbill]

The official size of a 1-B/R is 'sleeps 4'.

However, DVC basically allows 5 in a 1-B/R, but now is strictly enforcing the 4 in a Studio.

This is all 'unofficial', that is, not in any type of contract. It's anyone's guess if they will continue this practice indefinitely or not.

They will not supply bedding for the 5th person. Many people bring an aerobed themselves, and some bedding, with them, and set up another bed on the floor.

Keep in mind that with the 2-B/R you not only get another bed, and another sleeper sofa, but you also get that extra bathroom. As your family grows you may want to consider more points later.

 

[paslea_pooh]

You could also get two studios which would be less points for you. We are a family of 6 and plan on going Sun-thurs or sun-fri, that way we're not using ALL of our points at once. I'd rather go every six months for 5 days then just once a year for 7-10.

You can also make ressies at OKW, they have the lowest points of all the DVC and very big rooms.

Alida

 

[sprite]

We are also a family of five. When we took the tour (August 2004) I asked, "so we have to always get a 2 bdr, because a one bdr will only sleep 4?" The guide told us in no uncertain terms that a family of five can use a 1 bdr.

 

[dianeschlicht]

A family of 5 can use a 1 bedroom, but keep in mind you will also only have 1 bathroom. To me a timeshare should be a vacation that is comfort based. Sharing a bathroom with 5 people doesn't fit that plan for me. It might work while you children are younger, but once you have a teen, it wont work nearly as well.

 

[lovin'Mickey]

Well now I am more confused... So we all agree the 2 bedroom is what I want or two studios, so are the studios joined by a door or is it like haveing 2 seperate rooms? And a lot of you say you do the shorter trips to save on points, great idea , but do you feel like you get your monies worth then with paying for 2 air travels? Also is it enough time to actually enjoy Disney going for 3-4 days?
Thanks for your help!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think someone has said that VB has some inn rooms that connect with an inside door, but the on site DVC's do not have studios that connect that way.

We are empty nesters and we do get our Disney fixes in smaller than weekly doses, but if I had my Dsons and families along, we would want at least 6 nights. That's another option I think, only 1 weekend night during the stay. Weekends tend to be crowded at WDW anyway, at least when we've been there.

Bobbi

 

[Pa@okw95]

The rules clearly state that a one bedroom max is 4 with one child under 3, with the wear and tear that is going on in these units I see in the very near future the max will be inforced. I would buy enough points for a 2 bedroom. I don't care what some saleman told someone about 5, that guide had no right to say to someone you can break the rules..You may want to consider going on 5 day vacations and only using your points for weekdays. It would cost you a lot less that way.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I would buy the 300 range, that way you would have enough points to stay in a two or 1-BR.

MS does allow 5 in a 1-BR, especially when they are small children. Aerobeds work fine in 1-BR units. We are a family of five and stay in both 1 or 2-BR units depending on our individulal plans for a given vacation. A 2 BR will be more comforatable when the kids get older and times when you know you will be spending more vacation time in and out of the unit...like a stay at VB or HH.

 

[lovin'Mickey]

I just got off the phone with a DVC rep and she said that they do allow 5 in a one bedroom and that they just had a meeting this past week to confirm that.Whoaaaa that means I could afford to go every year... now I just need to talk to hubby about it!!

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Don't buy a large contract. Buy the initial 150 min, then add on a 120 pt contract, so you can get the latest add on incentive.....100 one time use points and no maintenance fees until next year.

 

[tjkraz]

I just got off the phone with a DVC rep and she said that they do allow 5 in a one bedroom and that they just had a meeting this past week to confirm that.Whoaaaa that means I could afford to go every year... now I just need to talk to hubby about it!!

Don't mean to throw you a curve ball, but just realize that the paperwork you receive and sign WILL state that the maximum occupancy for a One Bedroom is 4 + a child under age 3. While DVC is allowing 5 occupants now, there really is no guarantee that will still be the case a month, a year or 40 years from now.

While DVC Guides do a pretty good job of selling the product, just remember that the only thing that really matters when all is said and done is what you have in writing. If you have the nerve, ask your Guide if your POS will list the occupancy limit she verbally communicated to you.

Also, as others have said, try to think long term. How will you fit in that room when your kids are 17, 16 and 12? Remember a One Bedroom has one King-Size bed plus a sofabed in the living room. How are three (near) teens going to share one sofabed? How long is it going to take you to get out of the room in the morning with 5 of you sharing a single bathroom?

DVC is a long-term investment so remember to think long-term. Prices keep inching higher while contracts get shorter. Would you rather pay $87 per point today for a few more points and get 49 years' worth of use from them, or pay $100+ five or ten years from now, getting that many less years from the points?

 

[lovin'Mickey]

What is the 120 pt add on contract???

 

[dianeschlicht]

There is currently a promotion for members that want to do an add on. You can add on a minimum of 120 points and get an additional 100 points for the current use year (one time). It does make sense to have two seperate contracts anyway, because if you should want to sell part of your points in the future, it will be easier. We have an initial 230 point contract and an add on 150 point contract. The minimum you could do is 150 initial and 120 for the add on with the current incentive. Having 270 points available annually and 370 for the first year would be your incentive. Both contracts are the same use year, and are treated as one, so there is no extra bookkeeping for you.

 

[r3ngels]

There is currently a promotion for members that want to do an add on. You can add on a minimum of 120 points and get an additional 100 points for the current use year (one time). It does make sense to have two seperate contracts anyway, because if you should want to sell part of your points in the future, it will be easier. We have an initial 230 point contract and an add on 150 point contract. The minimum you could do is 150 initial and 120 for the add on with the current incentive. Having 270 points available annually and 370 for the first year would be your incentive. Both contracts are the same use year, and are treated as one, so there is no extra bookkeeping for you.

Can you add on to your "home" resort of is it for SSR?

 

[tjkraz]

Can you add on to your "home" resort of is it for SSR?

The add-on must be at SSR. The bonus points will be at whatever resort you own the most points.

 

[r3ngels]

The add-on must be at SSR. The bonus points will be at whatever resort you own the most points.

thanks

 

[Tramp68]

Bonus points go to your master (1st) contract regardless of size..

 

[DVCIS4ME]

The first set of points we bought were for the VWL, which at that time still had open memberships as it had not yet sold out. We got enought so that we could stay at least 1 week in a studio anytime of year. Next we got a deal on some points at BWV so we added those in to the mix. We've used these "extra" points to swap out for stays at other hotels. We, in fact. are going to use them for next stay in San Francisco.
That's one of the great things about the DVC, the flexability that their point system has. .

 

[lovin'Mickey]

There is currently a promotion for members that want to do an add on. You can add on a minimum of 120 points and get an additional 100 points for the current use year (one time). It does make sense to have two seperate contracts anyway, because if you should want to sell part of your points in the future, it will be easier. We have an initial 230 point contract and an add on 150 point contract. The minimum you could do is 150 initial and 120 for the add on with the current incentive. Having 270 points available annually and 370 for the first year would be your incentive. Both contracts are the same use year, and are treated as one, so there is no extra bookkeeping for you.

SO do I get two seperate maintaince fees then if I buy 150 pts now and next month buy 150 plus the incentive of 100 one time points? Or is it one maintaince fee??