To add or not to add...

[Disneyflyer]

My DW and I became new members at BCV a year ago with 150 pts. We have two DD's, 6 and 2 1/2. I am seriously considering a 100 pt add on to give us more flexibility with room size and time of year. I'm putting together a "sales presentation" for my DW to convince her it's the right thing to do.

If some of you would help me with a Top 10 list of reasons to add on I would be much appreciative!

 

[ncligs]

Disneyflyer....fellow "buckeye", I will list a few reasons and others will probably join in.

1.with 2 kids a 1 or 2BR will be better down the road when the kids are older.
2.Before prices go up($84 now.......$74 MB"s at BCV)
3.Memories that will last a lifetime.
4.No one sleeps on a couch in a 1 or 2BR....

P.S. I see you are a pilot

2 other DVC members that post here are pilots also(Maistre Gracey and Madcoco)

 

[nisiemouse]

I think as the kids get older you will definately want a 1 or 2 bedrooom. When they get older you may be forced to go during higher point times due to school. We have taken my dd out until now when she will be entering 4th grade and it is getting too difficult. Good luck with your "presentation".

 

[mamarobin24]

We just bought 150 points at VWL. We should have bought more. As I am trying to plan our first trip home, I'm getting frustrated because:

1. we have to go when school is out - everything in more points then.

2. we need at least a 1 bedroom. DS (14.5) is 6' tall right now, and can no longer sleep on a little bed.

3. as they get even older, both kids have asked to bring friends - we don't have enough points for a 2 bedroom unless we go every other year.

4. I can't get enough of Disney and I need to go EVERY year.

5. as your family gets older, the concierge collection and other good things cost lots and lots of points.

6. you can give each kid a honeymoon at Disney with your points, but you need to be able to keep enough for your own trips.

7. the price keeps going up. If we'd bought in 1999, it was about $12 cheaper a point. (or something like that)

8. you can always sell them back if you find you don't use them, and the resale market is quite good. Disney does not go out of style.

ok, gotta go to work.

 

[labr]

My DH and I became members of the DVC last summer during a visit to Disney World. We started with 150 points. However, during discussions on the drive home - Ohio - we convinced each other that we needed more points and added on 100. Now we are considering another add-on. The reasons to have at least 250 are too many to count. Our main reason was to be able to travel to Disney World EVERY YEAR and stay for at least 7 days. We love it there and cannot think of a better place to vacation.

Also, my DH and I consider this a "retirement home". Even though this is a long way away - DD only 8 yrs old - we are looking at the future. We are thinking that we would like to stay for two weeks or be able to go twice a year - hence the thought for add-on. If you consider the cost vs the benefit - it is a VERY reasonable retirement home. We even told our DD that she should consider colleges that are "on the way" to Disney World so we could visit her on our way there. Needless to say, she doesn't plan on our visiting Disney World unless she is with us.

Good luck on your decision but I would highly recommend at least 100 more points.

 

[ZerasPride]

I just wanted to add the "extended family" factor. That is what I will probably use to try to persuade DH that an add-on is practical for us. My sister and her husband traveled with us last year to Hilton Head and we gifted them a one bedroom villa. They loved it and we loved being able to share our DVC with them. But now we are points poor and they are asking if they can go with us again in 2004. We have the Disney cruise booked for this year and they (and us too) are disappointed we will not be vacationing together. If we added on another 50-100 points, then when we do want to "treat" family or friends the extra points will be there.

Plus, I have a feeling we are going to like the cruise and will want to cruise on points again in the future. Just thought I'd give you another "practical" reason to add-on!

 

[jel0511]

We started with 175 points and have since added on twice, 50 points each time. Our total is now 275, and I think we're done. We have two children and only plan to visit during the summers, so 275 is enough for 7 nights in a one bedroom or 6 nights in a 2 bedroom. We do like to try out different resorts, but don't like switching. We wanted to get basically a week in the summer, without having to move out for the weekends. We've done it before and it just doesn't work for us. As I did to convince my DH, use the old, "I don't want to take the kids out of school line." It worked for me, since I knew DH is COMPLETELY against taking kids out of school for vacations.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I've been wondering the same thing. My guide just called to let me know that my use year is almost gone. I have 175 points. I like to go for a week each year. This year I am getting a 1 bedroom (I borrowed from next year's points) because I know I won't be going to WDW for at least 18 months after this trip, so I could afford to borrow. (I have a cruise scheduled in between to get my Disney fix, lol.)

You could still get a one bedroom each year if you didn't stay an entire week at a time. You could stay 5 days during Magic season in a one bedroom for 150 points. No borrowing needed.

This is the reasoning I'm telling myself now. I only have 1 kid (so far, but you never know) right now, so I could make do in a studio also.

Don't you hate when someone plays devil's advocate?

I still don't have my mind totally made up. Another 100 points would be nice, but it's also $7400 not to mention $400 in dues each year.

 

[littlestar]

We are giving our daughter a great honeymoon! Something we could not do without our DVC membership.

We started out with 150 at VWL, then added 60 at the Beach Club, and just recently added 50 more at VWL. Is 260 enough? I hope so. Although, I wouldn't mind having about 30 more at Beach Club.

 

[tvwalsh]

I would suggest (even though Disney doesn't) that you present the purchase as an investment. I bought back in 1992. I sold Disney stock to raise the money to join DVC. Would you like to guess which has appreciated more in value since then? You are right. The DVC purchase. The Disney stock is pretty much back to the price it was in 1992. The first DVC points I bought were $52 each!

 

[DMDSTPRGIL]

Good luck in your quest. If you plan on going to WDW at least every other year,do yourself a favor and add on now. Having extra points to allow your a larger room or rooms is well worth it. At first its just great being able to stay on Disney property and you really don't mind the small rooms. But if you start planning to stay longer and longer, two weeks in a studio does wear you thin. In 1998 we bought 204 points at the BWV. After staying there a couple of times we bought another 100 points. Well after staying in a studio for 16 nights my my wife looked at me and said it would be much better if we had a one bedroom,just what I was thinking. Wanting to keep all the points together we bought another 250 points at the BWV in an after market sale,same use year and everthing. It allows us to stay in a one bedroom everytime we come down there, it is such a big differance when staying there for more then a couple of days at a time. So do yourself a favor and just do it. When you finnally do you will kick yourself for not doing it earlier. Good Luck Again DM

 

[Disneyflyer]

Thanks very much for everyone's help and insight! There are some great points here. My printer is running while I'm typing this response. I think I'll spread these posts on our bed along with a dozen roses and some of the kid's Disney stuffed animals!! Oh yeah, and a big sign that says PLEASE!

Hey ncligs, I have corresponded with Maistre Gracey. We're actually in a very similiar line of work. Haven't talked to madcoco yet. Go Bucks!

 

[mikayla'sMom]

We bought 170 points last March at the BCV. We just added on 51 points at BCV. I had a tuff time talking my husband into going every year, instead of every other year. We know we won't be able to go next year, so this year we are staying at the BCV for 2 full weeks in a 1 Bedroom. After this we will have enough points to go 6 nights and stay in a 2 bedroom. I actually had a hard time talking my husband into going with a 1 bedroom instead of a 2 bedroom. Last year we had my Mom and her husband stay with us in a 2 bedroom and it sure was nice. Prior to buying DVC, we stayed in 1 bedroom villas. Our daughter is 3 and we enjoy having her seperate from us. We purchased the extra points to give us a 2 bedroom so that we could still enjoy the living/kitchen area after she went to bed. Also, I won't have to worry about waking her when I do laundry or run the dishwasher. We plan on having another child and I figure friends will come eventually. We will need the extra room in the future. In two years we are taking my inlaws. Also, I fugured if I ran into trouble, I could always rent the points. Also I really want to take the cruise! Good Luck!

 

[madcoco]

Welcome Home Disneyflyer. Taking a guess here. Do you work for Netjets?

 

[Disneyflyer]

Thanks Madcoco! You are correct. I guess Columbus tipped you off huh. How about yourself?

 

[madcoco]

Sent you a PM

 

[icydog]

Now you've got me thinking. Is 200 enough? I want to be able to reserve a two bdrrm in summers for my grandkids. I used to have their parents take them out of school to come to Disney but now they are bigger and they just can't do it. I think I am going to sell my 290 BWV and buy more BCV. We thought we could sell part of the contract but have since found out this is't allowed. Between bwv and BCV I will take BCV any day.

 

[lisareniff]

There is nothing worse than lying awake on your bed at 9:00pm in the dark so your children will sleep. Night after night.

We have a 7 yr old and a 18 month old. With two rooms you can have a sleep room and an awake room in the evenings. I know the 1 bedroom won't really work for too long. Soon both will want their own beds and friends would be tagging along. I knew we were going toward a 2 bedroom soon.

And then there is school vacations....

I think you have a good case!

You can always sell them, rent them out or bring along friends and family.

-Lisa

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Hay fellow Buckeye,
You might want to plan out e few vacations using the point charts to help see what you'll need for a two bedroom in the future. That will help you deterimine how many points you'll need. Perhaps that's 75. Then you can show the difference in cost from going from 75 to 100 to get the MB. If it's not worth it, then you can always go for the 75. Maybe that's 60. Either way, you'll have more points. You'll want to buy before they are sold out, smaller addons are very hard to come by.

Caskbill's program can be a great help in poking around with some potential vacation plans and types of accomodations.

So, which airfiield do you fly out of, Don Scott field? Then your probably flying over our Hilliard estate...... It's not just a trailer, it's a double-wide.... our firebird is up on blocks in the front next to the decorative bathtub in the yard....

 

[Disneyflyer]

Hey Cpt, your bathtub looks like a whirlpool hot tub from up in the air!! Paint the words "welcome home" on your roof so I can be sure which one is yours! We actually operate out of Port Columbus.

Thanks again everyone for all the ideas. DW is going to sleep on it, but I think it's a go. I'll be sure to post the results when they come in!!!