Traveling to other locations on DVC points

[irishpride]

I am still looking into buying DVC points but I am concerned that my family will be tied in to WDW resorts only. Does anyone have experience using the points for other vacation destinations. Thanks

 

[chalee94]

if you don't want to be tied into disney vacations, then DVC is not the best choice.

you can trade out with DVC, but other timeshares would be much cheaper - both upfront and annually in dues - if you aren't focused on staying onsite at wdw.

 

[speakupjc]

We have traded into a RCI resort in Va. Beach and have gone on about 6 Disney cruises. We love it. There are some that say that going on a cruise is not a good use of your points but we disagree. We find that we are taking vacations to places that we never would have been able to do without DVC (Med this summer and Alaska the next summer). We also take more leisurely vacations.

 

[speakupjc]

We also plan on going on a Adventures by Disney Trip. We were like you we didn't want to go to Disney World every year. We bought to do some trading and some stays on Disney properties. We have never regretted it and know that we are saving money. There are no other timeshares where you can use your points on Adventures By Disney and Disney cruises. Our advice is "Go for It" if you want to do cruises to exotic local (Med, Alaska etc.), Adventures By Disney, Disney resorts (They are building one in Hawaii! Plus there is Disneyland and Disney World.) You do not have to go to Disney World every year which was our biggest fear before buying in.

 

[Inkmahm]

I am still looking into buying DVC points but I am concerned that my family will be tied in to WDW resorts only. Does anyone have experience using the points for other vacation destinations. Thanks

IMHO, if you want to do Disney Cruises and Adventures by Disney in the future, don't buy DVC to get points just to do those. They are far cheaper to pay cash than use your points. If you plan to buy DVC, it makes more sense to plan to use your points at WDW.

 

[Dean]

I am still looking into buying DVC points but I am concerned that my family will be tied in to WDW resorts only. Does anyone have experience using the points for other vacation destinations. Thanks

Buying DVC to use for non DVC trips makes no sense at all. Just buy the points you'll use at DVC and look at other options for non Disney trips.

 

[AnnaS]

We are another family who has used some points for our 4 DCL cruises. We are a family of five and have always booked two cabins. We used a combination of points and cash. Not sure if we would have done the Med. cruise without our points (we paid cash for hubby and me and points for our three kids).

Kids are older now - so if dh, dd and I cruise on the Dream next year, we might consider paying cash only. It all depends on our vacation plans for the year.

We also traded just once (outside of DCL) in 10 years of ownership and that was to Canucn - The Royal Sands which I would go back in a heartbeat (or the Haciendas for that matter). Of course we cannot trade into it anymore since it is now RCI.

I have no problem trading every few years - but will have to wait for some great resort/feedback with RCI (or will really study the TUG board).

 

[Dean]

We are another family who has used some points for our 4 DCL cruises. We are a family of five and have always booked two cabins. We used a combination of points and cash. Not sure if we would have done the Med. cruise without our points (we paid cash for hubby and me and points for our three kids).

Kids are older now - so if dh, dd and I cruise on the Dream next year, we might consider paying cash only. It all depends on our vacation plans for the year.

We also traded just once (outside of DCL) in 10 years of ownership and that was to Canucn - The Royal Sands which I would go back in a heartbeat (or the Haciendas for that matter). Of course we cannot trade into it anymore since it is now RCI.

I have no problem trading every few years - but will have to wait for some great resort/feedback with RCI (or will really study the TUG board).

I guess the ultimate question is whether you would buy today with the intent of using points for the cruise and other options realizing you'd have to buy more points to do so than just using them for the years you'd stay at DVC.

RCI has some great resorts, definitely use TUG and others to find them, however, they tend to have less than did II. I wouldn't wait on other DVC members to stay and report back, that is far too delayed, limited and inefficient of an approach. Don't forget about other independent exchange options including Redweeks, San Francisco Exchange, Trading Place Intl, Trading Places Maui, Dial an Exchange, Platinum Interchange and HTSE plus TUG direct exchange listings, and TST direct exchange listings.

 

[AnnaS]

No, I would definitely not buy more points for the purpose of cruising or trading often. I would not do this on a regular basis either. If I was worried about going year after year, then buying less and banking and borrowing would be ideal.

Vacations patterns do change over the years too - maybe not for everyone. Since two of my kids are now "adults", unless dh, dd and I start to go more than once a year, we have more than enough points.

My two sons have now started to use my points so I know they are being used the way I intended for them to be used, wisely .

 

[Dean]

No, I would definitely not buy more points for the purpose of cruising or trading often. I would not do this on a regular basis either. If I was worried about going year after year, then buying less and banking and borrowing would be ideal.

Vacations patterns do change over the years too - maybe not for everyone. Since two of my kids are now "adults", unless dh, dd and I start to go more than once a year, we have more than enough points.

My two sons have now started to use my points so I know they are being used the way I intended for them to be used, wisely .

Most often when this question comes up it is centered around buying points with the likelihood of using some of those for exchanges periodically. I'd contend that one who says "they plan to trade occasionally" is likely to do more than they think, not less, much as you point out. I also feel that owning and then later deciding to use points you have for other options is a completely different situation and decision that buying with the likely intent of exchanging.

IMO someone looking to buy in to DVC has the unique opportunity to plan for such issues ahead of time and put themselves in a far better position than almost every other DVC owner by targeting their cost to the most efficient situation possible. I still think people should consider a cushion in some situations esp if looking at smaller units/less than a full week/lower seasons but certainly not enough extra to make cruising on points a logical choice going forward. Better to have too few points and look at some stays (or portion) on cash than to have too many. It also allows you the flexibility to take advantage of some of the specials that come along as well.

 

[speakupjc]

I guess it is an individual decision. I bought points knowing perfectly well that I would be using them to trade. My plan is to go a Disney Cruise every year plus spend 1 week at DW. I would not be going to the Med, Alaska etc. if I didn't own DVC. Even though I am not saving as much money as the members who stay at Disney World evey year, I am still saving money plus having incredible vacations.

 

[speakupjc]

In answer to your question yes I would buy more pts to do what i am doing now.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I am still looking into buying DVC points but I am concerned that my family will be tied in to WDW resorts only. Does anyone have experience using the points for other vacation destinations. Thanks

To answer your question, yes we have used DVC points for vacation destinations other than WDW.

We have traded out a few times to Disneyland and have enjoyed our stays at the Grand Californian Hotel very much. So much, in fact, that we recently purchased an add on of 60 points there so we may continue now with the VGC.

We have also traded out to the Disney cruise, and enjoyed our 2007 Mediterranean cruise on points. We will be cruising this summer on the Baltic cruise on points as well.

We may consider trading out to Adventures by Disney one of these years, depending upon our WDW plans.

And one definite we plan on will be Hawaii once the resort has opened there. Always been a dream and we hope to make it happen!

 

[Crystal_27]

We used our points to book a 2011 Disney cruise. I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with MS, but they were super nice and helpful and walked me through the entire process. It's definitely nice to have the option of booking vacations outside of Disney, but you will, of course, get the best bang for your points by using them at DVC resorts.

 

[Dean]

In answer to your question yes I would buy more pts to do what i am doing now.

And you have the right to pay more for the points than you would if you paid cash for the none DVC options and bought less points. You made a conscious decision to do so for your personal reasons and that is your choice. I'm only interested in you knowing that is the choice and not in people fooling themselves that there are savings that are not there. Some use it as a forced vacation plan and I get that as well, don't agree with it, but get it.

 

[Dean]

And one definite we plan on will be Hawaii once the resort has opened there. Always been a dream and we hope to make it happen!

Actually the World Passport options are one area where you can demonstrate a value for the right options. I don't think you can use it as a value in purchasing due to the uncertain nature and unlikely success of getting the options that would return that value. But for one who owns and asks for the top resorts and weeks and IS successful, there is value there. However, some do trades that are significant trade downs and that is where you lose value.

 

[Inkmahm]

And you have the right to pay more for the points than you would if you paid cash for the none DVC options and bought less points. You made a conscious decision to do so for your personal reasons and that is your choice. I'm only interested in you knowing that is the choice and not in people fooling themselves that there are savings that are not there. Some use it as a forced vacation plan and I get that as well, don't agree with it, but get it.

Exactly. Using points is not "saving" you any money, it is costing you MORE than if you paid cash. Still a valid choice since you can spend your points anyway you want, but don't fool yourself into thinking you're getting a good deal by trading out of WDW to use your DVC points elsewhere.

 

[speakupjc]

Technically my DVC membership will pay for itself in 10 years even though I am doing cruises on points. I am going on the Med cruise this summer which would cost $15000 (cat 3) if I paid cash. If I did that for 30 years I would be paying $450,000 which is a lot less than I bought into DVC for. So I am saving money.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Since the OP was looking for vacation tales of trade outs, let's try to keep this thread on track with sharing stories of vacations. We all know some think it's a waste of money to trade and others find it an excellent value. But here we are looking for vacation stories.

Thanks all!

 

[irishpride]

Thanks for all the help, but we have decided against DVC. Enjoy