UGH, still new to this.

[Tigerkiet]

I am sure this has been covered many times before, so forgive me.
But how hard is it to add on to your points at your home resort? Say I buy at BCV? And is it important at all to keep your add on points at your home resort?
I'm trying to figure out if I should buy more than the minimum points for future use, or not worry about it until we need more.

 

[kdonnel]

It seems the resorts on property sell out resonable quickly. I have seen mention of waiting lists to addon at sold out resorts. I have no idea the length of time you would be on the waiting list though.

 

[PamOKW]

Once a resort sells out, it is difficult to purchase an add-on from Disney. You can purchase add-ons on the resale market. The problem with that is two-fold. 1) If you are purchasing a small amount of points, the closing costs can make the purchase expensive and 2) people can only sell a whole contract so small point contracts (less than 150 points) are difficult to come by.

If you purchase points at a different resort, those points get the 11 month "home advantage" for that resort. For example, you have 150 BCV points. You can book BCV in the 11-7 month period of home advantage. Your add-on is 75 points at Vero. You can use those 75 points to book during the 11-7 month home advantage at Vero but can't use them to book at BCV until the 7 month mark (vice versa for the BCV points). Some people see it as a plus to have home resort advantage at two resorts and you can get creative with banking and borrowing as to how you use the points. The 75 Vero points could actually be up to 225 points to use in one year with banking and borrowing.

Keeping the same Use Year is more important. People do have multiple Use Years and/or multiple resorts but it requires keeping very good track of how you are using your points.

For your initial purchase, I'd look at when you'd be most likely to visit, what type of accomodation and how long you'll stay. See how many points you need and then consider at least a "pad" of a few points. Then think about whether you'd be financially comfortable if you purchased additional points that you really think you might be using....possibly thinking about one-bedroom vs. studio as your "norm".

 

[Granny]

Lots to consider here.

For instance, add-on points at BCV are available right now, but won't necessarily be available after the resort sells out. Or, more accurately, after your use year month sells out at BCV. Then you have to go onto a waiting list to wait for points to become available.

Also, point costs have gone up steadily for DVC. So you will most likely pay more for add-on points than you would for the original contract if you wait a year or so.

Or you could do what we did. Bought our original contract at VWL. Love it (to say the least).

Then we bought another contract at BWV through resale...they are almost the same size contracts. Actually paid less for BWV than VWL, even after closing costs. But it wasn't really an "add-on"....it was a whole new contract.

You'll have to look at your own circumstances. I can say that there are those who make the minimum 150 points work well for them. But for us, it wasn't just about how many nights we could stay...but what size accommodations. Studios, to us, were not a whole lot better than a regular resort room. So we planned on a 1BR...and 150 points doesn't get you much with that.

Lots of things to consider...keep asking questions is the best way to make a good choice. Good luck.

 

[kem330]

Unless you are excited about an ownership add on at the Saratoga Springs resort, I'd buy enough points at BCV as you can afford and will reasonably need. Remember if you intend to stay at BCV add on points at a different resort will not give you the same booking window as you original contract. Also it is more costly to purchase smaller add ons via resale and they are not easy to find. Many people do add ons because they enjoy rotating resorts and desire the 11 month advantage the add on will give them. Others are happy at any resort. You have to decide what fits your needs.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

I was placed on the waiting list for a BWV add on back in Oct 2001. Just checked with my guide last week, and he informed me that I was still #43 on the list. He felt that it would about a year for points to become available.
Given that information, and the new magical beginnings program, we have decided to add on at VWL instead.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just to let you know about what a sales person told me about add-ons at a sold out resort (She was showing a model at BCV and we wanted points at OKW). She said "Yes, you can get on a waiting list, but the waiting list is as long as my arm [I remember that analogy. You're really better off buying resale, or you'll wait forever."