Use of Points

[DME-1971]

I'm on the verge of buying. Had discussions with Disney about buying direct at Poly. Was going to buy and take advantage of the bonus points they're offering. Total of 220 points but only paying for 200. But was wondering, if I bought less points direct through Disney, let's say 100, and then bought resale of 120 points or so (if available) at BLT for example, does that mean I fully have 220 that can be used anywhere? So that gives me the option to use my 220 points at either BLT or Poly, 11 months out at either resort and I get the buying direct through Disney perks?

 

[Matty B13]

I would do some more research about DVC on this board and on the web. Poly can be bought resale already, but the bigger question is, does the Poly fit your needs. The Poly only has studios or very expensive bungalows, if you need a 1 or 2 bedroom you should look at some of the other DVC resorts. The only reason to by direct is for the "extras", the discount on the AP and a few other things, but if you buy a 25 point contract you can get those. Otherwise look for a resale contract at a resort you want with the right UY for your travel habits.

The only mistake that we made buying resale was with our UY, otherwise we saved over $10k on our 2 contracts. So do a lot more research.

 

[DME-1971]

Good point but for me I was wanting to stay at a MK resort. BLT or Poly. I have a family of four right now and my home resort of Poly fits 5, for my mom or a close friend. When the family gets bigger over the years and we need more room we could stay at OKW or Saratoga which it isn't hard to get into right? We typically are not staying at Christmas week.

But I also want to make sure I'm understanding the point system. Regardless of how little points I have at a home resort, I can use points from OTHER home resorts together right? So if I had 30 at poly, and 150 at Saratoga, I technically have 180 total where I could book out at 11 months at poly or saratoga and then 7 months anywhere else.

 

[ElizabethCB]

But I also want to make sure I'm understanding the point system. Regardless of how little points I have at a home resort, I can use points from OTHER home resorts together right? So if I had 30 at poly, and 150 at Saratoga, I technically have 180 total where I could book out at 11 months at poly or saratoga and then 7 months anywhere else.

Unfortunately, no. You can only use the 11 month booking for the resort where the points originated. So in that scenario, at 11 months out, you could use your 150 points at Saratoga, or your 30 points at Poly. But they could not be combined for a booking until 7 months out.

 

[Matty B13]

My family is 5, and we own at VGF and AKV. VGF for 1 and 2 bedrooms accommodations and the monorail and we didn't care for the theming at BLT. AKV because our kids are all under the age of 5 and thought the kids would like the animals over staying at SSR or OKW. I love the Poly but without the 1 & 2 bedrooms option it wasn't a good fit, plus the MF's are very high already.

You only get to use the points at the 11 month booking window at the resort you own them at, at the 7 month window all points are equal. So in your example you could use your 30 Poly points at the Poly from 11-7 months then anywhere 7 months in. Or combine your SSR points to make 180 points at 7 months.

I would at least spend the next week learning about the point system, UY, resale vs direct purchase on this website. Don't rush anything. Seems like resale purchases are moving through the purchase process much faster lately but could take up to 3 months, but it is well worth it.

 

[Matty B13]

Also do a theoretical vacation, and calculate up the points you would need for it in the Disney "season" you would be staying in. For most of our trips we will be traveling in the "magic" season which is the 2nd highest season.

 

[DME-1971]

Thanks for this info. Didn't realize about the ability to not combine the points of different resorts until 7 months out.

Yea, I'd typically be in the magic season as well. I don't know that I need anything more than a kitchenette. Do I want to cook meals while on vacation? Do you guys take advantage of the kitchen and eat in often?

 

[Matty B13]

We don't like big breakfasts, mostly cereal and oatmeal, so it will save a lot of money not buying a breakfast. Except for the occasional character breakfast.

The biggest thing for us is the separate bedroom from the kids, makes it a "real" vacation for everyone, since we don't have kids kicking us trying to sleep. Yes, it is more expensive but cheaper than getting 2 hotel rooms.

 

[Matty B13]

I thought I had a spider monkey in the bed last time we all stayed in the same hotel room...... nope it was just my 3 year old doing laps on my back the whole night......

 

[_auroraborealis_]

BLT studios don't fit 5. They just barely fit 4, honestly.

 

[Dean]

I'm on the verge of buying. Had discussions with Disney about buying direct at Poly. Was going to buy and take advantage of the bonus points they're offering. Total of 220 points but only paying for 200. But was wondering, if I bought less points direct through Disney, let's say 100, and then bought resale of 120 points or so (if available) at BLT for example, does that mean I fully have 220 that can be used anywhere? So that gives me the option to use my 220 points at either BLT or Poly, 11 months out at either resort and I get the buying direct through Disney perks?

No you can't use all points at any home resort 11 months out but you can at 7 months out if they're under one master contract.
I agree with spending more time educating oneself and getting past the hype. If I were going to buy both, I'd do the resale first and the retail second if possible. I'd only buy Poly if I intended to use the points there but personally I don't think Poly will be a problem at 7 months out anyway, esp if one learns how to use the wait list well. OTOH, I think BLT is a good choice to have for points to use in the system in general.

Options that fit within your current plan

• 220 Poly $35300
• 120 BLT + 100 Poly for around $31500. This gives you the advantage of getting both at 11 months out, esp with banking and borrowing and thus alternative the location.
• 220 BLT around $23500 AND roughly $100 less in dues yearly than all 220 Poly. Cheaper, and actually even cheaper still since the points costs at BLT are less than Poly, esp if one uses the standard view. And it does give one the likelihood of needing a few less points as well as the lower dues.

What's best depends on your personal usage and preferences. If I personally were looking at doing what you're looking at, I'd either buy all BLT resale plus a 25 point add on at HH, BLT, AKV or SSR. Or I'd buy VGF (or Poly) resale then once locked in, find a matching BLT resale plus a 25 point add on at either. However, if it were me personally I'd likely do a combo of BLT & SSR resale with BLT first then a retail add on of 25 points at the one I needed the extra at the most. I also think AKV is a good consideration for many even though it's quite a bit different than your current thoughts.

 

[DME-1971]

Good points Dean. Been bouncing around ideas now that I've gotten this feedback. I'm thinking of having enough points at Poly for a week and now also for a week at SSR. This way each year I could just stay for a week at a minimum at either resort and if I want/need more space to accommodate eight people I could combine points from both resorts at the 7 month mark since SSR has more availability.

 

[Dean]

Good points Dean. Been bouncing around ideas now that I've gotten this feedback. I'm thinking of having enough points at Poly for a week and now also for a week at SSR. This way each year I could just stay for a week at a minimum at either resort and if I want/need more space to accommodate eight people I could combine points from both resorts at the 7 month mark since SSR has more availability.

What about buying just SSR resale now at say 150-200 points and 25 points at Poly retail and seeing how things go. If you can get Poly enough to be satisfied, you wouldn't need additional points there at all which is the way I personally see it going. Worst case scenario is you end up buying say 150-200 SSR points and around 100 Poly points for 300 total. Of course a portion of the Poly points will be slightly more but not that much, maybe an extra $1K. Lots of variations, not much that's bad as long as you don't buy extra points retail to use for cash type exchanges like DCL.

 

[Dean]

Good points Dean. Been bouncing around ideas now that I've gotten this feedback. I'm thinking of having enough points at Poly for a week and now also for a week at SSR. This way each year I could just stay for a week at a minimum at either resort and if I want/need more space to accommodate eight people I could combine points from both resorts at the 7 month mark since SSR has more availability.

I meant to add earlier. It's very likely that Copper Creek will go on sale soon and it's likely to be cheaper than Poly initially. I also suspect it'll have a better points profile and might have some other features. Unless I was set on Poly, I'd wait on any high end purchase, esp retail, and see how it shaped up.

 

[DME-1971]

If I have two different resorts, what are the pros and cons to to having the same use year or having different use years?

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

If I have two different resorts, what are the pros and cons to to having the same use year or having different use years?

With the same use year, it would be a bit easier to keep track of banking points and when you could use your points. With two different resorts, having different use years would allow you to schedule stays at different times of the year (if you decided not to mostly go in Magic season) that would be early in the use year allowing you the flexibility of making changes up to 30 days prior to your stay instead of 4 months without worrying about having points go into holding.

 

[DME-1971]

This is my plan. I'm going to buy Poly retail. UY is August and have enough for one week during Magic season. Then later on buy SSR resale. With the hopes that I can combine both when I need to and stay at a 2-bedroom Villa from time to time. Combining the points of both locations to offer me one week. So in this case, do I want the same UY or different ones? This is where I get stuck.

 

[LisaS]

If I have two different resorts, what are the pros and cons to to having the same use year or having different use years?

If you purchase two different UYs, you will have two memberships. You will not be able to combine the points 7 months out to make a reservation. You will have to transfer points from one membership to another, and then call MS to make the reservation because you will not be able to see the transferred points so you cannot book online with them. The other option is to book some nights of your stay with one membership, the rest of your stay with your other membership, then call MS to have the two separate reservations "linked" so that the room assigner puts you in the same room for the entire stay.

Personally, unless you have a good reason for wanting two UYs, I would stick with just one. I like being able to combine my points 7 months out and book online.

ETA: You also have to call MS to do the transfer, so you would do the transfer, then book the trip on the same phone call. When making a reservation, the system rolls over to the next day at 8am online. MS opens at 9am. For hard to get reservations, that one hour head start online can make all the difference.

 

[LisaS]

UY is August and have enough for one week during Magic season.

When do you plan to travel? Magic season includes a wide variety of dates, but an August UY doesn't appear to be a good choice for any of those dates.

 

[BestDadEver]

I'm on the verge of buying. Had discussions with Disney about buying direct at Poly. Was going to buy and take advantage of the bonus points they're offering. Total of 220 points but only paying for 200. But was wondering, if I bought less points direct through Disney, let's say 100, and then bought resale of 120 points or so (if available) at BLT for example, does that mean I fully have 220 that can be used anywhere? So that gives me the option to use my 220 points at either BLT or Poly, 11 months out at either resort and I get the buying direct through Disney perks?

No you can only get 11 months for the amount of points for that contract . Imo haveing it split to smaller contracts with different resorts have an advantage still cause you can offset trips and gain 11 month advantage.

Example if you bought 110 at poly and 110 at BLT you could bank poly points borrow BLT points and use 220 points for each stay at 11 months .

You would surely save money that way