Using DVC for moderate resorts?

[PACVII]

just a question but looking at the point amounts for a moderate resort why would you even do this? Am I missing something like some kind of benifit or other perk that I would use double the points per night to stay at riverside vs Animal Kingdom Lodge? You would think it would be half the points not the other way around. Why spend more for less?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

why would you even do this?

Honestly, I can't imagine why. You're so much better off in 95% of cases renting the points and paying cash if you want to stay Mod. Add in the $95 booking fee, and it's nuts.

 

[Minniesgal]

I would because POR was our first ever resort and we have such fond memories i'd like to go back and stay there when we go just the two of us. I didn't think the points rates that horrible. It's certainly not double the points but when we stay DVC we stay in 1 bedrooms so thats maybe why it didn't look horrible to me.

I wouldn't do it regularly but for a trip down memory lane yeah i would.

 

[crisi]

Because people want the option and the guides can mention that "you can still stay at your favorite resorts." And once in a while you have points to spare and no DVC options are available.

 

[CarolMN]

I did it once (before the extra $95 fee was required) because there wasn't a DVC resort available for the night I needed. (I had decided to go one night early to take advantage of a great price on airfare). Probably wouldn't do it now because paying cash somewhere for an extra night would be a better value than using points, given that $95 fee.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Disney Collection is negotiated annually. Using DVC points for non-DVC is a poor use of points unless you have points to burn and only have direct from Disney or resale before March 2011.

 

[PACVII]

Points for POR was I think is 20 and AKL is 9. Plus a fee just did not make sense to me but can respect the feedback. POR was one of the first places we stayed as well. It's one of my favorites and I have such great memories as well.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We like POR, too. So we just book a few nights there for cash and then switch over to OKW on points.

 

[MsTessP]

Points for POR was I think is 20 and AKL is 9. Plus a fee just did not make sense to me but can respect the feedback. POR was one of the first places we stayed as well. It's one of my favorites and I have such great memories as well.

We like to stay at POR the night before we check into our DVC resort. However, we would never use points to do so. Alternatively, you can rent the points needed, then use that cash to book the POR room. Using 23 pts/night as an example (the average over the year, and using the $11/pt you can get from renting, you would be "paying" $253/night. Additionally, you should factor in the $95 fee, and also consider the membership fees you have paid this year for those points. In many cases, you will probably find discounts during most times of the year when your rate at POR will be considerably less than $253. For example, I just checked a random date in September for this year, and the rate was $197/night.

 

[Minniesgal]

We like to stay at POR the night before we check into our DVC resort. However, we would never use points to do so. Alternatively, you can rent the points needed, then use that cash to book the POR room. Using 23 pts/night as an example (the average over the year, and using the $11/pt you can get from renting, you would be "paying" $253/night. Additionally, you should factor in the $95 fee, and also consider the membership fees you have paid this year for those points. In many cases, you will probably find discounts during most times of the year when your rate at POR will be considerably less than $253. For example, I just checked a random date in September for this year, and the rate was $197/night.

That might work for US citizens but for us brits renting involves a currency exchange back to pounds then to pay a room I need to change it again back to $s so I'd probably just use the points to save that hassle.

 

[MammaMoe48]

If i'm understanding you correctly you are asking why pay more points at a "moderate" Disney Collection Resort as opposed to a "deluxe" Disney Vacation Club Resort? Staying at a "Collection" resort gets you full resort services like daily housekeeping, trash removal, towel service, turn down service, etc. When you stay at a DVC resort you get trash and towel service on day 4 and a full cleaning on day 8, if you stay that long. You basically clean up after yourself on the other days. Using points at the resorts is like staying in a regular hotel with all the services, using points at a villa is like renting a house for the week without the hotel services. I like the idea of a 1 BR so I'm willing to clean up after myself to have the extra space.

 

[OKW Lover]

I have a hard time understanding why I should use DVC points to stay in a lesser resort.

 

[MammaMoe48]

I have a hard time understanding why I should use DVC points to stay in a lesser resort.

I'm not saying that it makes sense, I wouldn't use my points on a regular resort room even if that did include all the regular resort services that you don't get at a DVC villa. I'm just saying that's the reason why it costs more points. Some people would rather pay more points for a "lesser" resort than even think about cleaning up after themselves in a "better" resort.

 

[Dean]

just a question but looking at the point amounts for a moderate resort why would you even do this? Am I missing something like some kind of benifit or other perk that I would use double the points per night to stay at riverside vs Animal Kingdom Lodge? You would think it would be half the points not the other way around. Why spend more for less?

This reality is a summary of the entire cash exchange system for DVC, it's just more obvious than cruises, Concierge Collection or ABD. It's essentially always a poor $$ value but sometimes you have the points or its gives you a chance to do something you might not do otherwise or don't have the cash to do.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I used to do it.. At the time the points required were not outrageous...

but then Disney started charging $95 for the priviledge. Since that's about what I think a moderate is worth, that was the end. I wasn't paying $95 and points for a $100 hotel room no matter how cute the theme.

 

[monique5]

Points for POR was I think is 20 and AKL is 9. Plus a fee just did not make sense to me but can respect the feedback. POR was one of the first places we stayed as well. It's one of my favorites and I have such great memories as well.

This. I was looking into this last year. POR - Royal Guest Room. Had points we were going to lose. Turns out Royal Guest Rooms weren't even an option. AK Value was like 10 points, standard 12, booked last minute trip 2 reservations, value & standard for longer stay. Might have seen value if Royal Guest Rooms were option.

 

[MammaMoe48]

This reality is a summary of the entire cash exchange system for DVC, it's just more obvious than cruises, Concierge Collection or ABD. It's essentially always a poor $$ value but sometimes you have the points or its gives you a chance to do something you might not do otherwise or don't have the cash to do.

When we bought in August 2013, they gave us our 2013 points. I knew we wouldn't use them that year so I banked them. In 2014 we used those points, our 2014 points, and borrowed our 2015 points for a cruise. It was nice but I doubt I'll ever use 3 years' worth of points on a cruise again. I could have gotten a 2 BR at SSR and brought my whole family for a week for the same amount of points.

 

[Dean]

When we bought in August 2013, they gave us our 2013 points. I knew we wouldn't use them that year so I banked them. In 2014 we used those points, our 2014 points, and borrowed our 2015 points for a cruise. It was nice but I doubt I'll ever use 3 years' worth of points on a cruise again. I could have gotten a 2 BR at SSR and brought my whole family for a week for the same amount of points.

If you have extra points that are restricted then sometimes a one time option can be reasonable. However, the $$$ return is always relatively poor (barely maint fees) with extremely limited exceptions. If one has time to work with renting the points and using the cash is often the best option.

 

[MammaMoe48]

If you have extra points that are restricted then sometimes a one time option can be reasonable. However, the $$$ return is always relatively poor (barely maint fees) with extremely limited exceptions. If one has time to work with renting the points and using the cash is often the best option.

It was use it or lose it and I didn't know about renting at the time so it worked for us at the time.

 

[Sammie]

As with so many things it is personal choice. I would do it for one night in low season over a studio if OKW was not available. I will not sleep on a sofa bed, so having two queen beds makes the moderates a more desired location to me than all the studios other than OKW.