Using DVC for other vacations?

[sundevilandy]

I just put down my deposit at SSR.,so i am a newbie here.We plan on going Home every other year,so i was wondering how hard it was to use my DVC points(160) at other locations.Mostly we will be going to Mexico or the Carribbean.Please share both good and bad experiences.Thank you..Sundevilandy

 

[BobH]

Your points go the farthest at the DVC resorts. For example I am using 147 points for 3 nights at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. That many points would probably give me a week (depending on the size room) at a DVC resort.
If you use non-disney resorts occassionally and just don't want to spend the money its OK. If you really want the most vacation days for your dollar stay at Disney resorts or sell your points and make cash reservations at other vacations destinations. DVC used to recommend buying 210 points to be able to start getting flexibility out of the system as far as staying in Disney Property & off site. This recommendation was made way back in the 90's when the DVC first came out. I can usually get Concierge Collection Reservations without too much trouble. I have had no experience with the exchanges through Interval International. Good Luck. Hope this helps.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Plus, the fact that you only have 160 points does limit you a bit because that is how many points it would take for a 1 bedroom during high season. I think a higher use would be to bank your points from one year into the next and get a longer stay in a bigger unit at WDW. Either that, or rent out points to help pay for a stay at a different location. The locations you are suggesting are easy to get cheaply. I personally don't think it is a good value to trade DVC for something that isn't equal to it's quality. Maybe you need a cheaper timeshare for those kinds of trades.

 

[mydogdrew]

You should be better off renting the points and paying cash if you are not staying at a DVC Villa. Sometimes you are better off renting when you are staying at DVC villias (e.g. HHI 2br $99 deal last fall and VB $99 Inn room deal).

 

[fishermouse]

I've used my points twice now outside DVC once for Charleston Place and again for a Hawaii trip. Both ended up being a bargain when you figure the cost of the lodging we picked. Both top shelf hotels. DVC handled all the reservations and got us any perks that were being offered to "paying customers" just a term, I know I am paying. Such as free meals, one night free when staying for 5 etc. Plus your points cover everything tax, parking fee's etc. Happy vacationing

 

[darner]

non-dvc travel on points is definitely not the best use of points if the goal is to get the most for your money (points)...

that being said, non-dvc travel on points does have its benefits depending on your circumstances and travel preferences... 160 points may limit the length of stay outside dvc (some adventure collection destinations are well above this amount)...

i'll add that we've used points at disneyland on 2 separate trips (grand calif. as well as paradise pier) and have used the concierge collection to go to Shutters on the Beach in santa monica, ca. These trips - to us - were well worth the point totals spent...

i keep track of our point usage compared to rack rates (i know, i know, there's always discounts) and while points can equate to up to 70% savings within dvc, we're still managing a >50% savings in mixed dvc and non-dvc points usage. to me it is worth it to visit other areas than wdw & florida... for me personally, i would not want the hassles of renting out our points.

it'll add a few more years to reach "break even" on our purchase price & maint.fees, but not having to fork out the additional lodging expense was the main draw... although our trip to DLCalif this fall will be cash because we're banking for a dvc-points trip to BWV next year...

(our membership interest = 150 pts.)

 

[Rash]

I just put down my deposit at SSR.,so i am a newbie here...

Welcome to The Dis! Another great use of points is to transfer them as a gift to other DVC members. As a matter of fact, a longstanding tradition on these boards is to transfer 100 points into the account of the first person who welcomes you to The Dis. Since that's me, I'll use the points for a Carribean vacation and report back to you afterwards. Thanks!

 

[sundevilandy]

thanx fot the warm welcome,sorry about the points but i plan on using them.i'll keep you in mind though...andy

 

[CarolMN]

thanx fot the warm welcome,sorry about the points but i plan on using them.i'll keep you in mind though...andy

Even the newbie's know Rash's answers are not to be trusted!


Best wishes -

 

[J and R's mom]

One thing I've noticed on the DVC boards is that many of the folks that reply to this type of thread (about using your points for vacations other than WDW) seem to frown on it and have MANY reasons why. I don't frown on it, however.

Some say that you're not getting your "money's" worth by going outside WDW and recommend paying cash for any vacations outside of the DVC resorts, or better yet, renting your points out for cash and THEN paying cash for your vacation.

But for me, why would I pay additional cash for a vacation when I've already paid for DVC points with which to take said vacation? I bought into DVC not just for trips to WDW, but also for the opportunity to use my points at other locations from time-to-time. Yes, there may be better time-shares out there for non-Disney vacations, but I don't have the means to buy into multiple time-shares and I plan on WDW being my primary vacation spot...but not my ONLY vacation spot.

I also have very little desire to rent my points out and then turn around and pay cash for a vacation. The extra time, energy, effort and worry of renting them are not worth the price to me. I'd rather just use my points.

And many folks on these boards give people a hard time for ONLY having <200 points. Don't let that get you down. You can always add points later on if you need to. We "only" bought 150 and feel that this will suit us well for now. Not everyone is able to vacation enough to justify having a large amount of points.

I recommend reading the feedback from everyone, retaining what you feel is relevant to you, and then enjoy your points the way you want to.

Congrats and welcome...

 

[mydogdrew]

One thing I've noticed on the DVC boards is that many of the folks that reply to this type of thread (about using your points for vacations other than WDW) seem to frown on it and have MANY reasons why. I don't frown on it, however.

Some say that you're not getting your "money's" worth by going outside WDW and recommend paying cash for any vacations outside of the DVC resorts, or better yet, renting your points out for cash and THEN paying cash for your vacation.

But for me, why would I pay additional cash for a vacation when I've already paid for DVC points with which to take said vacation? I bought into DVC not just for trips to WDW, but also for the opportunity to use my points at other locations from time-to-time. Yes, there may be better time-shares out there for non-Disney vacations, but I don't have the means to buy into multiple time-shares and I plan on WDW being my primary vacation spot...but not my ONLY vacation spot.

I also have very little desire to rent my points out and then turn around and pay cash for a vacation. The extra time, energy, effort and worry of renting them are not worth the price to me. I'd rather just use my points.

And many folks on these boards give people a hard time for ONLY having <200 points. Don't let that get you down. You can always add points later on if you need to. We "only" bought 150 and feel that this will suit us well for now. Not everyone is able to vacation enough to justify having a large amount of points.

I recommend reading the feedback from everyone, retaining what you feel is relevant to you, and then enjoy your points the way you want to.

Congrats and welcome...

The reason you do it is to save money! As long as you realize that you are paying a premium to book your non-Disney travel through Disney then fine. There simply are less expensive ways to trade then using DVC points. I don't own other timeshares and am no expert re: trading. However, every time I look into using points for non-DVC resorts it seems clear that it's no bargain.

 

[Dean]

Other than a small subset of II options, DVC is a horrible vehicle for other vacation options. You'd be better off not buying and maybe renting or maybe buying less DVC points.

 

[Princess Tink]

I wasn't going to comment...but will. We only have 150 pts, and while my DS7 and I would love to travel to WDW every year....my DH would rather not. We have been (and going) to WDW for the last 3 years back to back, stretching our points as much as possible and combining a few night with a CASH DCL cruise last year. We were planning a DCL next year for our 10th Anniversary, as DH loved the cruise....but since decided it was just not in the stars at this time. Instead we were able to agree to take a vacation just the 2 of us, through an II exchange. We put in for it about a month ago or so, and it came through last week. I know many don't think it's worth it when comparing to DVC, but that is one of the reasons I was able to get DH to agree to buying....the ability and convenience to trade.

After spending many hours searching and questioning trades on this board, yes there are people out there that have traded, we decided on CANCUN in one of the ROYALS. I also searched rental prices a little for this 'group' of resorts and found the rental price to be comparable to what we would of considered an acceptable trade. We only needed a 1BR, for the first week of July 2006.....160 pts (we were hoping for 144, but what's a few more pts). I was only able to find a 2BR on another board for the same week, 2 BR for that same time period $1500......but, we really didn't NEED a 2BR. If we would of gotten it great, but we don't need it....just thought we'd invite friends if we got it. Anyhow, with the rental price at 10/pp we could of came out ahead $175 (as we pay a 75 trade fee or whatever it's called)....but I would not of had the piece of mind, I'm a known worrier....and I would of had to spend more time to rent my points out then turn around and rent another's property.

Hope this helps.

 

[lizanne]

hi sundevilandy, welcome to DVC.

I've traded points thru Interval and was very happy. We went to Williamsburg and the accommodations were beautiful. We hope'd to trade again for BarHarbor, Maine this year but 11 months out there was nothing available - had to wait for next year.

Maybe I'm lazy, but I don't want what for me would be a hassle to rent the points.

Everyone has their own reasons for being a DVC member. I enjoy the fact that I don't have to put out cash for accommodations.

Hope you have many memorable trips.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

DW and I have used points for several nice three day weekends away from the kids AND a week with the family at WDW. Have not tried for a week via exchange, but may try for something next summer.

 

[sundevilandy]

thank you,you're answer was pretty much what my feelings are.we bought what we would need with 2 young kids,knowing i could always add on.take care...andy

 

[drakethib]

I just put down my deposit at SSR.,so i am a newbie here.We plan on going Home every other year,so i was wondering how hard it was to use my DVC points(160) at other locations.Mostly we will be going to Mexico or the Carribbean.Please share both good and bad experiences.Thank you..Sundevilandy

Already said but renting the points and taking the cash may be better for you to book the vacation.

 

[rocketriter]

The reason you do it is to save money!

The reason you do it is to save money. Other people have other reasons and can speak for themselves.

We use our points at DVC properties more often than not, which was our intention from the beginning. But we do trade out occasionally and are happy to do so. The alternate strategies--renting out points, managing multiple timeshares etc.--have no appeal to us because the time, risk and investment they require has its own cost that we're not willing to deal with.

The value comparison is not as clear-cut as some people would make it seem. This August we'll spend a week at a Marriott through a II exchange for 144 points; the same week in similar accomodations at our home DVC resort would cost over 250 points. We set it up with no additional investment beyond the DVC and without having to make a hobby of the timeshare business, and it only took a single 10-minute phone call. The ability to do so has real value to us, even if it doesn't to the next family.

 

[mark&sue]

We live in UK and I was looking at these exchanges as prices of flghts from UK to Orlando is extremely expensive. We can stay at lovely resorts in Spain which would mean the flights are very cheap. We can even stay in UK for next to nothing travelling costs. So for us these options could come in very handy in 35-40 years when a long haul flight might be a bit to much!!!!!!

Hotels in the UK and parts of Europe are very expensive especially with the exchange rate so for Americans these could be very reasonable for just 160 points. Of course flights would be extra but just a thought from a different angle.

49 years is a long time and different options might be just what you want in some years from now.



Susan

 

[Disneycatlady]

Hi- We've been DVC members since 1996 and have never used points anywhere else until this summer. I booked a short stay (3 nights) at the windsor court hotel in New Orleans through the concierge collection. We are going in July- It is a first class hotel and we supposedly are staying in an 800 sqaure foot suite for 40 points a night. The opportunity arose to be in New Orleans and so we said,"Why not?". We would never be able to afford this hotel if we paid cash.