Using DVC points at other WDW resorts

[raisingkanes]

We've come to the conclusion that visiting WDW every year is just the way it's going to be! We love it and can't imagine vacationing anywhere else.

This November will be our third trip in as many years (we have a LONG way to catch up with a lot of you!) and, although we discuss becoming DVC members every time, we've never really pursued it.

We have fallen head over heels in love with AKL and would like to continue to stay there many times in the future (if not every time). I've looked at the point charts and it seems as though the points needed for resorts other than DVC properties is proportionately higher than just using them for DVC resorts. (For example, our 7 night stay at AKL in November would be more than 400 points whereas the same stay at SSR in a two bedroom villa would only be 255 points).

My question is this.....knowing that we will more than likely want to continue our trips to AKL would it make any sense to buy into DVC?

Thanks for your help!

 

[RobDoc]

If you know you will only be happy staying at AKL, DVC probably won't be the best idea for you.

HOWEVER, before deciding that, you should at least take the DVC tour or visit one of the DVC resorts and ask to see the villas.

Be sure to compare the accommodations- a 2BR villa at any DVC resort will have a master bedroom with King Bed, jacuzzi tub, washer/dryer, full kitchen, living room with sleep sofa and a 2nd BR with two queen beds (or 1 queen and another sleep sofa- depending on the resort and room configuration). There will be two bathrooms and 3 TVs. Room size will vary from about 350 square feet at AKL, 1083 for a SSR 2BR villa (about the same at BWV, VWL and BCV) and 1410 square feet at OKW.

At least take a good look at DVC before making your decision!

Enjoy!

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

We are DVC members who love AKL. The first time we stayed there we used points. We are going again next week and are paying cash. We got APs with the DVC discount so we got an AP discount on the room.

It is alot of points to stay at non DVC resorts. I doubt we will again unless we have to "use them or lose them" like before.

As much as we love AKL, we also love the BCV and BWV. Have you stayed at either one of these resorts? You may want to before making up your mind.

 

[JimC]

Welcome to the DIS!!

We understand your love of AKL. We have stayed there on points and cash. It depends which is the better deal. We use AP codes as comparisons.

If you want to stay only at AKL, and that is certainly understandable, then having an AP and using the codes to stay at AKL make a lot of sense to me. DVC is best value if you stay at DVC resorts. The value is less when you trade out, even to other WDW resorts. Alternatively, buy a small contract for DVC and combine your stays say 4 nights at AKL on cash with AP code and 4 nights at DVC resort. Or alternate years, one at AKL and the next at DVC resort (Requires half the points with banking/borrowing).

Hope this helps. Keep asking questions and good luck

 

[raisingkanes]

Thank you so much for all of your help!

I think we will definitely do the tour during our visit in November....even if we sign on as members BEFORE then!

It's simply the way it's going to be.....we'd rather vacation in Disney than anywhere else!

Thanks again!

 

[DVCLiz]

I almost always combine a DVC stay on weekday nights with a cash stay on the weekends at AKL or Wilderness Lodge. The points for weekends are higher than I usually have available, so I stay at my favorite non-DVC resorts on the weekends. I find it easy to move and like having a sense of two vacations in one.