Using DVC points for Adventures by Dis

[hrsewoman]

WE'd like to do a couple of the Adventures in the future - not the near future - but at some point Alaska and Ireland are on the list. My question is - the points cost is 1200 for two people for one trip for example. WE have 160 points a year so even if we bank and use 3 yrs worth we're like 800 short. That seems impossible. So does anyone have any ideas as to how to use DVC points to take these trips? Is it financially worth renting the additional points? Would it even be possible to rent that many?

 

[OKW Lover]

Generally its not "worth it" to use DVC points for anything but DVC stays, even if you have enough points to do so. However many people do it anyway, its up to the individual to judge what is worth it to them.

The usual measure is to take the number of points needed and multiply by $10 and compare that to the cast price. The $10 number is a proxy for the amount you could probably rent your points for. Some will argue that the $10/point number is too high/low, but again that depends on your circumstance.

 

[Dean]

WE'd like to do a couple of the Adventures in the future - not the near future - but at some point Alaska and Ireland are on the list. My question is - the points cost is 1200 for two people for one trip for example. WE have 160 points a year so even if we bank and use 3 yrs worth we're like 800 short. That seems impossible. So does anyone have any ideas as to how to use DVC points to take these trips? Is it financially worth renting the additional points? Would it even be possible to rent that many?

I'd agree, usually not a good deal. I personally don't know how they'd do it for your situation, generally for most things you have to pay for one adult on points such as for DCL. You should check for cash only and with other similar companies. In your situation it's very likely using points for one and paying cash for the other would give you a return at or less than the maint fees for your resort. I'd suggest saving separately and if you need to, do a rental or 2 to use up points you wouldn't need otherwise and add that cash to your savings for the trip. Otherwise you'll have to buy more points retail, a lot more.

 

[disneynutz]

WE'd like to do a couple of the Adventures in the future - not the near future - but at some point Alaska and Ireland are on the list. My question is - the points cost is 1200 for two people for one trip for example. WE have 160 points a year so even if we bank and use 3 yrs worth we're like 800 short. That seems impossible. So does anyone have any ideas as to how to use DVC points to take these trips? Is it financially worth renting the additional points? Would it even be possible to rent that many?

Disney advertises what points can be used for, not that it's a good deal or even possible for the average owner. Many of the vacation possibilities have restrictions or blacked out dates. In the pecking order of things, Disney would rather have cash customers, but they need to offer point exchanges in order to continue using these extra vacation destinations as an additional reason to buy a DVC interest.

Bill

 

[JimMIA]

I start by realizing that "adventure" tours are going to be much more expensive than doing exactly the same thing on your own...which, in almost every case, is quite doable.

Then, DISNEY adventure tours are obviously going to be overpriced -- probably in the range between Exorbitant and Spectacularly Overpriced.

And third, if you use DVC points, you are probably going to pay 2X-3X the normal breathtakingly-overpriced Disney Adventure price. You're compounding the felony.

IMHO, Disney Adventures on DVC points are a ripoff on steroids.

 

[JimMIA]

My question is - the points cost is 1200 for two people for one trip for example. WE have 160 points a year so even if we bank and use 3 yrs worth we're like 800 short. That seems impossible.

It is impossible.

On the bright side, I am happy to see one sensible DVC owner (out of tens of thousands!) actually take a look at the points cost of some of these options. I am quite sure DVC sells a ton of contracts every year to people who "value" the option of Disney Cruises, or Disney Adventures, etc, etc. without ever once sitting down to look at the practical nuts and bolts of such a use of DVC points.

It's both depressing and amusing to read some of the "...we don't want to give up that option..." posts.

 

[DVC Dude]

WE'd like to do a couple of the Adventures in the future - not the near future - but at some point Alaska and Ireland are on the list. My question is - the points cost is 1200 for two people for one trip for example. WE have 160 points a year so even if we bank and use 3 yrs worth we're like 800 short. That seems impossible. So does anyone have any ideas as to how to use DVC points to take these trips? Is it financially worth renting the additional points? Would it even be possible to rent that many?

Disney usually uses a low figure like - your annual dues is only $5pp, so this trip will cost you $6,000 and that is a bargain.

But in reality, 1,200 points can be valued at a minimum of $10pp, so this a $12,000 trip for 2 people at a minimum (remember the opportunity costs to buy into Disney is a significant expense)

Yes, you can rent thousands of points but you may have to pay $10-13pp for these.

So, on the high side, this trip will cost $15,600 if you rent 1,200 points at $13pp.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Disney usually uses a low figure like - your annual dues is only $5pp, so this trip will cost you $6,000 and that is a bargain.

But in reality, 1,200 points can be valued at a minimum of $10pp, so this a $12,000 trip for 2 people at a minimum (remember the opportunity costs to buy into Disney is a significant expense)

Yes, you can rent thousands of points but you may have to pay $10-13pp for these.

So, on the high side, this trip will cost $15,600 if you rent 1,200 points at $13pp.

But you can't just "rent" points to get enough. You'd have to find one member who has enough points to transfer to you. And you can't borrow transferred points. So that other member would need enough points in one contract to transfer enough prior year points and current year points to get you enough points. Because you can only get one transfer in or out a year. That one member would need to transfer at least 400 prior year points (or prior to the year you want to go) and another 400 current year points.

And it's not like you could get one day from one member, another two from a second member, etc and get them all linked. Like you could if you wanted to book a GV at some resort where you don't have enough points. Or you want multiple villas for a big family gathering.

The odds of getting those transfers are nil.

 

[disneynutz]

But you can't just "rent" points to get enough. You'd have to find one member who has enough points to transfer to you. And you can't borrow transferred points. So that other member would need enough points in one contract to transfer enough prior year points and current year points to get you enough points. Because you can only get one transfer in or out a year. That one member would need to transfer at least 400 prior year points (or prior to the year you want to go) and another 400 current year points.

And it's not like you could get one day from one member, another two from a second member, etc and get them all linked. Like you could if you wanted to book a GV at some resort where you don't have enough points. Or you want multiple villas for a big family gathering.

The odds of getting those transfers are nil.

So we could say the that transfer restrictions might cause a member to buy more points if they keep coming up short?

Bill

 

[Lynne M]

OP, as others have said, it's going to be next to impossible to find an owner with 800 points that they don't plan to use, and who is willing to transfer them into your account. I don't see using points to cover this trip as a possibility for you.

I'd recommend renting out your points and putting the proceeds towards your trip. The least you'd get is $10 a point, if you go through a broker like DVC by Request; you'd get more renting the points yourself through the Rent/Trade board here, if you don't mind the legwork. Even if you get $10, that's $1600 a year you can put towards the trip. Looking at the price of the Alaska trip, I realize that won't put much of a dent in the cost, but at least it's something.

 

[bakerworld]

Figured these adventures are geared for that point owner that has thousands of points and Disney is trying to 'help' give them another use besides renting.

 

[hrsewoman]

But you can't just "rent" points to get enough. You'd have to find one member who has enough points to transfer to you. And you can't borrow transferred points. So that other member would need enough points in one contract to transfer enough prior year points and current year points to get you enough points. Because you can only get one transfer in or out a year. That one member would need to transfer at least 400 prior year points (or prior to the year you want to go) and another 400 current year points.

And it's not like you could get one day from one member, another two from a second member, etc and get them all linked. Like you could if you wanted to book a GV at some resort where you don't have enough points. Or you want multiple villas for a big family gathering.

The odds of getting those transfers are nil.

Ok that exactly answers my question, along with every one else's. I'd done the math and figured out that it was probably cheaper to just use up 3 yrs worth of points and then I could feasibly buy enough points for one person then pay cash for the other. The price of the Dis Adventure trip seems rather steep and we could probably go on the trip ourselves cheaper, but if we only had to pay for 1 person that's not so bad. Not likely we'd be traveling anywhere for a few years if we took a trip like that anyway. Plus disney does a fantastic job for me foodwise as I have celiacs. its worth paying the extra money for that attention.

 

[Sammie]

Figured these adventures are geared for that point owner that has thousands of points and Disney is trying to 'help' give them another use besides renting.

Probably so.