Using DVC Points For DCL Not All That Bad After All?

[awilliams4]

I have read post after post suggesting using points for DCL is not a good deal.

I have been doing several DCL searches and comparing the dollar result and comparing that to using points and each time I get about $9+ per point of value.

We are looking into cruising for the 1st time and I was looking to rent points at $10 per point to help pay for the cruise.

I am searching for 7 night cruises in the High Regular Season.

I am looking to use points for two guests for a Category 6 Stateroom.

Using points, the 2nd guest is 230 while the 3rd Guest is 160 for 390 total points. The same cruise costs $2,300 for the 2nd Guest and $1,900 for the 3rd Guest. Add $200 in taxes and the cash cost for both guests is $4,000.

Divide $4,000 by 390 points and you get a $11.28 per point return. Adding the $95 fee just drops the return on your points by a few cents.

Am I missing something since it seems to be generally accepted that using points for DCL is somewhat of a rip off?

Thanks.

 

[disneynutz]

The amount of points required increases at least once a year. DCL isn't always available for point bookings. Only X amount of rooms are made available on certain ships to the DVC. I think it was earlier this year members trying to book found out that they were locked out until 2012 and the blackout periods are never announced.

Paying with cash gives you much more flexibility.

Bill

 

[ssawka]

You also can't take advantage of any deals. When I booked an MR cruise last year, they were running their "kids sail free" deal. If I would have used points, it would have cost me twice as many points as renting and paying cash.

 

[dzorn]

It also depend on how far out you are booking a cruise. Prices are usually cheaper as soon as booking in available. If you are looking after the cruise prices have been out for a while the cash price has probably gone up considerably.

Denise in MI

 

[awilliams4]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[com_op_2000]

I have been on seven DCLs, six using points. I consider cruises to be a very good value. I recovered my $$$ from the purchase of DVC back in '96, so I am taking free vacations except MFs. I am already planning my next two cruises on points, including taking DD, DSiL, and new DGS on our points. Everyone must look at the details, in their own way, and make their own decisions. I understand why some people say it is not a best use of points, but to me it is what DW and I choose to do, so to us it makes sense.

 

[AmandaRG]

The amount of points required increases at least once a year. DCL isn't always available for point bookings. Only X amount of rooms are made available on certain ships to the DVC. I think it was earlier this year members trying to book found out that they were locked out until 2012 and the blackout periods are never announced.

Paying with cash gives you much more flexibility.

Bill

Is it that they are "blacked out" or that the DVC points rooms are already booked? There are many people that do use their points, so could it just be that they are full? It would be the same as no points reservations availble for any of the villas, but cash ones being there.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have read post after post suggesting using points for DCL is not a good deal.

I have been doing several DCL searches and comparing the dollar result and comparing that to using points and each time I get about $9+ per point of value.

We are looking into cruising for the 1st time and I was looking to rent points at $10 per point to help pay for the cruise.

I am searching for 7 night cruises in the High Regular Season.

I am looking to use points for two guests for a Category 6 Stateroom.

Using points, the 2nd guest is 230 while the 3rd Guest is 160 for 390 total points. The same cruise costs $2,300 for the 2nd Guest and $1,900 for the 3rd Guest. Add $200 in taxes and the cash cost for both guests is $4,000.

Divide $4,000 by 390 points and you get a $11.28 per point return. Adding the $95 fee just drops the return on your points by a few cents.

Am I missing something since it seems to be generally accepted that using points for DCL is somewhat of a rip off?

Thanks.

I do not think that you will ever get too many here to support using points for a cruise. If you think it's what you want to do, by all means do it! However, it is very good to be aware of the cancellation policies that, I think, would penalize you more for points than for cash.

We've sailed DCL twice for points and 3 times for cash.

Bobbi

 

[Dean]

I have read post after post suggesting using points for DCL is not a good deal.

I have been doing several DCL searches and comparing the dollar result and comparing that to using points and each time I get about $9+ per point of value.

We are looking into cruising for the 1st time and I was looking to rent points at $10 per point to help pay for the cruise.

I am searching for 7 night cruises in the High Regular Season.

I am looking to use points for two guests for a Category 6 Stateroom.

Using points, the 2nd guest is 230 while the 3rd Guest is 160 for 390 total points. The same cruise costs $2,300 for the 2nd Guest and $1,900 for the 3rd Guest. Add $200 in taxes and the cash cost for both guests is $4,000.

Divide $4,000 by 390 points and you get a $11.28 per point return. Adding the $95 fee just drops the return on your points by a few cents.

Am I missing something since it seems to be generally accepted that using points for DCL is somewhat of a rip off?

Thanks.

I suspect you're comparing to a cruise that is not discounted or the early booking discounts have passed. There will be exceptions that might return a good value, that's why you need to look at specifics. Further, renting points for the cruise only complicates the issues and adds additional risk. It's not worth it for rental unless you can get a great price (like $4-5 a point) and almost never for an owner wth a few exceptions.

 

[disneynutz]

Is it that they are "blacked out" or that the DVC points rooms are already booked? There are many people that do use their points, so could it just be that they are full? It would be the same as no points reservations availble for any of the villas, but cash ones being there.

The reality is, you will never know because Disney won't tell you. Lets face facts, if Disney will make more money booking DCL with cash Guests then they black out DVC bookings or report that all of the DVC rooms are taken. There is no requirement that they even offer cabins to DVC Members on points or they can advertise the perk and only offer one cabin per year, technically there was availability.

If they forecast empty cabins then they add some more DVC dates to help fill the ship(s).

Bill

 

[Dean]

Is it that they are "blacked out" or that the DVC points rooms are already booked? There are many people that do use their points, so could it just be that they are full? It would be the same as no points reservations availble for any of the villas, but cash ones being there.

They've always had blackout times for very high demand options. Currently the difference is they are limiting the number of cruise cabins per cruise more than before. Historically it's been reported as up to 10%, however, we don't know many aspects of how this has or is being done. Is it 10% total, is it 10% for each cat or does it vary by cat, are the limiting to less than 10% nor or are they just now adhering to that level when they didn't before. Expect a large points hike for 2013 and beyond to decrease demand enough so it's not an issue.

 

[CMOORE185]

I leave on a cruise this Thursday that I booked on points. I booked when the cash price was low and am still getting about 7.5 dollar per point value. There are not many cruises that net even this value, but I always compare before I book. If it is over a 7 dollar per point value I consider booking on points. This is only the second time in 7 cruise I have used points.

 

[rillsung]

We just did calculations for this as well. We're getting about $9 per point We compared to the discounted price that we paid when we booked the day the cruise was released. Where we did run into aggrivation is that if you only partially pay using points (so you have 4 in the room and pay for 2 using points and 2 cash) the cost of the other 2 is a DVC negotiated price that is not discounted. So instead of paying $749 for an adult, we now have to pay $818 for the same adult (we paid for 1ad, 2ch in points and the other ad in cash). Plus you lose any onboard credits like from using the Disney Visa or a travel agent.

But our other arguement is that you can't directly compare DVC room to stateroom. On the cruise, food is also included and that can be a large cost at WDW too.

DH found a clause in our DVC contract that said that renting points out is not allowed and he's a stickler for rules. How much would it stink to have them taken away or something because we didn't follow rules. We also decided that we didn't want the liability of renting them to someone else either so we will be using them for the cruise. The only reason we have extra points is because we're cancelling our regular trip because a baby is due right in the middle We're only using the banked points that will expire before we likely go on another trip to a DVC resort.

 

[tomspixie]

We personally love using our DVC points on DCL. We cruise at least once a year on points and get two cabins...but pay cash for the 3rd and 4th guest in one of the cabins. Like an earlier poster...our investment in DVC was paid off years ago and so we are blessed to use our DVC as bonus trips!

The "blackouts" for this year happened because DVC ran the promotion for FREE cruise by adding on, or joining for X number of points. That pretty much filled up the ship allotments to DVC members. We did book for October of 2012 on points with no problem.

 

[dzorn]

We just did calculations for this as well. We're getting about $9 per point We compared to the discounted price that we paid when we booked the day the cruise was released. Where we did run into aggrivation is that if you only partially pay using points (so you have 4 in the room and pay for 2 using points and 2 cash) the cost of the other 2 is a DVC negotiated price that is not discounted. So instead of paying $749 for an adult, we now have to pay $818 for the same adult (we paid for 1ad, 2ch in points and the other ad in cash). Plus you lose any onboard credits like from using the Disney Visa or a travel agent.

But our other arguement is that you can't directly compare DVC room to stateroom. On the cruise, food is also included and that can be a large cost at WDW too.

DH found a clause in our DVC contract that said that renting points out is not allowed and he's a stickler for rules. How much would it stink to have them taken away or something because we didn't follow rules. We also decided that we didn't want the liability of renting them to someone else either so we will be using them for the cruise. The only reason we have extra points is because we're cancelling our regular trip because a baby is due right in the middle We're only using the banked points that will expire before we likely go on another trip to a DVC resort.

You can rent out DVC points it is not against the rules.

Denise in MI

 

[mgroshans]

Do guests who use points to cruise, get the same discount to book a cruise while on board, compared to someone who paid cash? Does that make sense??

 

[CMOORE185]

Do guests who use points to cruise, get the same discount to book a cruise while on board, compared to someone who paid cash? Does that make sense??

You get a 10% discount if you book on cash. No points discount of any kind.

 

[Dean]

But our other arguement is that you can't directly compare DVC room to stateroom. On the cruise, food is also included and that can be a large cost at WDW too.

DH found a clause in our DVC contract that said that renting points out is not allowed and he's a stickler for rules. How much would it stink to have them taken away or something because we didn't follow rules. We also decided that we didn't want the liability of renting them to someone else either so we will be using them for the cruise. The only reason we have extra points is because we're cancelling our regular trip because a baby is due right in the middle We're only using the banked points that will expire before we likely go on another trip to a DVC resort.

What one gets with DVC vs what one gets on a cruise is an irrelevant comparison. No matter how you get each one (cash or points) all comers are treated the same once on board. The valid comparison is what the relative costs and risks are of different reservation methods. As noted, renting is allowed, it's actually expressly allowed in that it says you can rent in the POS. The exception is "commercial renting" which is more than making a profit, the current definition by Disney is around 20 reservations per year then they review further reservations for that year.

We personally love using our DVC points on DCL. We cruise at least once a year on points and get two cabins...but pay cash for the 3rd and 4th guest in one of the cabins. Like an earlier poster...our investment in DVC was paid off years ago and so we are blessed to use our DVC as bonus trips!

The "blackouts" for this year happened because DVC ran the promotion for FREE cruise by adding on, or joining for X number of points. That pretty much filled up the ship allotments to DVC members. We did book for October of 2012 on points with no problem.

I'm not sure we know exactly what or why they put the brakes on reservations. What we do know is it changed over night which suggests a conscious decision on DVD's part and possibly on DCL's part as well. We can postulate that the incentive cruises and the favorable Dream reservation points tables were largely responsible but there are other factors including reduced returns on CRO rentals.

You get a 10% discount if you book on cash. No points discount of any kind.

Last I heard there was a reduced cost on points if "booked on board". You basically had to declare the intent to book then actually either book within 3 days of disembarking or before they extended the option to book 2 years out, contact MS with the intent to book if you were ahead of the booking window. This could have changed, I haven't kept up with it.

 

[dzorn]

You get a 10% discount if you book on cash. No points discount of any kind.

Yes you do get a points discount if re-booking while cruising. I was told we had to call within three days from departure as contacting MS while at sea was not practical.

Denise in MI