Using Points at NON-DVC Resort

[prncssjas]

Well...it sounds like MOST people use their points to stay at a DVC resort--as it makes most sense economically/logistically. But I am curious...is there anyone who uses them to stay at other resorts like at the Poly, GF or the Contemporary?

What have your experiences been like getting ressies?

I do realize that staying at a NON-DVC resort really sucks up a lot of points and such...but any thoughts? Any one here usually NOT stay at a DVC and usually do a regular resort??

Just curious!!

Rima

*** Biggest Aladdin Fan in the WORLD!!!***

DVC MEMBER/Vero Beach 2001
12/79 Day Guest
7/84 Day Guest
7/88 Disneyland
7/95 Off Site
1996 Cast Member
2/97 CBR
9/00 GF-HONEYMOON
11/01 GF Concierge

 

[DVCDAVE]

We took a cabin at FW during our last stay, for one night. Our boys love FW, so we promised to stay there one night. Used up 34 points for that night. No complaints, but certainly not as obulant as a 2BR at BWV.

WDW:
76,77,78,87,FW
92,Offsite
95 POL
96(2), GF,Offsite
97,GF
98,99,00,FW
8/00 DVC member @ BWV
3/01 BWV, FW
3/01 DVC member @ WLV
11/01 BWV !

 

[CarolAnnC]

I will be using DVC points to stay at the Y&BClub during the DIS Convention in November. This will be the first time I have used points anywhere except for the DVC Resorts and the Disney Cruise.

<font size=4><font color=purple><font face=BrushArt>Carol</font></font></font>

<font color=FF0066><font face=tahoma>Co-Mod - Theme Park Attractions and Strategies Board</font></font>
<font color=purple><font face=tahoma>Co Mod - Cruise Board</font></font>
<font color=FF0066><font face=tahoma>Co-Mod - DVC Board</font><

 

[HeatherPage]

We bought last May of 2000 and since my husband was in school the only actual weeks worth of vacation he got off was the week of Christmas which is one of the most popular times of the year. We couldn't get ressies for that time because everthing was booked for the DVC resorts so we chose to stay at the Poly. For a week Christmas time it cost us around 330 points (we had points from '99 they gave us, used points from 2000 and borrowed in to 2001. I love the Poly always have, but now we can't go until next year and I really wish we had been able to stay in a DVC resort so I could have saved some of those points. So like everyone says on this board - the DVC resorts are the best use of points. I probably will stay at the Poly or GF in the future on points but definitely not during the most popular times of the year, probably sometime after Labor Day when point values stretch further. Oh, and it was much easier getting ressies for the resort then the DVC but I think that was an exception because of that time of year. Gee, don't know if I helped you or just confused you there.

-Heather

If you wish hard enough your dreams can come true!

[This message was edited by HeatherPage on 04-17-01 at 12:13 PM.]

 

[dianeschlicht]

We had plans to stay at each of them at least once when we first joined DVC, but after our first stay in a 1 Bedroom at OKW, we had no desire to stay anywhere else! I would rather have all my room and quiet and still be able to stay extra days with the points we save by staying at our home resort.

Disneydiane

 

[TnRobin]

We just used points to stay at the Grand Californian at Disneyland. Of course a DVC resort was not available in Anahiem, but it was definitely a great use of our points. We would have never been able to stay at this hotel if we had to pay the cash price (I beleive it is around $300 a night).

As for our usual habit, it is to stay at DVC resorts because you do get a bigger room for less points.

Disney Vacation Club Board Co-Moderator
DVC and Cruise Chat Hostess
Cruise Board List Mistress

<font size=4 color=blue font face="Comic Sans MS">Robin

 

[Lesley]

After seeing how many points the non-dvc resorts take we will probably only stay at them for extra cash nights added on to our dvc stays...our dvc points are too precious!

If we're ever in a situation where we have to use the points at a non-dvc resort or lose them we will, but otherwise its not worth it to us.


Lesley

ºoº
1979 Contemporary
1992 Off-site
1994 Carribean Beach
1999 Fort Wilderness and Coronado Springs
2000 Polynesian and Old Key West
2002 Boardwalk Villas

 

[BenStone]

We used points to stay at the Contemporary Tower this past January and will be staying at the Grand Floridian this coming October. Both of these stays are due to changes in our cruise plans. Once you've booked points outside the DVC resorts they cannot be used at any of the DVC resorts. This isn't exactly the most economical way to use them but 5 nights at the GF certainly is easy to take.

"All opinions expressed are my own....for a small fee they can be yours too."

 

[Snow Shoe]

We're using DVC points to stay at Disneyland Paris, at the Disneyland Hotel this summer. On the way back home, we're stopping off at VB our home resort for a few days stay inorder to recoup! Yes, DVC points are precious, but DVC offers a lot of places in the world to visit that we might not be able to be aprat of because of costs. When we bought into DVC, being able to use our points and visit the world this way was a big plus for us. We enjoy traveling and our intention is to visit the "world" as much as possible, but also to see as much of the world when we want to and DVC will let us do that

 

[oldkey]

Rima

Don't forget that you could "rent" some of your points (though $10/points seems to be the average on this board, I often get $15/point with guests who were going to pay Disney prices anyway) and use that money to just pay for a Disney stay. As an example, the GF is 62 points for Friday/Saturday during Dream Season. If you "rented" those points for $10/points, the $620 you would receive would probably buy 1.5 if not 2 nights at GF.

We do this often when we want to travel in Europe during the year. Instead of "trading" our points (remember the $75 fee) for an European resort, we simply "rent" out a number of points and use the money to buy individual nights as we travel. The key benefit for us is that we can "roam" from city to city instead of staying at one place the whole time.

I know that this seems like a lot of work, but we actually find this less work than following the DVC "trading" system outside of DVC resorts. It almost always works out better financially as well.

"Renting" out points and then "spending" the money on other alternatives is not for everybody, but it works out nicely for us...especially in years where we do not use all of our points. Sometimes.....just sometimes.....you can only take so much Disney. This gives us other alternatives.

Matt in Minneapolis

 

[princess angel]

Hello there prncssjas!!!
you know my story, but I'll tell you again anyway!!!

We have stayed at the GF 4 times on points (we only paid $$ for a couple of nights during one of those trips)
we never had any problem at all!!! we made the ressies as far in advance as 11 months, and as close as 4 months! Always recieved fabulous service, the cm's don't know (or care) who is dvc and who is not! so, it's not an issue!
also, our requests were always granted!!! we got lagoon view all 4 times!!! 3 of those times we got the most excellent view of MK and the castle!!!
the one time we didn't get MK view, we still got lagoon view, and probably because I only requested lagoon view, I actually forgot to request view of MK that time!!! (I wasn't quite a veteran yet at that time! I would never make that overight now!!! LOL!!!)
so, as you can see, in my experience, making ressies outside of dvc resorts is a piece of cake!!!
however, I will now opt to visit more often, so start staying at dvc resorts, although , you know I love my deluxe resorts and amenities, so there will be paid visits (w/AP discounts!!!) at deluxe resorts in my future!!! such as YC lagoonview concierge for my birthday!!!
and we're trying to decide for next (2002) thanksgiving which deluxe to stay at for 4nights, followed by a week at a dvc resort!!! we're deciding between BC concierge or returning to the GF!!! I'm torn!!! (shouldn't all decisions be this tough!!! LOL!!!)

Laura
10 days til WDW!!!! yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

4/97 - offsite (Hyatt)
6/98 - GF (honeymoon)
12/99 - Grand Floridian
9/00 - Grand Floridian
1/01 - Grand Floridian
4/01 - AKL, BWV & Polynesian
7/01 - YachtClub lagoonview concierge
10/01 - BWV
1/02 - running Disney's 26 mile marathon!!

 

[Niagara2]

Staying at GC at DL right now and can tell you that here in CA D VC is not as easy as in FL. We are OK now but will post later our experiences.

 

[ilovediznee]

we stayed at the polynesian for our honeymoon, then the GF for our 5 year anniversary. two years ago we bought into dvc and bought 200 points. we will be going back to the GF for our anniversary next year and recommend it very much.

i would save up your points and try and stay at all the resorts so you know what each has to offer. we went in january and stayed at our home, boardwalk, and stayed sunday to friday which was not very many points. we are going to bank those for our trip next year.

we plan to spend every other trip at a resort.

 

[prncssjas]

Thanks everyone!!

You have all posted wonderful and helpful information. I really appreciate it. DH and I really love the GF ever sinced we honeymooned there last year. And I know that DVC is a terrific way to try everything. I suppose it's all going to depend on how often we go and how long we want to stay.

I just love this board!! Thanks again.

Rima

*** Biggest Aladdin Fan in the WORLD!!!***

12/79 Day Guest
7/84 Day Guest
7/88 Disneyland
7/95 Off Site
1996 Cast Member
2/97 CBR
9/00 GF-HONEYMOON
11/01 GF Concierge
DVC MEMBER/Vero Beach 2001