Using Points for DCL??

[Cmbar]

Has anyone used the DVC points to book a Disney Cruise and if so how does that work? We are new DVC members and considering a DCL in November 2010. I guess I don't understand how you use your point "towards" the cost. We don't have enough points to book for our family of four, so can I apply my points and get a price reduction?

 

[perpetualplanner]

You can pay with points per person but each person must be paid entirely with either cash or points. If DCL is offering a special the cash people will not be able to use the special. The cash rate would be through DVC also - I believe.

I haven't done this yet but we did consider it. HTH

 

[robert@dvcstore]

If you do not have enough points for the 4 of you to book a Disney cruise, you can use points for 2 of you and pay cash for the other 2. If all 4 of you are staying in one cabin, the cash price for the 3rd and 4th person in a cabin is at a very reduced cost. It may be more "point efficient" for you to do it this way anyway.

Bon Voyage.

Robert

 

[Inkmahm]

Has anyone used the DVC points to book a Disney Cruise and if so how does that work? We are new DVC members and considering a DCL in November 2010. I guess I don't understand how you use your point "towards" the cost. We don't have enough points to book for our family of four, so can I apply my points and get a price reduction?

You'd most likely be better off paying cash and not using points at all. If you want to use your points, turn them into cash by transfering them to another member. You'll likely save quite a few points that way.

 

[Cmbar]

Yeah I was thinking about renting them to pay for the cruise. But I have to say with Disney giving trips away these days it doesn't even make sense for me to tell people to rent points anymore. We do have BLT points so maybe somone will want to book at 11 months to get MK view so maybe I should look into that.


If I call MS will they be able to tell me how many points and what cost it will be for the children. This is for a Nov 2010 cruise so I can book with my 2010 points right? (our use year is April)

 

[Dean]

You must use points for each entire person (not part points and part cash) and must pay for one adult on points. After that you get the negotiated cash rate, usually much higher than the early booking discounts. You can pay for any other guests on points that you have points you want to use as long as you pay the entire amount of points for that person. For example, you could pay one adult and one child by points and one adult on cash if you wanted.

 

[jel0511]

Using points USUALLY is a bad deal, but if you're booking close to sailing it usually works out better than paying cash. I booked a cruise a little less that 6 months to sailing and the points "cost" with the cash component ended up being 1k cheaper than booking with cash. The reason was the DVC negotiated cash rate at the time was MUCH lower than what DCL was charging and the point "cost" wasn't too bad either. As Dean mentioned, you have to have enough points to book an adult on points, after that you can pay cash for the rest of your party, or a combo of another person fully on points and more cash. You also have to pay the 95 exchange fee. If you're planning this far in advance, I'd consider paying cash, as that will always be the better deal.

 

[Cmbar]

Using points USUALLY is a bad deal, but if you're booking close to sailing it usually works out better than paying cash. I booked a cruise a little less that 6 months to sailing and the points "cost" with the cash component ended up being 1k cheaper than booking with cash. The reason was the DVC negotiated cash rate at the time was MUCH lower than what DCL was charging and the point "cost" wasn't too bad either. As Dean mentioned, you have to have enough points to book an adult on points, after that you can pay cash for the rest of your party, or a combo of another person fully on points and more cash. You also have to pay the 95 exchange fee. If you're planning this far in advance, I'd consider paying cash, as that will always be the better deal.

Thank you for your answer and we are planning this 15 months out, so I would probably do better with paying cash. However, would I be able to call Memeber Services and they be able to just tell me what it would cost with using my points? Will they arlready have a DVC cash cost for a trip that far out?

 

[jel0511]

Thank you for your answer and we are planning this 15 months out, so I would probably do better with paying cash. However, would I be able to call Memeber Services and they be able to just tell me what it would cost with using my points? Will they arlready have a DVC cash cost for a trip that far out?

The 2010 cruise points are available on the member site, so you can look it up there. You'll have to call MS to get the cash cost for whoever you'll be paying for. They'll have that info for you.

 

[Dean]

Using points USUALLY is a bad deal, but if you're booking close to sailing it usually works out better than paying cash. I booked a cruise a little less that 6 months to sailing and the points "cost" with the cash component ended up being 1k cheaper than booking with cash. The reason was the DVC negotiated cash rate at the time was MUCH lower than what DCL was charging and the point "cost" wasn't too bad either. As Dean mentioned, you have to have enough points to book an adult on points, after that you can pay cash for the rest of your party, or a combo of another person fully on points and more cash. You also have to pay the 95 exchange fee. If you're planning this far in advance, I'd consider paying cash, as that will always be the better deal.

Certainly if your late in the game, say 2-3 months out, you may avoid many of the risk differential of using points and the price difference may be less or non existent. However, that's because you've given up the available early booking discounts. Plus many of the negatives of a points reservation are there with cash on shorter notice (due in full, can't cancel and get refund, etc). IMO, one should evaluate both in an apples to apples comparison for the cabin type and dates in question to make a final decision. Given the negatives of a points reservation (points reservation status, cash due in full, higher costs for cash portions, $75 fee, new $75 fee with any changes), you need for points to be at least $10 a point OR MORE to even consider points for such a trip. As you point out though, at within 2-3 months of the trip, the risk even out. One thing some have done is book for cash then change over the points as you get closer. It's a risk but it is a valid way to have your cake and eat it too so to speak.