Using Points vs Cash - May Dream Season

[DutchsMommy]

I am planning on making a reservation tomorrow for a quick trip May 17-21st. We are very new SSR owners and I thought this would be a nice intro to our ownership. Just DS (5) and I are heading down so we only need a studio. We do not care where we stay, but are hoping for availability at BWV, OKW or SSR because they are less points.

What I am wondering is - should I consider using cash for the Fri and Sat nights and points for the Thrs and Sun nights? If so, can Member Services complete the full ressie for me? What kind of discount would I be looking at for the cash portion of the ressie? What type of calculation/consideration would you use to make that decision (pts vs cash)? I feel like just putting everything on points as it seems silly to have just bought and now thinking about paying out of pocket, but if there is a strong benefit to cash I would like to be aware.

Thanks for your help - and all the help since I have become a member!

 

[tiggercrew]

Congratulations on your purchase!

The main reason to pay cash for Fri & Sat is simply because of how many points are necessary for those nights. A lot of members choose to do it this way...while others buy in with the idea that a week (or 7 nights) will use "x" number of points and they don't look at it on a per night basis.

The discount that DVC members get is 25% off rack rate of the room...but the discount is not always available. You can check with MS when you call. MS can arrange for both the cash nights (if you decide on that) and the nights on points. Also, they can link your two reservations so that you won't have to change rooms after your cash nights.

Good luck with your planning.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The BWV standard view is a long shot. It's only about 20% of the resort and usually gets booked up first. So don't bet on that. OKW, SSR, maybe.

The cash rate through MS doesn't always happen, so don't bank on that either.

But you may get lucky.

 

[melanie18]

We just did the same thing @ Vero Beach. The cash price was $225/night, but with the DVC discount went down to $168. Seems like a pretty good discount to me, but again that was Vero, not WDW.

 

[hygienejean]

Hmmmm this sounds interesting. When are the cash discounts available? Certain times of year? Do I ask about this when I am making a reservation?

I am planning to call for Vero at the 7 mo window and my first night is a Sat night stay. ( I would much rather pay $168 and save the points!) I guess it can't hurt to ask....

 

[DebbieB]

When I used to go in May with my mom for Mother's Day, we stayed at OKW in a 1 bedroom. I was trying to stretch my points, I was not in a position to buy more points (my mom had breast cancer and has subsequently passed away). So I would book Sunday to Thursday nights on points (100 total) and then book Friday and/or Saturday on cash. A 1 bedroom is 48 points on weekends. I would pay around $320 with the member discount, which comes out to about $6.67 per point. When you figure it out, it really wasn't more than buying more points (amortized to 2042) and dues for 1 year. If my mom wasn't sick, I probably would have added on but this worked for me.

 

[BroganMc]

The member cash discount works in your favor for Fri/Sat nights at OKW and SSR. I usually figure a rate of $10/point. With that, I'm saving $30-$70 on a cash reservation.

It doesn't work for BWV, BCV, or VWL regular rooms. Points are cheaper then by about $30. The one exception is BWV standard, but since these rooms are so few I don't think you'd be able to book them via cash.

I know they were offering a member discount at SSR for May last time I called. I'm paying cash for 5/18-5/19 and staying May 13-17 and May 20 on points. I booked via MS and had them link the reservations. I addedon May 20 at a later date so just needed to ask them to link the ressies. You may able to have similar luck.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Thanks for your insight everyone. I am going to call this morning - fingers crossed. I hope I get a patient CM LOL