"Value" of points stayed the same over time?

[Raenstoirm]

If you bought a week worth of points 15 years ago in say a studio at your home resort, do your points still buy you that week? Or has the daily/weekly rates eeked up over the years and you can only "afford" 6 nights now?

 

[disneyberry]

There have been a few point reallocations over the years, but DVC cannot just outright increase points because the total number of points for the year must remain the same. I forget the exact details, someone else can probably explain better, but basically, if they increase the number of points needed to book a room in a certain month, they must find another month and decrease the number of points needed.
Most recently, many of the resorts were reallocated to flatten the points cost a bit. Back in the day, weekend nights (Fri + Sat) used to have much higher points costs and weeknights were very cheap. Now weeknights cost a bit more, and weekends a little less.

 

[Raenstoirm]

I am trying to decide how many points to buy. the room we want at beach club is 202 points for the week. I am trying to decide if it is best to buy 200 and borrow/transfer/buy from disney those 2 points every year or if a 225 or 250 point contract would be better so we could bank/rent the extra points if the same week becomes 210 or 215 down the line. Based on what you are saying, that week could become 215, but then another week would go down by 13 points.

 

[CMNJ]

Just keep a couple things in mind-you definitely can borrow 2 points from your next use year but getting someone to transfer you only 2 beach club points will be very difficult as owners who transfer typically are only willing to transfer much larger numbers of points. Also Disney will let you buy a few points per year (up to 24) BUT only at the 7 month window. So if you do wind up buying BC for the home resort priority you wouldn't be able to book at 11 months using any one time use points from Disney-you'd have to use all your own or get another BC member to transfer them to you.

 

[com_op_2000]

There have been 3 major points adjustments in the 20 years of DVC. Points for Sunday through Thursdays went up and Friday and Saturday nights were lowered.
I am one of those badly effected by these changes.
When I first bought in, I had enough points to stay 27 nights per year in a studio, during the lowest points cost seasons, and on Sunday through Thursday nights. I have now gone to 22 night per year in the same studios. DVC had to make these adjustments to even out the week night and weekends to more fully even out the resorts bookings. DVC is required by the regulations to make these adjustments to keeps the resorts book at 98%+.

 

[chalee94]

the total number of pts (including every villa for every night of the year) for each resort is fixed and cannot change.

here's some history for you. you can see some of the reallocations in the links below:

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.g...6/dvcresorts/2016-OKW-Pt-Cht-FINAL-121614.pdf

original pt charts from 1994 for OKW (thanks to webmasterdoc).

if you wanted a 1BR at OKW for 7 nights in may 1994, it would have cost 200 pts. if you wanted a 1BR at OKW for 7 nights in may 2016, it would cost 199 pts.

20+ years later and your pts still get you the same value. how's that for no inflation?

OTOH, if you wanted a studio for 5 nights sun-thurs in early december, your 35 pt stay cost in 1994 has now increased by 43% to 50 pts. weeknight stays have taken a hit...but if you just stayed 2 nights on a weekend in early december at OKW, your 34 pt stay in 1994 dropped a bit to 26 pts.

if you typically stay for 7 nights, i doubt you'll see any big changes (although early dec is popular enough that it won't surprise me if they move it to a different season.)

timesharing definitely involves a risk of change. that's true. but for the most part, just buy a few extra (5-10%) and that should cover most of the small reallocations...

 

[disneynutz]

I am trying to decide how many points to buy. the room we want at beach club is 202 points for the week. I am trying to decide if it is best to buy 200 and borrow/transfer/buy from disney those 2 points every year or if a 225 or 250 point contract would be better so we could bank/rent the extra points if the same week becomes 210 or 215 down the line. Based on what you are saying, that week could become 215, but then another week would go down by 13 points.

The point requirements may change, buy 250 and stay an extra night once in awhile.

In reality you will be staying at other resorts that require a different amount of points.

Bill

 

[DizBub]

The point requirements may change, buy 250 and stay an extra night once in awhile.

In reality you will be staying at other resorts that require a different amount of points.

Bill

I wholeheartedly agree with both of these statements.

Different resorts, seasons, views, room sizes....it's always nice to be able to bank a few extra points and have that cushion for next year...just in case.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Thanks guys! That makes one decision easier. Now on to the use year decision! lol

 

[ziravan]

Thanks guys! That makes one decision easier. Now on to the use year decision! lol

April.

If you want to travel in May, Sept, and Dec, then April will give you your best protection. For bookings in May and Sept, an April UY will work just fine. For Dec, as long as you lock in by Nov 30, you should be OK: you can change your mind and bank the points up to Nov 30.

I have your perfect BCV contract: 252 April UY points. It's not for sale. We love it and believe we found an absolute gem.

You cannot buy BCV direct anymore. They closed the waitlist. Plus, rumor has it that BCV is next on the complete resort makeover going on at VWL that will likely include the sell of new points and a chance to extend for current owners. Unlike VWL who are currently in the dark on how that will work, BCV will get a strong idea of how things will go in advance because DVC will have tipped its hand when it announces VWL.

My opinion is they will offer extensions, it will be positive for owners, and when people realize BCV is next, there'll be a mad scramble for points.

We paid $84/point for our BCV contract last year. We thought it was pricey but worth it to buy where we wanted to stay. You better believe that we think we got a great deal now. I think you'll feel the same way down the road.

 

[Dean]

I am trying to decide how many points to buy. the room we want at beach club is 202 points for the week. I am trying to decide if it is best to buy 200 and borrow/transfer/buy from disney those 2 points every year or if a 225 or 250 point contract would be better so we could bank/rent the extra points if the same week becomes 210 or 215 down the line. Based on what you are saying, that week could become 215, but then another week would go down by 13 points.

If you're set on buying and staying most trips at BCV and the room is currently 202 for your usual trip, I'd let the best contract you find in that general range make the decision. If you can find a loaded contract, that could easily give you an extra 10-15% yearly points for some time. Another option might be to go even smaller and add a second contract at another home resort.

 

[chalee94]

Another option might be to go even smaller and add a second contract at another home resort.

But do understand that this will not give you BCV priority with both contracts.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I agree to just buy the best contract you locate that is around that range of points. I would not but 250 points though if my avg stay we're currently 202 points nor would I be worrying about buying one time use points or transfers etc. If it's a week stay that sounds like a 1 bedroom and that would be a category I'd worry the least about going up dramatically in point requirements if another reallocation was done. Also, just borrow. It would take 100 years before you'd use the full extra year of points at 2 points a year. Lol

 

[ziravan]

There doesn't seem to be many options for BCV. The Timeshare Store didn't have any BCV contracts avail. When I bought from them last year, they had dozens, with new contracts available practically every day.

One aggregator of avail contracts I saw posted 4 BCV contracts from multiple resellers and 3/4 were for 250 points or more.

Slim pickings.

 

[DenLo]

I would not buy 200+ points in a single contract either, because if you ever decided to sell the contract, there is more demand for smaller contracts. Even two 100 point contracts would be a better way to go IMO, as those smaller contracts often sell at a premium.

Also, do you really think that you will only stay at BCV, never at an MK resort or you book late and only thing available is at SSR? If you stay at another resort you might end up borrowing from the next year to stay at that resort or have leftover points that will have to used eventually or they will expire. I would not buy a contract with the mind set that you will never need or want more points. Addonitis is seriously contagious amongst DVC members.

 

[Dean]

But do understand that this will not give you BCV priority with both contracts.

Correct, Charles, I know you know this but for others benefit. It would give home resort for 2 locations and/or cheaper points. To do this, I'd buy the BCV first then see what one ended up with. Try it out for a year to three years. By then one should have about as much info as possible including the info one can only get by using assuming yearly usage or more. As posted, I think getting the best contract that comes along is going to be the determining factor. If it's 200 or more, that may truly be all that's needed, if it's much less, I'd still go with it esp at a place that's difficult to find contracts, much less good ones. Then if wherever they end up isn't enough, that's where a second home resort might come into play OR a retail purchase for small contracts. Either something like SSR to get cheaper points or something that gives a desired home resort priority for a second location.

I would not buy 200+ points in a single contract either, because if you ever decided to sell the contract, there is more demand for smaller contracts. Even two 100 point contracts would be a better way to go IMO, as those smaller contracts often sell at a premium.

All else being equal I'd agree but all is not equal. The plan to buy two 100 pt (or similar) BCV contracts would add significant cost and aggravation. It'd add likely $2-3 K to the cost of the purchase and finding the 2 contracts to match up would be extremely difficult for BCV. If one were set on 2 smaller contracts, I'd only make one of them at BCV and the other at something easier to find. IMO it's not worth splitting contracts just for insurance as a possible exit strategy until one gets at least to a full size contract of 150-170 for each and for most situations, until 400 points total. IF and only if one can get them as a single purchase already linked so the cost is the same as a single contract would I pursue smaller contracts all for BCV for this situation.

Also, do you really think that you will only stay at BCV, never at an MK resort or you book late and only thing available is at SSR? If you stay at another resort you might end up borrowing from the next year to stay at that resort or have leftover points that will have to used eventually or they will expire.

The fact that people end up using the points differently than they thought they would and that truthfully it's not as difficult to get most things most times of the year as some make it sound, is just one of the reasons I like underbuying in terms of the resort and usually in terms of the number of points as well. For me personally I don't see BCV worth an extra $4-5 over BWV for 200 points but obviously some disagree else the prices would not be so different. Unless one is specifically reserving the 2Q/2BR units, it just doesn't offer anything over BWV other than emotions and very minor personal preferences. While I don't feel the RTU on the far end makes much of a difference as between SSR & AKV or AKV & BLT, I do think it makes a big difference for the 2042 resorts given that we're well under 30 yrs now and the next step is 12 yrs. IMO one needs to both be pretty certain they want a difficult to reserve option they can't get with something else MOST of the time AND be able to reserve day one 11 months out. The other factor is that for the most difficult things, even owning at that home resort and booking day one 11 months out isn't a guarantee of success.

 

[chainkid]

If I were doing it over, I would not buy one contract over 200pts. It might cost more now but the ease of unloading them more than makes up for it. I have bought and sold until now I have all contracts same use year and all but one contract under 250. I found I like BWV's more than anywhere else and tend to plan trips 95% of the time at that resort. I made the mistake of buying other resorts sight unseen as a newby but luckily they were all 100pts and I got top dollar for them when I sold them. The moral of the story is if you want to make your DVC ownership as easy to use as possible then buy multiple small contracts with same use year at only the resorts you absolutely know you love. A lot of the resorts are available at 7 months most of the year while others are a hot item. If you like to stay at more than one favorite then buy enough thru banking and borrowing to stay at those. I prefer to have all my points now at one resort and stay at others when they are open. If you can vacation any time of the year then you can play with resort availability tool until the hard to get resort is open and then pick those dates to vacation. I have stayed at just about every resort now doing just that. If you are limited then its best to have the 11 month window . BC,BWV as well as VGF Studio's are going to be hard to get certain times of the year so if you want those buy there. Be aware that VGF studio's are even harder to get as an owner unless you buy a fixed week.

 

[taaren]

OTOH, if you wanted a studio for 5 nights sun-thurs in early december, your 35 pt stay cost in 1994 has now increased by 43% to 50 pts. weeknight stays have taken a hit...but if you just stayed 2 nights on a weekend in early december at OKW, your 34 pt stay in 1994 dropped a bit to 26 pts.

if you typically stay for 7 nights, i doubt you'll see any big changes (although early dec is popular enough that it won't surprise me if they move it to a different season.)

timesharing definitely involves a risk of change. that's true. but for the most part, just buy a few extra (5-10%) and that should cover most of the small reallocations...

Came to this thread from a current one about Points Values not changing. I found the bolded part funny since a DVC facebook page I'm on seems to have nothing but complaints the last few weeks from members not being able to get their desired at the 11 month window and baseless accusations of DVC "overselling" resorts and it getting harder to get what one wants the last few years. I try to tell them that early Dec has been hard to get with a lot of us tracking those dates for at least the decade I've owned, but they still seem unreasonably outraged anyways. Curious at what point the reallocation for early Dec will come onto the radar of those who decide such things.
The other thing I'm starting to realize people underestimate is how much their vacation habits will change over the course of a contract. I know we have switched from 2 bedrooms during the week to weekend studios because as the kids get into grades that are harder for them to miss school, we've adjusted, and will adjust again in future years (I'm looking forward to after the older ones graduate!). As careers and kids grow vacation styles migrate and a lot of people seem to believe that they will always vacation at a particular time in a particular way which strikes me as highly unlikely.