Was this a dumb thing to do? DVC points & non-dvc hotels

[jmurphy625]

I found this board last week (just after making reservations for June) and am feeling like maybe I should have done this differently...

Background..I'm a teacher-limits the time I can go to WDW to school vacations- and have 3 boys (21, 9 & 7). We usually go to disney every other year or so but it's been since Thanksgiving 2003-leaving us about 350 points as of June 1..plus 200 avail to borrow from 2007.

I've been waiting to get the official last day of school to make my plans and since we had no snow days the boys will get out on June 16th..I'll finish up on the 19th. DH and oldest son cannot go this summer. So my mom and I will take the younger ones. Since it will be very hot, we decided to do a split stay and 1. must stay at BCV for SAB ...ALSO 2. on the monorail and IF NEEDED 3. anywhere else we hadn't tried before, maybe near another park.

We're going on a budget...cash is tight. We had two free airline tix.

So I called MS and started with BCV (got in 2 nights, FRI/SAT. good). Then tried POLY (got in the first three nights..good). Last three nights are at AK lodge.

This is the questionable part. I asked what the Kamehamaha Club was. They explained this was the concierge rooms (My best friend just did this with her two girls and loved it) so I said what the heck! -62 points per night. Do you think this is a poor use of points? Is it really worth it. I can't move the points back to the DVC properties anyways-but I'm sort of kicking myself since our home WLV were avail for the last three nights at 12 points-that would have saved me some points...I was wondering if members rent points and then use the cash to make ressies elsewhere?

Any insight would be helpful...

 

[Judique]

I found this board last week (just after making reservations for June) and am feeling like maybe I should have done this differently...

Background..I'm a teacher-limits the time I can go to WDW to school vacations- and have 3 boys (21, 9 & 7). We usually go to disney every other year or so but it's been since Thanksgiving 2003-leaving us about 350 points as of June 1..plus 200 avail to borrow from 2007.

I've been waiting to get the official last day of school to make my plans and since we had no snow days the boys will get out on June 16th..I'll finish up on the 19th. DH and oldest son cannot go this summer. So my mom and I will take the younger ones. Since it will be very hot, we decided to do a split stay and 1. must stay at BCV for SAB ...ALSO 2. on the monorail and IF NEEDED 3. anywhere else we hadn't tried before, maybe near another park.

We're going on a budget...cash is tight. We had two free airline tix.

So I called MS and started with BCV (got in 2 nights, FRI/SAT. good). Then tried POLY (got in the first three nights..good). Last three nights are at AK lodge.

This is the questionable part. I asked what the Kamehamaha Club was. They explained this was the concierge rooms (My best friend just did this with her two girls and loved it) so I said what the heck! -62 points per night. Do you think this is a poor use of points? Is it really worth it. I can't move the points back to the DVC properties anyways-but I'm sort of kicking myself since our home WLV were avail for the last three nights at 12 points-that would have saved me some points...I was wondering if members rent points and then use the cash to make ressies elsewhere?

Any insight would be helpful...

Yes, members rent points and use the cash at times. Since you have already made the reservations, sit back and enjoy the planning! You will have a great time going concierge at Poly! It's certainly okay to splurge and have fun with your points once in a while!

 

[Cruelladeville]

Hello, fellow teacher, I also vacation on school vacations, and I adore concierge!! I usually rent out my points to pay cash for it, but 62 points isn't bad if your kids are with you! I paid $411 last year for 4 of us, so you are only using an additional 20 pts, and that's not bad. Actually, the one I personally would change would be BCV on Friday/Saturday nights. Call CRO, and ask what the cash price for those nights is. You could probably get a studio for about $169, and then you could save some of your points for next year, and maybe rent about 1/2. Most people charge $10 per point, just to give you an idea of the money. In other words, the studio would "cost" you about 17 pts per night. You have a lot of points to use, though. If you don't want to come to Florida next year, then it may be best to use those points up.

Just wait until you do concierge--you can eat all day long! There is a nice continental breakfast of cereals, juice, coffee, donuts, and bagels till 11, then fruit, tiny sandwiches, and vegies till 3. At 3-5 is afternoon tea, 5-7 is oerdurves, and 7-10 is evening cordials. It was such fun! We only ate 1 meal per day then. And you should also check on the sunrise and evening safaris where, for a price, they take you out in a truck to see them bring the animals in and out, answer all your questions, and feed you a great meal! This is ONLY for concierge at AKL. Also, if you do concierge first, they will reserve all your meals for you for your entire trip, whether you remain in concierge or not. concierge guests don't check in downstairs, either. You go to the bell desk--unless they meet you at the door--and they take you directly to your room. After you relax awhile, you can wander over to the concierge lounge, and they check you in while the kids eat!

 

[CarolMN]

WELCOME TO THE DVC FORUMS!

No sense second guessing yourself now, LOL. There's no upside to that. If you are ever in this situation again and want help squeezing every last cent of value from your points (even if you don't want to do what is suggested ), then post. You'll get lots of opinions - some you'd really rather not get.

For now, just concentrate on looking forward to your trip - in my book teachers are a blessing, so ENJOY!

Best wishes -

 

[dallastxcpa]

We stayed GF concierge last Labor Day weekend and I have not regreted the use of points. Yes, it was expensive, but you never know what head aches you might have run into had you tried to rent out your points.

I am not sure if the Poly will do it or not, but the GF concierge booked all my ADR's and we only stayed with them two nights of a split stay. We have also stayed AK concierge. Concierge will so spoil you it's wonderful.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

You won't be able to judge whether it was a waste of points until you get home. We've stayed concierge, but usually do it on the weekend nights where the points are high for your DVC rooms, but we stay on cash not points. Personally, I would have rented points for the stay, but it depends on how far in advance you plan, etc. to make it all work. I can't justify trading 12 nights in a DVC studio (OKW 164 pts-magic season) for 3 nights concierge. Regardless, I'm sure your trip will be wonderful. I've always wanted to try AKL concierge.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you wind up continuously running out of points, do what we did - Add on. In fact, we added on four times. And we still borrow points each year.

You'll have a great stay. It's always fun to do something different. We stayed on points at the CR last summer and had a wonderful time.

We're looking at a Disney cruise in Mar 07, but the points might be just too much. We'll probably just pay cash and use the points later on in the year. Might help us catch up pointswise, too.

 

[FlyingfreeWDW]

Really it is all about your needs and wants. We can only tell you what we would do. I wouldn't use my points that way but that is me. I'd rent some points and pay cash. The one poster gave me a good laugh when they talked about how it was ONLY 20 points more. 20 points is a minimum of $200 on the rental market, $220 if you were renting from me. Funny how some don't see the value of those points. I always try to look at my points as cash, based on current rental prices. That way you know what you are "spending" for each stay. This is the main reason for us skipping weekends for the most part. DVC is far more valuable if you skip weekend nights. You'll double your number of days you could visit WDW. You will love your stay I'm sure and as the BM said, no sense second guessing yourself now. Go and have a great trip and now next time you'll know some options for future trips. I also second the suggestion to stay concierge on weekend when DVC points are highest if you want that concierge fix. We often stay GF concierge on weekend nights. Have a great trip.

 

[PamOKW]

As someone already pointed out, everyone has a different opinion. I bought my points to use for vacations. If you'd like to try something different -- concierge at non-DVC -- then that's a terrific use of your points. If you had plans for the points in the near future, then maybe looking for a good cash price would have been worth the trouble.

I know a lot of people seem to like to rent out their points and then use the actual cash towards cruises, concierge etc. Or, use the cash to pay for a room elsewhere on weekends. To me, it sort of defeats the purpose of DVC -- my vacations are pre-paid and can be done with a phone call I don't have to worry about booking other people's rooms, collecting the $$, etc. For the foreseeable future, renting my points will only be because they are expiring and I have no way to use them.

Be sure to come back and tell us how your trip went!

 

[jmurphy625]

Thanks for all the tips. Before finding the "dis" I didn't realize the points really had any cash value...so I'll keep that in mind for next time. And for this time we'll really enjoy being spoiled.


About 10 days ago I made reservations for a friend (24 points) who happened to be going to florida on April vacation- telling her I'd lose them if I didn't use them before May 30- guess what...she just got back and didn't end up going! "Just didn't work out". Next time I'll be offering them here to someone that really wants them.

Thanks again

 

[YesYourMajesty]

I dont think any use of points is a poor use as long as you enjoy yourself and feel that you got the most of your points. They are YOUR points after all. If you want to stay concierge, then I say go for it.

By the way, I have to say thank you for being a teacher. My parents were both teachers and I have so much respect that profession. I remember as a child having to wait to plan our trips according the school schedule. I know it can be frustrating.

Have a great trip.

 

[PamOKW]

About 10 days ago I made reservations for a friend (24 points) who happened to be going to florida on April vacation- telling her I'd lose them if I didn't use them before May 30- guess what...she just got back and didn't end up going! "Just didn't work out". Next time I'll be offering them here to someone that really wants them.

Thanks again

No good deed goes unpunished....

I hope she at least called to cancel the reservation. You gave her a "gift" worth quite a tidy sum -- maybe 2-3 nights in a studio or one-bed at least $400+? Also, if she just didn't show up, someone else wasn't able to book the room. Oh well, as you say next time.....

Renting does require a bit of effort but you can generally get at least $10 per point if you start far enough in advance.

 

[lizanne]

I think probably most people on these boards will tell you it's not the best use of your points - and they're right as far as $ value is concerned.

However, I feel that they're your points to enjoy as you wish.

We've used our points for 2 Disney Cruises and a trip to Williamsburg and we're hoping to use them for Bar Harbor, ME next year. This year we're spending a week at the GF before transferring to OKW. We've enjoyed every moment.