We are about 98% sure we want to join...

[sheryl0521]

We are about 98% sure we want to join...

The only question we have is to go with 150 or 200 points???

All suggestions will be so appreciated!!!

Thanks!
Sheryl

 

[Richyams]

Usually a decision between 150 and 200 is best settled at 250.

 

[donald@home]

I agree with Rich. The more the better. We started with 210 and we are now at 500. You will never have enough.

 

[new_yawka]

I say...never too much, get 150 AND 200

Really...you need to look at your potential usage:

Once a year or more? (More points)

1BR/2BR vs. Studio? (More points)

remember that you can always add on (or rent). Do not buy more points then you are likely to use.

 

[Regina]

Since it seems that 99.9 % of us have added on, I'd go with 200 if you're able to.

 

[Laurabearz]

If you can afford 200 get them....

I would try out Caskbils program. http://www.seidata.com/~wneth/id57.htm

And play around with that for a bit..... It really helps you see how far your points can go.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by donald@home
I agree with Rich. The more the better. We started with 210 and we are now at 500. You will never have enough.

Same thinking here...........we started with 230 at OKW 3 1/2 years ago, now we have 300 OKW and 200 at VB for a total of 500 pts.

 

[mapny]

I agree with everyone who says to go with the 200 points if it will work financially. We started with 250 at OKW, added an additional 50 just before it sold out and just this month purchased 200 more at BCV. We've decided that one week isn't enough at WDW and want to be able to do two weeks at a time, with some left over to take advantage of the many Concierge Club sites within our area.

Michele

 

[DVC-Don]

As the others have said, go with the most you can afford .

We started at 200. Added 70 seven months later and are now buying a 210 resale. We just keep adding to our "Empire".

 

[Dean]

While it's true many people do add on and wish they'd bougth more points than they did, give us more info about your situation. What is your family size, how often and for how long do you tend to vacation. How often have you been to WDW over the years. Where do you normally stay in Orlando. Have you stayed at a DVC resort in a DVC unit. My recommendation would vary significantly with your answers.

 

[sheryl0521]

Thank you so much for all your input!

We are a family of 4. Me & hubby, a 9-year old and a 13 month old. We tend to get to WDW about every 12-18 months and just love to stay in the Epcot resorts. Our last trip in May was at the Boardwalk Inn and would have paid for the first 2 years of the DVC membership!

WL is also a favorite resort and we are looking forward to checking out the Villas there as well.

We haven't stayed in an actual DVC unit, but we have been to alot of the resorts.

I think we are going for the 200 points at BCV. I wish we could afford more, but perhaps in a couple of years we will add on.

I do have a question about the banking process, so I will do some investigating on the boards and see if I can get my answers. I just want to understand better how it works and what the cut-off times are. I have checked Caskbils program and I think it will help alot!

Thanks again!

 

[Dean]

Assuming you go a full week, I would go with a minimum of 200 points. Actually I'd recommend 250 if you can swing it. You should assume a 1 BR each visit but if the children are different gender or you add on to your family later on, you may find yourself adding on at DVC as well to get a 2 BR. Do not make the mistake of thinking you'll stay in a studio most trips, few stick to that plan. 250 points will essentially get you a 1 BR every year at BWV, BCV, WLV for all EXCEPT Summer, Spring Break and Xmas times. OKW is less points and BWV has about 20% of the rooms that are standard view and also less points. You should be able to buy BWV resale and save some money, same for WLV but likely less savings. It will be a few years before much is available at BCV and even then the savings will depend on price increases between now and the time one is looking to buy.

If you're looking at Easter or Spring Break mostly, I'd go with 350. For summer, I'd do 300.

 

[yasuern]

Have you considered a resale? - They generally run $10-$15 cheaper per point than Disney - you do have to pay closing cost. If your heart is set on BCV then you have to go through Disney - however if you would like BWV - then resale is a possibility. We bought 300pts at VWL through Disney in Dec 2001 - and recently bought a resale for 200pts at OKW - OKW is Wonderful - tropical - quiet - lots to do - beautiful accomadations - that after we stayed there in July we had to have points there! we went through The Timeshare Store heres the link if you want to see whats available http://www.dvc-resales.com/index.htm
Good Luck in what ever you decide

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just another vote for getting the most you can afford. We bought 230 at OKW for starters and added on another 150 a year later. Our first trip was in a 1 bedroom. Our second trip was in a studio. We missed the 1 bedroom so much, we decided we needed more points!! Our 3rd trip was in a grand villa, and that sealed the deal for the additional points! We have had great flexibility with our 380 points. It is just the 2 of us at home now, and we like taking family and friends with us to WDW. This DVC had given us the ability to do that. We have even done a reasonable exchange to Hawaii and were still able to do a WDW trip in the same year.

Have you thought about doing a resale? If you are set on BCV, buy your points there from Disney, and do a resale contract for another resort too. Maybe you could do a resale at BWV and reserve BCV at the 7 month window. If you like the hotel felling of BCV and BWV and like the proximaty to Epcot and MGM, if you can't get into BCV at 7 months, you will still have the location and type of vacation home. We prefer the quieter OKW and like some distance between us and the parks when we go "home" at night to a "townhouse" rather than a hotel.

 

[anniet]

I just bought 150 points in March, haven't even had my first trip home yet, I travel during the lowest points season (January and September) and I am ALREADY wishing I bought 200.

Go for at least 200!

 

[crisi]

I'm just going to reiterate a couple of points:

Do download Caskbill's wonderful planner and play with it. You may discover that you need far more (or far fewer) points than you think.

Don't buy more points than you can afford in your budget. You will need to do two things with those points - pay maintenence on them and take vacations with them (that aren't cheap). (You can rent your points if you can't take the vacation or if the maintenence become burdensome). We DVC members hate to see people not benefitting from DVC, but I think we hate it more to see someone's DVC membership become more of a burden than a joy.

Consider your changing family. With the spread in your children's ages, even if they are the same gender, a two bedroom will be preferable to a one bedroom - and give you the flexibility to put five in a room when your eldest wants to bring a friend.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I might consider 150 points at BCV and then start scouting around for 100 or 150 point resales for BWV. The first year you will have 300 points available to use while you look for a resale you like.

That way if you need to sell it would be a bit easier to do than if you start out with a bigger contract.

 

[Thrashed]

Who is your Vacation Club Guide?

 

[sheryl0521]

Randy Kruger

So far we have been happy with him...

No, didn't buy yet but I think the call is going out on Monday!

 

[Pinnie]

Ditto to what everyone else has said here.

We initially bought 270 at BCVs in March and did another 50 point add on last month. It was after our July trip "home" that we decided that a 1 bedroom is what we will probably use the most over the years. We are also locked into using our points during the most "expensive" time (point wise) of the year, since I teach.


Buy what your budget dictates. You can always do an add on at some point.

pin
remember the magic
DVC/BCVs 2002