What are your experiences using points outside of Disney?

[onthefence]

I'm seriously considering buying to the DVC - but wanted some members' opinions on their exchange experiences at non-DVC properties. I have 3 kids - am limited to school vacations/summers for vacations and would look to go to the Caribean (Aruba) and all over the US. Are the accomodations nice? Is it hard to get reservations? Does DVS put you at an advantage? Thx -

 

[Deb & Bill]

The DVC timeshare makes the most sense if you go to WDW a lot. If you plan to trade out more than stay at WDW, you might want to consider another timeshare and only buy enough points to borrow and bank every three years or so for Disney trips. With three kids, you'll need a two bedroom, so make sure you figure that into your points purchase.

 

[Blackunicorn]

I know this doesn't help much with your question, as I've only ever stayed at Disneyland on DVC points. I had no problem with the reservation, but Member Services didn't know a thing about the place I was staying and couldn't help me with anything other than the reservation.

I recommend that you do a quick estimate of how much you would pay for a couple of the vacations you'd like to take, versus an estimate of how many DVC points you'd use (you can estimate $10 a point) plus all the things you'd have to pay cash for like airfare, car rental, tickets, etc. That should give you a rough idea of whether DVC works for you.

 

[rocketriter]

We've used points to trade out a few times. One trade, to the Kona Coast on the big island of Hawaii, took only a month to arrange. Another, to a Marriott at Williamsburg, was arranged with a single phone call. To make these a success, I made sure in advance that they would be both easy enough and of a high enough quality to justify their cost in points. However, other trades can be more difficult, requiring months of uncertainty and a backup plan.

 

[Dean]

Buying DVC with the idea of using it to trade in any way is simply a very poor choice for a number of reasons. But it's your right to make poor choices if you want. I agree with Deb, consider buying just the number of points you'd use for DVC itself and look at other options for non DVC trips including other timeshares and cash.

 

[jmminarik]

With three kids, you'll need a two bedroom, so make sure you figure that into your points purchase.

Or two studios.

-Joe

 

[Plutofan]

The unofficial unwritten policy that can change at anytime is that Disney will allow 5 people of any age to stay in a one bedroom DVC. MS has been allowing this for sometime. They will not provide a bed, towels etc for the fifth person. If you go to a non-DVC resort I was told that only Port Orleans Riverside and the deluxe resports allow five in a room. So if you compare a DVC to a Disney room the cheapest, other than Fort Wilderness Camp Ground, is Port Orleans since this is a moderate resort.

 

[Daitcher]

The unofficial unwritten policy that can change at anytime is that Disney will allow 5 people of any age to stay in a one bedroom DVC. MS has been allowing this for sometime. They will not provide a bed, towels etc for the fifth person. If you go to a non-DVC resort I was told that only Port Orleans Riverside and the deluxe resports allow five in a room. So if you compare a DVC to a Disney room the cheapest, other than Fort Wilderness Camp Ground, is Port Orleans since this is a moderate resort.

I thought the limit is 4 unless the 5th person is an infant sleeping in the pack n play? Anyone out there dispute this poster or back them up? Thanks a lot.

DAVE

 

[Dean]

I thought the limit is 4 unless the 5th person is an infant sleeping in the pack n play? Anyone out there dispute this poster or back them up? Thanks a lot.

DAVE

MS has always been more flexible in this area than they should be and, IMO, than they have the legal right to be. But about a year or so ago they tightened up the allowances to limit to 5 in a 1 BR and are generally enforcing 4 in a studio and 8 sometimes 9 in a 2 BR. This is far better than it was previously if you believe in following rules and contracts. Of course you always have riffraff that will pack in more and just keep it to themselves as well as other abuses we've discussed in other threads.

 

[rocketriter]

Buying DVC with the idea of using it to trade in any way is simply a very poor choice for a number of reasons. But it's your right to make poor choices if you want.

I don't agree with the word "poor" here. Different people have different reasons for trading out from DVC. It's important to be well-informed when you do so, but you needn't feel put down if it works for you.

 

[Plutofan]

I thought the limit is 4 unless the 5th person is an infant sleeping in the pack n play? Anyone out there dispute this poster or back them up? Thanks a lot.

DAVE

We are a family of five and I have called MS on two seperate occasiions and have had no problem booking a one bedroom with 5 over 3 years of age.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

You can't guarentee that a trade that might make financial sense this year will make the same amount of sense next year or five years from now. I've never traded my points through II but I have allowed other people to use them to stay in New England. When I first purchased NE was good option for March (the time I wanted to use this option) or for the summertime. But now it would be cheaper for me to rent my points out and then pay cash rather than using my points plus paying the fee ($95?).

 

[Dean]

I don't agree with the word "poor" here. Different people have different reasons for trading out from DVC. It's important to be well-informed when you do so, but you needn't feel put down if it works for you.

Sorry you feel that way but it's about as toned down as I can put it. Anyone can do what they want with their points but remember that we're talking about someone thinking about buying in, not someone who owns already. I'd rather be honest than blow smoke up someone's skirt. Buying with the idea of trading routinely or even regularly is an extremely poor choice.