what can you do with 150 points?

[LGithens]

I'm interested in hearing from those that only have the minimum amount of points...and have had those same 150 points for several years.

Do you find they are enough to do what you want to do? Or are you constantly frustrated and wish you had more?
Are there tricks for making the most of 150?

Just heard back from our guide about adding on, and I'm actually even considering another 100 points since that's where we'd qualify for the incentive ($10 a point) I'd considered just paying cash for 25, but then maybe I should just go ahead and apply that amount of cash as a down payment for another 100.

So now I'm trying to decide if I NEED another 25, 50, or 100 points? We've figured out for this year, we can swing 2 5 night trips, with what we've got. One of those trips is coming in Oct., the next we're planning during spring break( peak) and we'll do a Sun-Thurs stay with an add on of a couple of nights to make our usual 7-9 night trip.

I just need help thinking this all through...I thought we'd want to buy through Disney, so the points would all have the same use year and be from the same resort. (not sure if I can keep all those resorts and use years straight!) But...after looking at some resales, I haven't even ruled that option out yet.

what to do, what to do
Lori

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have one 150 point contract, but it was an add-on after our initial 230 point contract. I KNOW we would never be able to get by on just 150, if we couldn't do it with 230.

In all seriousness though, I think if you ever want to do anything other than go to WDW, you NEED to have at least enough to trade out to a 1 bedroom, and that is 160 points in low season. It also depends on if you get totally hooked on staying in the 1-2 bedroom units, like we have. I figure I didn't buy DVC to stay in a hotel room, so that meant an add-on. If you don't mind studios or shorter vacations, then maybe 150 is enough for you.

 

[camp1007]

We have been members since 2000 at OKW. We go to WDW every two years, so 150 pt contact works for us. We have always stayed in 1 bdr. One year, we went on the 4 day cruise with four days at OKW. So it really depends. If you like to go to WDW twice, three times a year, and stay in a 1bdr, then you really do need more pts.

 

[tjkraz]

I suspect many people with just 150 stick exclusively to the studio rooms. Most seasons, you can get 10 or more consecutive nights (weekends included) in a studio for per year 150 points or less. That's pretty darn good for those who don't need the luxury of a 1B or larger.

 

[puffkin]

We are young, twenty somethings who just bought a 150 point contract. It is all we can afford at this point. I justified it though because if we go yearly it gives us 9 nights during the summer in a studio. I would much rather stay in a studio than a regular hotel room! Once we have children, I am sure we will be looking to add on to stay in a larger unit for a week once a year, but for now a studio and 150 points works for us.

 

[CVW]

You don't say where you're from or how often you want to visit, and those are two of the most important considerations.

We're too far away to make a quick weekend. For that matter, we're too far away to drive. Furthermore, we love Disney, but once every couple of years is probably going to be enough for us, since we have to fly and plan so far ahead.

We bought 250 points with the idea of going every other year. This allows enough points to get a 2br at BCV with an additional studio. This way, every other year we can go to Disney and treat another friend's/relative's family to accommodations. Even still, 250 is a tad too many points for that. I'm about to learn how to rent a few points.

If you're close enough to make a drive, you'll find it easier to utilize your points. Remember, DVC is NOT an investment. It should be thought of as a pre-paid vacation.

If you're not absolutely sure, do what they teach us in med school: start low and go slow.

Are you reasonably sure you will enjoy going to Disney every year for the foreseeable future? The last thing you want to do in the world of timeshare is to buy so much vacation time that you feel obligated to use it, when you'd rather take a trip somewhere else sometime.

Don't buy DVC thinking you'll use it for the "concierge collection", etc. Those are money losers. Buy only what you know you can use. Buy more later. If you find yourself renting, you know it's time to call your guide again.

 

[mom23boys]

We (family of 5) only have 150 BCV points. We will only be going to WDW every two years. We spent a week at BCV in Oct 2003, in a 2 bedroom. Our next trip in 2005 we are spending 5 days (sun-fri) in a 2bdr and 2 studios for my family all for only 280 points. Because we will only be going for 5 days we will probably spend time at the Allstars (with 3 boys they love the sports). It works for our family. Most years it will only be us, but 2005 my sister and inlaws are coming with us.

I am one of those moms who pulls her children out of school, they are good kids and they take their homework with them. So we will never go during school breaks, too crowded.

And once the kids are older my DH and I can spend time in a studio or a one bedroom just us ALONE (maybe someday haha)

 

[jel0511]

It truly depends on what your vacation habits are. We truly intended on trying to make 175 points work. Figuring we could go every other year, or shorter stays. Well, that didn't last long after our first trip home. We added on 50 points immediately after that first trip, since we figured we'd like to go every year, that got us 6 nights in a one bedroom during the summers. Then we decided we didn't want to move, so another add-on came 50 points, to get us a week in a one bedroom. Well, after our last trip, we've decided a week now isn't enough, and are looking for a 150 point contract at BW. We prefer to stay longer periods of time, and really don't like to move too much. I'm not going to just move on weekends to preserve points (many people do though), moving once is enough for me!! So, now we'll have 12 nights during the summer months, since I don't want to start the tradition of taking the kids out of school, only to realize down the road I don't have enough points. DH has made me promise that these are the last points we'll buy, but I doubt it!! We're going to need a two bedroom down the road, so that's another add-on, though probably not for 4 or 5 more years.

 

[Mary Ellen]

We've had our 150 BWV points since 1998. It workd very well for us (2 adults). We're also too far away for weekend and/or car trips. So far we've been basically using banked/current points and then go again within 12 mo. (to get best use of APs) using current/borrowed points. We don't go for 2 years (points have been borrowed from 1st year and 2nd year will be banked) and then the process repeats.

DH changed jobs a few years ago and only has a little over 2 weeks vacation each year. We also like to go on cruises so this works VERY well for us.

 

[gonzalj1]

150 Points at VWL is all we have. We bought in Jan. 2001 and have stayed in:

1- 7 nights - Traded to VA Beach - Turtle Cay - 9/2001
2- 5 nights - OKW 2 BR - May/2002
3- 7 nights - BCV 2 BR - 8/2002
4- 5 nights - OKW 1 BR - 9/2004
5- 7 nights - OKW GV - 9/2005

As you can see you can do a lot with 150 points depending on when you go and where you stay. I see no immediate need for us to add on.

That being said we are in a constant state of borrowing but I'm gonna be 72 in 2042 and propbably not up to a Disney trip!

FYI.. We have 2 children.

 

[SoCalKDG]

How about 12 straight days in a BWV studio(leaving you with 18 points for the following year). Then 6 days the following year in a 1 bedroom(leaving you with 18 points) then invite famly and stay in a 2 bedroom for 6 days(still leaving you with 8 points). Pay cash for an extra night for those 6 day vacations if needed.

This is all based on not traveling in the two most crowded catagories, but still, lots of bang for you buck. If you only travel to Disney once a year, you can make 150 points go a long ways.

 

[ScottNBecky]

My family just bought 160 pts. We have 2 daughters 7, and 5. They love the Value Resorts and the rooms there, so that is the only place we have ever stayed. We are planning on coming to SSR next summer, and we can stay in a studio for 8 days (start on a sunday). Since we wanted to stay a bit longer and dont have the $ to buy more points at this time ( I suspect we will in a few years), we will just stay our first 2 days in Pop Century figuring they will offer AP or AA rates over the summer. Its easier to find $77 x 2 nights than to try to add on points (50 minimum) right now.

Anyway you need to ask how much are you really gonna be in your room? I figure that when I go to Disney we are not gonna just lounge around in a room. We want to see everything.

 

[TXMommy]

We also just bought 160 points, and we feel this will work well for us because of our vacation habits. We have two kiddos - DD 10 and DS 7. We drive everywhere we go (VERY bad flying phobia here!) and normally stay 5 nights or less, and never on a Fri. or Sat. night. DH also has only 2 weeks of vacation each year. I don't know what the future will hold - maybe an add-on - but for now, this seems to be a good plan. With the 10 points we banked this year, we will get two nice vacations next year. Maybe in 2006 we will try an exchange. We are very excited to be DVC members!

 

[Zimbubba]

We have had just 150 points since 1995. We go every other year. 1- days in a 1 BR at OKW and 2 days inn room or studio at VB. Usually in July.

 

[crisi]

150 points.

Every other year in October, 2 bedroom is the plan. 282 points - putting us 18 points ahead every other year

Next year (we do odd numbered years) we are putting the kids on the couch and getting a one bedroom.

This will give us 450 points to treat my family. Two two bedrooms for six nights, Standard View (if we can get them), or six nights in two two bedrooms at OKW. And points left over.

 

[MinnieMe2]

We bought 150 pts. a few years ago, figuring a trip every other year as we had been doing for a number of years. Then, we took our first trip home. Almost immediately, we purchased a 50 pt. add-on. And not long after that, we bought 65 pts. at BCV (our first two contracts are at VWL). We have four kids, all in college. DD graduated from h.s. this year, and we sent her and her best friend to the World for a week for a grad. gift. Did the same for the three boys, too. DH and I are going for a little over a week in Nov.

My point? For two of you, 150 pts. will probably be enough for now. As you start having the children you plan, you may find you need more points. We're delighted to think that we'll be able to will our points to the kids when the time comes, too.

 

[bounceytigger]

I know you're looking for replies from people who've held their points for awhile, and have experiences to share.....but I thought I'd chime in anyhow! (I'm a new DVC owner with 160 points, and have wondered/worried if this will be enough, too).

The way I've figured it, however, my family and I will most likely go to WDW every 1-2 years....between banking and borrowing, and going in the lower seasons, it looks like we should always be able to get a 1-bdrm for several nights. (Except this first year, since we sold back our first years points...)

As many other people have said, we too will probably utilize a cash-resort like Pop Century for a couple nights if we want to make a trip longer, and and if we want to stay in a 1-bedroom for the DVC portion.

(We currently have 1 child....will probably have another at some point...)

Good luck with whatever you decide!