What would you do?

[CandleontheWater]

My inlaws aren't very DVC savvy, and they miscalculated the date by which they needed to use thier developer points. As such, they are nicely letting DH and I use them since we are local and can get to the parks easily (they are just super nice people! ). The problem is they need to be used by January, and DH is not coming home from his deployment until Oct. We already have a week booked in Oct at BWV (with our points), and as much I as love Disney, there is only so much time we can take off from work, and it is a fairly large portion of points that are being graciouly sent our way. We are planning on going down for Mousefest, and DH suggest that we should take the points and splurge and stay at the Grand Floridian. I have always wanted to stay there, but it is ingrained in me that trading out to the WDW hotels is just a bad use of points; however, I'm not sure that we'll get any other chances with our work schedules to get down to the world to use them and I don't want them to go to waste. What do you guys think, should we try for the GF? Or maybe just try for an extra weekend somewhere around Christmas when the point levels are pretty high?

 

[CarolMN]

I'd go for the GF - based on what you posted, you'll probably never ever stay there in the future on your points or for cash.

Think of it as your wonderful in-laws gracious gift to you and your DH. It's a special one time splurge and you are worth it. You don't always have to get the absolute best deal.

P.S. If you do decide on the GF, be sure to make the reservation soon. Remember that you can't make a reservation for non-DVC WDW resorts during the last 4 months of your use year. Not sure how that works with developers points (and of course it would be your inlaws use year that would apply), but you should check with MS asap to see if it applies and decide accordingly.

 

[robinb]

Is there any availability in Oct at DVC resorts? Can you cancel the BWV trip and bank the points? You probably won't be at an Epcot resort, but it might be a better use of the points.

 

[vwlvette]

Can you use developer points outside of DVC? I thought I remembered someone saying you can only use DP for DVC properties. Maybe someone else could clear that up.

 

[robinb]

I also think that some of the more recent developer's points can ONLY be used at SSR.

 

[Caskbill]

When you say they have to be used by January, I suppose you mean by Feb 1st? That would be for a February Use Year month. There are no January Use Years.

What use year month is your contract? If you were able to get an October reservation for your current dates, using your in-law's points, and then cancelled your current reservation, would you still be within your banking window and could move your own points to the next use year?

As mentioned there are restrictions on using DP's so you need to confirm with DVC what options you really have.

 

[NSL]

Developer points expire one year from the date the contract was agreed upon. For example, I called on July 2, 2008 to purchase DVC so my developer points expire on July 2, 2009. At the time I purchased my developer points were only good at SSR or exchange. The expiration has nothing to do with contract year. (At least this is how my contract is set up. Of course we know there are exceptions to every rule.)

 

[kerickson]

we are using our Developer pts to stay at the Del Coronado in San Diego. It will be such a nice treat for what I consider 'freebie pts'. We would definitely never book there if we were paying cash... Note, our Dev pts had to be used 12 mo from contract signing (Jan 08) but didn't have any restrictions on where.

 

[PamOKW]

They are found points -- I say go for the splurge and stay at the GF. It's different, it's romantic. While using points might not be the most efficient, I can't see paying cash either when our vacations are "pre-paid". So.....take this opportunity to give it a try.

 

[spiceycat]

go with the GF if you can!!!

look at this way - it is go for the GF - or the points go to waste and you would not like that to happen.

 

[lisah0711]

Another vote for going for GF. You have lots to celebrate and be thankful for after your DH returns from his deployment. That is more important that trying to economize your point IMHO. Congrats and have a great time!