When to add on more points??

[brightmango]

Currently own 150 points at RIV. Enough to stay in a studio each year with our (wife and I) four year old. However, assuming I continue going yearly, I know the one bedroom will be something I will want. Wondering what everyone’s experience is with adding on before you really need to or waiting until it’s necessary.

To be clear, if I add on now I’d stay in the one bedroom now. Not sure waiting to add on does me any good.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'd consider it as soon as I had cash on hand earmarked for the purchase. #TeamVilla

 

[Chili327]

Currently own 150 points at RIV. Enough to stay in a studio each year with our (wife and I) four year old. However, assuming I continue going yearly, I know the one bedroom will be something I will want. Wondering what everyone’s experience is with adding on before you really need to or waiting until it’s necessary.

To be clear, if I add on now I’d stay in the one bedroom now. Not sure waiting to add on does me any good.

I'd consider it as soon as I had cash on hand earmarked for the purchase. #TeamVilla

This ^
If money isn't an issue, than yesterday was the best time to add on.

Now depending on how many point you want to add, I might consider adding on elsewhere. If only 25-50 then just adding to RIV makes sense, but if adding 100 or more id consider another resort.
Between banking and borrowing, &/or just doing split stays you can gain a lot from a separate resort.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

We have 300 at Riviera (100/200 contracts) and always do 1B, now migrating to 2B, and it's working great for us. If you have the money to add on, I'd do it ASAP. Prices just keep going up, and hoping for a fire sale is tricky. We added 100 Poly for a second home resort -- and we like the tower, but the point chart over there is very high. We prefer Riviera and love having the flexibility to get what we want peak school weeks with a bit to spare. Once you're stuck on the school calendar, going cheap seasons is tricky. You have a little wiggle room until middle school, but the 1B is SO MUCH BETTER, from the king bed and locking door, to separate napping area in the bathroom for a P&P, laundry in the room, full kitchen to save money instead of buying $12 nuggets hourly -- it's such a pleasant experience. Studios are not bad, don't get me wrong -- and Riviera's are gorgeous! But man, the peace and quiet you can get after a day of overstimulation is wonderful.

 

[airjay75]

The price of points is generally only going to increase. I originally bought 300 - enough for 1 week in a 1 BR most of the year. But, I quickly realized I wanted enough for a 2 BR to future-proof my points and, RIV is likely to sell out in the next 18-24 months, so just went ahead and added on another 300, which is enough for a 2 BR at Christmas or Easter (which is when our spring break is). It's also enough that, should I decide to bank and/or borrow, I could do a 3 BR GV every other year or so if we decide to splurge at some point in the future. In the meantime, figured I can use the points for about 2 trips a year in a 1 BR.

Now, I took the strategy of maximizing my point power at a single resort. An alternative strategy is to get enough points at different resorts such that you can use a combo of banking and/or borrowing to alternate stays at different resorts. It can be a very good way to go too. Until I decided that Poly was just not the resort for me, I had been thinking about 200 direct points at Poly and 150 direct points at RIV (more at Poly because of the higher points charts).

Other thing I would note is that 1 BRs are generally pretty easy to get at the 7-month mark so, if you don't think you're ever going to want anything more than a 1 BR, it is a lot less necessary to own points at a particular resort (although, with RIV, you would have to own direct points at a different resort to use them at the 7-month mark at RIV).

 

[Mouseforward]

Now, I took the strategy of maximizing my point power at a single resort.

Until I decided that Poly was just not the resort for me, I had been thinking about 200 direct points at Poly and 150 direct points at RIV (more at Poly because of the higher points charts).

I came to the same conclusion, it makes it so much easier. No more managing 3 resorts, and once you accept that you may need to get a 1br lots of stuff opens up.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I agree with focusing on one resort. I know you can bank/borrow, but it can be a little bit dicey if you're *just* short a smidge and the trip is outside your available points window. I really appreciate having a little cushion of points. Poly, as a whole, is a little bit of a disappointment to us. We really don't like the chaos of the Poly grounds/pools/restaurants/lobby and prefer Riviera, but our son is Poly obsessed, so those points are kind of earmarked to pass on to him.

We're thinking of adding on CC or possibly LSL. We love the ease of the Skyliner and self-contained tower of Riviera, but CC is really great. We'd like to be at WL for the holiday season, but the bus situation pushed us to Poly, but being there President's weekend -- which is a busy season but not peak -- it just reaffirmed we're not agents of chaos, LOL. Riviera and its low-key nature suits us best.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Currently own 150 points at RIV. Enough to stay in a studio each year with our (wife and I) four year old. However, assuming I continue going yearly, I know the one bedroom will be something I will want. Wondering what everyone’s experience is with adding on before you really need to or waiting until it’s necessary.

To be clear, if I add on now I’d stay in the one bedroom now. Not sure waiting to add on does me any good.

If you’re looking for a group to throw sand in the purchase justification machine then you have come to the wrong place.

I’d buy direct while the incentives are enticing…

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

1 bedrooms or better. This is the way. Boujie or bust. Magical locking door.

 

[Brian Noble]

Magical locking door.

Also known as the nookie tax.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Also known as the nookie tax.

Happy to pay it.

 

[Brian Noble]

#TeamVilla #TeamTax

 

[Sandisw]

Now…lol

 

[Tatebeck]

I came to the same conclusion, it makes it so much easier. No more managing 3 resorts, and once you accept that you may need to get a 1br lots of stuff opens up.

I agree with focusing on one resort. I know you can bank/borrow, but it can be a little bit dicey if you're *just* short a smidge and the trip is outside your available points window. I really appreciate having a little cushion of points. Poly, as a whole, is a little bit of a disappointment to us. We really don't like the chaos of the Poly grounds/pools/restaurants/lobby and prefer Riviera, but our son is Poly obsessed, so those points are kind of earmarked to pass on to him.

We're thinking of adding on CC or possibly LSL. We love the ease of the Skyliner and self-contained tower of Riviera, but CC is really great. We'd like to be at WL for the holiday season, but the bus situation pushed us to Poly, but being there President's weekend -- which is a busy season but not peak -- it just reaffirmed we're not agents of chaos, LOL. Riviera and its low-key nature suits us best.

Focusing on one resort can be good for a while when you are first buying points and small contracts, but the benefits quickly degrade once you get a decent amount of points at one resort, (I would personally say around 200 points). During a busy period, the room you want at your single home resort can be unavailable, which can really throw a wrench into planning.

So at some point, I think that adding 11 month priority at a second resort you like is worth WAY more than being able to book another day or two at your current resort (without using banked or borrowed points.) If I want to stay in the EPCOT area for F/W Festival or Early December, if the room I want is booked up at BWV (2br for example) I can just try to book a similar room at RIV, and so on. If I want a cheapest view studio for a friend, then I can choose from multiple options instead of banking everything on one resort's availability. And you can still combine at 7 months if needed in most cases (I just bank the extra to the next year personally)

Just my two cents.

 

[Tatebeck]

And as for OP, I would add on up to what you think you will need for 1BR as soon as you see a good enough deal that you can stomach, whether that be direct or resale. Once you go 1BR, you do NOT go back. I know this personally and now that we have points my wife will ALWAYS choose the 1BR over a studio. She has expressly told me this

We bought in at 3 resorts up front and added 2 more within a year. And do not regret it

 

[Chili327]

Focusing on one resort can be good for a while when you are first buying points and small contracts, but the benefits quickly degrade once you get a decent amount of points at one resort, (I would personally say around 200 points). During a busy period, the room you want at your single home resort can be unavailable, which can really throw a wrench into planning.

So at some point, I think that adding 11 month priority at a second resort you like is worth WAY more than being able to book another day or two at your current resort (without using banked or borrowed points.) If I want to stay in the EPCOT area for F/W Festival or Early December, if the room I want is booked up at BWV (2br for example) I can just try to book a similar room at RIV, and so on. If I want a cheapest view studio for a friend, then I can choose from multiple options instead of banking everything on one resort's availability. And you can still combine at 7 months if needed in most cases (I just bank the extra to the next year personally)

Just my two cents.

Agree 100%

 

[Genie+]

Getting it done and dusted is always a good option but if no hurry I’d likely try using that time to my advantage. What UY? Resale or Direct? Do any other home resorts interest you?