Where to Add Points?

[WDW*Dreamer]

I know this has probably been discussed at length on the boards before, but I'm asking anyway....

I currently own points at AKV. I'm considering adding points.

Do I want to add to my AKV holdings so I can use all my points to make reservations 11 months out

OR, do I want to add points at the lowest cost possible?

 

[bobbiwoz]

The only resort that I added points on with plans to use those points at other resorts has been SSR. The cost at resale was reasonable, and I've been able to use the points at 7 months to add a night or two to vacations at other DVC homes. I've also booked a THV using the 11 month advantage.

I wouldn't buy an off site DVC with plans to book on site because of the cost of MF.

Why are you adding on? To book a resort at 11- 8 months out, or to use as extra points to add to your AKV stays?

Bobbi

 

[disneynutz]

Only you know what you intend to do with your membership.

Do you need to increase you holdings at AKV to have longer stays or a larger room?

Are you considering buying cheaper points to add to your AKV points with the hopes of booking at another resort at 7 months?

I will caution you that your contract only allows you preferred bookings at your home resorts. It is possible that Disney could change the booking rules for non home resorts which may limit non home resort point usage.

Bill

 

[BeesKnees]

I will caution you that your contract only allows you preferred bookings at your home resorts. It is possible that Disney could change the booking rules for non home resorts which may limit non home resort point usage.

Bill

If it greatly impacted our ability to book non home resports we would sue because it was one of the key selling points for our purchase.

 

[sweetdana]

If you sometimes book less than 7 months out and you have some at your fav resort.. I vote SSR resale.

You have the others for AK, and for collection resorts if you want.. and you have have the SSR for last min switches, or non-busier times (assuming you are not a teacher.)

 

[Sandisw]

If it greatly impacted our ability to book non home resports we would sue because it was one of the key selling points for our purchase.

Unfortunately, though not likely, Disney can do this. POS states that DVC has the right to remove a resort from the "club" at any time. Any resort removed from the club would no longer have the rights to trade to other resorts.

Not to scare people or anything, but when buying something, it is really important to understand what can be technically done as at the end of the day, that is all you are guaranteed.

 

[magicaldisney]

I've never added on, we just own our one main contract. Adding on is in the near future!! I've read that it is important to keep the same use year, not that important to keep the same resort, but important to keep the same use year or you can't combine the points to make a reservation. Is this true?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've never added on, we just own our one main contract. Adding on is in the near future!! I've read that it is important to keep the same use year, not that important to keep the same resort, but important to keep the same use year or you can't combine the points to make a reservation. Is this true?

IF you don't have the same use year, you have different contracts and if the points are transferred to one of the accounts then you can combine points for a given night. I do not have different use years, this is what I understand from posts here.

Bobbi

 

[juncker]

First, let me state that after going through the process, I'm a big fan of resale vs. direct. I know that there are horror stories out there. I've read many of them on these forums and was much more educated before we took the leap. Do your research and ask the right questions. I just feel that we did soooo much better pricewise going resale. Although we got in before the rules changed, it wouldn't change my decision. I bought our points to stay at DVC properties. I hope that I can visit each DVC property at some time in the future with my 7 month window, but have no problem staying at SSR. We love all that is Disney.

We picked SSR primarliy due to price, length of contract (2054), and lower current maintenance fees. 11 month window to reserve THVs is just a bonus.

Unless you are a 100% AKV family, I'd look at other locations. If there is a different resort that you love (say BCV), then I would look for a resale there. If you're just looking for more points for 7 month booking, then I would support the SSR resale approach.

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

 

[magicaldisney]

IF you don't have the same use year, you have different contracts and if the points are transferred to one of the accounts then you can combine points for a given night. I do not have different use years, this is what I understand from posts here.

Bobbi

Thanks Bobbi!!

If you have different resorts but the same use year they become one contract?

 

[magicaldisney]

I just got it Bobbi.....I'm confusing contracts with membership. If you have two different use years you basically will create two different memberships and that's why the points can't be combined. If you have the same use year, even though different resorts, you still remain under the same membership and that's how the two contracts can be combined to make reservations at any resort at the 7 month mark.

Is that right?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I just got it Bobbi.....I'm confusing contracts with membership. If you have two different use years you basically will create two different memberships and that's why the points can't be combined. If you have the same use year, even though different resorts, you still remain under the same membership and that's how the two contracts can be combined to make reservations at any resort at the 7 month mark.

Is that right?

You are right, and I should have mentioned two membership numbers instead of two contracts...it would have been clearer, and I'm sorry for any confusion.

We have over 15 parts to our one membership, all with a March UY and at 7 different DVC resorts!

Bobbi

 

[magicaldisney]

You are right, and I should have mentioned two membership numbers instead of two contracts...it would have been clearer, and I'm sorry for any confusion.

We have over 15 parts to our one membership, all with a March UY and at 7 different DVC resorts!

Bobbi

Thanks for all your experienced insight!!

 

[DizGirl20]

We own at AKV and really like it there. I like having the option of Standard View or Savannah View, Concierge, Jambo or Kidani. We started with 160 points at AKV and our first add-on was another 100 points at AKV. We felt comfortable enough with 260 points at AKV so that we could go there every other year and have the type of stay we wanted.

My point is... IF you have enough points to have the type to stay you want at AKV, then you might want to consider a second resort. We just purchased points at VWL for a great price and couldn't be happier. As much as we love Kidani, we wanted points at a MK or Epcot resort, so that every other visit we could be closer to a park. I hope this makes sense. Good Luck!

 

[BeesKnees]

Unfortunately, though not likely, Disney can do this. POS states that DVC has the right to remove a resort from the "club" at any time. Any resort removed from the club would no longer have the rights to trade to other resorts.

Not to scare people or anything, but when buying something, it is really important to understand what can be technically done as at the end of the day, that is all you are guaranteed.

I understand, now, what technically can be done but that would not stop me and probably many others from filing a lawsuit.

Considering that I own at VWL I would have a hard time believing there would ever be an incentive to remove us. I do wish I owned at OKW though and the thought of selling mine and buying at OKW passes through my mind often. I am afraid there will come a day when I want a GV and need that 11 month window to secure it.

I am not sure how much of a resale market there was 10 years ago but I wish I had checked into it and had a chance to make an informed choice on my home property. I was told, and it has mostly be true, that it didn't matter since you are still given an opportunity to stay at the others. Luckily the property we love has always been available at the times of year we want to go.

 

[disneynutz]

I understand, now, what technically can be done but that would not stop me and probably many others from filing a lawsuit.

Considering that I own at VWL I would have a hard time believing there would ever be an incentive to remove us. I do wish I owned at OKW though and the thought of selling mine and buying at OKW passes through my mind often. I am afraid there will come a day when I want a GV and need that 11 month window to secure it.

I am not sure how much of a resale market there was 10 years ago but I wish I had checked into it and had a chance to make an informed choice on my home property. I was told, and it has mostly be true, that it didn't matter since you are still given an opportunity to stay at the others. Luckily the property we love has always been available at the times of year we want to go.

The point that I am trying to make is that Disney can change many things that may affect you and your perceived value of your membership. Booking at a non home resort is just one of them. They changed the banking rules, the wait list rules, the Mousekeeping schedule, resale non direct buy booking rules, $95 exchange fee, exchange companies, they reallocated the point charts, (twice within a year), and a big one for many, they stopped exercising their ROFR.

If you are aware of these changes and the possibility of others and the DVC still saves you money then you are buying a product with your eyes open then I say go for it!

Many buy because it's Disney and Disney wouldn't do anything that could have a negative effect on anyone and the Guide said this and that. Those folks may be in for a rude awaking someday.

Bill

 

[DenLo]

I know this has probably been discussed at length on the boards before, but I'm asking anyway....

I currently own points at AKV. I'm considering adding points.

Do I want to add to my AKV holdings so I can use all my points to make reservations 11 months out

OR, do I want to add points at the lowest cost possible?

We own at two resorts and I have to admit that when planning our vacations for family gatherings it would have been much easier to have all of our points at one resort instead of at two and having to wait at the 7 month mark to combine the points.

But since we don't always travel with the entire group, I like being able to use our points at either resort at 11 months. I believe that as long as Disney continues to sell new memberships then we will have the right to use our points at any DVC resort. It's part of the sales pitch. But I also purchased my points at two resorts I'm quite happy to stay at if Disney ever limits the exchanges between DVC resorts.

When DVC resorts sell out it's harder to book at those resorts unless they are really large resorts, like OKW and SSR and it will probably be that way at AKV when it eventually sells out. But at BCV, BWV, BLT and VWL either their smaller size and/or location make them harder to get into. So during the popular DVC reservation times, you will encounter problems getting into each of these resorts at the 7 month mark. We don't really know for sure with BLT because it has not sold out yet. But is just getting to that status. I imagine that next two years will give us a better idea.