Why did you buy a certain number of points?

[JimC]

This thread is a follow up to the where and how many points thread. I am curious as to why each of us bought the number of points we did at each resort.

I will go first.

OKW
In 2002 we bought a resale 300 point contract because it is a resort we loved when we toured it in 1992, largest and nicest layout for villas, lowest maintenance fees and a good deal on that contract. Two years later after getting a much better sense of how we would use our membership we added on 32 points. That gives us a week in a one bedroom during Adventure (160) and Choice (172) seasons. And in planning out our points until the end of the contract; enough total points to trade into VWL, BCV or BWV on some January trips (A result of our Dec use year and our point status currently).

BCV
Bought 170 points from Disney because that is what we could afford after buying the OKW contract. Added on 45 points almost immediately to permit us to go for a week in a one bedroom during Choice season. Don't ask me why we did 45 instead of 44. This year we sold the main contract and added on two smaller contracts to leave us 110 points. That is enough for a one bedroom five week-night trip in December. We did not want to chance early December at BCV to the 7 month reservation window.

 

[MdmMim]

My DVC goal was to have enough points to spend a month at the BWV in the winter. I then thought ten days in early Dec would be nice, too. So we added on again. Then I became enthralled with the F&W and MNSSHP, so thirteen nights in Oct became a reality.

I looked at the number of points that would be needed for my particular timeframes and purchased that amount. (Then I offered the use of a few points to DS and DD, so then another add-on was done to provide both of them with 5 nights per year in a studio.)

 

[KelNottAt]

305 BWV Points

We bought enough to stay in a 2br during Magic Season. But, since we bought resale, we came up one point short...it actually takes 306. No biggie...we haven't used the points according to our original plan yet. But when we do it will be no problem to borrow.

In hindsight, I wish I had bought two 153 point contracts so I could leave them to my kids. Maybe one day I'll sell this contract for 2 smaller ones.

 

[AFMom]

Well - you were a lot more thoughtful about it than we were!
We purchased 100 OKW points first - we found a resale that we could afford - would have liked to started with more points - but 100 worked well to start with, and there were oodles of banked points for us to work with initially. Thought we'd only be going about every-other year, adventure season anyway - it worked for us then. OKW had the largest layouts, liked the themeing, and low maintenance fees.
We decided this year to do a 150 SSR add on. We moved to northern FL and now have MANY family members and friends who would like to go with us to WDW - many who have never been. SSR also had low mainenance fees, had the extra 12 years, and great incentives for buying in at the time. We've played at the pool there and walked through the lobby. Liked how close it was to DTD - I think we'll enjoy staying there! The extra 150 gives us the cushion we need to take family.
Maintenance fees were actually quite important to us - they can really add up over the life of the contract. We'll be pretty happy staying at any of the 5 resorts, and are rather flexible on our dates. We also can rarely plan at the 11mo window anyway with my DH in the Air Force. In about 13 years (when he retires) that will change! Yay!

 

[WDWLVR]

When we purchased Boardwalk in 2000 we looked and the points chart and bought enough that we could stay a full week in a one bedroom just about any time of year. The figure was 270 (left out the premium time of Christmas and Easter because we knew we wouldn't go then). So we bought 300.

When we found out how much my in-laws liked Vero we added on 100 points there knowing we could get them 5 nights in a one bedroom at their favorite time of year.

We've since used the points for studios, one bedrooms, two bedrooms and even a few cruises.

 

[jaysue]

270 BCV to be able to stay 1 week

Then we did a 50 add on for no specific point amount goal

Then we bought in 130 and then 50 VB - these numbers based on what our budget could afford

Then we bought in 163 SSR to be able to stay 1 week



Cheers
jaysue

 

[sgtpet]

I have 350 points. This ended up being based on having enough points to guarantee getting a 1B during premier week every year.

 

[DVCLiz]

I bought 165 HH points from Disney. This allowed us to have five nights in June, July or August, in a 2 BR villa. We love the beach, but five nights is plenty for us. Then I saw a 165 BCV contract on a resale list, so I bought that as well, figuring that it could be used for another 5 day vacation at HH if we chose not to go to Disney one year (depending on availability at the 7 month window, of course.) It's worked out very well.

I'd like to add some VWL points in the future, and if AKL ever becomes a reality, I'd buy an equal number of points at VWL and AKL, enough for a five night stay in a 2 BR. We like to switch resorts, so I wouldn't buy points to cover a weekend.

 

[IndianaDVCMember]

We started at 240 Boardwalk points before the kids were in school. This was enough to get a 2-BR during off times for about a week. After they reached school age, it occured to us that we would have to look to Spring break periods, so we worked our way up to 440 points by adding 50 at a time.

 

[DVCconvert]

I am curious as to why each of us bought the number of points we did at each resort.

920 BWV points spread over 5 contracts

Our long-term game plan has been to acquire enough points to let us stay in a 1 bedroom for 2+ weeks for the F&W, 2+ weeks for the F&G plus another 10 days at some other point in the year.

We plan on next starting to acquire OKW points so as to permit us to spend 1-3 months in the winter.

 

[disworldnum1]

We bought enough points at the BWV to be able to stay at a one bedroom for a week.I personally didnt think paying the yearly dues on any more points then that made sense for us.We also rent a 4 bedroom house for 3 weeks every year 10 mins. from disney and the price of one week is less then the yearly dues we pay now.Our decision was strictly on a "what you can afford" basis.

 

[tiffany123]

Own 500 points---

Our initial purchases were direct from DVC in 1999. We purchased 300 HHI points in two contracts of 150 points each (so we could give one to each DD eventually). We wanted HH as our home resort as we love going there in the summer and knew we would vacation there yearly.

Less than a year later we bought a 160 point OKW resale so that we would have an 11 month booking opportunity at an on site-resort.

Just this past May we added a 40 point OKW contract bought direct from DVC. This gives us 200 points at OKW and 300 at HHI----all the same use year.

We have vacationed at every DVC resort and also have traded out once to Marriott in Williamsburg, VA. The 200 points at OKW give us the opportunity to rent a Grant Villa at OKW for a week in June every third year---we'll be going with our DD's and their families (including 5 grandchildren under the age of 7) in June, 2006.

They loved the Grand Villa at HHI in summer, 2004 and I know they'll love OKW too.

 

[DisZip]

We started with a 210 point contract from Disney at BCV. We chose the resort based on the "buy where your want to stay" principal. The number of points was based on planning 1 week stays during the summer time and alternating between 1BR and Studios every other year.

But we have yet to stick to the "plan". So far we have gone in early December or Mid April and stayed in 2BR or 1BR, no studios. And have since decided that we probably would continue on this new plan, and so would need to add-on.

So, through resale we bought a 150 point contract at VWL (the other resort we plan to stay at). Now with careful banking and borrowing we should be able to keep to the new plan, at least until the add-on bug bites again.

 

[kadaten]

We bought SSR resort 'cause that was what Disney was selling and we wanted in quicker than resale could get us. The extra 12 years was a good thing for us too. Home resort doesn't really matter for us, as we find it very difficult to plan 11 months out or even 7 months out due to DH's job.

As for number of points, we looked at when we'd want to go and for how long. Our trips right now are short and frequent, but when we move away, they will probably be back to once/year and longer. We got enough points to do 5 nights in December, 3-4 nights F&W festival, 1-2 nights for each of our birthdays, short trips in studios and longer trips in 1BR. When I added up the points we'd need the first year it was around 180-something, so we just rounded up to 200, knowing we'd find a way to use them
The cushion came in handy already, as we're doing our December trip after the points go up so the kids don't miss any school (yes, they're only in preschool, but they love to go, and if we were at home that week with no school, they'd be bored after the first day!)

 

[bavaria]

50 OKW (don't laugh!)

1) wanted to get my feet wet to try out DVC and wanted to pay cash
2) wanted enough points for 5-6 days/year in a studio
3) don't want to commit myself to a trip or more to WDW every year (I travel a lot for work, want to see other parts of the world, and my work benefits afford me free/almost free travel elsewhere so I wouldn't use my points to trade out of the DVC system)
4) buying a 'test' contract will allow me to add on in future if I so desire
5) right now my dream is to retire at 50 and spend 1-3 months in winter at DVC, but that may change as I am far enough away from 50 to have other plans by then
6) SFH hates Disney so if that ever became DH travel patterns may change
7) bought OKW due to low point structure, availability on resale market, and inability to plan trips at the 7 and 11 month window due to work schedule

 

[vascubaguy]

Well... I started with 40 points at OKW... I had a certain amount of cash saved up that I was willing to spend and that contract fit what I wanted at the time.

However, before I even closed on that OKW contract and got in the system, I decided to do an addon at SSR because of being able to get the '04 points and bank them into '05 (even though it was WAY passed all the banking deadlines). I was going to just get 100 points, but decided I'd just do my max for the time and get 110 points. 110 points is 10 nights in a studio at SSR... so that's why I picked that.

 

[Pluto 2]

i bought 150 bwv points in july 2000.
at the time i could of bought into okw or bwv. i see in here people say that okw sold out in 98 but they gave me a choice of okw or bwv. i should of bought into okw for the cheaper maintenance but the tour was at bwv and we liked it. i only stayed at bwv 0ne time i been to vwl once, bcv once and ssr once so i made a mistake of buying into bwv.
i only bought 150 because of money issues, just got it paid off, seriously thinking about 100-150 points at ssr.

 

[lisareniff]

I purchased 300 BCV points directly from Disney before we even stepped foot at WDW as adults.

Why 300? We wanted to go to Disney for ~8 nights in a 2 bdrm in magic season every 2 out of 3 years. That = ~270 points. I rounded up to 300 when DH wasn't looking! (yes I'm the type of person that prepares 3 times as much food for a picnic then we really need! LOL!)

Why BCV? We liked the the Epcot resort area and Disney was selling BCV. I liked the quick and easy transaction (before DH changed his mind!). Considered OKW for the GV's and low points/MF's.

What would I do differently? Bought less BCV (200 or less) or two contracts so I could sell one. I at least should have stuck with that 270 figure. I think we only need to go to WDW every other year and would like to alternate with a beach vacation. Perhaps buy points at Vero for a Beach Cottage during Pres. Week.

 

[Blue&Gold]

350 BWV to fit the "1BR any week of the year" rationale... Looking to add on soon or buy another bigger contract if Disney ever announces another resort!

 

[spiceycat]

350

190 points at OKW - because in 93 that was DVC offered.

then added on 50 points at OKW

then added on 100 points at VB - which I sold in 2003.

then added on 25 points at BWV, then another 25 points at BWV. so 50 points enough for a studio 5 days in off season

then 60 points at Vwl for a studio 5 days in off season.

my entire family uses OKW - me, mother, brother and his family (4) and they bring friends.

i kept BWV and VWL for ME!!! I also have been know to rent these two resorts.