Will 100 pts be enough when kids in school

[Kcags]

My hubby and I are just starting a family. We are 26. We are looking to buy a DVC resale for about 50 points so we could go to Disney every other year. The monthly dues won't be a problem since the contract is small. But i am worried once our future children are older, will 100 points for one trip be enough? I would hope for atleast a 6 night stay. We would probably have to go during busier times. Anyone else run into this or have suggestions? We'd really like to start the DVC but cant afford more than a small contract now. Thanks.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Hi. There is no harm in buying a small contract now and adding to it later in fact the smaller contracts are worth more generally resale. If you are looking to stay in a studio for 6 days then I would imagine 100 points would be ok low season. But maybe not for mid or high season. We are a couple go every year for 14 days and have 185 points and that just about does a studio ( low season ) if we do a dcl cruise for 3 nights also. It depends which resort you stay in also for example AKV standard view is very good value.

 

[cajunprincess]

We are in the same situation as you. We have a 6 month old and are looking into buying a small contract like that. I don't know that when DS is in school that our 50 pt contract is going to be enough for summer, but when that time comes, we can reevaluate and buy more points then. That's our strategy at least. I don't want to pay for points we don't need right now.

 

[Sandisw]

It depends on when you go and the size of the room as to whether you will get 6 nights.

Staying in a studio, for example, in summer at BWV, SV, it would be 108 points for the week--so yes, you can do 6 nights with that 100 points.

But, once you have a family, you may decide to move up in room size and can always add more points later.

Starting small is a great way to get into DVC and making sure its for you!

Good luck!

 

[DizBub]

My daughter and her husband were planning a family when they bought 210 points because they knew they wanted to stay in a 1 bedroom once a year. That was important to them and they knew that once they had a child they would need the extra space. Now that they have a 2 year old they know they did what was right for them.

 

[Kcags]

Thanks for the good feedback. Yes, a studio room would be fine for a long time I think. I would prefer to stay more than 6 nights, but you are right, I can add on once we can afford it in the future.

 

[jillmc40]

Yes, we were always fine with a studio. Once the kiddos came...Not so much. When they are babies and in pack n play it is ok, but when you put them down for bedtime, you are sitting there staring at your hubby trying to be quite and tip-toeing around the room I don't want to go to bed at 8:00 on vacation!

Then when they get to toddler age it is nice to give them some breakfast in the room before getting out. My kids eat cheerios and bananas and I didn't want to spend 30.00 for them to eat cheerios while meeting characters. We do character lunch or dinner...

Plus laundry is a god send at that age!!!

Sorry for rambling, but my point is the studio is great before you have kids, then the baby/toddler phase you probably need larger, then maybe you could go back down when they are older? I would have a hard time going back to a studio...You get a little spoiled once you move up in size. I just bought 100 pts, but that is only to supplement an existing timeshare I have. We go at Easter for 3 nights after a week somewhere else (because of school) so the points are really high, then we go for a long weekend in a low season. I could see us adding on once we get the swing of it. I just wanted to get our feet in the door and see how it is first.

I think you have a good plan, just wanted to share how we plan to use it.

 

[Fantasia79]

We're thinking of buying really soon (renting in March). Thinking about the same things as far as points. Is it easy to match up UY when adding on points? I was also thinking of getting points at 2 different resorts.

 

[joelp]

My hubby and I are just starting a family. We are 26. We are looking to buy a DVC resale for about 50 points so we could go to Disney every other year. The monthly dues won't be a problem since the contract is small. But i am worried once our future children are older, will 100 points for one trip be enough? I would hope for atleast a 6 night stay. We would probably have to go during busier times. Anyone else run into this or have suggestions? We'd really like to start the DVC but cant afford more than a small contract now. Thanks.

50 points - with a plan to go every other year - should work out for 5-6 nights in a studio: check the point charts at the DVC resorts you will want to stay at and the times of year to confirm ...

Another thing to consider: with younger kids, they would probably enjoy a split stay at one of the Value Resorts (Animation, Movies, Sports most likely - depending on what they are into ...) So you could always tack on a few days at one of them (perhaps combined with a Free Dining offer to save $$ ...). My DD loved stepping out of our room at AS Movies and seeing those giant statues of Pongo and Perdida!

Finally - once you stay in a 1BR, it will be tough to go back. A full kitchen, washer/dryer, master bedroom/bath ... Plus, my DD likes having "her own room" - even it just has a sleeper sofa ... So avoid that 1BR as long as possible!!

Now you just have to decide on a Home Resort and UY ...

Have fun!!

 

[disneynutz]

My hubby and I are just starting a family. We are 26. We are looking to buy a DVC resale for about 50 points so we could go to Disney every other year. The monthly dues won't be a problem since the contract is small. But i am worried once our future children are older, will 100 points for one trip be enough? I would hope for atleast a 6 night stay. We would probably have to go during busier times. Anyone else run into this or have suggestions? We'd really like to start the DVC but cant afford more than a small contract now. Thanks.

It's not the contract or dues that will cost you, it's the years of luxury vacations at Disney. Owners tend to vacation more often than non owners and your transportation, tickets, special events, food, dues, and Disney extras can cost thousands per year and these cost increase each year.

Bill

 

[Minniesgal]

It will all depend on how you holiday, how many children you decide to have and it will probably be different depending on what ages they are.

For the moment you might get by on 100 points every other year. If you have three kids eventually you won't but if you only have one maybe.

All I can say is for our family of 5 to go every other year we own 375 points. but we like to have 2 bedroom villas so the teenage boys can have a room to them selves and we like to cook some nights and do laundry. We would probably do something else if we only had my daughter and she was still under 5.

I'm not sure at 26 you need to have a contract that fits all your future needs. Buy what you need for now if it isn't enough later add on or do a DVC combined with a cash stay or sell and do something else. once you have children your needs and desires change frequently I wouldn't even try and worry about it now.

 

[nalajms]

Keep in mind that longer your stay mean more number of days on your tickets. Then next thing you know, you're asking yourself why aren't we getting the annual pass. And after you get the annual pass you'll think of additional trips to make the most of your annual pass.

Agree with the others - avoid the 1bd as long as you can. Once you stay there it's hard to go back to the studio.

 

[BenDiscipio]

My family gets by with 100 points easily. I have 2 sons, ages 8 and 11...and we have stayed in Studios without any problem. Would a 1BR be nice? Sure...heck, a 2BR would be even nicer....but the studios are plenty of room for us for the amount of time we actually spend in the rooms...when most of us are already exhausted, especially the kids, from the days' events. When they were babies, it was probably more necessary to have a 1BR...

Depends on your priorities and what you feel you need.

 

[DisneyDiana]

We get a value studio at AKL every June which is only 95 points for 7 nights. You have to book at 11 months and be prepared for the small space. We love it though since we have been really lucky in getting a fantastic savannah view most of the time. We always prepare ourselves for parking lot view just in case.

 

[crisi]

Don't forget the additional travel costs for those future children. It isn't the points that are expensive - its adult tickets for four once they are ten, airfare for four, food for a fourteen year old boy who can eat a full meal every two hours (and is still thin as a rail). And the realization that pulling them from school gets harder as school gets harder and extracurriculars become more important suddenly means that those low points time of year aren't as doable.

Make sure you buy somewhere that 100 points will stretch - don't plan on getting any standard or value rooms seven months out - if you are looking for BWV standard or BLT standard of VAKL value rooms - you should plan on owning at one of those resorts.

Also keep in mind that all rooms except OKW are going to have a queen bed and a full pullout. Some families can put two teenagers on a full pullout - some do it with opposite sex teenagers - other families can't imagine each child not having their own bed, or using a pullout, or putting opposite gendered children in the same bed. And one bathroom - which again, some people are fine with and others think four people - two of whom are teenage girls, sharing one bathroom should be against the Geneva Convention.

 

[Deb & Bill]

$1000 to $2000 for park admission also take a big chunk out of the budget. And ticket prices continue to go up each year. Also, annual member fees go up each year. Plus you've got to get there. So depending on how far away you are, it could be a lot.

Disney vacations are not cheap by any means like others have already said.

 

[Kcags]

Thanks to everyone for your advice! I was originally thinking a contract with SS because the points are cheaper and expiration date longer. But I will probably be wanting to stay at other resorts, so i should spend the extra money now to ensure i get a room we want 7 months out. I dont mind sharing bed and bathrooms, but the laundry is definitely a positive. I will have to check if we could do a 4 night stay with the 1 bedroom. Maybe even doing a split stay so we have a week long vacation. Also, can you get free dining when you are using the DVC? Thanks again! Theres lots to think about but I will stick with what is practical in the present.

 

[Lynne M]

Also, can you get free dining when you are using the DVC?

When you're reserving a villa with your points, you're using your timeshare, not booking a hotel room with Disney. So, no free dining or any of the other promotions that come from that division of Disney. Those promotions are intended to entice people to book resort rooms that Disney owns. As members, we are using room inventory that we own.

 

[ELMC]

Thanks to everyone for your advice! I was originally thinking a contract with SS because the points are cheaper and expiration date longer. But I will probably be wanting to stay at other resorts, so i should spend the extra money now to ensure i get a room we want 7 months out. I dont mind sharing bed and bathrooms, but the laundry is definitely a positive. I will have to check if we could do a 4 night stay with the 1 bedroom. Maybe even doing a split stay so we have a week long vacation. Also, can you get free dining when you are using the DVC? Thanks again! Theres lots to think about but I will stick with what is practical in the present.

Keep in mind that owning at another resort will only get you booking priority at that one resort. So if you have three or four you would like to stay at, you are still at a loss for all but one. So unless you have one specific resort you want to stay at often or you plan on buying multiple home resorts, SSR might still be the way to go because of the cost savings.

 

[Kcags]

True, it was my thinking that even though AKL is more pricey, I would be able to get a 6 night stay there at slower times of the year. It didnt sound like those rooms are guaranteed 7 months out. It seems you get more for your points there rather than BLT or other resorts where i could only stay 3 or4 nights in a 1 bedroom. There is so much to consider, positives and negatives to every situation! I am feeling so lost!