Questions on buying DVC points at an auciton

[jzimm]

There are 200 DVC points on a charity auction that I am thinking about bidding on.

We want to come to WDW in Dec. 08 and stay at the Poly. I see the points can be used there at about 45 per night.

I understand the owner of the points has to book the room.

My question is:
If we want to stay 5 nights ( which would cost more than 200 points) is it possible to just pay the extra amount in cash after all 200 points are used?

thanks

 

[Lynne M]

You're really not going to get your money's worth, using points to stay at the Poly. You're trading out of the DVC system by doing that, and aside from the ridiculously high point cost, there's also a $95 trading fee that the owner may pass on to you.

Much better value using the points at a DVC resort. For instance, you can get a 1-bedroom villa at AKV for 16 points per night Sun-Thurs, and 32 points per night Fri-Sat. Point costs are similar at the other DVC resorts. You'd get a separate bedroom with king bed, jacuzzi, a full kitchen, and a washer/dryer. TV's in the living room and bedroom. Way, way more space and amenities than a standard room at the Poly.

If you do decide to use the points at the Poly, to answer your question, you cannot combine points and cash on a single reservation. You'd need to make two separate reservations, one for the nights you're staying on points, and another for the nights you're paying cash. You would need to check out at the end of the first reservation, and check in to start the second reservation. Ask the member to make sure the reservations are linked, so you don't have to change rooms.

 

[slappy magoo]

There are 200 DVC points on a charity auction that I am thinking about bidding on.

We want to come to WDW in Dec. 08 and stay at the Poly. I see the points can be used there at about 45 per night.

I understand the owner of the points has to book the room.

My question is:
If we want to stay 5 nights ( which would cost more than 200 points) is it possible to just pay the extra amount in cash after all 200 points are used?

thanks

Are the DVC points a one-time usage thing? Or are you buying the points if your bid wins?

Like Lynne M said, the Poly isn't a DVC resort, so point values are much higher there than at comparable resorts (though at the moment, there are no monorail resorts with DVC. Contemporary's coming, but it's not finished yet). For the sake of comparision, 5 nights in December in a *two-bedroom* villa at the Wilderness Lodge would run anywhere between 150 points and 262 points (depending on when in December - early or at Xmas time, and whether weekend days are included). Staying in 2 BR units at the Boardwalk or Beach Club will be about the same. Food for thought.

As far as your last question goes, yes, in theory, you can pay cash for a room if/when points run out. Two caveats. 1: There's no guarantee you'll be able to stay in the same room. They'll break your reservation up into 2 parts - the points part and the cash part. Truth be told, they'll do everything to keep you in the same room, but anything can happen, or so they'll warn you. 2: You can't pro-rate the difference in the room rate to pay cash for the rest of the room's value. In other words, if you have 200 points, and you REALLY want to stay at the Poly, and it's 45 points a night, you'll use 180 points, and the remaining 20 points can't be used to "partially pay" for your room for the fifth night. You'll have to pay for the whole night.

This link will show you point values for all the DVC resorts. You might find something else you'd like that would afford you a longer stay or more space.

http://www.dvc-resales.com/DVC-point-charts.htm

 

[jzimm]

Thanks for the replys.

This is a one-time use of 200 points

I looked up the Wilderness Villas and you are right in that being a much better deal. I am a little concerned about the whole time-share thing since we have had bad experiences in the past. I assume there is no maid service and you have to clean the place when you are done?

Also, where exactly are the villas in relation to the Wilderness lodge........I can't find a map online. Do they tuck the villas far away from everything else? I guess my bottom line fear is that the villas won't be as nice or convenient as staying in the hotel rooms.

comments?

Thanks

 

[DisneyPhD]

You are correct that you do not receive daily housekeeping, but you do get the trash removed and fresh towels on the fourth day of your stay. You do not need to clean the villa when you are done with your stay (but don't trash the place either .
The villas at WL are in an adjacent building (just to the right of the main building). It's as close to the main building as any of the long houses are to the main building at Poly. There is a covered walkway between to the two. The bus stop is just between the two buildings and its a short walk over to the boat dock to head to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[slappy magoo]

before you check in, a dvc room should be as thoroughly cleaned as any "regular" resort room. If it's not then the cleaners made an error; a phone call will rectify the situation. As was previously said, the room gets trash & towel svc the 4th day, & a full cleaning after a week or after you checkout, whichever comes first. More frequent service is available for a fee.

I stayed in the wilderness villas last august. we opted for more privacy (honeymoon, heh) so we were alllll the way at the end of the building. still, it only took a few mins to walk wherever we needed to go, pools bus food whatever. no complaints here.

EDIT: Something else to consider, though take it with a grain of salt since, after all, you're bidding on this vacation in a charity auction. DVC members who opt to rent their points usually get somewhere from nine to eleven dollars a point. If they're trying to arrange to rent the points for a holiday or peak-period vacation, they may even try to charge a premium of 12-13 dollars a point. If your auction is a closed-big single bid per person auction, then what's done is done. But if it's an open auction where you can continue to try to outbid each other, bear in mind what the traditional value of rented points actually are. You can always bid on something else AND rent points elsewhere, give to a charity AND take your vacation.

 

[jzimm]

Thanks again for the great replys. You guys are much more helpful than the owner of the points.

My wife and I have thought about a DVC puchase and thought this might be a good way to try it out without taking the big step.

Another question I have is if I wanted to get a 2 bedroom villa at Wilderness(270 points a week) and got the 200 at the auction, is there a way to get another 70 points from another source to get the full 270 and is it easy to combine the 2 point sources?

Also....am I right in thinking that the magical express service would be included with a stay with DVC points?

thanks agian for your help

 

[cemeb4dk]

MAgical express is included with anyone staying on disney property, not just DVC members. SO yes you would able to use magical express. Just have the original owner of the points set up the reservation for you when he books your trip.

I cannot answer the first part of your question , as I have only used my own points. BUt my guess since it will be two owners of the points it will have to be 2 reservations and it will be the same as the other posters stated above about the cash for the other half of the room. You will have to round out the points to a night. So you will probably lose point son your original 200 purchase.

If I may suggest, if you think you need a 2 bedroom, look into old key west, they have the lowest amount of points used per night since they are the original DVC resort. Its a great resort and nice rooms, you can end up a little far from the main hub area of the hotel, but its an easy walk or bus ride there, and with a 2 bedroom you will be equipped with a full kitchen so the hub may not be that important.

 

[slappy magoo]

Thanks again for the great replys. You guys are much more helpful than the owner of the points.

My wife and I have thought about a DVC puchase and thought this might be a good way to try it out without taking the big step.

Another question I have is if I wanted to get a 2 bedroom villa at Wilderness(270 points a week) and got the 200 at the auction, is there a way to get another 70 points from another source to get the full 270 and is it easy to combine the 2 point sources?

Also....am I right in thinking that the magical express service would be included with a stay with DVC points?

thanks agian for your help

Here's a site that charges $13 per point for rental, but they apprently do all the work for you, and take their commission from that $13 charge.

http://www.dvcrequest.com/

I've never used them, can't vouch for them, but it's one option to pursue.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Another question I have is if I wanted to get a 2 bedroom villa at Wilderness(270 points a week) and got the 200 at the auction, is there a way to get another 70 points from another source to get the full 270 and is it easy to combine the 2 point sources?

That's a little more complicated. Normally, if you owned the membership, you could borrow the extra points you need from the next year's alotment of points. That would be the easiest. Otherwise you would have to find another member willing (for a price) to transfer the extra points you need into your account. While possible, I doubt the owner would be willing to go to all that trouble. Third option is to have two separate reservations with two separate sets of rented points.