Computer Magic
Well-Known Member
Just make sure you buy enough points so you can actually stay at one of the DVC :lol: The lowest amount for a week at a WDW resort is AKL at 72?
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Thinking of DVC
- Thread starter disneygirl76
- Start date
Hakunamatata
Le Meh
Very valid point. :lol:
dizzney
Member
Points usage varies by season, but we realized early on in DVC ownership that we really needed a minimum of 200 points and then as the kids got older we needed more.
The other day i saw 20 points being sold in the resale market (I forget which site) I cannot imagine that anyone but a current ower would buy that amount since it won't get you much except in value season in a studio.
The other day i saw 20 points being sold in the resale market (I forget which site) I cannot imagine that anyone but a current ower would buy that amount since it won't get you much except in value season in a studio.
mrerk
Premium Member
With banking and borrowing you could have 60 points to use once every three years. But even 60 points won't get you much.
Disneykidder
Well-Known Member
Nah, just asking because my friend, who is looking to rent points for an upcoming trip, wants to purchase but doesn't want to spend the $ right now for a new one so he thought he would purchase some little by little from resale sights but didn't know if there was a minimum. Thanks for your answers.
dizzney
Member
We briefly bought 25 in WL as an addon since the price was right, but wasnt the same month and it was a pain to deal with, sold it the day BLT was offered for sale and did my BLT 100 extra. So much easier dealing with one month and one membership, every different month is a seperate membership.
Fashionista007
Active Member
I'm really glad I came across this thread, I am also thinking of buying into the DVC. I have been hesitant thus far because none of the DVC Resorts had a monorail connection but now that BLT is open, I'm interested again. We plan to go just about every year and stay at the Contemporary (my favorite!). We would go during either value or regular season but never peak. Does anyone know approximately how much the DVC would save me over a regular package? Can you also get the dining plan or is there some other savings for DVC members? I am also confused about how the points work. It seems like people are talking about "buying into" a specific DVC resort but I thought you could use your points at any resort or the Disney adventures vacations?
Thanks to all for the great info! :wave:
Thanks to all for the great info! :wave:
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
Here's my situation, which may illustrate all of your questions. I'm a DVC member. My "home resort" is Saratoga Springs, which allows me to book rooms there up to 11 months in advance. I can also try to book a villa in any of the other DVC resorts, but I can only do that up to *7* months in advance. That 4 month difference can be a big one, if you want to stay somewhere beyond your home resort.
My membership in DVC is worth 175 points, and my "use year" begins in September, which means that every year starting in September, I am allotted 175 points. How many points I need for any given trip depends on where I'm staying, when I'm staying, how long I'm staying, and the size/location of the room. Saratoga has studios (I think they're about the size of a regular resort room in Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge), 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom "treehouse" and 3 bedroom "grand" villas. Bay Lake Tower in the Contemporary also has studios, 1BR, 2BR, and 3BR "grand" villas, but they also categorize by view - standard view, lake view, or magic kingdom view. You can see point charts here:
http://www.dvc-resales.com/DVC-point-charts.htm
If you decide to buy into DVC, that'll give you an idea as to how many points you'll need. DVC members can "bank" up to a year's worth of points at any given time, and can borrow up to a year's worth of points at any time. What we'll probably do is split up 3 years' worth of points between 2 years (which would give us 262 or 263 points each trip), and then take a year off of WDW and go somewhere else out of pocket. Though DVC members also have options of using their points to stay at other timeshares, not owned by Disney but with agreements made with DVC to let their respective members try to trade into each others' resorts.
It's difficult to determine "savings" in advance, as you can't be 100% sure of certain things in the future, like what types of promotions might be available during the seasons you'll usually go, how much the rate for a regular hotel room will go up each year, how much (at all) DVC membership dues go up, whether you'll be paying for your DVC membership all at once or if you'll need to finance, etc. It's safe to say that at some point you kind of "break even," but whether it's 6 years or 20 years down the road is hard to say. DVC members will often think about previous trips and what they WOULD'VE paid for the same room at the same time, stuff like that...
And as far as dining goes, you can buy into the dining plans. DVC members also get small discounts at various restaurants throughout WDW, though certainly not all of them. But one of the additional perks of being a DVC member is a discount (100 to 125 dollars) off of an annual membership. And an annual passholder allows you to buy a dining discount called (I think it's now) Tables in Wonderland. This discount is 20% off just about all of the sitdown restaurants and scattered counter-service restaurants - including alcohol! - for up to 10 people at any one meal. For some people, it pays for itself after one day, especially if you prefer more sitdown dining during your vacation.
Fashionista007
Active Member
Thank you very much for the detailed information. I'll have to do some number crunching 