Please help the dumb guy

[JacksDad]

Ok Tink. hmmm. (okw tink. ok tink:lol: alright enough amusing myself)
You have gotten me interested in DVC. I've found the answer to one of my questions. It can be resold at any time should I need or want to. (I hate commitments) My big question is that I go there 4, maybe five times a year (even more with all these crazy meets going on) Does DVC acommodate for frequent stays and if so how?

[OKWTink]

The number of points you have, the accomodations you choose to stay in (a studio being the least points) and the time of year that you wish to go all will determine how many points are used for any given stay.

I use my points in the manner that I believe they were intended! :D They are there to be used. I own them, they don't own me. That means if I want to use them all on frequent weekend stays (higher point cost for Friday and Saturday) I darn well do!

I've had incredible luck with spur of the moment arrangements too. Nothing to rely on mind, I always make those calls knowing that the chances of my not getting what I want are more likely. (By spur of the moment I mean with less than one month's notice, usually a week or a matter of a few days).

Does that answer your question at all? Remember you can use your points to stay at the resorts also. That really isn't a good use of them (really costly) but I've done it whenever I've felt the urge! :D :D

P. S. OKWTink = Old Key West's Tink. :D

[dizzyknee]

Tink, I'm being a bit nosey here but I'm wondering if you live close enough to visit on Friday nights, to welcome your weekend in... why do you stay onsite?

[OKWTink]

For things like the F&W festival. If I'm going to sample wine, or other alcoholic drinks, I don't drive. So staying there takes care of that problem. Also, WDW is vacation to me,regardless of where I live. I have a driving need to spend every available second of my holiday time, at the place I've chosen to stay. Therefore, Friday night's are usually the beginning of my holidays! :D

And remember too, I don't always use my DVC points to stay at WDW. I take advantage of the other gazillion places I can use the points.

[JacksDad]

Originally posted by OKWTink


P. S. OKWTink = Old Key West's Tink. :D
I figured that one out a long time ago.;) I'm not that dumb. Just don't ask my ex wife.
So basing my points on my last stay for example I'm looking at approximately 400 points per visit? ( 5 days 4 nights)

[OKWTink]

400 points per visit sounds pretty darn high to me! You could spend that, of course, depending upon the time of year and size of villa.

I haven't looked at a point chart in a long time, so am not the best person to figure out your potential point use based on your last stay. I just call member services, book the stay and call it good! :D

Good heavens man, no one said you were dumb or even a tad bit slow! :) I was just being certain you understood the nick. Many folks think it means something other than it does.

And what in the name of G-d would anyone check with an ex for? When I feel the need for creative fiction, I'll write my own. :D :D

[JacksDad]

I'm fine with a studio unless I have friends visiting. Can anyone give me an average for a 5 day 4night studio stay?
That is of course if it's OK With Tink.;)

[dcfromva]

JacksDad,
It all depends on the resort, the room type and the day of the week and the time of the year... (It sounds like a complicated formula, doesn't it? :) )

Gee, a 400 point contract would be pretty sweet indeed. (It would cover quite a few visits to WDW if you are only staying in a studio).
For example, if you were staying 5 nights (S-Th) in a studio sometime during the first two weeks in dec at the BCV, it would take 60 points (5X12 in the adventure season) .

On the other hand, if you decided to party-on over New Year's Eve at the Beach Club next year (Dec 28 2004-Jan 1, 2005) in a studio, it would be 122 points (3 X19 for Tu, Wed, Thurs, 43 for Fri --all in the premier season, and 22 for Sat in the adventure season).

Here is a link to the various points charts (http://www.wdwinfo.com/DVC/DVCpoints.shtml)

Do you have the flexibility in your schedule to stay during weeknights, sometimes?

-DC :ears:

[JacksDad]

Thank you so much DC. It is a bit complicated or at least it was. (note the dumb guy references)
Thanks for the link. Now I see how the pre planning comes into play.
I do have the flexability to do weekdays but there will be alot of weekends as well. It may be time to put this one past my accountant and have her give me her usual advice which is NO!
But then she drives an Infinti G35 and I have a Saturn. Hmmmm.
Thanks again for the link. It really helps me find the perspective I was looking for.

[JacksDad]

You must understand that while I'm an engineer I am mathematically challenged. When I use the link I still come up with nearly 400 points! For that I could be driving my accountants G35! I do see how it pays itself off over time but are my numbers correct? I'm planning two 5 day trips and allowing for six weekend trips per year.

[dcfromva]

JacksDad,
OOPs!--I must have read that wrong because I thought you had come up with 400 points per visit (as opposed to all your visits in one year)! :eek:

Yes, when you start adding in a majority of weekends, the points do not go as far. I try to evaluate the actual costs of my points to give me an idea if I am using my points wisely.

Here's what I do: I take the initial purchase price and divide by the number of years left on the contract and I figure out what the initial purchase price per year is. Let's take SSR, since that is what Disney is currently selling. It costs $89.00 per point and the contract has 50 years left on it (this is with no incentives). The cost per year is $1.78 (89.00 / 50 ). Then, I add in the yearly maint. fee (this changes every year). For 2004, SSR maint. fees are estimated at $3.80 per point. So, my cost per point would be $5.58 in 2004. (this comparision ignores any finance charges, if the points have been financed and also ignores any earning potential had the $$ been invested in an interest bearing account as opposed to invested in DVC).

So, let's go back to the points. (I should look up the SSR points, but let's just assume you want to use your SSR points at the BCV for this example.) If you multiply 12 points (this was the studio s-th in Adventure season) X 5.58, you would have a room cost of $66.96. That is not a bad price for a regular room at Beach Club (and the villas have some extras such as microwave/ refrigerator, et'c). There are no room taxes on top of this figure, either--you already pay property taxes through your dues (and it is figured into your maint fees).

Now, take the example of NYE 2004--it is a Friday during the highest point totals: 239.94 is what that same room would cost. So, I ask myself two questions: 1. What would it cost for a BC room during NYE? 2. Could I get a better deal if I paid cash?
Another thing that I was ignoring in my example is that the point totals for weekends are a little bit less for SSR. It looks like the weekends at SSR for a studio range from 20 points to 39 per night or $111.16 to 217.62.

This is where you have to bring out your crystal ball. The DVC points have somewhat of a lock on inflation (the maint fees go up, but are limited as to how much they go up per year). You are at the mercy of any discounts that may be offered with the cash ressies. The cash ressies can and do go up each year (plus--the room rate has a tax added onto it which DVC doesn't). Another cool thing about DVC is that you don't have to pay any extra adult fees if you have 4 adults staying in the room.
Sorry this is so long. I wanted to mention one other thing about figuring the costs. Some folks don't look at what their out of pocket expenses are, but rather how much the points would fetch if they rented them out (currently, it is around $10.00-12.00 per point --as long as the points are not distressed). This is especially good for trying to figure out if you should use your points for an exchange (like a cruise or something). If you rented your points out and then used the cash for the cruise expenses, would you be further ahead ? In some cases, if you wanted to bother with the point rental thing, you could get a higher cabin category if you did that.
-DC :ears:

[OKWTink]

Isn't she great Jack's Dad? DC is our resident authority on how to most efficiently use points and how to properly calculate them. :D

Me, I just spend them! :D :D

At any rate, it is important to note that you are hedging against inflation. For the cost of a nice WDW vacation, you could make a good downpayment on DVC and then be set for deluxe accomodations for the next 50 years.

If you plan on having a WDW vacation at least once every three years (I think you'll have no problem surpassing that) then the DVC is most likely a good investment for you.

Remember too that you can bank unused points into the following use year, and you can borrow points from the upcoming year. This makes it possible to bank an entire year's worth of points into the upcoming year and once in that next year, borrow a full year from the upcoming year. Gives you three years of points to work with if you want to do one of the really point pricey options (like a Safari in Africa).

I'm thinking you should maybe consider calling DVC and asking for their video! :D :D

Taking the tour when you are onsite is another great way to learn about the DVC. The guides are totally no pressure, no sales pitch, simply provision of "facts."

[Slowhand]

Tink said:~
Remember too that you can bank unused points into the following use year, and you can borrow points from the upcoming year. This makes it possible to bank an entire year's worth of points into the upcoming year and once in that next year, borrow a full year from the upcoming year. Gives you three years of points to work with if you want to do one of the really point pricey options (like a Safari in Africa).

We did this option a couple of years ago.
With our 310 point annual allocation, we were able to do the 7 day Disney Cruise, followed by 4 days at VB, finishing with 10 days at the GF. We only had to pay for one of the days at the GF, everything else was paid for using our points.

For that "special" vacation, it`s a great way to spend your points.
:wave:

[OKWTink]

Being able to do that is part of the beauty of the DVC. You really can make it what you want it to be.

Slowhand, that surely sounds like a marvelous holiday! :)

[JacksDad]

You know I did say 400 points per visit. my mistake. So it's agreed then that 400 is the number I'm aiming for. I'll take the tour on my next visit and learn more.
Thanks everybody.

[BigThunder]

I really recommend taking the tour. They will pick you up in a van at whatever resort you are staying at. They take you to the Boardwalk.....wait a minute, I think I read they moved it to SSR. Well, wherever it is now! They have a kids club type place for little Jack to go & play while you have a one on one with a sales dude or dudette. We LOVED our sales guy. HE was so nice, spent all the time we needed, answered all our questions & I know they were plenty stupid as i just didn't get it. By the time I left I totally understood it, did not purchase it then but still did not get any high pressure or any change of attitude even though we were leaving "unsigned". We didn't decide to do it until we got home & talked about it. Still we only got one very polite call from Brandon asking if we had any other questions, no high pressure.

I've heard people living in Florida need way more points than people who don't!:)

[dcfromva]

BigThunder,
They take you to the Boardwalk.....wait a minute, I think I read they moved it to SSR. Well, wherever it is now!

When we were there about a week ago, they were still at the Boardwalk. I read that they are moving to SSR, but I'm not sure when....


JacksDad,
Oh, I wanted to mention something about taking the tour. I have read a couple places where folks have taken the tour and then been given 72hours to decide to purchase in order to take advantage incentives currently being offered.
This is so contrary to the way things have been done in the past that it seemed a little wierd--but, I thought I would mention it to you as it could have a bearing on your decision.
What I would suggest is to ask the guide: if you take a tour will you have a deadline to make a decision in order to take advantage of any current incentives being offered? That way, if this is true, you won't be backed into a corner.

I don't know if you are interested in SSR--but the current incentive is $5.00 off per point ($89.00 pp is full price) and you get to keep your points. I don't know how long this one will be in effect. (The initial incentive was $10.00 off per point, but that expired 31 Oct. )

-DC :ears:

[JacksDad]

True DC. being backed in to a corner gets an immediate NO from me. Thanks for the advice. If that's how they handle it I will take the time and do my own research.