Thinking of Adding On via Resale

[myxdvz]

Hi everyone!

We've been a member since 2010 and bought direct and paid in cash. We purchased 170 BLT points for a family of 5 staying at a BLT 1 BR Theme park view every other year for a week during the Dream Season.

Since then, we have actually taken a trip every year, and was able to stay at a 2BR OKW, 1BR AKL, and 1BR VGC + a Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah Dream Cruise (perk of the purchase + $) while also renting out some points... so I feel we're well on our way into getting our $$$ back.

Since then, we've been blessed by another boy, so we only have until 2014 to squeeze into a 1BR so I'm really thinking of adding on. I was hoping you can help me in deciding the right # of points, the UY and which home resort. Or help me talk thru my options.

Here's what I think my options are:

1. Add on more BLT points with same UY (April) enough to have points for a 2BR EOY. This will mean just an additional 50 points.

This will keep everything simple and as I understand it, same Member ID? But I might have to buy direct or wait for the perfect/right contract to come along which could take a while.

2. Get another mid-sized contract on another resort that the kids will really like, BCV/BWV/AKL with a different UY. I'm leaning 150 points BCV @ $75. My current preferred option.

The reason I want a different UY is that I always wanted to have the option to do a last minute December, January (MLK) or Feb (President's day) trip -- but I would have already banked any remaining points by November 30th. So I'm thinking maybe I should get a UY where I bank by end of March (so July UY?)

While more expensive than below, AKL/BVW/BCV are rentable properties. And since I'm finding us with extra points we were able to rent (not HAD to rent) these previous years, I wanted to make sure renting is still an option.

3. Get the cheapest points. 150 points SSR/HHI/Vero with a July UY.

Once I decide to have a different home resort than BLT, it doesn't really make sense to keep the April UY. The only thing I don't like about #3 is that I don't think these points are "rentable". Transferrable yeah, but not sure how easy/many opportunities for those there are out there.


Help?!

[com_op_2000]

Originally Posted by myxdvz

3. Get the cheapest points. 150 points SSR/HHI/Vero with a July UY.

Remember HHI/VB has the highest maintenance prices per point each year.

[ninjagirl]

Originally Posted by myxdvz

Hi everyone!

2. Get another mid-sized contract on another resort that the kids will really like, BCV/BWV/AKL with a different UY. I'm leaning 150 points BCV @ $75. My current preferred option.

The reason I want a different UY is that I always wanted to have the option to do a last minute December, January (MLK) or Feb (President's day) trip -- but I would have already banked any remaining points by November 30th. So I'm thinking maybe I should get a UY where I bank by end of March (so July UY?)


Help?!

The logic behind this might be a little off. You can still book even if you've banked those use year points. You would just have to borrow them from the next use year. It seems to me as managing two different use year contracts is entirely too difficult especially when it comes to combining points for each trip. You're only allowed one transfer a year. It could be an issue in the following scenario:

Say you have 75 points in one contract and 75 points in the other. You go to book a list minute trip and the only thing available is SSR say 100 points for a week. With BLT being your top choice, you choose to waitlist a 150 point vacation accomodation. If you transfer too many points and your waitlist never comes through, you lose those points. But without them, you don't have enough in your current contract to book BLT. If you transfer enough just to get SSR, your one transfer is done. It's a crazy gamble.

[lions1995]

If it were me, I would pick another resort. It gives more options to bounce around. Also, as it has been said over and over on this board, own where you like to stay.

If you are planning to take last minute trips around December, MLK or President's day, it does not matter what home resort you have. Last minute (within 7 months) means you and everyone else can try to book anywhere. The result will probably be a room at SSR or OKW.

As for renting points, I have rented several times and in very few cases do people come looking for rentals more than 7 months out. So again, it does not matter where your home resort is since renters rarely plan that far ahead. I usually provide them the open resorts for what they are looking for and let them decide.

Good Luck in your decision making

[myxdvz]

Originally Posted by ninjagirl

The logic behind this might be a little off. You can still book even if you've banked those use year points. You would just have to borrow them from the next use year. It seems to me as managing two different use year contracts is entirely too difficult especially when it comes to combining points for each trip. You're only allowed one transfer a year. It could be an issue in the following scenario:

Say you have 75 points in one contract and 75 points in the other. You go to book a list minute trip and the only thing available is SSR say 100 points for a week. With BLT being your top choice, you choose to waitlist a 150 point vacation accomodation. If you transfer too many points and your waitlist never comes through, you lose those points. But without them, you don't have enough in your current contract to book BLT. If you transfer enough just to get SSR, your one transfer is done. It's a crazy gamble.

Not sure this scenario is valid as we're not talking about 2 small contracts but 2 mid sized contracts. I would end up having 170 BLT and 150 SSR/BCV/BWV (one of these). If I want a last minute trip, I would always use the SSR points as the BLT points would most likely be used to book 11 months out, or get rented out.

I can't use the BLT points (or wouldn't want to do it) because I would have banked points past November 30 so if I were to take a trip Dec to March, I would have to borrow from next year and then lose them should we decide to cancel. This is actually what happened to us in 2011. Bought DVC in March 2010. Banked points in Nov 2010 then decided we're cruising in March so we extended it for a land trip as well. Had to borrow from 2011 already instead of using my 2010 points.

I just think having 2 home resorts (so 2 11 month window), gives us the most flexibility. Even if I have to borrow/bank to get a BLT GV, I would still have the SSR for the in-between years to stay at OKW/BCV/BVW etc. I just booked a BCV for June (so that's almost 6 months) and got what I wanted so it looks like I won't have too many problems at 7 months if we're flexible.

Originally Posted by lions1995

If you are planning to take last minute trips around December, MLK or President's day, it does not matter what home resort you have. Last minute (within 7 months) means you and everyone else can try to book anywhere. The result will probably be a room at SSR or OKW.

Exactly what I'm thinking so why not buy the cheapest points? and why I'm considering resale. IMO, BLT points are too expensive (since I bought direct) to use for last minute SSR/OKW trips. I might as well rent those out.

[DannysMom]

If it were me, I think I would go with another mid size contract at a different resort, that you are interested with the same UY. Managing 2 UY might get confusing or complicated, certainly harder to tranfer points between the 2 contracts, 2 banking deadlines to remember, etc.

IF you continue with your every year trips, you can just swap contracts that you use. So with banking and borrowing, one year you use your BLT points, next year use your (potential) BCV points, etc.

Renting, eh, I would not worry much on it. Seem like most rentals happen at about 6 months out, at which point, points are points, you are simply dealing with availability, does not matter which resort the points are for.

[dvcterry]

I don't want to throw a wrench in this turning wheel. But I'll speak on the April Use Year. Owning the same Use Year is always a plus, that you will hear more often than not. Managing the banking window, one membership number. And the one transfer per year. I will say they do limit me, so if anyone else out there has been fortunate to have that rule allowed in their favor, then great.

Those last minute trips you referred to. They are tough once you bank the points. And if you have a waitlist for a night, and that banking deadline comes up & it does -Nov. 30- You are faced with banking those points or having to borrow. It's a tough Use Year for a last minute trip, without a doubt.

I wouldn't encourage you to get another Use Year, different resort. But take some time and look what is available resale, particularly the different Use Years. I find April is a difficult Use Year to come by. Lots available in the other Use Years.

Good luck and hope you are happy where you buy.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by myxdvz

Hi everyone!

We've been a member since 2010 and bought direct and paid in cash. We purchased 170 BLT points for a family of 5 staying at a BLT 1 BR Theme park view every other year for a week during the Dream Season.

Since then, we have actually taken a trip every year, and was able to stay at a 2BR OKW, 1BR AKL, and 1BR VGC + a Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah Dream Cruise (perk of the purchase + $) while also renting out some points... so I feel we're well on our way into getting our $$$ back.

Since then, we've been blessed by another boy, so we only have until 2014 to squeeze into a 1BR so I'm really thinking of adding on. I was hoping you can help me in deciding the right # of points, the UY and which home resort. Or help me talk thru my options.

Here's what I think my options are:

1. Add on more BLT points with same UY (April) enough to have points for a 2BR EOY. This will mean just an additional 50 points.

This will keep everything simple and as I understand it, same Member ID? But I might have to buy direct or wait for the perfect/right contract to come along which could take a while.

2. Get another mid-sized contract on another resort that the kids will really like, BCV/BWV/AKL with a different UY. I'm leaning 150 points BCV @ $75. My current preferred option.

The reason I want a different UY is that I always wanted to have the option to do a last minute December, January (MLK) or Feb (President's day) trip -- but I would have already banked any remaining points by November 30th. So I'm thinking maybe I should get a UY where I bank by end of March (so July UY?)

While more expensive than below, AKL/BVW/BCV are rentable properties. And since I'm finding us with extra points we were able to rent (not HAD to rent) these previous years, I wanted to make sure renting is still an option.

3. Get the cheapest points. 150 points SSR/HHI/Vero with a July UY.

Once I decide to have a different home resort than BLT, it doesn't really make sense to keep the April UY. The only thing I don't like about #3 is that I don't think these points are "rentable". Transferrable yeah, but not sure how easy/many opportunities for those there are out there.


Help?!

I wouldn't go with a different UY OR high cost resort unless you have a specific trip planned most years that require these choices. I definitely would not buy HH/VB for use at WDW, the long terms costs will be significantly more. Personally I'd likely go with the cheapest option you can find, likely SSR when the RTU is taken into account but OKW will be a good choice as well for this purpose. My second choice would be BWV because it's both cheaper to buy and has the view options that could use less points for standard view.

[myxdvz]

Originally Posted by Dean

I wouldn't go with a different UY OR high cost resort unless you have a specific trip planned most years that require these choices.

I agree on the high cost, so am now down to SSR/BWV.

Still unsure about the UY. Obviously I have no specific plan most years, otherwise, the banking date of Nov 30 will not matter as much. If I always know that I will have a trip during the Holidays, MLK, Presidents Day or Spring Break - then I would use my BLT points to plan for those.

The add-on is to prepare us for future 2 BR stays, plus to address the issue I've had above from the 2 years I've had my April UY.

[zavandor]

Originally Posted by myxdvz

The add-on is to prepare us for future 2 BR stays

This is a good reason to buy the same UY. If in the future you'll want to combine points of the addon and of the existing contract for one reservation, having the same UY will save you a lot of headaches.

[myxdvz]

Originally Posted by zavandor

This is a good reason to buy the same UY. If in the future you'll want to combine points of the addon and of the existing contract for one reservation, having the same UY will save you a lot of headaches.

What headache do you forsee? If I do go with a separate resort/UY, then I would just need to borrow from the next UY on the same contract.

If separate UY, then my understanding is that it's a separate account, so I could transfer and not be limited with the 1 transfer per membership rule since they'd be considered 2 memberships.

[CRobin]

Originally Posted by myxdvz

What headache do you forsee? If I do go with a separate resort/UY, then I would just need to borrow from the next UY on the same contract.

If separate UY, then my understanding is that it's a separate account, so I could transfer and not be limited with the 1 transfer per membership rule since they'd be considered 2 memberships.

You are correct. The "headaches" with having multiple use years are overstated, IMHO. We have a very good point manager program and the most important things to remember are the 2 banking deadlines which I do with Outlook tasks.

And you can have one transfer per year, for each membership.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

[Dean]

Originally Posted by myxdvz

I agree on the high cost, so am now down to SSR/BWV.

Still unsure about the UY. Obviously I have no specific plan most years, otherwise, the banking date of Nov 30 will not matter as much. If I always know that I will have a trip during the Holidays, MLK, Presidents Day or Spring Break - then I would use my BLT points to plan for those.

The add-on is to prepare us for future 2 BR stays, plus to address the issue I've had above from the 2 years I've had my April UY.

To me, different use years are a minor to moderate hassle. If you have no trouble reconciling check books and credit cards, you'll likely do Ok. However, if DVC ever changes the banking back to the way it was before, the difference will be more important.

[myxdvz]

Originally Posted by Dean

However, if DVC ever changes the banking back to the way it was before, the difference will be more important.

How was it before? When I first bought, I didn't understand the real value of UY. I just thought it's when I get my points - which I think a lot of members still think it's all it is.

It is only after I tried a couple of last minute bookings that I found an issue with my particular UY (April) and our travel pattern. Before DVC, I've never planned any vacation more than 3 months away... I've since changed, but I have 16 holidays, 9 floating days and 20 PTO days to take so while we can plan 2-3 weeks out of the year, there are still a lot of days I can take off... and I try to take them off when I can.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by myxdvz

How was it before? When I first bought, I didn't understand the real value of UY. I just thought it's when I get my points - which I think a lot of members still think it's all it is.

It is only after I tried a couple of last minute bookings that I found an issue with my particular UY (April) and our travel pattern. Before DVC, I've never planned any vacation more than 3 months away... I've since changed, but I have 16 holidays, 9 floating days and 20 PTO days to take so while we can plan 2-3 weeks out of the year, there are still a lot of days I can take off... and I try to take them off when I can.

It was a decreasing % of the total points as you got closer to the end of the UY.