understanding this site!

[lynnghoffman]

I am brand new to the dvc boards.My wife and I joined dvc in sep of 2005. WE have 150points and are considering purchasing 50 more at saratoga. We really like the Wilderness lodge as we have 4 grandsons under 3years old and two on the way! We are disney nuts and have been to dw 50 times starting in 1975 and have stayed in all the dw property. I am just a little overwhelmed with all the details. Is it a good idea to purchases more points at saratoga or buy points at the lodge. most times we would be traveling off season. my concern is that we will not be able to stay at the bw etc. am I wrong. I would appreciate any comment or suggestions. I am very sorry for being so long winded.I dont know any of the abbreviations and have never sent any type of msg on line before. Thanks Lynn G

[tjkraz]

Lynn:

First, welcome to the boards! We hope you enjoy looking around. Don't hesitate to join in the discussion.

I wrote a really long reply to your question, and then realized that I probably made an error in one of my assumptions. Where to you currently have the 150 points that you own?

Tim

[carolina_yankee]

I am brand new to the dvc boards.My wife and I joined dvc in sep of 2005. WE have 150points and are considering purchasing 50 more at saratoga. We really like the Wilderness lodge as we have 4 grandsons under 3years old and two on the way! We are disney nuts and have been to dw 50 times starting in 1975 and have stayed in all the dw property. I am just a little overwhelmed with all the details. Is it a good idea to purchases more points at saratoga or buy points at the lodge. most times we would be traveling off season. my concern is that we will not be able to stay at the bw etc. am I wrong. I would appreciate any comment or suggestions. I am very sorry for being so long winded.I dont know any of the abbreviations and have never sent any type of msg on line before. Thanks Lynn G

As Tim noted, where you have your original contract could make a difference in your strategy.

My own experience has been that getting a studio at BWV at 5 months out for dates in early May have not been a problem.

If you buy points at illas Wilderness Lodge (VWL) from a resale contract (I think the only way you can get points there), you will get the 11 month window at VWL, but you will only be able to book those points at the 11 month. i.e, if you own a 50 point at VWL, you can only use those 50 at the 11 month window and not your 150 from elsewhere, until the 7 month window.

Others can speak more about booking at different resorts at different times.

Dirk

[PoohsPal]

Welcome to MouseOwners Lynn! We all had our first posts at one point in time and for many of us, it was regarding DVC. I know just where you are. Please feel free to jump in anywhere!

By the way (BTW) all of the abbreviations for this site are located here

http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=568

If you find one that's not there, please let me know.

If you are not planning on staying at SSR, you may be better off to purchase at VWL (I think you have your main contract there). If you want a BW view or standard view at BWV, you may want to do your add-on there to take advantage of the 11 month window.

The other big advantage of adding on at SSR is the longer contract. You get 12 more years (to 2054) than at the other DVCs.

Let us know if you still have questions, as there are so many options with DVC.

[ghost1000]

Lynn, you mentioned that you would be traveling off season. Off season tends to be the "season" for DVC, because point costs are lower. My husband and I recently did a small VWL add-on, just so we could be assured of booking the pre-Christmas off season there.

You probably should check out the DVC points charts (http://www.mouseowners.com/PointsCharts.html). If you want to stay at VWL between Thanksgiving and Christmas, then you should considering buying points at VWL to make sure you can get in at that time.

You also mention the size of your family. Will you all be traveling together and need larger accommodations than you can purchase with your 150 points?

[lynnghoffman]

Lynn:

First, welcome to the boards! We hope you enjoy looking around. Don't hesitate to join in the discussion.

I wrote a really long reply to your question, and then realized that I probably made an error in one of my assumptions. Where to you currently have the 150 points that you own?

Tim
Tim,Thanks for the reply. I neglected to mention that we own 150 points at saratoga springs. today I got a call from someone in dvc . they offered an additional 50points @$90.00 a point which we decided probably made sense for us as our year begins in April. The sales rep mentioned that the prices will be increased the end of this month.We are looking forward to our next trip,which is late June in a two bdrm at wilderness lodge. regards Lynn G

[lynnghoffman]

Lynn, you mentioned that you would be traveling off season. Off season tends to be the "season" for DVC, because point costs are lower. My husband and I recently did a small VWL add-on, just so we could be assured of booking the pre-Christmas off season there.

You probably should check out the DVC points charts (http://www.mouseowners.com/PointsCharts.html). If you want to stay at VWL between Thanksgiving and Christmas, then you should considering buying points at VWL to make sure you can get in at that time.

You also mention the size of your family. Will you all be traveling together and need larger accommodations than you can purchase with your 150 points?
Rita, Thanks for your reply and the tip on finding the abbreviations. after reading over my message I realized I didnt mention that we own 150 points at saratoga springs. Ispoke with someone at dvc today and decided to buy an additional 50 pts at saratoga. they mentioned that there is a price increase as of the end of this month. I guess things wil be ok. My wife and I wil be at DW without the little ones most of the time. Hopefully when they do join us we will be able to get the time we need, and beside maybe we can survive to 2054!! Regards Lynn G

[PoohsPal]

Congrats on makin gyou rpurchase! Now you ned to stick around to wtell us about your trips. :D

[mushu]

Welcome to the boards!

[Daitcher]

Tim,Thanks for the reply. I neglected to mention that we own 150 points at saratoga springs. today I got a call from someone in dvc . they offered an additional 50points @$90.00 a point which we decided probably made sense for us as our year begins in April. The sales rep mentioned that the prices will be increased the end of this month.We are looking forward to our next trip,which is late June in a two bdrm at wilderness lodge. regards Lynn G



Boy that was a quick decision. I would have suggested buying VWL but I'm too late I guess. Congratulations on the add on. You'll have 12 extra years to enjoy SSR.


DAVE

[conciergekelly]

Welcome home!

You are gonna love it!

[jiggerj]

I am brand new to the dvc boards.My wife and I joined dvc in sep of 2005. WE have 150points and are considering purchasing 50 more at saratoga. We really like the Wilderness lodge as we have 4 grandsons under 3years old and two on the way! We are disney nuts and have been to dw 50 times starting in 1975 and have stayed in all the dw property. I am just a little overwhelmed with all the details. Is it a good idea to purchases more points at saratoga or buy points at the lodge. most times we would be traveling off season. my concern is that we will not be able to stay at the bw etc. am I wrong. I would appreciate any comment or suggestions. I am very sorry for being so long winded.I dont know any of the abbreviations and have never sent any type of msg on line before. Thanks Lynn G

Wow :thumbsup: Lynn G ! 4 grandsons and 2 on the way! Congrats! How fun for you and the kids to enjoy many years of Disney vacas! :)

The ins and outs of DVC can be overwhelming when you first start. I am still a newbie too but have learned much from the forums here-

Just wanted to chime in here and wish you many happy years with the kids and enjoy! :) Welcome Home!!!