newbie owner question...

[skipamyb]

Actually I think this is newbie owner question #2....
OK, I've been reading alot about how best to use points etc. I'm wondering about getting room only/cash rates at some resorts in order to save points for something else. So, instead of using 32 points on a Fri or Sat at VWL I could pay cash somewhere else (ASM) and save those points for another trip when I might want to splurge and stay in a 2br... Or I could rent out those points I don't use in order to cover my cost in maintainance fees for that year....Am I thinking clearly?

Also, the room discount for cash...is that a perk for DVC or for AP?
TIA all!
Amy

[Carol]

Actually I think this is newbie owner question #2....
OK, I've been reading alot about how best to use points etc. I'm wondering about getting room only/cash rates at some resorts in order to save points for something else. So, instead of using 32 points on a Fri or Sat at VWL I could pay cash somewhere else (ASM) and save those points for another trip when I might want to splurge and stay in a 2br... Many members do just that - pay cash for the Friday & Saturday nights to save points. Some stay at a value resort, some at one of the Deluxe resorts and some off site. If we plan to visit non-Disney attractions (gasp!), we schedule them for the weekend before or after our DVC stay and stay in a resort nearby.

Or I could rent out those points I don't use in order to cover my cost in maintainance fees for that year....Am I thinking clearly?Yes, you can do that. Personally, I think it is more work than it's worth and Id rather use the points myself. But that's just me. There are members who rent a portion of their points to cover their maintenance fees.

Also, the room discount for cash...is that a perk for DVC or for AP?
TIA all!
Amy Those are two different discounts. If you have an AP, you can call CRO to see if there is an AP discount4ed room available for your dates. The DVC member discount (25% off rack rates) is only available for the DVC resorts. The member must be staying in the room - you can't book the discount for someone else (although there have been a few reports that MS is not consistently enforcing that rule). The DVC member disocunt is not always availableand you can't waitlist for it. (But then the discounted rooms through CRO are not always alvailable either and there is no such thing as a waitlist when you are talking to CRO, LOL).

If you don't mind moving in the middle of your vacation, staying elsewhere on the more expensive days is certainly an option. That said, I hate to move and will only do it if we are visiting non-Disney attractions. With good planning, we have enough points to stay weekend nights if that is what works best for a particular vacation.

Bottom Line: I think you are definitley thinking clearly - it's good to consider all of your options!

[carolina_yankee]

I agree with carol 100%. The only things I would add is to be sure that your last nights at WDW are in the best accommodations. I wouldn't use points for M-F, and then stay in a value or mod for Friday night and Saturday night and then go home. I'd start off in the lesser resort and go higher. For us, we're doing 10-12 days in October: Two 5 day DVC stays sandwiched betweeen a weekend off site (Cape Kennedy).

One thing I've noticed about DVC is that I've now been to Orlando enough to start to get curious about other attractions in central Florida. Those high-point weekends are a good time to enjoy them, but I've learned to make sure that i have at least 7 days at Disney over the whole vacation. Anythying less and I feel like I'm not ready to leave.

Oh - and staying 3 nights at Pop Century last week taught me that it's a resort to stay at only if you want to spend most of your times away from your room! For a value, it's very nice - but I found myself missing the touches that even moderates have. I just couldn't relax there.

Dirk

[mushu]

Do it a lot, use the AP discounts for the weekends.

[icydog]

We hardly ever use our points for weekend stays. If you figure the value of your points at even $10 a point you can see you will be able to stay at the best resorts for the price of a studio at VWL on Friday or Saturday. You can use AP rates or check www.mousesavers.com for other codes.
We used to go down on Friday and stay until Sunday at a Priceline www.priceline.com hotel. It is fun to do some of the other things available in Central Florida and then check into the Magic on Sunday.