DVC-opinions please

[scobie15]

Can I ask your opinion on our first stay using our DVC points.We are looking to go next May and cannot decide whether to go for 2 weeks staying at BWV,AKVand VB,(12 nights DVC +first and last night offsite )or to stay at the same places but also move offsite for the weekends and therefore manage a 3 week trip(15/16 nights DVC).I realise there is a lot of moving about but is it worth it for a longer stay?We will have a car,so will it just be a matter of driving back to a different place literally to sleep as we will be able to stay on at the resort on checkout days if we feel like it .What do you folks think ?:confused2

[TinkTatoo]

I'd go for the 3 weeks but then we like staying as long as possible. I'm not sure I'd want 3 weeks of weekends off site though. How many points do you have to play with and what sort of accommodation do you want?

We usually prefer 1 bed minimum but we find that at VB an Ocean View room is perfect as we are so knackered after spending all day by the beach / pool that we fall into bed a night. An ocean view is only 12 points and 3-4 nights at VB is plenty.

[cityblueboy]

The best way to use your points is to fly out on a Sunday and fly back on a friday. This way you can stay for 19 nights but only pay the points for 2 weekends.

[BevS97]

Have you got the DVC points planning software (CaskBill), it is really good for playing around with differnet scenarios etc.

We worked out that we could manage 3 weeks if we had 2 studio weeks and one weekend offsite, one weekend I was ok with, but 2 weekends seemed too much

If you are flying in on a Saturday, then I think spending that first Sat night offsite is no hardship at all, you can stay near the airport and arrive at your resort early the following morning.

I would always opt for a longer trip, but you still need to balance the inconvenience factor in. Are you planning on 1 beds the whole time? Could you change 1 booking to a studio to gain more points to play with? Or borrow some?

[Treacle44]

If you don't mind moving about a bit, then I'd go for the maximum length of time out ther you can manage. :)

[Michelle]

I would go for the 3 weeks and stay off site for the weekends.

[crux]

Buy more points :pgig:

When we first bought into DVC we had 150 points, which we could use for a 14 night stay in a studio twice every three years. Then I tried playing about with staying off-site at the start and end of the stay and found we could stretch the points to almost three trips every four years. In the end I though 'stuff it' I can't be bothered with this and bought another 72 points as our Wedding Anniversary present to ourselves :D . Now we've got enough points for a 14 night stay every year - we've also got a handful of points left over each year which eventually will give us and extra 7 days one year.

One thought is, if you're going to go to Universal Studios stay at a US hotel at the start of your holiday and get front of line access.

Ian

[Treacle44]

Buy more points :pgig:

When we first bought into DVC we had 150 points, which we could use for a 14 night stay in a studio twice every three years. Then I tried playing about with staying off-site at the start and end of the stay and found we could stretch the points to almost three trips every four years. In the end I though 'stuff it' I can't be bothered with this and bought another 72 points as our Wedding Anniversary present to ourselves :D . Now we've got enough points for a 14 night stay every year - we've also got a handful of points left over each year which eventually will give us and extra 7 days one year.

One thought is, if you're going to go to Universal Studios stay at a US hotel at the start of your holiday and get front of line access.

Ian

I am very jealous! :) We want to buy another 50-60 points at BCV or VWL, one day, maybe next year.

[Hal]

You are going to want FOTL at Universal - so this will account for 1 or 2 of your Friday/Saturday nights.

[scobie15]

Thanks for your replies.We have 100 points ,which we decided was enough for 2 week(almost!)in a studio 2 years out of 3 which would give us a chance still to have an opportunity to visit other places we wish to see e.g.Thailand,Mexico.But then i realised 150-160 points we are using this year could be stretched by going off site for the weekends-hence my dilemma.I hadn't considered universal so that may be an option for us.I am not going to buy more points -yet!!-but I may get a touch of addonitis soon.:) :)

[buzzlightbeer]

We manage to get two, two week holidays by using our points Sunday to Thursday and paying for the Friday and Saturday. We sometimes book into a hotel up near Universal for a few days at the end of our vacation too. This means we get a decent length of holiday, twice a year and don't use too many points.

Cheers
Pete