Is 250 points a good place to start?

[Hil]

Originally Posted by KarenG

We started with 150 because that’s what we could afford and we made it work for us

See more...

This pretty much sums up our original approach in 2001.

We bought an initial 150 points (the minimum purchase at that time, and what we could afford) and then added on a further 25 and 35 points a couple of years later when we could afford more.

Our trips (and party size) have evolved so much since 2001 that we wouldn't have been able to predict at that time the number of points we'd want this far down the line.

We planned our trips to make the best use of what we had, and definitely don't feel we missed out at all by maybe not having enough some years, or a surplus at other times.

And now we're hoping to add on again ;-) The increase in dues that comes with adding more points is hopefully a good wake up call to help stop us going in too deep!

[bex0309]

We bought 100 points on resale, then another 50 and with banking and borrowing it gives us flexibility to have other holidays every other year (or as we like) and they are good for resale, being smaller, in case we decide to ever sell them.

This only works for us because we currently can travel in term time. When this changes, I think we will need to add another 50-100 at least. So 250 does sound about right.

[KarenG]

Originally Posted by Hil

This pretty much sums up our original approach in 2001.

We bought an initial 150 points (the minimum purchase at that time, and what we could afford) and then added on a further 25 and 35 points a couple of years later when we could afford more.

Our trips (and party size) have evolved so much since 2001 that we wouldn't have been able to predict at that time the number of points we'd want this far down the line.

We planned our trips to make the best use of what we had, and definitely don't feel we missed out at all by maybe not having enough some years, or a surplus at other times.

And now we're hoping to add on again ;-) The increase in dues that comes with adding more points is hopefully a good wake up call to help stop us going in too deep!

See more...

This is so true. When we bought in 2003 we thought our vacation habits (time of year and accommodation type) would be unlikely to change much, but over the next 18 years they have changed very much!

[PoohBears#1fan]

Originally Posted by Hil

This pretty much sums up our original approach in 2001.

We bought an initial 150 points (the minimum purchase at that time, and what we could afford) and then added on a further 25 and 35 points a couple of years later when we could afford more.

Our trips (and party size) have evolved so much since 2001 that we wouldn't have been able to predict at that time the number of points we'd want this far down the line.

We planned our trips to make the best use of what we had, and definitely don't feel we missed out at all by maybe not having enough some years, or a surplus at other times.

And now we're hoping to add on again ;-) The increase in dues that comes with adding more points is hopefully a good wake up call to help stop us going in too deep!

See more...

Originally Posted by KarenG

This is so true. When we bought in 2003 we thought our vacation habits (time of year and accommodation type) would be unlikely to change much, but over the next 18 years they have changed very much!

See more...

Completely agree, the way we use our points has changed so much over the years.

We bought originally thinking about 12 nights in a studio 2 years out of every 3 every May or August.

Added on after our following stay for the same plan but in a 1 bed.

Ended up mostly going every other year, and staying longer in a 1 bed during August school holidays or over October half term.

Now DH & I do 2 trips a year and are currently splashing out as we added on contracts for the kids to eventually take over, so we have more points that we need.

Add in the odd trip with friends, extended family so getting extra or larger accommodation, I've gifted nights at WDW to friends, rented points out and used the money to pay for other holidays.

It's all about the flexibility imo and DVC hasn't let me down in 19 years of ownership

[piglet100]

Thank you so much for all your replies.
It's great to hear that you make it work for you whatever number of points!

One of the big appeals for us is the kitchen and having a separate sleeping space, so I think we would want a 1 bed the majority of the time. If we'd bought in pre kids would definitely have gone for a studio though and would have been much more flexible overall.

A fantastic tip to buy separate contracts as easier to sell (or pass on too I guess!) I may look again at dipping our toes in with a smaller 100-150 point for a shorter stay initially.

As I was saying to my husband, Disney will always be happy to take more money in future! (We'd probably do resale though!)

[piglet100]

Originally Posted by Lizzim

We only have 100 points so are one of those terrible owners that bought to stay in studios.

Having said that since 2010 we have done all of the following:

1. Treehouse at Saratoga
2. 2 bed at Bay Lake Tower
3. Grand Villa at Bay Lake (only 1 night)
4. Plus studios at Saratoga, Bay Lake, Animal Kingdom lodge and Hilton Head

The point... you can totally make 250 work 😁

See more...

Wow the range of places to stay is what's so exciting!

[Lizzim]

Originally Posted by piglet100

Wow the range of places to stay is what's so exciting!

See more...

And so many we haven’t tried like Grand Floridian and Poly (which we haven’t tried yet).