DVC Ladies....

We are thinking of going on a Disney Cruise next summer. I called just to get an idea of how many points it would use up -- it was about 3 years worth of points for us (about 960) plus an additional $1,500. Unfortunately we need 2 rooms because I have a family of 6.

An employee at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort that I spoke with a couple of weeks ago while we were there mentioned I would be better off purchasing points that someone was selling -- that it would be less expensive to do it that way. She mentioned that there were websites to do this.

Has anyone done anything like this before? Can you do this?

Re: DVC Ladies....

You're asking 2 different questions here, or else I don't get it.

It sounds like you HAVE DVC already, right?

If so, do NOT use your points on a cruise. Keep an eye out for deals. They just offered a dirt cheap deal for members on June and September cruises, paying with cash, not points. You're better off renting out your points for the year and putting that money toward a cruise. it's a horrible use of points.


Second, what the HHI cast member was talking about was buying points re-sale. That's if you don't have DVC yet or you want to add on, it can be about 50% cheaper to buy points on the resale market. At that point you actually CAN'T use those points for a cruise since resale points have restrictions.

Let me know if I did/did not answer your questons.

Re: DVC Ladies....

Yes I do have DVC already.

The woman at DHHIR was I guess kind of telling me the same thing...not to use my points but to by resale ones. Maybe she didn't realize you can't use resale points for a cruise. I didn't know that either. Are you even allowed to buy them if you're already a DVC member?

I guess I'll just keep my eyes open then for DVC member deals. Where did you see the cruise specials -- on their website, email, or did you get it in the regular mail? I probably wasn't paying attention to it if I did see anything because I wasn't planning on cruising at the time.

Thanks

Message edited 7/30/2012 11:16:02 AM.

Re: DVC Ladies....

I got the cruise offers via email.

I think the employee was talking about renting points from another owner or doing a point transfer for a one-time transfer of points from another member into your account.

I know they say using your points for a cruise is a horrible waste of points, but I feel like if you're not going to use your points at a DVC resort and they're going to go to waste anyway, why would you use them?

I'm not a fan of renting out my points to someone I don't know and would rather avoid the hassle and just use them for a cruise or an Adventures by Disney rather than worrying about dealing with a rental.

Re: DVC Ladies....

If you rent from someone, you're not going to pay less than $9 a point, and it's still not worth it.

If you were to buy additional points to pay for a cruise, you'd still have all of those extra points and their dues forever. Definitely not worth it for one cruise, especially since they would have to be direct. Resale points can't be used for cruises.

I got the cruise deal info via email.

Definitely make the Disney Cruise happen if you can. It's an incredible experience. DH and I have travelled a lot in the past year or so, both bc it's our first year married and because of my job, and even though we've gone diving with barracudas and sea turtles in St. Lucia, and had other amazing experiences, ALL my DH can talk about is doing another Disney Cruise.

I'm trying to plan next year. When we go to Disneyland, are we going to Hawaii? Napa? San Francisco? Alaska Cruise? Hubby is like "i don't know, honey"...but he has informed me we are DEFINITELY taking a 7 nighter on the Fantasy next year.

I wish I could have done one of the DVC and passholder deals they had for June and September of this year. I just couldn't swing it with my job and other travel. But, like I said, we WILL be on the Fantasy next year.