SAP+ ?

[RuntheMouse]

Yea, i knew about the 100pt minimum for new owners, but i thought there was something that said any new purchase that was less than 100 didn't count towards benefits. (it sounds crazy saying it now, but it's what i thought i read/heard)

We’ve done this. Resale owners (white card) first. Added on 50 RIV direct last July and 100 direct this month and now have a blue card. So you can definitely start small and work your way up.

 

[kboo]

We love split stays! All our resale contracts are pre-2019 so they can be used at all resorts. (phew) at the time we had 2 young kids, 5 and 1. Double strollers when we went to WDW...

When we started with 160+25 points at BLT (25 direct got benefits) - we often did a split stay at Swan/Dolphin so we could walk to EP and HS. This was before the TS Land and Galaxy's Edge expansion, so HS was at best a 1/2 day park for us. So we'd stay a weekend and then use our points to sty

For those who do multiple split stays, are you just "live out of the suitcase" type of people? I used to be that way but these days, I completely unpack the first night and make myself at home.

We unpack all the way but do laundry a lot. We almost always do laundry the night before the move, and then just stuff all the clean clothes in the suitcase. We also travel with carryons only, so bring 3-5 days of clothes and do laundry. Most of our stays with 2 kids are 1br or larger. I travel a lot for work, and if I'm staying 2 nights or more, I unpack.

Ahhh so when everything was still a bit of a mess. I think y’all need a serious redo soon. Make it a December Grand Floridian trip, there’s very little topping that

OMG yes. This is why we added on. Christmas at VGF is magical. And a #$#%%$#@@#TON of points.

Incidentally I have used the benefits more than I would have expected to (dining and merch discount, sparkly Aulani Bands and a AP since I had two WDW trips in a year).

In addition to the sparkly Aulani bands, we've been to 3? Moonlight Magics over the years, and hope to go on a Member Cruise sometime. We are AP, so the food and merch discounts *usually* line up, though some places offer a larger DVC discount. NO Gold pass for us, because kids' school breaks always happen over the blockout dates.

oh no, I’ve made it in under 10 mins before which is only a problem in 100F heat
I can walk quicker than the Boat

Walking is always quicker than the boat. (Almost) We once made it from BCV to Brown Derby for a dinner reservation in 20-25 minutes, I think. We were a hot mess, but a well-dressed hot mess.

Am I setting myself up for issues and headaches?

So my new plan of attack is…
WDW
CCV 50-75pts
AKV 25pts
BWV 25pts

Yes. (as others have said)

If you're doing it every other year at best/every 3 years, I would still say stick with 2 WDW home resorts unless you really want to stay at 3 different resorts each time you come here. I mean, tbf I do a lot of split stays but I don't think most like resort hopping as much as I do and if you only stay at 2 resorts each time, you're basically giving up home resort priority at one of your home resorts and paying a premium unnecessarily.

^^ this - I think you've decided to do 2 resorts, @Chili327 ... we once did a 3-resort split stay BCV-AKV-RIV but that was a lot of moving around. I think we physically could do it, but I might not want to do it unless I had at least 3 nights in each resort. Part of the problem is that we have on Owners Locker that has come to house a ton of rye-diculous stuff that some members of the family refuse to let go of, and so I have to sit on it to get it to close.

It seems like the reality will be to bank one year to use 2 years worth, & only borrow from 3rd year if any extra points are needed, & I'm wondering the downside of that when leftover points get too low to make a difference on the next trip, & how to deal with that, but we'll see.

As others have said, it's hard to use 3 years' worth and make changes at 7 months and not run the risk of losing points. Every 2 years is a little easier - I try now to mostly use our points each year, and only roll a few over to the next. Had 2 points in holding after a waitlist filled once and that was a bummer even though it's not worth that much in $.

BLT
CCV
Poly
VGF

Out of all 4 of them, I’ve been really focusing on CCV, but more for personal reasons as I believe BLT is the better deal/value, but since it is essentially SAP, 7 month availability should be the deciding factor. Standard view is hard to get at BLT, but not Lake view, so that should make CCV the choice if you don’t have preferences right?

I love BLT, and BLT standard with the right room request can be terrific (think low theme park view; the haters will call it parking lot view). RIV and VGF standard are like that too. BUT - even though we haven't yet stayed at CCV (shakes fist at Covid) we love to visit for a meal and a wander. And as @tom1944 reminds me, the point costs between standard and LV at BLT are not huge. I think I might chafe a little at the size of the CCV 1br/2beds but that's because I've gotten spoiled by my home resorts. I think resale CCV could be a good fit for you, especially since you love CCV already. And if you're doing at least a few stays in studios, check out the video walkthroughs of studios at BLT. They are SMALL.

And now that VGF has a lot more studios, I've found it harder to get the larger units (1br and up) during busy times. There's just a lot more points in the system. So I'd be cautious about Poly and VGF for that reason - it may be harder to get larger units if you go at "busier" times. Also I don't think their resale values have equilibrated yet.

 

[Chili327]

If you're doing it every other year at best/every 3 years, I would still say stick with 2 WDW home resorts unless you really want to stay at 3 different resorts each time you come here. I mean, tbf I do a lot of split stays but I don't think most like resort hopping as much as I do and if you only stay at 2 resorts each time, you're basically giving up home resort priority at one of your home resorts and paying a premium unnecessarily.

^^ this - I think you've decided to do 2 resorts, @Chili327 ... we once did a 3-resort split stay BCV-AKV-RIV but that was a lot of moving around. I think we physically could do it, but I might not want to do it unless I had at least 3 nights in each resort. Part of the problem is that we have on Owners Locker that has come to house a ton of rye-diculous stuff that some members of the family refuse to let go of, and so I have to sit on it to get it to close.

I definitely would rather only do 2 resorts. I'm thinking the perfect stay is about 8 nights (possibly a 9 if I come early), and I love AKV, but don't really want to stay there more than 2 nights (or 3 if I come early), so it leaves 3+3 at best for other resorts, or just a 5 to 6 nights at only one other resort... so then I have to decide if that one should be near Epcot or MK, & that's not really a decision I want to make every trip. lol
Technically it may just come down to what is available at 7 months (and waitlists), also I haven't bought the BWV yet, and i could see selling the 25-AKV down the road & just grabbing whatever is available using the CCV points for whatever. It's probably the smart thing to do.... it may just take me a few contract purchases & sales to figure that out.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I feel like the use of SAP isn't really a 'thing' if I only want to stay in studios. Availability at 7 months seems so tough for studios. We just have our 50 pts at BRV but I've considered that we might want more points down the road. I've asked myself...do I buy more at BRV or do I get SAP to basically add to that. But then I worry I'd be stuck at SSR or whatever anyway.

But then if we want more points to book 1-bedroom...does buying SAP make more sense for that than buying more BRV? I suspect BRV will always be our top choice for stays.

Yeah...I really wouldn't want to end up on the pool-side. That's what really keeps me from considering CCV over BRV at this point.

So now my husband is wondering if we should already dump our 50 BRV points (that we've never used) in favor of a larger contract (enough for a 1-bedroom each trip...though I'm not sure what exact amount we'd need for that) at CCV. He thinks we'd be able to book a 1BR at CCV at 11 months and then be able to switch to a 1BR at BRV at the 7 month mark. And if we can't, at least we'd still be at WL. Plus, if we decide we no longer want to go to WDW in 20-25 years, there would still be value on the CCV.

So now I'm just all confused. But it certainly doesn't feel right to sell a contract we haven't even used!

I'm thinking he mostly feels this way because we're both antsy and no good BRV contracts have popped up for us yet.

 

[tom1944]

So now my husband is wondering if we should already dump our 50 BRV points (that we've never used) in favor of a larger contract (enough for a 1-bedroom each trip...though I'm not sure what exact amount we'd need for that) at CCV. He thinks we'd be able to book a 1BR at CCV at 11 months and then be able to switch to a 1BR at BRV at the 7 month mark. And if we can't, at least we'd still be at WL. Plus, if we decide we no longer want to go to WDW in 20-25 years, there would still be value on the CCV.

So now I'm just all confused. But it certainly doesn't feel right to sell a contract we haven't even used!

I'm thinking he mostly feels this way because we're both antsy and no good BRV contracts have popped up for us yet.

Why dump and not just add the contract you need with the points minus 50?

 

[ClaraOswald]

Why dump and not just add the contract you need with the points minus 50?

Just for ease of booking since we likely will only go every other year, on average. (Though sometimes every 3rd year or 2 years in a row. Just depends on when our DLR trips are.) So banking/borrowing from 2 different small contracts at 2 different places seems like a bigger pain than I want to deal with.

 

[AstroBlasters]

So now my husband is wondering if we should already dump our 50 BRV points (that we've never used) in favor of a larger contract (enough for a 1-bedroom each trip...though I'm not sure what exact amount we'd need for that) at CCV. He thinks we'd be able to book a 1BR at CCV at 11 months and then be able to switch to a 1BR at BRV at the 7 month mark. And if we can't, at least we'd still be at WL. Plus, if we decide we no longer want to go to WDW in 20-25 years, there would still be value on the CCV.

So now I'm just all confused. But it certainly doesn't feel right to sell a contract we haven't even used!

I'm thinking he mostly feels this way because we're both antsy and no good BRV contracts have popped up for us yet.

I vote to get CCV as SAP+ and then rent out what you can’t use.

 

[Sandisw]

So now my husband is wondering if we should already dump our 50 BRV points (that we've never used) in favor of a larger contract (enough for a 1-bedroom each trip...though I'm not sure what exact amount we'd need for that) at CCV. He thinks we'd be able to book a 1BR at CCV at 11 months and then be able to switch to a 1BR at BRV at the 7 month mark. And if we can't, at least we'd still be at WL. Plus, if we decide we no longer want to go to WDW in 20-25 years, there would still be value on the CCV.

So now I'm just all confused. But it certainly doesn't feel right to sell a contract we haven't even used!

I'm thinking he mostly feels this way because we're both antsy and no good BRV contracts have popped up for us yet.

The value of that BRV will just go down so I’d say bite the bullet and sell. Then buy CCV. It’s currently selling pretty well and as you say, it will still have value in 20 years…even if minimal!! Definitely more than BRV.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I vote to get CCV as SAP+ and then rent out what you can’t use.

Add on to our BRV points? I'm so confused on how I'd go about booking things with 2 small contracts at 2 different places though. I'll need to sit down and write it all out to wrap my head around it maybe?

We were just looking at about 100 total points. So in that case it would be 50 BRV and 50 CCV.

A 1 bedroom in January for 7 nights would be 218. Though we'd also be fine with a 6 nights at 184/188 points.

So what do you book at the 11 month mark then? A studio at BRV using banked/borrowed points? Then at 7 months, if a 1BR is available, book that with additional banked/borrowed points from the CCV contract? And if a 1BR isn't available...keep the studio and rent the points?

The charts all make it seem like getting a 1BR at BRV in January isn't too hard but not sure how accurate that really is, of course. That's why I wondered if just doing all CCV makes more sense so then at the very least, we'd be in a 1-BR at CCV instead of a studio at BRV. But maybe we'd always be fine with a studio at WDW even if we end up getting accustomed to a 1BR at VGC?

 

[ClaraOswald]

There's only one 50pt CCV in our UY right now and it's not one I'd want. There is an okay looking 100pt one. But then I think to myself...am I only looking at this because I'm getting antsy waiting for a BRV contract? Should I just be patient since we've already missed our window for booking BRV (or CCV) for January 2025 so the next trip after that wouldn't be until January 2026 anyway. So why am I rushing?

I'm so confused! I need a new hobby or something so I stop looking at the dis and at DVC contracts. Ha!

 

[AstroBlasters]

There's only one 50pt CCV in our UY right now and it's not one I'd want. There is an okay looking 100pt one. But then I think to myself...am I only looking at this because I'm getting antsy waiting for a BRV contract? Should I just be patient since we've already missed our window for booking BRV (or CCV) for January 2025 so the next trip after that wouldn't be until January 2026 anyway. So why am I rushing?

I'm so confused! I need a new hobby or something so I stop looking at the dis and at DVC contracts. Ha!

It probably makes sense to just be patient and wait for what you actually want. Most contracts are listed in the winter because of dues.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I just hope I don't have to wait a year and then end up having to go with another stripped contract. It seems like that's the case with anything under 100pts.

 

[Chili327]

So now my husband is wondering if we should already dump our 50 BRV points (that we've never used) in favor of a larger contract (enough for a 1-bedroom each trip...though I'm not sure what exact amount we'd need for that) at CCV. He thinks we'd be able to book a 1BR at CCV at 11 months and then be able to switch to a 1BR at BRV at the 7 month mark. And if we can't, at least we'd still be at WL. Plus, if we decide we no longer want to go to WDW in 20-25 years, there would still be value on the CCV.

So now I'm just all confused. But it certainly doesn't feel right to sell a contract we haven't even used!

I'm thinking he mostly feels this way because we're both antsy and no good BRV contracts have popped up for us yet.

Why dump and not just add the contract you need with the points minus 50?

Add on to our BRV points? I'm so confused on how I'd go about booking things with 2 small contracts at 2 different places though. I'll need to sit down and write it all out to wrap my head around it maybe?

I think maybe Tom meant to add 50 to BRV? (not sure, just guessing) I think there is no rush, its more of a "add-on-itis" thing right now than anything.

There's only one 50pt CCV in our UY right now and it's not one I'd want. There is an okay looking 100pt one. But then I think to myself...am I only looking at this because I'm getting antsy waiting for a BRV contract? Should I just be patient since we've already missed our window for booking BRV (or CCV) for January 2025 so the next trip after that wouldn't be until January 2026 anyway. So why am I rushing?

I'm so confused! I need a new hobby or something so I stop looking at the dis and at DVC contracts. Ha!

I get the same way & thats basically how i ended up buying the 25 AKV. lol

Just keep doing research, keep running the numbers, keep thinking on it until you know what the best answer is, then go with it, you've got time. (that's my plan as well, not planning to book until Feb 2025)

I vote to get CCV as SAP+ and then rent out what you can’t use.

Check my math here... Comparing CCV vs SSR for SAP, using 2 of the lowest priced 100pt contracts currently available

CCV @ $141 = $14,100 / 44 = $320.45
$3.20 + $8.09 = $11.29ppp

SSR @ $95 = $9500 / 30 = $316.67
$3.16 + $8.14 = $11.31ppp

CCV - $11.29 (SAP+)
SSR - $11.31 (SAP)

Seems like SAP+ is definitely a smart way to go especially if you like the resort better, & this doesn't include BLT which should be even cheaper (may be depending on the contract)

 

[Chili327]

Check my math here... Comparing CCV vs SSR for SAP, using 2 of the lowest priced 100pt contracts currently available

CCV @ $141 = $14,100 / 44 = $320.45
$3.20 + $8.09 = $11.29ppp

SSR @ $95 = $9500 / 30 = $316.67
$3.16 + $8.14 = $11.31ppp

CCV - $11.29 (SAP+)
SSR - $11.31 (SAP)

Seems like SAP+ is definitely a smart way to go especially if you like the resort better, & this doesn't include BLT which should be even cheaper (may be depending on the contract?)

Had to run the BLT numbers just to see. Too funny. lol

BLT @ $130 = $13,000 / 35 = $371.43
$3.71 + $7.59 = $11.30ppp

CCV - $11.29 (SAP+)
BLT - $11.30 (SAP+)
SSR - $11.31 (SAP)
VGF - $11.33 (SAP+)
Poly - $11.70 (SAP+)

*edited to add Poly & VGF*
Poly @ $146 = $14,600 / 42 = $347.62
$3.47 + $8.23 = $11.70ppp

VGF @ $160 = $16,000 / 40 = $400
$4.00 + $7.33 = $11.33ppp

 

[lilsonicfan]

@ClaraOswald if you are inclined to sell that BRV contract I would at the very least strip it yourself / try to rent out some points from this UY as it seems otherwise the closing costs etc will mean it was really not very worth it to buy in the first place.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Yeah, I don't think I'd ever buy at SSR unless we stay there sometime and we end up loving it.

I guess part of me feels like I should just wait until a 50pt BRV pops up and we can use that for January 2026. BUT... we do still want to go in January 2025. BRV/CCV are already booked (studios) for the dates we want. So we'll have to take what we can get at the 7 month mark. It would be nice to have some WDW points to use for that trip instead of having to use my VGC ones again. So I feel like it we got a contract ASAP, we'd have those points when the 7 month mark hits in June.

BUT...then I think, why pick a contract just because of wanting points for this coming year? Maybe it's better to wait for the exact right contract to fit better with future years.

BUT...then I think, CCV might be okay once they get murphy beds. The price of resale and the point chart isn't too bad. And we'd get more years....

BUT...I also don't mind the idea of just using the BRV points until they're gone.

I'm all over the place.

 

[ClaraOswald]

@ClaraOswald if you are inclined to sell that BRV contract I would at the very least strip it yourself / try to rent out some points from this UY as it seems otherwise the closing costs etc will mean it was really not very worth it to buy in the first place.

It doesn't even have any points until June 2025. I mean, they could be borrowed, I guess. But not even sure if that's worth it or not.

 

[Ruttangel]

I'm so confused! I need a new hobby or something so I stop looking at the dis and at DVC contracts. Ha!

In all seriousness you are right, spending time on purchasing DVC forums is not good for your bank balance.
We are a lovely community but stay here at your peril

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

I vote to get CCV as SAP+ and then rent out what you can’t use.

I second this. I'm also biased as I own CCV

 

[ClaraOswald]

Honestly, if we wanted to go to WDW every single year...it would be so much easier! I could just have a slightly larger contract and bank forward, as needed. (This is our plan for VGC.)

Dec/Jan/Feb are really the only months we'd ever go to WDW but I know we'll want to hit up Disneyland during those months some years. So we wouldn't want back to back trips a month or two apart. I hate flying so forcing myself onto a plane roughly once a year is about all I can handle. I also only like taking my son out of school for 1 vacation per school year.

I'm jealous of people that can/are willing to travel at many different times a year, multiple times a year!