Here's my points conundrum and I am looking for some feedback:
We currently own:
160 - Resale BLT purchased in 2017, so grandfathered into being able to book restricted resorts
25 - Direct BLT purchased in 2017 to get direct benefits
300 - Resale Poly purchased in 2022, so no ability to book restricted resorts
All these contracts have the same UY. Since we initially bought in, our lives have changed a lot. We moved from the East coast to the West coast, we have a young child and so trips to WDW are now longer, but less often. We like to be able to go for 7ish nights once a year and would like to be in 1-bedrooms without doing split stays (husband says that's a no-go while our kid is young).
All together we have enough points for a 1bd for a week when we want to travel, but we'd have to book at 7-months and when we want to travel, there hasn't been a ton of inventory. We love the Poly and would love to stay there consistently, but with the inflated points charts, we would need about 100 more points to be able to secure a 1-bedroom at the Poly at 11 months than we currently have.
I've been tossing around the idea of getting another 100 Poly points to be able to book within the 11-month window, but there is basically no inventory in our use year. I figure we have a few paths forward:
Buy direct at Poly and rent out our BLT points to help cover the dues.
Sell the BLT contract(s), and use the proceeds to buy enough direct poly pts to keep our "blue card" (we already have 60 direct pts at VGC). This means we would need to keep both the VGC and Poly directs into the future to maintain our "blue card". We have used these points for stays at VDH, which we would no longer be able to do, nor be able to use for LSL and others into the future.
Sell our 160pt BLT and keep the 25pts and...rent them out? Try and combine them at 7 months? Still losing future booking at newer properties.
Keep things as they are and bank and borrow and take our chances on a Poly 1-bd being available at 7 months or there being availability at other resorts alternating years.
Right now inventory at the Poly tower seems really tough at the 7-month mark. Maybe that will change as more rooms are declared? It stresses me out having to gamble with availability at the 7-month window especially when we like to travel in the winter months when most people are trying to book.
What would you do?
If urgency is a priority, I'd buy Poly direct. The number of one bedroom villas is very limited relative to the rest of the room types. If you can hold out for a bit, I'd download the DVC Resale Market app and set up an alert for Poly resale contracts. Either way, I think holding more Poly points is the best path if you know you will consistently want to stay there in the future.
I would go with the bank/borrow strategy and alternate between 1BR at the Poly and 1BR at BLT every other year. You're getting pretty similar rooms and locations, keeping your βblue cardβ status, and avoiding the cost and hassle of selling and buying (at a steeper cost) a new contract. That is the least disruptive action and would seem to net you the results you're seeking.
π° DVC Member since 2022 | Home Resorts: πΊ Poly, π« GF, and π BWV | π’ DCL π₯
Since your husband has said no to
split stays, Iβm curious what his
preference is on this?
I agree with Carrieβs note that it seems like timing is the priority and whether you can wait and see or need a solution now is good to consider.
Iβve had similar thoughts with my own BLT contracts, regarding selling and purchasing something I like better, or to try to get blue card status. Good luck!
First trip to Walt Disney World β23 π₯
WDW Annual Passholder β23 πͺ©
First DVC Purchase β24 β€οΈ
First DVC Add-on β26 πͺ
Try different resorts at 7 months. Depending on what you want, you have lots of possible vacations--Grand Floridian, Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek, Beach Club, Animal Kingdom, etc. You may find some new favorites--especially as your child grows. Bank and borrow as needed, and enjoy all the variety. Then grab 2-3 nights at the Grand Californian in a studio and enjoy the best!
Crazydad 123--DVC Member since 2007