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About This Page: This is a discussion on WWYD ? within the Planning Your Disney Cruise Voyage, part of the PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel; I keep going over this in my head, so I'm really just looking to see if y'all can offer some ...

Lumieregirl · 10-11-2008, 11:52 PM

I keep going over this in my head, so I'm really just looking to see if y'all can offer some perspective. I'm getting neurotic & not thinking clearly

DH & I have planned to join DVC and anticipated doing that within the year, probably. However, when we saw the 2010 Med cruise itinerary, we became enamored with that. We were on DCL for our honeymoon in 2005, and want to make a tradition of doing a cruise every 5 years. And Aug is even our anniversary month, perfect timing. BUT, if we save up for the cruise, I doubt we can really also be making payments for DVC. Here's my problem:

When I think of joining DVC and missing the cruise, that makes me sad.
When I think of doing the cruise & missing lots of great WDW trips on DVC, that makes me sad.

Now, I know we could join DVC & use points for DCL, but I've read that is not the best use of points, and our DVC would be at the minimal point level, so it wouldn't cover the whole cruise. I even considered doing DVC now & banking & borrowing to to afford the cruise on points, but we're not in a financial position to join DVC next week. However, we can afford to put a deposit on the cruise now.

Finally, I know these cruises will fill up quickly, but can you guesstimate how much time I have to decide? Do I need to be ready by Wed morning just to be safe if we decide to book?

Thanks for reading my long post ...

**chezp** · 10-12-2008, 12:46 AM

I'm in a similar position, wondering how long it will take for those cruises to fill up. I will say that I was worried about the first Med cruises in 2007 and I don't remember when booking for those opened, but I didn't book until October 2006 - maybe November actually and they still had plenty of space. That's my only experience. I'm still waiting to find out from the DVC how many points they will take, as that's the only way we can afford to go on one.

theJordans · 10-12-2008, 02:52 AM

With two more ships to arrive I think those Med cruises won`t be a rarity in the next few years.
We`re going to try for these cruises and I considered using points - the info is out there (its on some threads on the disboards!) however the points usage is very very high

For me if it had to be one or the other I would say DVC as that lasts a lifetime.
You have to go with your heart - goodluck.

Belle* · 10-12-2008, 08:44 AM

I think that these cruises are going to fill up very quickly when they open on Tuesday. (Not Wednesday...) However, I also know that many people cancel in between booking and sailing. I think you should do what is best for your family in the long run.

If you are meant to be on one of those cruises, a spot will open up when you are ready!

Sandy_N · 10-12-2008, 10:49 AM

I have to agree that the cruises will fill quickly and than there will be cancellations allowing you to get a room. That said, keep in mind the lowest prices are at the beginning. You need to do what makes the most sense for your family but I thought I would consider throwing something else into the mix.
- What if you bought into DVC to get the pricing now and did a cruise deposit now (if possible).
- Rent your DVC points to cover your carrying costs and they will give you a far better value toward the cruise than paying with points.
- I have not seen the DVC point chart but generally it works out to be the value of $7-8 a point for the cruise. You can rent your points for $10-$12 each.
- By booking the cruise with cash, use an agency that gives you a shipboard credit.

I think this may give you the best of everything and still come out ahead.

Good luck whatever you decide. They are both magical times!

Lumieregirl · 10-12-2008, 11:45 PM

OMG Sara !!!! THANKYOU !!!! I dont' know WHY I thought Wednesday and I had it all noted on the calendar to wake up early and everything. Geesh!

Lumieregirl · 10-12-2008, 11:47 PM

Thanks Sandy. An option I never considered, and good food for thought.
Hmmm....

IdahoDisneyMom · 10-14-2008, 08:32 AM

I know how you feel! DH and I debated joining DVC for about 3 years, back and forth. We actually were on the phone starting the initial buy when our salesman told us that one of the perks he'd promised us wasn't going to happen. I thanked him, hung up, and DH and I debated AGAIN. It was actually the inability to use our points effectively on cruises, Adventures by Disney, etc that eventually sold us on NOT buying in. Now we have a WDW/DCL trip in the works for next year, and we're hoping to do AbD's trip to England/France a few years after that. Good luck with your decision. I know from experience that it's a tough one!!

**Colexis Mom** · 10-14-2008, 09:26 AM

Good luck with your decision!!

Lumieregirl · 10-14-2008, 09:31 AM

Thanks, everyone. I'm glad I'm not the only one struggling with this. So much to think about! For now, we decided to go ahead and book the 2010 Med cruise, the logic being, even if we did buy DVC now/soon, we'd still want to do this cruise for our anniversary anyway. DVC will always be there waiting for us, I suppose.

Sandy_N · 10-14-2008, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumieregirl

Thanks, everyone. I'm glad I'm not the only one struggling with this. So much to think about! For now, we decided to go ahead and book the 2010 Med cruise, the logic being, even if we did buy DVC now/soon, we'd still want to do this cruise for our anniversary anyway. DVC will always be there waiting for us, I suppose.

Glad to hear you are set. I am sure justing having made a decision makes you feel better. Enjoy the cruise!

cubfancolleen · 10-14-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumieregirl

Thanks, everyone. I'm glad I'm not the only one struggling with this. So much to think about! For now, we decided to go ahead and book the 2010 Med cruise, the logic being, even if we did buy DVC now/soon, we'd still want to do this cruise for our anniversary anyway. DVC will always be there waiting for us, I suppose.

According to our DVC guide (Gib McCain), if you did book today and then went and bought DVC points later (next week, next month, whenever), you could convert your reservation over to points. We were thinking about adding more points (we currently have points at Hilton Head & Saratoga Springs), thinking if we were going to spend all this money on a cruise, why not spend the money on points, and then have the chance of using them for 30 years? He said that there may be incentives coming in December or so - particularly if the economy stays so bad, they will need to do something to encourage people to buy DVC.
So, my two cents is don't rule out DVC - you may end up getting both - cruise & DVC.
And for the record, we are so glad we bought in to DVC! We started thinking about it in about 1994 when it was still pretty new, and didn't join until 2004. When I think about what we would have paid for points in 1994, well, I try not to think about it! Or all the great vacations we would have done those 10 years.
Good luck!

Lumieregirl · 10-15-2008, 12:02 AM

Thanks for that info

I just LOVE it when I have to pick option A or option B and I get to pick C, both

. That is definitely something I'll keep in mind. Its so nice that the full payment on this isn't due for such a while. Hopefully we'll be able to manage DVC in the interim.