As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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My basic concern would be whether I could get into BCV using my AKV points...luckily, for the forseeable future, we can travel during non-peak times.
Thanks for your responses to the OP so far. All the comments have been very helpful to those of us who are considering DVC!
Hello, DVC points are not like "Time Share" Hotels, you cand use your points at any location you want. The advantage is if you own AKV points you can book 11 months in advance at the Animal Kingdom but if you decide you want to book at BCV you can only book 7 months in advance. You can use your points for any resort you want.
One note: Don't get suckered into buying a "Time Share" place that says you can use your "Time Share" points to stay at WDW Villas.
Thanks, Brad. If I buy, I will buy DVC points and not general time share points that "might" allow DVC, hehe! I know I can book at any resort, but my concern is that BCV is one of the more popular DVC resorts, and since I can't book at 11 months out if I buy AKV, I would be less certain of getting the BCV when I want it. That being said, I'm still looking around at all the DVC possibilities, costs, etc. Thanks!
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Are these points not even showing any type of discounts yet on the resale market?
I've just recently started looking into possibly buying some points in the next 2-3 years. I think our first choice would be BCV, but I would more likely want to buy into a place like AKV with a longer term unless I see some discounts for BCV.
It varies by resort. But even with the shorter term, supply and demand is keeping prices high for some of the smaller resorts like BCV and VWL. Actually prices for BCV has fallen noticeably in the last 12-18 months. Used to be they were selling in the mid-$90s per point. Now they seem to be more in the mid-$80s. I thing BLT is mostly to blame for that. Comparatively speaking, BLT has the same close proximity to a theme park, 18 more years of ownership, lower dues and MUCH better room views than BCV.
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My basic concern would be whether I could get into BCV using my AKV points...luckily, for the forseeable future, we can travel during non-peak times.
You can try that but there are no guarantees. When you speak of "non-peak times", demand among DVC members is MUCH different than the general public. About the only time I would be comfortable saying that one could consistently get BCV at 7 months is September. With schools just back in session and hurricane season, that's a very slow period at WDW. But for many other periods often labeled "non-peak", DVC resorts can be very, very difficult to book at 7 months.
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One note: Don't get suckered into buying a "Time Share" place that says you can use your "Time Share" points to stay at WDW Villas.
DVC trades through RCI and there are reasonable chances for success if you own a good trader. But no, you shouldn't just take a salesperson's promises at face value in this regard. I'd recommend dozens of hours of Internet research before buying an RCI-affiliated timeshare with plans of trading into DVC.
And even then, the purchase would come with two caveats:
1. You have to be very flexible in terms of dates and resort choices when trading. You can't just call up and say "I want the Beach Club Villas for ____ dates" and book a trade. Instead you need to monitor availability on the RCI website--at least daily--and be willing to compromise on your needs. Larger resorts like OKW, SSR and probably AKV are the most likely to come across.
2. There's no guarantee that DVC will continue its affiliation with RCI indefinitely. Until 2009 DVC traded through Interval International. If DVC switches back to II in a few years, RCI owners will lose all ability to access DVC resorts.
You can try that but there are no guarantees. When you speak of "non-peak times", demand among DVC members is MUCH different than the general public. About the only time I would be comfortable saying that one could consistently get BCV at 7 months is September. With schools just back in session and hurricane season, that's a very slow period at WDW. But for many other periods often labeled "non-peak", DVC resorts can be very, very difficult to book at 7 months.
Thanks for that info! This will definitely affect our decision. My kids are currently in year round school, but the district has been hinting about going back to a traditional school year. This is one reason I don't want to buy DVC yet. We may not go to WDW every other year if it's only during peak season (we live near Disneyland and luckily can get our "fix" there regularly!). It may become a once every 3-4 years trip.
Currently, we would travel during the first two weeks of December, which is the "value" season. However, if DVC rooms aren't as readily available during that time, then it will definitely affect whether or not we go with DVC versus just staying at a regular resort room and paying cash when we go.
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Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
Currently, we would travel during the first two weeks of December, which is the "value" season. However, if DVC rooms aren't as readily available during that time, then it will definitely affect whether or not we go with DVC versus just staying at a regular resort room and paying cash when we go.
The first two weeks of December arguably have the single highest demand of the year among DVC members. Most experienced members will book their Home resort EXACTLY 11 months out (as in 11 months to the day) and there is little chance of getting another resort at 7 months. If that's the period you plan to visit, make sure own points at the resort you want to stay at and make sure you can call 10-11 months out to finalize your booking.
Additionally, I have every expectation that early-December will be moved to a more expensive season within the next couple of years. The intent behind the seasonal point charts is to increase demand during slow periods. Now that member booking patterns have been evolving over 18+ years, it's clear those early-December weeks are in the wrong season. I expect to see the points increased for those dates, perhaps as early as 2011.
Thanks very much for that response, tjkraz! Our second possibility, assuming we stay in year round school, is the last week of January. However, even that is iffy. I think in the long run, we'll have to assume we'll be on a traditional school year, so that will be something else that affects our decision. Thanks!
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Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
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This has been a very interesting thread and I've enjoyed reading it.
Dlandmom2, I'm not sure you are the right family to buy into DVC, after reading your various posts. (Just so you know, we don't own either). At this point there seem to be better reasons for your family to continue visiting on a cash basis using discount offers. It think this because you live so far away from WDW, plan to only visit about every 3 years and aren't sure of what your future use times might be because of your children's school schedules. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
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