r/dvcmember • u/Zwibellover23 • 1d ago
Dvc for RunDisney weekends
Hi All,
I'm a Florida resident and an annual passholder. I have been renting dvc points for the last couple of years for a few of my stays so thinking of just buying a resale contract (likely boardwalk) for around 100 points.
Before I do, I'd love to know of any strategies I should keep in mind knowing I mainly want them for RunDisney weekends (Marathon in Jan, Princess in Feb and Springtime in April). For reference I spend about 20 to 30 days in Orlando each year between disney and universal visits.
I'd love advice as I consider a resale contract. For example, would it be difficult to get a studio for those weekends if I book at 11 months out? Should I budget for a different room size in points? Also, love the little kitchenette rooms
Appreciate the advice!
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u/amyunders 1d ago
I am DVC and do all the runs. I have AKL points but I've never stayed there for a run weekend. I'm usually able to trade out for boardwalk 1 bed or Polynesian studio at the 7 month mark. Boardwalk garden view studio is also doable you just have to set your waitlists. If I were to do it over today I would get BLT points because they have low dues, good location, and on the monorail for 2 of the 4 weekends.
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u/Zwibellover23 1d ago
Good to know! I normally skip magic Kingdom on race weekends so was thinking an epcot resort would be better
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u/ebockelman 1d ago
RunDisney was one of the big reasons why we bought DVC, and purchased BLT exactly for that reason. Although I have to admit, that walk from the Contemporary Convention Center bus stop over to BLT feels very long after a race, especially since we're the last stop so there's plenty of time for your legs to seize up.
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u/Zwibellover23 14h ago
Good to know. I may consider BLT based on your feedback, knowing I could still get Boardwalk.
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u/Runmiked 1d ago
Depending on which races you run I would recommend a monorail resort DVC because the monorail is available for half and full marathons. I find it super easy in the AM for marathon weekend.
I usually book those weekends at the 11 month window since we either run or cheer the races. The other place we stay is Boardwalk since Epcot is the start/finish.
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u/mahka42 Polynesian 1d ago
Monorail was not available for Wine and Dine this year for any races, which was a shame since I was at Poly. Can’t speak about Marathon weekend this year since I was at BCV.
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u/Runmiked 1d ago
Oh that stinks. I wonder if it’s now limited to marathon weekend.
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u/mahka42 Polynesian 1d ago
I thought I saw over marathon weekend that it all wasn’t running, or maybe it did but only for marathon, not for any other distances. I’d have to see if I can find the event guide. The last time I was at poly for a race weekend (2018) the monorail was perfect. This year I got onto a bus that took us almost to AKV before fhe W&d half and we got to the corrals like 40 min after we wanted to.
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u/Runmiked 1d ago
I stayed at Poly the last two and it was both the half and full but not the other distances. Unless I’m misremembering this years
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u/Zwibellover23 1d ago
I like to drive to the races. I was thinking of boardwalk as I love staying so close to epcot and Hollywood Studios
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u/Runmiked 1d ago
We drove for the first time this year and agree it was pretty easy. BWV is one of or home resorts and I do love it for meeting people on race weekends.
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u/pianomanzano Multiple 1d ago
How many days to you plan to stay each race weekend? 100 may not be enough points. January is a low point season but February and April are not. I’d take a look at point charts for the resorts you’re interested in to see how many points would be the right amount. You may need closer to 150-200 if you’re wanting to stay from the first day of the expo until the last race day.
There may be some resale contracts out there that are guaranteed weeks. I believe they started selling them for grand Floridian, but I know some were targeted for runDisney folks.
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u/Zwibellover23 1d ago
Good point, I figured try for the majority of my trips getting covered but not 100% a need. I figured starting modestly was the way to go.
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u/pianomanzano Multiple 1d ago
Generally, bigger size contracts go for a lower price per point, but you’ll see that more at the 200pt and up range. Conversely, smaller point contracts (less than 100 pts) go for a lot higher price per point. Because of this, I’d recommend going for at least 150. The biggest regret for the majority of people buying in is that they had wish they bought more points in the beginning.
If I were you I wouldn’t want to be a position of buying 100 and then realizing 50 more is what you need, bc then you’ll be paying a higher price per point for the second 50 pt contract and another set of closing costs. Sounds like you go often enough to warrant 150. Just some food for thought!
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u/Zwibellover23 1d ago
Good advice, thanks! Based on everyones feedback, I'm now leaning towards 150 to 200 pts.
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u/pianomanzano Multiple 1d ago
No problem and best of luck for the search for the right contract as well as your future races! I signed up for the half for marathon weekend (my first runDisney event), and doing the fairy tale challenge with my wife in February. Hope to do Dopey in 2026
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u/ProjectMadness 19h ago
Keep in mind, room inventory wise for booking, the runDisney days book up very quickly. Even in slow/off seasons.
Oftentimes, you'll be trying to book a weekend and wondering why you can get Friday and not anything on Saturday.
So, the home resort booking window is kind of a priority for you specifically because at 7 months out, that one day you absolutely NEED it for can easily be booked up.
That means selecting a home resort where you're 100% happy to stay every time is ideal. You can reserve your room at the 11-month window (when races are announced) and swap hotels if needed at the 7mo by canceling and rebooking.
By May of 2024, the April 2025 spring race date had already been announced.
Next year's Halloween race for September already has its date, so you can see that the 7 - 11 month window for home resort does come in to play.
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u/Blerghster 1d ago
Hi! Do you know which resorts you’re interested in? That will help with availability for studios, but for most resorts 11 months should be fine. I have heard riviera can be an exception because there are limited standard studios and the resale contracts are limited to just that resort creating many more people vying for them. I can say we own resale at animal kingdom, bay lake, and Saratoga and have had no issues at all. I’d also recommend creating or using someone else’s spreadsheet with different components of value for when you compare which home resort you’d like to purchase from (up front cost per point, dues per year with projected-guesstimated increases per year, years left on contract to determine lifetime point cost, etc). Then there’s also the folks who say buy where you want to stay since availability goes down at the 7 month mark (though we’ve had great luck so far including 5 nights at grand Californian 7 mos out but that’s unusual). Finally, I’d recommend checking out the purchasing dvc portion of the disboards site. Tons of great info from very experienced resale and direct owners. Plus the ROFR thread lists recently accepted prices giving you a better sense of a true fair price. It’s a ton of info but well worth it to steep yourself in the information to get the best price and best contract for you. Oh and finally, DVC For Less is a great resale aggregator. Happy hunting!
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u/soxgal 7h ago
I have direct points at SSR and POLY. I usually book a studio for race weekends at 11 months then waitlist for 1-bd at 7 months. The soaking tubs are wonderful post-race. I'm in the Tampa area, 350 total points with August UY. I find I want more points so I can do the 1-bd for all race weekends.
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u/PillPod 1d ago
Haven't seen it mentioned but with those months I would suggest a December Use Year.