I do not like this Points System

[Y-ASK]

Hi to all,

I am looking for some feed back in making my purchasing decision. I can deal with just about all the limitation on this contract except the points system and I need some help getting over this. A quote from the paperwork:

"Bank all or part of your Vacation Points for use in the next Use Year by calling Member Services in the first 6 months of your Use Year"

"Bank a limited number of your Vacation Points for use in the next Use Year by calling Member Services in the 7th or 10th month of your Use Year."

I don't get it? Why all the phone calls and time limits? Why not just have the points automatically roll over at the beginning of your Use Year? Why should I have to jump through hoops just to get something that I paid for held over to the next year? Has anyone ever lost any points because they forgot to call 6 months in thier Use Year and then decided not to take a vacation that year? And does anyone know how many of the "limited number" of point I can bank in the 7th and 11th month of my Use Year are.

Please don't take this the wrong way, I am not complaining but I just need get past this one limitation that doesn't make any sense to me, unless of course if it's just that Disney wants me to lose points (ie Dollars) and that is why all the conditions.

Thoughts?

[DVCDAVE]

First, Welcome to the DIS DVC Forum. I see this is your first post, and I welcome you to hang around and get your questions answered.

I understand your dislike of the point system. However, that is the single best thing about the system that I like about it. It does NOT lock me in to a particular week of the year in which to go. Hence the system adapts to changeing lifestyle and family needs as they change over time.

The system also allows for flexibility to spend those points at other resorts without having to go through the 'hoops' of trying to swap with someone else trying to come in to your home resort.

As far as Disney hoping for your points to expire.... I guess the answer is a quailified yes. As unused rooms to turn over to Disney's cash reservation system at some point if the room is unreserved. But, in order to control that, and any potential conflict, they have implimented these 'hoops' and rules for members to live by.

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[buckylarue]

The number of points equates to the number of DVC units available for occupancy in a given year. If your points rolled over automatically, you could have a situation where there were way more people with points trying to book than there were units available to fill. So, Disney has set the maximum number of points available to 3 year's worth (using banking and borrowing) to keep problems to a minimum.

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[JohnG]

The points system is a strange way to go about this whole DVC thing, isn't it?

My opinion is that the points system delayed my buying-in for several years...........I just didn't feel it was my responsibility to understand why Disney had to be so uppity and different in the way they chose to deal with a Time Share concept.

After I finally started to understand the brilliance of Disney's approach, my opinion shifted to be in line with the majority of the DVC owners....the flexibility of this program is unmatched by any other anywhere!

It's not necessarily easy to grasp all the nuances early on in your ownership, but Member Services (in my experience, anyway) will bend over backwards to help you comprehend it, to spend your points wisely, to keep you abreast and aware of your status vis-a-vis banking and borrowing and just generally work in your best interest. I don't think they're proud if a member loses use of points through mishandling or misunderstanding or that they set a quota to see how may points they can recover from ill-informed members.

I would also wager that once you are totally immersed in DVC, you'll be like the 98% that are NEVER in danger of losing points because we didn't spend them already! (:o)

Good Luck!

JohnG
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[CarolMN]

I don't think that Disney is "hoping that your points expire". My understanding is that if there are cash reservations made from the DVC (points) inventory, the proceeds go to DVC and help to minimize annual dues or go to covering the cost of trades. (Members can use their points to stay at other WDW resorts and also at selected locations outside of WDW). If this is incorrect, someone please post the correct info.

Y-ASK, think of the points system as giving you MORE flexibility than the traditional timeshare system. If you purchase a specific week and do not use it or trade it, do you not lose that year's time? If you cannot use a year's worth of points, DVC gives you an additonal year to use them - either for additonal days, a more spacious unit or perhaps a better view. Of course, there are some limitations to using this benefit (the banking and borrowing rules).

DVC is not for everyone. But it can be a very good deal - especially for those who go to Disney at least every other year, can plan 11 months ahead and like to stay in deluxe accomodations. Whatever you decide, glad to have your point of view on the boards. :)

[pharmlivin]

Maybe I need bigger accomodations some vacations and smaller for others, maybe I'd like to vacation during holiday times or maybe during off peak times, maybe every other year, maybe two or three times a year. The points, as opposed to other timeshare arrangements, give me such flexibility. As far as phoning in to bank or borrow points...Yes, I agree, it is just another thing to do that adds to the detail chores that clutter my life but I think that Disney probably uses the banking and borrowing activity statistics to predict occupancy for a given period of time. Maybe that helps me as a guest and maybe not. Good luck in your decision.

[ohiominnie]

Y-ASK

And does anyone know how many of the "limited number" of point I can bank in the 7th and 11th month of my Use Year are.

You can bank 100% in the first 6 months
You can bank 50% of your points in months 7,8,9
You can bank 25% of your points in month 10
You can not bank any points in months 11 and 12

My use year is December. So I can bank 100% until the end of May, 50% in june, july, august and 25% in sept. I can not bank in oct or nov.

As long as you plan well in advance, this should not present any problems at all. From DVC management perspective, it forces members to plan ahead, that way DVC will have a chance to book unused rooms for cash and get some money back into the system to keep dues down. Otherwise the rooms would go empty.

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[Y-ASK]

Well, I thank you all for the great feed back that I have gotton so far. You all have given me a great deal to think about.

Special thanks to Ohiominnie; our Rep. said that if we purchase our Use Year will also be in December so your information is right on and very helpful.

Still one question to be answered: Has anyone lost points or was about to lose points and called Disney and how did Disney handle that call?

[Lesley]

The banking rules are there to make the points system a winning proposition for both the members and Disney. Since we don't have set vacation weeks (Thank heavens! There is absolutely no way I'd buy into that kind of timeshare....way too restrictive for me!) we do need to plan ahead, and Disney needs to know what's left after members make their plans, not only so they can profit from any unused inventory, but also so they can decide if points need to be shifted in order to even out use over the year.

Lesley
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2002 Boardwalk Villas

[mickey7861]

The banking stipulations aren't really that unusual. I've owned other time shares that you had to bank, use, or lose your week by specific dates. I actually find the point system to be much more flexible which is why we really love it.

[POLLY ANN]

I lost 24 points a year and a half ago, but not because I didn't plan ahead.

I had booked a 2BR and a studio, some of which was borrowed points from the next year. What ended up happening is that some of our relatives weren't able to come, and so I dropped the studio. Little did I know that those were borrowed points from the next year, and once you borrow you can't put them back. So, I lost them. (I assumed that MS would take care of it. Stupid me!) But, the thing that irks me is that when I called to cancel the studio, MS never explained to me that I would lose the points, they just canceled it. I wish they would have at least told me, maybe I would have tried to get someone else to take the studio.

The most important thing I learned out of this was to ask, ask, ask and not to take anything for granted. Know exactly where every point is and don't expect MS to tell you.

Other than that episode, we have always had good luck and vacations in WDW. We haven't regretted a moment of our purchase.

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[dianeschlicht]

I think everyone has explained everything well. One point I think needs to be emphasized is that you have to do the calling because DVC does not assume to know what your plans are. If you were planning to use points from 3 years to make a reservation, you would need to follow the banking and borrowing rules to accomplish that. By the same token, if you were planning a spur of the moment trip after your 100% banking period, they wouldn't know your plans for that either. There would really be no way to do it other than to call yourself. I usually plan far enough ahead that I can do the banking transaction at the same time I make reservations.

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[Peggy Sue]

We have toured many traditional time shares over the years and always walked away. Didn't like all the restrictions about purchasing a week of time, looking at red, blue, yellow (I think those were the colors?) time. It just never appealed to us and seemed a bit restrictive and difficult to trade.

We then found DVC. It is a great program that offers terific flexibility. We love the fact that we can exchange our points to travel ANY time of the year we want to and select the size villa that suits our needs for that trip. We can plan multiple trips in one year..or bank and take a grand trip the following year. The options available to you are limited only to your imagination and available points!

I also like dealing with MS for all my transactions, including car rental, air or exchanges outside of DVC properties. We've been members since 1997 and every experience has been great.

Welcome to the boards, and good luck with your decision!

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[janiejo]

I just have to add that we own DVC and another timeshare based on a points system BUT in order to bank points into the next year with the OTHER timeshare, I must bank them 13 months prior to the start of my use year. I am a planner, but this is ridiculous! I would have had to bank my 2002 points by November, 2000. That is one thing you will appreciate about Disney - they give you up to 9 months into your use year to decide how to use the points, allowing for 100%, 50%, and 25% banking of the points. I will NEVER lose any of my Disney points because I will know my plans within the last banking expiration but I have lost points with the other timeshare. By far, Disney is the BETTER of the two when it comes to making reservations, canceling, modifying, etc. We enjoy the other timeshare, too, but it is a real PAIN to work within its guidelines! Disney, in my opinion, is the BEST!

[mrsdon]

Nope. never lost a point.
For years we were always borrowing points. :)

[Mary Ellen]

You may have some flexibility in choosing your use year rather than just taking what is offered. Our guide first told us we would have July (August?) use year. We normally go to WDW in December or November. If for some reason one year we should have to change out plans, we would have had to bank by the end of December (January) in order to bank all of our points.

Before closing, our guide was able to change our use year to October, now we have until the end of March to bank 100% of our points. For us, we really like having our use year just before our vacations.

We really like the flexibility the point system offers. Just make sure that you understand how it works and that it is something that you and your family can live with. I am a 'planner', if you are more of a 'spur of the moment' type, it can also work for you - if you are flexible.

Good luck with your decision.

[KimOhio]

Y-ask our family problem is remembering how many points we have borrowed from the future use year LOL. Your going to love being able to have so many chooses of when to go, and what size rooms you need. welcome to the dvc family :D

[KNWVIKING]

You will get so addicted to this points system-and this board- that the last thing you'll need to worry about is losing un-banked points. It sounds more difficult then it actually is.You'll spend more time trying to squeeze max usage out of the points you have and will be plotting ways to purchase more.Bottom line- IT'S A BLAST !!

[mooses41]

I think theres a one time banking option that you can use to bank 100% of your points after 100% time passed. :cool:

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[POLLY ANN]

If you decide to join, one of the members here emailed alot of us a spreadsheet that he developed to keep track of points. It has made my life MUCH easier!

If you would like a copy I would be happy to email you one. :)

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[PamOKW]

I love the flexibility of the point system and I think you will too once you get the grasp of it (it is tricky to get your mind around the whole thing).

But, your points are your "money" and you need to think of them as real cash. It is your responsibility to keep track of how you want to spend them and to be aware of banking deadlines. These deadlines are the safety check that help keep this whole system in balance. There is also fine print that says banking and borrowing can be suspended or ended at any time. Hasn't happened yet but it's something to keep in the back of your mind.

I have never seen anywhere about this one time grace but if you have some sort of emergency situation DVC will work with you. There is no written statement but they are a reasonable company. Just forgetting or not planning correctly they can't help you. The only time a problem comes up is when you have to cancel a trip toward the end of your Use Year. This did happen to me and points were lost. I don't expect that to happen again!

[baileybrad]

read the other responses to your "I do not like this Points System" post yet but for us the "point system" is the mechanism that presented us with the flexibility to make joining a structured vacation system such as the DVC attractive. A yearly designated week at a time system is something that we want no part of. If you can't plan your trips in advance then maybe the DVC is not for you along with the accompanying point system. But folks that we discuss the DVC with find the weighted points system to be the best part of the plan. Being able to choose the different size of accomodations which the point system allows is the other reason that the club is so great to be a member in.

[mickeyc]

The point system is excellent and provides enough flexiblity. When managing a system of this magnitude you need some rules. Moreover, we have looked at other timeshares and this type of flexibilty does not exist.

The system does require some planning and this is an individual responsiblity. I have found MS to be very responsive to changing plans. Frankly, I don't see a downside. Good luck and enjoy! ;)

[slindamood]

We lost 7 points our first year because I did not bank points on time. I had not taken the time to learn the system. Then I read everything and found it very simple and extremely flexible.

It's now like a game and a compulsion - - planning all the different ways of using points. So much better than traditional time shares.

Like any game, once you know the rules it is fun. And I feel like a winner each time I come up with a great new plan.

[Dean]

I wish all of my resorts were on a point system like DVC. Other than the high cost and exchange limitations, I think it's the best thing going. Granted it's not the only point system that seems to work well.

Dean

[Denine]

We love the points system! We toured another timeshare and just couldn't see staying in the same place the same week year after year. We like to travel at different times of the year. We have never lost any points and we rarely bank points any more. Mostly we borrow.
We do have several vacations planned out on paper to make the best use of our points.