New policy for using or buying a few points??

[DebbieB]

It seems like adding a cash night would be a better alternative in some cases. In the past, I have added a cash weekend night in a 1 bedroom at OKW. Instead of 48 points, I paid around $320, which was under $7 a point.

Might be a good idea if you only needed a couple points to finish a reservation.

Ironic that this comes out after they did point reallocations making members a few points short.

 

[Tara]

Wow, not bad!

 

[magicaldisney]

I don't think it should be considered "purchasing points". It's just like paying someone to transfer some of their points into your account, you're just having DVC transfer some of "their" points into your account. I agree it might not be the best financial decision if you can find someone here to transfer points for you for less money or if a cash reservation would cost less. However it might be less hassle?????

 

[magicaldisney]

The other thing I hope someone here can make sense of.....why is it only allowed at the 7 month window and not at the 11 month window?

 

[bwvBound]

The other thing I hope someone here can make sense of.....why is it only allowed at the 7 month window and not at the 11 month window?

Likely to make things easier all around. Limiting the use to the 7-month window eliminates tracking the "home resort" for each rental point. It also avoids ever having to say, "Sorry DVC Member, we have run out of <your resort> points for now. We have points for other resorts -- but these won't help your reservation until the 7-month window. Please try again later."

 

[kathyell]

This maybe the answer to my upcoming summer vacation problem. I like the idea...but wouldn't it be cheaper to rent points from someone at $10...although this is easier to me no need to wonder if the reservation is still active since it will be your personal ressie!

My husband asked the same thing, but my gut instinct is that most people wanting to rent points will be hoping for someone to take more than a handful of points off of their hands. So if you couldn't find someone willing to transfer or rent a small number of points to you to "top off" a reservation you want to make, this is a possible alternative for you.

I was kind of hoping you could rent points that would then sort of match up with one of your home resorts so you could use the bought points along with your own points for an 11 months out reservation, but it seems pretty clear that they are for use at the 7 months or less timeframe.

 

[DVCconvert]

This is now official.
Go to DVC member site, click on news and what's new - scroll down to :

"New alternative to borrowing points"

 

[lisareniff]

Thanks DVCconvert! You are really paying attention!

One-Time-Use Vacation Points

See the details on how you can purchase a minimal number of additional vacation points to use towards your stay of choice.
As a Disney Vacation Club Member, occasionally you may find yourself in need of just few extra vacation points in order to book that perfect dream vacation. Previously, this required borrowing vacation points from a future use year, but very recently a new alternative was introduced. They're called "one-time-use" vacation points and are available for a fee of $15 ($13.33 plus $1.67 tax) per vacation point. Availability of one-time-use vacation points may be limited or suspended from time to time, and the fee is subject to change.

Details:
•One-time-use vacation points are vacation points available for Disney Vacation Club Members to use as an alternative to borrowing vacation points from the following use year's allotment.
•You can obtain a maximum of 24 one-time-use vacation points once per use year per membership.
•A maximum of 24 one-time-use vacation points are processed in a single transaction, not multiple transactions.
•The fee for one-time-use vacation points is $15 (including tax) per vacation point, and is subject to change.
•One-time-use vacation points expire according to the use year of the reservation booked and are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be banked or borrowed.
•One-time-use vacation points are not available for waitlist reservations.
•One-time-use vacation points cannot be applied retroactively to existing reservations.
•One-time-use vacation points are only available for Members whose contract is closed and in good standing.
•One-time-use vacation points are available only for Disney Vacation Club, Disney Collection, Adventurer Collection and World Passport Collection reservations.
•One-time-use vacation points used for Disney Vacation Club resort reservations can only be used up to 7 months prior to arrival.
•One-time-use vacation points for Disney Collection, Adventurer Collection and World Passport reservations can be used according to the booking guidelines for each individual collection.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Yes I read this elsewhere!!

It will be helpful with the transfer rules which are likely not changing.

May be some more enhancements coming

 

[Melani]

Wow this is so GREAT!
No more worry when renting.
The only bummer is the 7 month thing, We book at 11 months.

One-Time-Use Vacation Points

See the details on how you can purchase a minimal number of additional vacation points to use towards your stay of choice.
As a Disney Vacation Club Member, occasionally you may find yourself in need of just few extra vacation points in order to book that perfect dream vacation. Previously, this required borrowing vacation points from a future use year, but very recently a new alternative was introduced. They're called "one-time-use" vacation points and are available for a fee of $15 ($13.33 plus $1.67 tax) per vacation point. Availability of one-time-use vacation points may be limited or suspended from time to time, and the fee is subject to change.

Details:
•One-time-use vacation points are vacation points available for Disney Vacation Club Members to use as an alternative to borrowing vacation points from the following use year's allotment.
•You can obtain a maximum of 24 one-time-use vacation points once per use year per membership.
•A maximum of 24 one-time-use vacation points are processed in a single transaction, not multiple transactions.
•The fee for one-time-use vacation points is $15 (including tax) per vacation point, and is subject to change.
•One-time-use vacation points expire according to the use year of the reservation booked and are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be banked or borrowed.
•One-time-use vacation points are not available for waitlist reservations.
•One-time-use vacation points cannot be applied retroactively to existing reservations.
•One-time-use vacation points are only available for Members whose contract is closed and in good standing.
•One-time-use vacation points are available only for Disney Vacation Club, Disney Collection, Adventurer Collection and World Passport Collection reservations.
•One-time-use vacation points used for Disney Vacation Club resort reservations can only be used up to 7 months prior to arrival.
•One-time-use vacation points for Disney Collection, Adventurer Collection and World Passport reservations can be used according to the booking guidelines for each individual collection.

 

[wdrl]

The other thing I hope someone here can make sense of.....why is it only allowed at the 7 month window and not at the 11 month window?

Perhaps Disney imposes this restriction to help preserve the home resort priority window. For example, AKV Concierge villas are very hard to get even during the home-resort priority window. Since one night in a Concierge studio costs 24 points or less for each season except Premier season, members using this new program could, at least in theory, buy enough points to book all the Concierge studios before AKV owners get them. With this restriction, home resort owners won't have to compete against non-owners for some of the hard-to-get reservations.

I suppose Disney could modify this rule in the future and say that points bought through this program can be used at the 11-month window ONLY if the buyer already owns at that resort.

 

[littlestar]

I like this. I just wish it was like my Wyndham points where we could rent a few more than 24 if needed. Sure beats having to look for a small transfer when you're a few points short.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Perhaps Disney imposes this restriction to help preserve the home resort priority window. For example, AKV Concierge villas are very hard to get even during the home-resort priority window. Since one night in a Concierge studio costs 24 points or less for each season except Premier season, members using this new program could, at least in theory, buy enough points to book all the Concierge studios before AKV owners get them. With this restriction, home resort owners won't have to compete against non-owners for some of the hard-to-get reservations.

I suppose Disney could modify this rule in the future and say that points bought through this program can be used at the 11-month window ONLY if the buyer already owns at that resort.

I agree. Do we really want more competition at the 11 month window? I would think even if you own a resort, you would not want all these extra points flooding your 11 month booking window.
I remember when SSR first opened they gave away Developer Points that could be used at any resort and availability was tight everywhere. Subsequent offers limited the DP's to SSR bookings only as a result.

Arming members with banking, borrowing and 24 extra points could really gridlock the smaller resorts at 11 months. As a owner that values the 11 month window, I applaud the decision to limit these points to 7 month bookings.

 

[deanna2426]

Do you buy these points when you need them or do you buy in advance for those times you may need them in the future?

For example, if I need 24 pts for booking my next DVC trip, do I just let the CM know that I would like to buy them at that time or is it a separate contract that we purchase now for when we need them?

Thanks for your help!

 

[ajjollie23]

Yes, I just got this info in my email. this is great, I just wish they came out with it a little earlier. I was 7 points shy of a 1 br this year and didn't want to borrow so just sucked it up and got a studio. I totally would have bought those 7 points at that price!!!

 

[LisaS]

I'm sorry to see this limited to the 7-month window. With the point chart changes, I'm a few points short on a couple of my usual stays. But I would need those points at the 11-month window. If I have to wait until the 7-month window, I can just use points I own at other resorts, provided there is still availability to book the last night I need.

 

[princessfionasmom]

I just read that too. At first I thought it was a high price to pay but when you consider the ease of it, I actually like the idea of having the option. It certainly is nice for when you are short a few points or want to add a day without borrowing from the next year because you have already planned out how you will use the next year's points

 

[LIFERBABE]

Yes, I just got this info in my email. this is great, I just wish they came out with it a little earlier. I was 7 points shy of a 1 br this year and didn't want to borrow so just sucked it up and got a studio. I totally would have bought those 7 points at that price!!!

Great point! Studios book the fastest and 1 bedrooms the slowest. Maybe this will encourage owners to upgrade to the larger villas without stripping their points. If you could upgrade to a 1 bedroom for $360 (24x$15) or less would you? Many owners will be in that position.

I think the price is fair and it includes tax, which many at the $10 level do not.

 

[lumpydj]

I'm wondering exactly how this will work with all the restrictions on this. Here's my theoretical situation.

I'm booking at my home resort at 11 months out. I'm about 10 points shy from booking a full week (last day is 35 points and I only have 25 after all other days are booked). Based on this rule "One-time-use vacation points cannot be applied retroactively to existing reservations", will I be able to add on one last day at 7 months where I use my remaining 25 points and pay for 10? Also, I don't see why they couldn't let us pay for the "extra" points needed to complete a day at the 11 month mark. They could limit this by not letting someone buy points to pay for a whole day - only in the case where you need a few to complete a day's worth of points.

Don't get me wrong - I think this is a great program. However, I'm wondering how "user-friendly" it is based on resort availability at 7 months.

 

[deej696]

I am a big fan of this, as I am usually 10-20 points short each year. I dont believe I've ever started a UY without having borrowed points out already. I've considered doing an add on, but I'm not sure why I'd want to pay for points and dues, if I can simply rent a few when I need them. We are local, so we always book within the 7 month window, so no biggie there for me. Overall, I like it