Add on...I had no idea!! Need advice.

[quentina]

Well, I just added another 50 points to my HH contract. I have an April use year and was able to buy direct from Disney.

My guide tells me that the 50 points will be deposited tomorrow...They are dated for 2004. This means they expire 3-31 and can not be banked etc. I am going down on 3-13, however, since I am in the 30 day window, I cannot change my reservation to accomodate this. UGH!! I cannot belive it...There is no way I can let points go unused.

So, I have 3 options. I can cancel my HRH stay and switch to a moderate using points. We have a 2 bedroom booked and they require about 75 points for the Friday night stay. Coronado spings is 46 I believe. This would save me the $350 bucks I spent on Hard Rock, however, no front of line access and the lines at Univesal always seem so large!

2. My guide says we can donate to the Make a Wish foundation. Anyone ever done this? Is it tax deductible?

3. I try to liquidate them for a few bucks to someone who can take a quick trip.

Any thoughts????

Kim

 

[mikesmom]

Check on availability before you cancel what you have to either try to liquidate or make a ressie. From the looks of both the comments on the Rent/Trade board and the Resort boards, looks like WDW is very booked up from various Spring Break schedules.

 

[RobDoc]

I don't think you'll be allowed to use them for a moderate since DVC points cannot be used for non-DVC options once inside the last 60 days of the Use Year.

You might be able to use them (combined with other points) to bank for an II exchange.

You can certainly donate them to Make a Wish or Give Kids the World, but I believe you will need to donate a reservation since the points themselves can't be used by the charity.

Good luck!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We were able to donate a weekend at OKW that we made with the '04 add on points from our March use year. We had less than 3 weeks between the time the points became available to us and the day they expire.

This is the person that I made the initial contact with at Give the Kids the World.

Kathy Aubruner

kathya@gktw.org

(407) 396-1114 ext. 225

Give Kids The World Village

Bobbi

PS. Since I had very little time, I first tried to "sell" the ressie for a donation to GTKTW, but because the points are not transferable, that proved fruitless. Also, at first I was told that they were only "phantom" points by a member of MS, so I actually only had 2 weeks to get this resolved. According to what a few posters said, this donation is NOT tax-deductible. The ressie will be used this weekend!

 

[DisneyBB]

Isn't there a "once in a lifetime" allowence for this kind of thing. I thought evey member had a once only chance to bank points that have gone past there time. I know it was in place when I joined, haven't used mine yet or has it dissappeared?

 

[Dean]

You can make a reservation and rent it using studio, You can try for the one time double secret banking exemptions. You can stay an extra night or a larger unit though it sounds like you have a 2 BR already. You can donate but cannot deduct it from your taxes.

 

[MermaidsMom]

Try shortening the vacation you already have booked (don't cancel it) and use point for the other nights (the ones you cancel). That way you won't get a cancel penalty and can make the trip cheaper and use your points.

 

[RobDoc]

Try shortening the vacation you already have booked (don't cancel it) and use point for the other nights (the ones you cancel). That way you won't get a cancel penalty and can make the trip cheaper and use your points.

The only way to "shorten" a vacation is by cancelling- which will invoke the Holding Account. In addition, if there is a waitlist for the dates wanted, those already ahead on the list will get an opportunity for the reservation.

 

[twotoohappy]

I added on through Disney 100 Dec. VWL Nov. 5th of this year. As soon as they took my $500.00 deposit, I called MS and they said they'd make an allowance seeing I just purchased the points through them and they banked my 2003 points. So 3 weeks later, I got my 2004 points and my 2003 points! Call MS and give it a shot. (When I added on BCV in July, they banked those points too).
Good luck!

 

[Cinderpals]

I added on through Disney 100 Dec. VWL Nov. 5th of this year. As soon as they took my $500.00 deposit, I called MS and they said they'd make an allowance seeing I just purchased the points through them and they banked my 2003 points. So 3 weeks later, I got my 2004 points and my 2003 points! Call MS and give it a shot. (When I added on BCV in July, they banked those points too).
Good luck!

That seems to be the fair thing to do!

 

[quentina]

Good News....There is an excemption that can be made in these cases. I was allowed to bank the points. I do find it odd that the guide would not be aware of this.

Anyway, thanks for all the help.

Kim

 

[TheBeast]

One way to "save" points is by switching from weekend to weekday nights. We'd made our dvc reservations before we had flights and booked a full week. When the flights ended up being Friday to Tuesday (week and half), we paid for Friday and booked Monday and Tuesday for the same # of points...

 

[Cora]

Kim,
I was wondering what use year you were able to get at HH for the 50 points.
Thanks
Cora

 

[quentina]

April....I believe that they had all available.

Kim