Banking points - when can I use

[LoriLuvsDisney]

I banked 145 points from last year into this year. I just got my 300 for this year, and I want to borrow 300 from 2009. I want to book a 2009 cruise now using points and some cash. They are telling me that I have to use my 145 banked from last year for a vacation this year, and can't use them toward my 2009 cruise (though I'm still paying cash for a portion). This wasn't the way it was explained to me when I purchased - I figured I'd get one BIG vacation by combining 3 years of points - the sales person didn't tell me we couldn't.

I'm I interpreting wrong?

I figured as long as I committed these points to something during this year I'd be good. If I dump them into Interval I have 2 years to use them so this makes no sense.

 

[Kurby]

that sounds like what we were told too.

2008 cruise

2007 points banked
2008 points used
2009 points borrowed.

it's why we didn't get 600 points and took 210 so that any given year we could technically have 630 points for a major trip./

 

[Claire L]

You can only use one year banked, the current year and then borrow from the following year. As you are a Jan UY then it can be easier to work out as the whole year is the same date ie all travel in 2008 would come from the current 08 UY if you didn't bank or borrow. To make a ressie for 09 you can use banked 08 points, the current 09 points (at time of cruise) and then borrow from 10. The main point to consider is 'when' the points will be 'used' not when a booking is actually made. Hope this makes more sense.

Claire

 

[Caskbill]

There is no such thing as a January Use Year. DVC only has 8-use year months: Feb, Mar, Apr, Jun, Aug, Sep, Oct, Dec. There are no Jan, May, Jul, or Nov use years.

No one has received their 2008 UY points yet. The first group to do so will be Feb UY owners. Right now, EVERYONE is still in their 2007 Use Year.

What is your use year month? I think you're confusing use year with calendar year. They are totally separate from each other.


It's your use year month that determines when you can use your points.

 

[browniemtb]

From what it sounds like is that you banked 145 from your 06 UY and just got allocated your 07 UY points? At this point you can borrow from your 08 UY points but the 09 is to far out. I am assuming that you have a Dec UY so to break it down, someone correct me if my thinking is wrong...

DecUY - 2007 received 300 points plus 145 points banked from 06 - 445 points.

From Dec 1 to Nov 31st you have the ability to borrow your 08 UY points giving you 745 to use in you 07 use year.

2009 is still one use year away so it can not be borrowed.

With a Dec UY most of your calendar 2008 year will be your 2007 use year.

Add: You can use 3 years of points but remember that one year that contains banked points is really 2 years of points. Caskbill and Diane are right on but you may be confusing the issue of banking into one year is in reality two years of points, then you can borrow from the next UY which gives you access to 3 years of points.
Brownie

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, you can use 3 years of points, but you MUST do it the MIDDLE year. You bank one year into the next, and in that next use year, you can borrow from the following... That is the ONLY way you can use 3 years of points at once.

I agree with Bill. I think you are confusing use year with calendar year.

 

[magicaldisney]

I'm going to take a stab at what the OP is confused on. Being a newbie who also felt the guide did not do the best job of passing along complete information.

I think the confusion is coming from one word Lori is using....committed. I think she was under the impression that if you COMMIT your points to a vacation within the UY deadline they are being USED in your UY deadline. However, the VACATION needs to be TAKEN with the particular time frame. Hopes this makes sense to you DVC vets.

I could be way off base on this, but that's kinda my take on what she's saying.

 

[Claire L]

Sorry totally forgot this morning, it was early, that there is no January UY!! Knowing the UY and the date of the intended cruise would make it easier to work out which UY points can be used for it.

Claire

 

[WITiggerFan]

that sounds like what we were told too.

2008 cruise

2007 points banked
2008 points used
2009 points borrowed.

it's why we didn't get 600 points and took 210 so that any given year we could technically have 630 points for a major trip./

What you were told is correct and something that the OP could do, but I believe the OP is attempting to book a 2009 cruise, which can not be done with points banked from 2006.

 

[LoriLuvsDisney]

Thanks, I guess I'll just HAVE to take a mini vacation to Disneyland then to use the points I banked from the 2006 year. I really thought that you could COMMIT your bank to a vacation but as I re-read all the rules they say that you have TAKE a vacation during the next use year. Some of my confusion does also stem from the fact that I have a Dec Use Year, and the points I just got are allocated as 2007 even though we are in 2008!

I see that you really need to have planned to travel in the middle year of banking and borrowing. I really don't want to have to use my 2010 points for this vacation. I'm going to Hawaii this summer (not on DVC) so that was my 'big' vacation this year, next year 2009 would be the cruise and then I wanted to do something DVCish with summer 2010.

Oh well, back to the drawing board (or the adding machine) to figure out how many points I'll have and how much I'll have to pay for cash fares.

I guess I could sell my points too, huh?

BTW, thanks to all who responded.

 

[Claire L]

Your UY 07 points are good until Nov 30th 2008

Your UY 08 points are good until Nov 30th 2009

Your UY 09 points are good until Nov 30th 2010

So if travelling for a cruise in 09, prior to Nov 30th can use banked 07 points, current 08 points and borrowed 09 points. But for a DVC stay in 10 you may have to borrow some points from 10 if there are not enough 09 points left.

Claire

 

[dianeschlicht]

I guess I could sell my points too, huh?

But if you sell them they will be gone to your use forever! I would just rethink the vacation plan and bank and borrow within those rules.

 

[magicaldisney]

I really thought that you could COMMIT your bank to a vacation but as I re-read all the rules they say that you have TAKE a vacation during the next use year.

I thought that's where the confusion was and I only knew that because I had the same confusion. I think our guide knew he had an easy sale, because we went in there ready to buy, and he glazed over the finer points. I had done alot of homework so the details that were of most concern to us I already knew, but even so, all the little details are alot to keep straight. I really hope it all works out for you.