BLT use year question

[dr&momto2boys]

I've really got to get my DH to get on these boards himself! He handles the DVC stuff, but I ask his questions!

How is use year determined for BLT rigt now, since it's not open?

He's trying to figure out if we could possibly buy 260 points and bank 2009 pts, use 2010 pts, and borrow 2011 pts to stay at a GV in May 2010.

 

[drusba]

For new buyers, they are currently selling Feb (and now possibly March) use year. First allotment of points will come in 2009. Thus, if you buy a Feb or March use year, you will be able to do what you suggest, bank 09 points, borrow 2011, and take May 2010 trip using three years worth of points. However, understand that GVs anywhere go quickly during the 11 month window and that will likely hold true for BLT and thus to have chance of getting it you will need to call exactly 11 months out from date of intended arrival at 9 a.m. Eastern when Member Service's open. Morreover, because of the scarcity of GVs, no one should buy expecting to always be able to get one.

Note, if you are already an owner and buy BLT, you will get same use year you already have, and if that use year is not Feb, Mar, or April, you will not be able to do what you suggest because first allotment of points will be 2009 points in your existing use year and with June or after use year, you will still be in 2009 use year for a trip in May 2010, i.e., you will only be able to access 2009 points and ones borrowed from 2010. Nevertheless, that can be avoided if buying 260 points and you request a new buyer use year and thus go to having 2 use years; they allow that if buying the same or more than the minimum points required of a new buyer

 

[theostwalts]

For new buyers, they are currently selling Feb (and now possibly March) use year. First allotment of points will come in 2009. Thus, if you buy a Feb or March use year, you will be able to do what you suggest, bank 09 points, borrow 2011, and take May 2010 trip using three years worth of points. However, understand that GVs anywhere go quickly during the 11 month window and that will likely hold true for BLT and thus to have chance of getting it you will need to call exactly 11 months out from date of intended arrival at 9 a.m. Eastern when Member Service's open. Morreover, because of the scarcity of GVs, no one should buy expecting to always be able to get one.

Note, if you are already an owner and buy BLT, you will get same use year you already have, and if that use year is not Feb, Mar, or April, you will not be able to do what you suggest because first allotment of points will be 2009 points in your existing use year and with June or after use year, you will still be in 2009 use year for a trip in May 2010, i.e., you will only be able to access 2009 points and ones borrowed from 2010. Nevertheless, that can be avoided if buying 260 points and you request a new buyer use year and thus go to having 2 use years; they allow that if buying the same or more than the minimum points required of a new buyer

What if you want an October or November UY? Do you call your guide and let them know?

 

[dr&momto2boys]

However, understand that GVs anywhere go quickly during the 11 month window and that will likely hold true for BLT and thus to have chance of getting it you will need to call exactly 11 months out from date of intended arrival at 9 a.m. Eastern when Member Service's open. Morreover, because of the scarcity of GVs, no one should buy expecting to always be able to get one.

I know. We are very concerned with the use year because I'm sure there is no ther way to get a GV than call at the 11month window first thing in the morning. Is it true now that if you call at the 11 month window you can book the whole week instead of calling day by day? That makes me a little nervous actually.

If February and maybe March is what they're selling now, do you know when that may change? We're trying to hold out to buy with the hopes of a travel show or Doorway to Dreams event for different incentives.

Knowing he could scrape together the points for our 2010 trip will make DHs day! Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

I know. We are very concerned with the use year because I'm sure there is no ther way to get a GV than call at the 11month window first thing in the morning. Is it true now that if you call at the 11 month window you can book the whole week instead of calling day by day? That makes me a little nervous actually.

If February and maybe March is what they're selling now, do you know when that may change? We're trying to hold out to buy with the hopes of a travel show or Doorway to Dreams event for different incentives.

Knowing he could scrape together the points for our 2010 trip will make DHs day! Thanks!

Use year has nothing to do with when you can call for a reservation. Points use is based on the date of stay and you can call 11 months from the check-in day and reserve up to 7 nights. If you want more nights, you have to keep calling the next days.

You can usually request a different use year if it's available.

 

[drusba]

I know. We are very concerned with the use year because I'm sure there is no ther way to get a GV than call at the 11month window first thing in the morning. Is it true now that if you call at the 11 month window you can book the whole week instead of calling day by day? That makes me a little nervous actually.

If February and maybe March is what they're selling now, do you know when that may change? We're trying to hold out to buy with the hopes of a travel show or Doorway to Dreams event for different incentives.

Knowing he could scrape together the points for our 2010 trip will make DHs day! Thanks!

As noted when you can call to reserve (always 11 months in advance at home resort) has nothing to do with use year. And yes, rule now is that you can call 11 months in advance of day of arrival and get 7 nights (except at BLT right now, since it is not finished, no one will be able to call to reserve until March 09 for Sep 09 or after trips). As to use years they are selling to new buyers, they will probably be selling earlier months for a while but usually just change forward from month to month as sales progress. What month they are actually selling does not mean you have to buy that month, for example if you wanted to buy a later month than Feb or March right now, they would likely sell it to you.

As to theoswalts question, if you really wanted October as new buyer right now you can just request it but of course you would not get first allotment of points until Oct 09. There is no November use year.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Use year has nothing to do with when you can call for a reservation.

Yes, BUT, if I want to use three years of points for one reservation it DOES matter. I'll need to be sure I can do this by he 11 month window for the trip we want in May 2010.

I am nervous now, that the GV's could be taken even if we call 1st thing at 11 month window due to others possibly booking it as part of their stay that starts before ours. Oh well. I'll save the worrying for later!

Thanks for the help, everyone!

 

[DebbieB]

Yes, BUT, if I want to use three years of points for one reservation it DOES matter. I'll need to be sure I can do this by he 11 month window for the trip we want in May 2010.

I am nervous now, that the GV's could be taken even if we call 1st thing at 11 month window due to others possibly booking it as part of their stay that starts before ours. Oh well. I'll save the worrying for later!

Thanks for the help, everyone!

If you want to have 3 years worth for May 2010, you would have to have a February, March or April use year (there is no May). That way you could bank 2009, use 2010 and borrow 2011. If you have a June use year or later, you would not have any banked points for May 2010, you would only have current and borrowed available.

Keep in mind though you are buying for over 50 years, not just for this one vacation.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

If you want to have 3 years worth for May 2010, you would have to have a February, March or April use year (there is no May). That way you could bank 2009, use 2010 and borrow 2011. If you have a June use year or later, you would not have any banked points for May 2010, you would only have current and borrowed available.

Keep in mind though you are buying for over 50 years, not just for this one vacation.

Thanks for confirming. May is our preferred time of year. We're buying BLT specifically to take a vacation with our extended family once every 3 years. So this will be exactly right. We'll use stray points from BLT and our 150 BWV points for another trip or two between times.

 

[Anal Annie]

Note, if you are already an owner and buy BLT, you will get same use year you already have, and if that use year is not Feb, Mar, or April, you will not be able to do what you suggest because first allotment of points will be 2009 points in your existing use year and with June or after use year, you will still be in 2009 use year for a trip in May 2010, i.e., you will only be able to access 2009 points and ones borrowed from 2010. Nevertheless, that can be avoided if buying 260 points and you request a new buyer use year and thus go to having 2 use years; they allow that if buying the same or more than the minimum points required of a new buyer

Does this mean if we have a Dec UY and we did somehow manage to do a small add-on at BLT that we wouldn't have points available until Dec '09?! Would we be able to borrow them? Like just say for example, if we wanted to go over the holidays next Dec. - could we use them in January to do that? And if we bought only enough points to use BLT every other year, could we borrow from 2 years to make this ressie?

 

[DebbieB]

Does this mean if we have a Dec UY and we did somehow manage to do a small add-on at BLT that we wouldn't have points available until Dec '09?! Would we be able to borrow them? Like just say for example, if we wanted to go over the holidays next Dec. - could we use them in January to do that? And if we bought only enough points to use BLT every other year, could we borrow from 2 years to make this ressie?

The first use year with points at BLT is February 2009. So your first points would be December 2009. If you want to stay in December 2009, 2009 would be current year points and you could borrow 2010. You would not be borrowing 2009 to make the reservation, 2009 would be current points for December. For a stay before 12/1 you would borrow 2009. They are not taking reservations for BLT until February or March (can't remember).