booking decision

[manning]

Own at Beach Club
Use year March
274 points banked Have to use by end Feb 2016
Thinking of last week Feb 2016 and March 1-10 2016
Two bedroom

Choice is Old Key West at 7 month window or Beach Club at 11 month window
We like OKW.

Have never booked at that time. Which would be easier to get?

 

[ziravan]

My concern is that you have no room for error if your plans change. As I understand the system, if you cancel within 30 days, your points will go into holding that will expire at the same time: Feb 28.

Have you thought about renting out a reservation with those points? Either do it yourself or with a service should net north of 3 grand. Then. Use current points to reserve a vacation at your convenience and use the money from renting out the banked points to pay for all the incidentals - tix, travel, food, MFs....

Just another thought. If the goal is use or lose, there are other ways to get value from your points.

 

[disneynutz]

You are also spanning across your UY so you will have to book through MS and have the correct number of points available in each UY.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Own at Beach Club
Use year March
274 points banked Have to use by end Feb 2016
Thinking of last week Feb 2016 and March 1-10 2016
Two bedroom

Choice is Old Key West at 7 month window or Beach Club at 11 month window
We like OKW.

Have never booked at that time. Which would be easier to get?

You don't say what size room but the safest will be to go ahead and book BCV and then if the OKW room you want is open at 7 months then switch to that. And you are aware that the last night you can use the banked points for is Feb 28th and that all of the March nights will have to be booked with either banked 2015 points or 2016 points?

zirvan - I have to disagree with the idea of not using ones points just because it's at the end of the UY. Yes, it could be a problem if they have to cancel very last minute but DVC does offer insurance if the owner felt there was a chance that might happen. Overall my belief is that the timeshare is meant to be used if that's what you want to do. Personally if I wanted a trip I'd do what the OP is talking about. Also, using current points won't be any better if there's a last minute cancellation - they could be lost just as easily as the banked because they would be past their banking window. Traveling at the end of a UY will have the most risk because of the banking window but I'd also guess that lots of people do it since many do not put any thought into the UY before they purchase.

 

[manning]

You don't say what size room but the safest will be to go ahead and book BCV and then if the OKW room you want is open at 7 months then switch to that. And you are aware that the last night you can use the banked points for is Feb 28th and that all of the March nights will have to be booked with either banked 2015 points or 2016 points?

zirvan - I have to disagree with the idea of not using ones points just because it's at the end of the UY. Yes, it could be a problem if they have to cancel very last minute but DVC does offer insurance if the owner felt there was a chance that might happen. Overall my belief is that the timeshare is meant to be used if that's what you want to do. Personally if I wanted a trip I'd do what the OP is talking about. Also, using current points won't be any better if there's a last minute cancellation - they could be lost just as easily as the banked because they would be past their banking window. Traveling at the end of a UY will have the most risk because of the banking window but I'd also guess that lots of people do it since many do not put any thought into the UY before they purchase.

I did say two bedroom. Last requirement.

 

[ziravan]

You don't say what size room but the safest will be to go ahead and book BCV and then if the OKW room you want is open at 7 months then switch to that. And you are aware that the last night you can use the banked points for is Feb 28th and that all of the March nights will have to be booked with either banked 2015 points or 2016 points?

zirvan - I have to disagree with the idea of not using ones points just because it's at the end of the UY. Yes, it could be a problem if they have to cancel very last minute but DVC does offer insurance if the owner felt there was a chance that might happen. Overall my belief is that the timeshare is meant to be used if that's what you want to do. Personally if I wanted a trip I'd do what the OP is talking about. Also, using current points won't be any better if there's a last minute cancellation - they could be lost just as easily as the banked because they would be past their banking window. Traveling at the end of a UY will have the most risk because of the banking window but I'd also guess that lots of people do it since many do not put any thought into the UY before they purchase.

If the OP weren't trying to use or lose banked points, their travel plans could easily be tweaked to accomodate better booking around a UY.

For example. Assuming we are talking about banked 2014 Mar UY points, and assuming that it's not convenient for OP to travel prior to next Feb (or they would book earlier), the OP could rent a reservation with those points, bank 2015 points, and go in March 2016 without bumping into any UY walls.

I take your point about points are meant to be used. I have zero points currently avail across two contracts. Every last point has been allocated (and 16 one time use points to boot).

In the OP's case, they didn't use 2014 points and are considering travel a year from now so that means a two year break from WDW - at least using these points. It sounds like DVC isn't getting as much use currently. That brings up another option, of course. If the OP were interested in selling, a BCV contract loaded with 2014 banked points ought to get near $100/point in the current market...

I was taking into account that the OP's situation tends to suggest that they aren't currently using their points so much. If that's wrong, that's cool, too. I was only offering suggestions.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I did say two bedroom. Last requirement.

Oops - yes you did. OKW 2BR should be doable I think.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

If the OP weren't trying to use or lose banked points, their travel plans could easily be tweaked to accomodate better booking around a UY.

For example. Assuming we are talking about banked 2014 Mar UY points, the OP could rent a reservation with those points, bank 2015 points, and go in March 2016 without bumping into any UY walls.

I take your point about points are meant to be used. I have zero points currently avail across two contracts. Every last point has been allocated (and 16 one time use points to boot).

In the OP's case, they didn't use 2014 points and are considering travel a year from now so that means a two year break from WDW - at least using points. It sounds like DVC isn't getting as much use currently. That brings up another option, of course. If the OP were interested in selling, a BCV contract loaded with 2014 banked points ought to get near $100/point in the current market...

I was taking into account that the OP's situation tends to suggest that they aren't currently using their points so much. If that's wrong, that's cool, too. I was only offering suggestions.

It just sounded like it was completely off to consider using points at the end of a UY. This post further explains why you posted what you did.

 

[CarolMN]

Own at Beach Club
Use year March
274 points banked Have to use by end Feb 2016
Thinking of last week Feb 2016 and March 1-10 2016
Two bedroom

Choice is Old Key West at 7 month window or Beach Club at 11 month window
We like OKW.

Have never booked at that time. Which would be easier to get?

You will have your choice.

President's Day/Vacation Week in 2016 is the third week of February, so no worries there. You will definitely be able to get BCV since you own there and can book before the 7 month window opens, and OKW should be open for a 2 bedroom at 7 months. Good luck!

 

[drusba]

End of February after the Princess half marathon weekend (the weekend following Presidents' Day weekend) through mid-March is one of the lowest DVC demand times of the year and much should be open at 7 months out. About the only things not likely to be open for the entire time you want are AKV club level and value, BLT standard view, VGF studios, and BWV standard or boardwalk view. Even GVs should be open other than the ones at OKW in the Hospitality House booking category and those at BWV.