Booking Window/Use Year - Still Some Confusion

[NejTheLion]

Thought I'd come ask the experts

We've been DVC members for about two years now, but have never really had to deal with booking windows and use years because of the lateness of our planned vacations in the past. Now we've got some questions.

Our use year is February. We'd like to plan a trip to WDW for October 2005. I've heard conflicting info about when the 11-month window would start, whether it's 11 months before the check-in date, say Nov 2004, or whether it's 11 months out once we're in our use year, which would be February/March 2005.

I understand that you sometimes have to wait for point charts to come out for the next year before you can book. But can we book now or do we need to wait until Feb/March of next year?

We've heard confusing things from Member Services, so I thought maybe someone here could explain this more clearly to us. Thanks!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

You can book now for November of 2005. You can book your whole trip 11 months before your check out date. Your use year has nothing to do with when you can make a reservation. You can always make reservations 11 months in advance at your home resort as long as you have points available at the time of the reservation (whether that be through borrowing, banked points or current year points).

Have fun planning.

HBC

 

[pumpkinboy]

First of all, it's 11 months from your check-out date. So keep finger on that dialer and be ready to pounce on those ressies this month.

We also have a February UY, and what you will need to be wary of is the 50% banking deadline at the end of October and the 25% banking deadline at the end of November.

The points charts are out for next year, and are accessible on the member site, and also on the DVC Points Calculator here on DIS -a link for the latter is provided on this page (up at the top).

Good luck!

 

[DebbieB]

Member Services has the points charts available for 2006 now for DVC resorts. For an October 2005 trip, you could book this month for your home resort. Your February 2005 points would be current year points for this reservation (based on date of stay), you could borrow 2006 or use banked 2004 points.

 

[NejTheLion]

Thanks for all the helpful responses. That's what we intially understood about the program, but I think someone somewhere told us something else that was contradictory. We'll get ready to book soon. Thanks again

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

(snip)

Originally posted by Happy Birthday Cat
You can book now for November of 2005.

HBC

The OP wanted to book for next October, so perhaps you meant she can book now for October 2005? I know (having read so many of your knowledgeable and helpful posts) that you know that it's too early to book for 11/05.

Or am I having a real duh moment here and just totally misunderstanding something? If so it sure wouldn't be the first time nor will it be the last!

 

[bjakmom]

Just finished booking BWV for next October today !!! I booked day-by-day just because I wanted to be extra sure to have boardwalk view and it's the beginning of F&W fest. The CMs at MS were all wonderful to work with and no one even questioned my booking this way - the CM on Friday even said "don't forget to call first thing Monday for your final 2 days!" Now I'm all set !!

There's a possibility I may try and switch to BCV at 7 mos., depending on how many little ones end up joining us who would love SAB . . . but every time I book BWV I just can't wait to go 'home' - so that's probably where I'll stay!!!