Can a point savvy fellow member check my math?

[Jennasis]

The title says it all...We've got two trips planned for next year. One in May, hoping to hit that magic (albeit crowded)time where the last weekend of F&G coincides with the first weekend of SWW, the second trip to be in September the week after Labor Day. We own at BLT and currently have 114 points with our next 100 coming August 1, 2016.

While we are hoping to stay in a studio near Epcot/DHS for the May trip, we'll be happy staying wherever we can get a spot right at 7 months. Our 7 month window opens on 10/12...

For the September trip, we would like to try a studio at PVB, but plan to book a room at our home BLT so we have something secured and then trying to move the reservation over at 7 months. Are the PVB studios hard to get at 7 months? Our 11 month window opens on 10/10.


SO.....it seems like we'd have to book our September trip first at 11 months, using 86 points for BLT. That brings our total left in our account to a paltry 28. Two days later when our 7 month window opens for our May trip, we'd have to borrow points from 2016 to book correct (or would I need to borrow those points FIRST, well before I sit down at the computer to book so I'm ready to go as soon as the lines open)? And then when, we need to move the Septmber reservation over to Poly at 7 months I'd need to have borrowed more 2016 points to maske up the difference in points between BLT and PVB.

Did any of that make sense? My head might explode.

 

[nkosiek]

May's trip falls with the 114, while September's trip falls with next August's 100. You have options in how to handle it. You can book BLT with the 100 and you're good to go with 14 points left over. Then come October, you can use however many of the 114 points that are current to book an EPCOT room (You've not stated how many points you expect to use) for May's trip. If you think you'll have any points left from the 114, you could then book forward and when your 7 months comes for your Poly switch, hopefully that'll cover. Hope that makes sense.

You'll also have 2017 points available to borrow for the Poly trip.

 

[Jennasis]

I think the may trip should be up to 57 points at most (looking at several different resorts).

But I'm confused (which happens easily). I'm assuming i have to book the Sept BLT stay on 10/10 (11 months out) and the May stay (BCV/BWV etc) on 10/12 (7 months out). When I book the Sept trip, aren't I using the points out of my 114 current allotment? Then I apply the leftover 28 (114-86 for BLT= 28) towards the May trip, which I have to book 2 days later on 10/12, borrowing an additional 28ish from 2016 to cover it (28 leftover points + 28/29 borrowed= BCV/BWV studio)?? When it comes time to switch the BLT res in Sept over to Poly (switch in February at 7 months out), I'll need to borrow or use an additional 13 points from 2016 to make up the difference (86 for BLT but 99 for PVB)?

 

[nkosiek]

I think the may trip should be up to 57 points at most (looking at several different resorts).

But I'm confused (which happens easily). I'm assuming i have to book the Sept BLT stay on 10/10 (11 months out) and the May stay (BCV/BWV etc) on 10/12 (7 months out). When I book the Sept trip, aren't I using the points out of my 114 current allotment? Then I apply the leftover 28 (114-86 for BLT= 28) towards the May trip, which I have to book 2 days later on 10/12, borrowing an additional 28ish from 2016 to cover it (28 leftover points + 28/29 borrowed= BCV/BWV studio)?? When it comes time to switch the BLT res in Sept over to Poly (switch in February at 7 months out), I'll need to borrow or use an additional 13 points from 2016 to make up the difference (86 for BLT but 99 for PVB)?

Your September trip falls during your 2016 Use Year, while your May trip falls during your 2015 use year. If you have are certain you'll get the May reservation for 57 points, you could bank the remaining 57 to 2016's use year right now. When 10/10 rolls around, you can book BLT which will use those banked points first followed by the rest from the 100 that come on 8/1/16. Then in November you've got 57 to play with. If you need a few more, you can borrow from 2016 (since you'll have only used about 29).

 

[supersnoop]

When I book the Sept trip, aren't I using the points out of my 114 current allotment?

Nope. Points are used base in the use year of the trip, not when you make the reservation.

 

[maburke]

Remember, the points come from the year of your stay; it doesn't matter when you book it.

 

[Jennasis]

Well heck, that makes things more complicated (mostly because any kind of math gives me immediate and severe anxiety). I'm almost tempted to just wait until February and book PVB directly at 99 points, hoping it isn't sold out, just to avoid this bank/borrow UY dance, and book the May trip in October.

If I did this, after I book the May trip, could I then just bank the remaining points into my 2016 UY?

This seems simplest.

 

[Disneycouple99]

Book September trip on 10/10 at BLT. This will use 86 of the 100 points for August 2016 UY.
Book May trip on 10/12 at BCV/BWV. This will use 57 out of 114 points for August 2015 UY.
Then bank the extra 57 points from August 2015 into August 2016.
Have MS readjust your now 57 banked points to be used first for your September trip, giving you 71 points left in 2016 UY.
Move September trip to PBV at 7 months and use 99 points leaving you 58 points in 2016 UY.
I hope this helps you.

 

[Jennasis]

Book September trip on 10/10 at BLT. This will use 86 of the 100 points for August 2016 UY.
Book May trip on 10/12 at BCV/BWV. This will use 57 out of 114 points for August 2015 UY.
Then bank the extra 57 points from August 2015 into August 2016.
Have MS readjust your now 57 banked points to be used first for your September trip, giving you 71 points left in 2016 UY.
Move September trip to PBV at 7 months and use 99 points leaving you 58 points in 2016 UY.
I hope this helps you.

Yes, this did help!

When booking online, are you given the option of which points to use? Or do i need to call MS to make the reservation?

 

[maburke]

Yes, this did help!

When booking online, are you given the option of which points to use? Or do i need to call MS to make the reservation?

You can choose which points to use when you're booking online (they have a little demo video that's very helpful), but you can't reallocate points in an existing reservation online. So the "Have MS readjust" step needs to be done by phone.

 

[Jennasis]

You can choose which points to use when you're booking online (they have a little demo video that's very helpful), but you can't reallocate points in an existing reservation online. So the "Have MS readjust" step needs to be done by phone.

Thank you!

May I also to confess that part of what kept confusing me was the 57 banked points...apparently I did not realize that the 57 points for the May trip is exactly HALF of our 114 current points LOL...so when people kept talking about banking 57 points I was all like BUT I NEED TO USE 57 for MAY NOT SEPTEMBER lol!

i told you, math gives me serious issues.

 

[skier_pete]

Not related to your question - I think Disneycouple99 got it right - but FYI - strong rumors going round there might not be any SWW this year. (Because of construction at DHS / Seasons of the Force events) Nothing official from Disney yet, but just thought you should know.

 

[Jennasis]

Not related to your question - I think Disneycouple99 got it right - but FYI - strong rumors going round there might not be any SWW this year. (Because of construction at DHS / Seasons of the Force events) Nothing official from Disney yet, but just thought you should know.

Our contingency for that is to concentrate on F&G...though i think they'd be crazy to cancel SWW with the movie coming out in December.