Can you borrow points before current points are used?

[thanxfornoticin]

This might sound like an odd question, but I'm curious. If I have a 100-point contract, and I want to make a December reservation for 100 points, can I borrow the 100, and keep my current use-year 100? Then later, I would like to use the current use-year 100 for perhaps a February reservation. The reason I'm wondering about this is the hypothetical 'December' trip in this example is a 99% certain trip. The 'February' trip in this example is a 40% certain trip. If I need to cancel the latter trip, I'd rather have it with points I could bank. Anything wrong with this 'over' thinking?! Thanks.

 

[RoseGold]

The system will automatically use borrowed/banked/holding points first. This gets more complicated when you have multiple contracts.

You can call and make sure the reservation is using the right points. I've done this many times when I've shuffled stuff around, "freeing" banked points.

 

[kes601]

If you have a 100 pt contract you can only borrow 50 as long as the 50% rule remains in place.

That said, if it is is lifted.....

I would never do what you want to do, but in theory this could be done.

Book a "placeholder" reservation with your current UY points (say SSR or OKW at 7 months out). Then book your December reservation using points you borrow from the next UY while making the reservation. Then cancel the placeholder one and those points will be there for the February trip.

Again, I would NEVER do what you are wanting to do. And this only works in your example if the borrowing limitation goes away.

 

[Sandisw]

The only way to use borrowed points before regular points is to book a trip you don’t want with the points. Then book the trip you want using up to 50% from next UY.

Then cancel it. It just w a risk because you are borrowing.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Thanks for the feedback. It was just a lightbulb that popped that I thought could lower the overall risk of the points we wish to use, but it sounds like it might not work out as I wish. I had also forgotten about the 50% borrowing restriction right now, but in reality with our actual contracts and planned reservation, that wouldn't be an issue. So it sounds like current use-year points must be used up before borrowing from 'next' year..... Thanks again.

 

[Brian Noble]

I’m confused, how could I reduce risk to use a future UY instead of the current one?

 

[kes601]

I’m confused, how could I reduce risk to use a future UY instead of the current one?

From the way I read the OP.....

December Trip = 100% happening
February Trip = 40% happening

If they use the future UY for the December trip then they can cancel the Feb trip and bank the current UY into the next UY.

If it was me I would not book a trip with borrowed points that had a better chance of not happening than happening.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I'm probably way over-thinking it. But if I have 2 trips, and the later trip is a 'maybe' trip, I'd prefer to not pull borrowed points for that trip - I'd prefer to have current UY points. That way if we cancel that trip, I could still bank those points to next year. If the earlier trip is a 'definite' trip, I was thinking I could use the borrowed points for that one. Like I said, probably over-thinking, but trying to make sure I don't lose points because I borrowed points and then had to cancel.

 

[RoseGold]

LOL, you guys are overthinking this. I canceled a trip late in my UY that had borrowed points. Because I have several contracts, I had to call to make sure those "freed up" borrowed points were allocated to the trip coming up soon. No big deal.

You can do this without canceling the later trip as well. If you borrowed points into the later trip, just call and make sure the borrowed points are going to the sooner trip first. This should happen automatically, but it's Disney IT. If you have multiple contracts, they might have to do this manually to make sure it pulls the borrowed points first.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

LOL, you guys are overthinking this. I canceled a trip late in my UY that had borrowed points. Because I have several contracts, I had to call to make sure those "freed up" borrowed points were allocated to the trip coming up soon. No big deal.

You can do this without canceling the later trip as well. If you borrowed points into the later trip, just call and make sure the borrowed points are going to the sooner trip first. This should happen automatically, but it's Disney IT. If you have multiple contracts, they might have to do this manually to make sure it pulls the borrowed points first.

Thanks. But on the topic of over-thinking, I'm going to over-think on over-thinking! This scenario works if I can cancel Trip2 before Trip1 takes place. If I've already taken Trip1, it won't. But I do appreciate all the information, experience, and suggestions. I didn't know if Disney might do what you're saying here, but it's very good information to have.

 

[RoseGold]

Thanks. But on the topic of over-thinking, I'm going to over-think on over-thinking! This scenario works if I can cancel Trip2 before Trip1 takes place. If I've already taken Trip1, it won't. But I do appreciate all the information, experience, and suggestions. I didn't know if Disney might do what you're saying here, but it's very good information to have.

That's why you call now and get the borrowed points put on Trip1. Then, if you cancel Trip2, you already used the borrowed points on Trip1, so they don't go to waste. NBD.

Of course Disney will do this, it should be automatic in the system. I would call to make sure, especially if you have multiple contracts.

 

[kes601]

That's why you call now and get the borrowed points put on Trip1. Then, if you cancel Trip2, you already used the borrowed points on Trip1, so they don't go to waste. NBD.

Of course Disney will do this, it should be automatic in the system. I would call to make sure, especially if you have multiple contracts.

You do get that you are saying to do basically the same thing as Sandi and me? Our way doesn't require calling though.

 

[RoseGold]

You do get that you are saying to do basically the same thing as Sandi and me? Our way doesn't require calling though.

If you have multiple contracts, you might have booked Trip1 using Contract1, which didn't borrow the points. Sometimes, the system online lets you reallocate which contract to use first, but that still wouldn't fix the problem if all the points from Contract2 (including the borrowed ones) are still in Trip2. And sometimes the system just locks it, even if no priority was used, because Disney IT. You can reallocate Trip1 to use Contract2 first to make sure you pulled the borrowed points and Trip2 uses Contract1 by calling. When you call, you could also use just the Contract2 borrowed points and the rest of the trip on Contract1 for Trip1.

But I would call even if this looks correct, because Disney IT.

Of course, this is assuming you aren't mixing 7 month/priority bookings. This would work for all prioritized points or all SAP. You can't just swap in your SAP if you booked with priority. But I've had reservations "lock" me that aren't in this category.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks. But on the topic of over-thinking, I'm going to over-think on over-thinking! This scenario works if I can cancel Trip2 before Trip1 takes place. If I've already taken Trip1, it won't. But I do appreciate all the information, experience, and suggestions. I didn't know if Disney might do what you're saying here, but it's very good information to have.

This is the issue and I have never been able to have them reallocate points while both trips are still booked.

It has only been done when my trip was canceled and sitting in your account.

Again, if trip 1 is a definite and trip 2 is not, follow the advice to book a fake trip with current points, book trip 1 with borrowing, cancel fake trip, and booked trip 2 with current points.

Just need to make sure the fake trip is at least 31 days out.

 

[Sandisw]

If you have multiple contracts, you might have booked Trip1 using Contract1, which didn't borrow the points. Sometimes, the system online lets you reallocate which contract to use first, but that still wouldn't fix the problem if all the points from Contract2 (including the borrowed ones) are still in Trip2. And sometimes the system just locks it, even if no priority was used, because Disney IT. You can reallocate Trip1 to use Contract2 first to make sure you pulled the borrowed points and Trip2 uses Contract1 by calling. When you call, you could also use just the Contract2 borrowed points and the rest of the trip on Contract1 for Trip1.

But I would call even if this looks correct, because Disney IT.

Of course, this is assuming you aren't mixing 7 month/priority bookings. This would work for all prioritized points or all SAP. You can't just swap in your SAP if you booked with priority. But I've had reservations "lock" me that aren't in this category.

As long as both contracts are booked, any borrowed points in account get taken first when modifying a reservation.

You can’t borrow points for a trip and then call and have them switched around and keep the trips… well, I never have been able to do it.

It requires the trip to be canceled because the points hold the room and they can’t hold a room without points if they are in something else.