Confused about banking points and 2022 trip.

[MomOTwins]

Okay, new DVC member here, and I feel like I understand most things, but I really don't understand this.

I bought into DVC last week and booked my very first trip for this summer, using 2020 points. I checked on the phone and they did not have any "special" welcome home availability for my home resort this summer (not surprising with three months to go), but suggested I book elsewhere and waitlist for my home resort, which is what I did. All I could get was a pricey one-bedroom though, so if the waitlist comes through (studio), it would be between 50 and 80 points fewer points than the reservation I have booked currently. As I understand it, if my waitlist comes through, they'll credit the 50 point difference to my 2020 use year, and I should be able to bank those points for use in my 2021 use year provided of course, the waitlist comes through before banking deadline (if it doesn't, I'll cancel the waitlist and keep my current one-bedroom since the points would go to waste).

So far so good, understand that much (I think, correct me if any of that was wrong). But I also want to book a trip for spring break next year (2021 use year). If I book that now, I'd have to use 2021 points since all my 2020 points are tied up on my current reservation. But if my waitlist comes through and I bank those 50-80 points, I'd rather use up those for my spring break trip next year. So my question is, do I need to wait to book spring trip until I find out if I can bank the 2020 points, or can I book it now with 2021 points and then apply the 2020 points after I bank them?

 

[JETSDAD]

You can go ahead and book with the 2021 points. If you end up banking then the points could be reallocated (doesn't happen automatically but you can do it online by modifying and keeping the same dates or call in).

 

[Sandisw]

Be sure the waitlist is set up to cancel at 31 days. Any changes to your summer trip that uses less points will result in those points going into holding.

Points in holding can no longer be banked, expire at the end of the UY and can only be used to book a trip 60 days or less from check in.

So, check your waitlist and be sure it is not set to 7 days before. You only want to waitlist like that when what you want is more than what you have.

 

[MomOTwins]

You can go ahead and book with the 2021 points. If you end up banking then the points could be reallocated (doesn't happen automatically but you can do it online by modifying and keeping the same dates or call in).

Ah thank you. I really appreciate the explanation of how to modify online by using same dates. I really want to avoid calling in after a very loooooooong series of attempts to call member services to figure out the whole welcome home booking thing. Hope they get some more phone support for DVC soon!

Be sure the waitlist is set up to cancel at 31 days. Any changes to your summer trip that uses less points will result in those points going into holding.

Points in holding can no longer be banked, expire at the end of the UY and can only be used to book a trip 60 days or less from check in.

So, check your waitlist and be sure it is not set to 7 days before. You only want to waitlist like that when what you want is more than what you have.

I did do 31 days, but in truth, I'll end up deleting the waitlist before the end of May if we don't get it because May 31 is our banking deadline and I don't want to wind up with unbanked 2020 points I can't use before the UY ends on Sept 30.

I was thinking, if the waitlist does not come through (highly likely), I may switch over to a waitlist for a 1-bedroom at our home resort, which about 15 more points than our annual allocation, so I'd borrow a the remaining points from 2021. For that, I think I'd probably go with the 7 days waitlist option unless I'm missing something since we'd really need to use our 2020 use points in August or bust, and I think once I borrow, those extra points from 2021 can't go back to 2021.

To tell the truth, I know I am probably setting myself up for a mess and would be safer to just bank all the points and do our next trip in 2022, but I just can't resist the urge to squeeze in a welcome home trip this year! Would be easier if I could book a trip in October/November and bank our points, but with the 50th, everything is so full.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Ah thank you. I really appreciate the explanation of how to modify online by using same dates. I really want to avoid calling in after a very loooooooong series of attempts to call member services to figure out the whole welcome home booking thing. Hope they get some more phone support for DVC soon!


I did do 31 days, but in truth, I'll end up deleting the waitlist before the end of May if we don't get it because May 31 is our banking deadline and I don't want to wind up with unbanked 2020 points I can't use before the UY ends on Sept 30.

I was thinking, if the waitlist does not come through (highly likely), I may switch over to a waitlist for a 1-bedroom at our home resort, which about 15 more points than our annual allocation, so I'd borrow a the remaining points from 2021. For that, I think I'd probably go with the 7 days waitlist option unless I'm missing something since we'd really need to use our 2020 use points in August or bust, and I think once I borrow, those extra points from 2021 can't go back to 2021.

To tell the truth, I know I am probably setting myself up for a mess and would be safer to just bank all the points and do our next trip in 2022, but I just can't resist the urge to squeeze in a welcome home trip this year! Would be easier if I could book a trip in October/November and bank our points, but with the 50th, everything is so full.

Is the trip to welcome you home to your home resort or a trip to welcome you home to DVC? Just asking because probabilities can be better certain places and if this trip is just to welcome you to DVC then it can be a chance to try a different resort. If you'd really prefer a studio then you could set up a second waitlist somewhere. I'm not certain where you bought but if you were to get a studio somewhere instead of the 1BR then you could continue your waitlist at your home resort right up until 7 nights ahead and potentially just have to borrow a few pts. As long as after May 31st the waitlist is for more than what you have booked you wouldn't have points stuck expiring and it gives you longer to try and get your preference.

 

[MomOTwins]

Is the trip to welcome you home to your home resort or a trip to welcome you home to DVC? Just asking because probabilities can be better certain places and if this trip is just to welcome you to DVC then it can be a chance to try a different resort. If you'd really prefer a studio then you could set up a second waitlist somewhere. I'm not certain where you bought but if you were to get a studio somewhere instead of the 1BR then you could continue your waitlist at your home resort right up until 7 nights ahead and potentially just have to borrow a few pts. As long as after May 31st the waitlist is for more than what you have booked you wouldn't have points stuck expiring and it gives you longer to try and get your preference.

Yeah, unfortunately it is pretty slim pickings at this point and there are no studios that sleep 5 available. Definitely checking several times a day in case something pops up! The good thing is since it is 2020 points we didn’t have to pay dues, so it is kind of a freebie booking and I don’t mind spending it on a 1BR if we have to. Would just be nice to carry over the points as a cushion for future years.