DCL Booking & Points Question

[NSL]

I am considering using some points to pay for DCL (probably one adult on points and everyone else on cash, or 2 adults on points and my two children cash) but am confused. On the member web site it says you can book a DCL 24 mos. in advance. I would like to make a DCL reservation for June 2010. How does MS make a reservation for that far in advance with points? Can they use your 2010 points now to make a reservation?

See if I have this figured out, my UY is Dec. and I get 160 points. I am planning a trip to SSR in June 2009 using Developer points and a few regular that will use 65 of my 2008 points, I will then bank 95 if these points into 2009. So in 2009 I will have 255 points plus the option of borrowing 160, 2010 points. If we were to take the DCL in June 2010, I would use my banked 65 (2008) points+my 160 (2009) points+ if needed borrow 2010 points? Is this correct thinking? How does MS do this?

I would likely book the 4 night cruise and then make a reservation at my 11 month window for another 3 nights at AKV. Does this seem right?

One more question, how does transportation work with the cruise? Can you take the Magical Express, how much is the cost to use this service to a port and back?

Thanks in advance, I know this seems confusing!!!

 

[Anal Annie]

First of all, DCL has not published any itineraries for 2010 yet so that particular request cannot be filled yet but are right to start planning your point strategy now. Second, once the itineraries are out (probably this fall or in Jan. '09) you can book it but only with an estimate of points based on the 2009 dates. It will not be exact and you probably won't know until about 15-17 months ahead exactly what the point requirements will be. It's just a "guestimate" of points. Once the point charts are put out (probably in March) if you do not have enough points they will let you cancel it.

You can make whatever arrangements you want for transportation. DVC can book it all if you want. We hired a towncar service to go TO the port but booked DCL bus transportation back to MCO after the cruise. I think the DCL bus costs $30something pp each way.

We also have a Dec UY. I think you do have the points figured out correctly. It's hard for me to think it thru that far but I need to do the same for a future trade we want to plan for 2011. We joined in Dec 2006 and started with Dec 2006 points. We booked a trip for Aug. 2007 with 98 pts. and banked the remaining points into our 2007 UY. Then we booked our July '08 cruise in March of '07. We had 10 pts leftover for '07 that we just banked into our 2008 UY. I believe you have to get all of your points into the UY for which you want to travel. Somebody will jump in and correct me if I'm wrong on that.