Dilemma

[tino1968]

First time poster. New member as well. I did not read the fine print and I may have lost my whole use year. My use year begins or ends in June, however it is looked at. I did not bank my points and I think i may have lost them. Are there any tricks where I can put them in "holding" so to speak until they can be rented to someone or whatever the case may be. I am a total newb to the terminology that you guys use in here. Please be gentle. I'm a fast learner.

Tino

 

[poohj80]

When did you join? Are these June '04 or '05 points?

 

[wtpclc]

If they are '04, you can stiill rent them out, but it's got to be before 5/31.

If it's 05 UY, you're fine.

Let us know.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are talking about '04 points, you can not bank any points from those, but you CAN make a reservation for a trip up to May 31. I believe you could also deposit them in II for an exchange as well. If they are '05 points, you haven't gotten them yet, so don't worry.

 

[jarestel]

Call MS and explain the situation. Sometimes they can help out and arrange a special exemption to the banking rules. Won't know if you don't try. Good luck!

 

[tino1968]

If you are talking about '04 points, you can not bank any points from those, but you CAN make a reservation for a trip up to May 31. I believe you could also deposit them in II for an exchange as well. If they are '05 points, you haven't gotten them yet, so don't worry.

2004 points. What if I were to say, book a trip for January and in November or so have to cancel the trip. Would those points be in "holding" and if so, how long are they held for? Diane, what did you mean by deposit them into II, that is not a term that I am familiar with.

One other question. I noticed that Ft. Wilderness was in the offering when I joined and now there is not even a point chart for it. Is it still available and just not published as there are times when I would want to drive the RV down there and spend one night in it prior to checking in to say Saratoga Springs.

Thanks a lot guys for all of your replies.

 

[Beca]

2004 points. What if I were to say, book a trip for January and in November or so have to cancel the trip. Would those points be in "holding" and if so, how long are they held for? Diane, what did you mean by deposit them into II, that is not a term that I am familiar with.

One other question. I noticed that Ft. Wilderness was in the offering when I joined and now there is not even a point chart for it. Is it still available and just not published as there are times when I would want to drive the RV down there and spend one night in it prior to checking in to say Saratoga Springs.

Thanks a lot guys for all of your replies.

I think Ft. Wilderness was always just in for the cabins, and not the RV spots.

II is Interval International. It is an exchange company that DVC works with, so you could trade your DVC points to stay at an II resort anywhere in the world. If you look in your vacation planner, you will find info on II. I think, that once you deposit your points into II, you have up to two years to take that vacation....so, that would definitely be an option.

Another option is to rent out your points on the rent/trade board to someone who wants to take a vacation before May 31 (but, do this quickly as availability might be an issue), and use the money to rent points next year when you need them (or, just spend the money).

And, like someone else suggested, you might call your guide who sold you the points and see if they can do anything for you. DVC sometimes makes exceptions.

It's definitely worth a shot....all they can say is, "No."

Good luck!!!



Beca

 

[jekjones1558]

Just to clarify: any DVC reservation you make with these points, whether for you or for someone else you rent to, must be completed by May 31. Same goes for any reservation for a non-DVC resort within Disney (for example, using your points to stay at Polynesian). So time is of the essence.
I also urge you to contact your guide for help ASAP, if you bought your points through Disney. Can't hurt to ask!

 

[DebbieB]

Actually it's too late to make a reservation outside DVC, you are in the last 60 days of your use year (II may be different). I would call your guide and talk about it (if you bought direct). They can possibly make an exception. When did you buy?

 

[JimMIA]

Tino, the thing that people keep referring to (but not explaining) is that DVC has an unofficial one-time exception to the banking rules that they may or may not be able to extend to you. It may help to explain the whole banking thing to give you the complete perspective.

What you failed to read was not "fine print," it was basic information that you need to understand backwards and forward to manage your account. Banking works like this:

In the first six months of your use year - for you, June 1 through Nov 30 - you can bank 100% of your points.

In the first nine months (end of February), you can bank a cumulative total of up to 50% of your points. Doesn't matter how many banking decisions you make, the totals are cumulative and the cumulative total is what counts - so if you banked 50% of your points back on Nov 30, you are done for that use year.

In the first ten months, (end of March) you can bank up to a cumulative total of 25% of your points.

You cannot bank anything the last two months.

Them's the rules.

Now...Member Services has some latitude on how they manage all that. They have been known to extend a one-time courtesy and let people bank all or some of their points past the deadlines. I would call them tomorrow, if you haven't already, and ask if that is possible. They want you happy, and will do whatever they can to help you...but if they can't for some reason, they can't.

IF member Services can't help you, you have two options. One is to rent the points. To do that, you need to fully understand renting and you need to be careful because you are in a very exposed position due to the expiration date of the points on May 31. Almost any reservation you make is going to result in lost points if there is a cancellation -- so you need to be flexible on price, but hard-nosed on "all sales are final."

The other option is to book a week at DVC and then bank that week into Interval International (II). That week will give you a couple of more years, I believe, to use an II timeshare rather than just forfeit those points. Check with Member Services to see if that is possible and whether it works for you.

Good Luck!