DVC Decision Paralysis??

[MightyDuck001]

I had been waiting and saving planning banking for my September trip to Aulani. I know the world is crazy right now but it is starting to feel like it’s snowballing and I can’t seem to make any decisions about what to do with my 184 points that I saved (expiring May 31).
I almost started crying to member services when they said “you can go to FL” because FL and HI are oranges to coconuts.
How are people making decisions about what to do with points you saved up? I can’t decide if I should rent them, if I should try rebooking Aulani for spring (when it’s even more points and I don’t have enough to cover the reservation and will it even be open??), put them in RCI??
I’m trying to get past the angry/depressed/whiny stage that is paralyzing me but I just keep freaking out that all that planning and point saving was wasted.

 

[Sandisw]

I’m sorry that the trip you planned is not working out for you, given you have such a long time until they expire, at least you do have options.

Honestly, if Aulani is where you want to go, I’d probably try and do that, I understand that WDW isn’t the same, but at least it is an alternative.

Many people have lost trips and the solutions chosen are all that you mention. Unfortunately, there are many owners who will end up losing points because they simply couldn’t get them used again as they expire this year.

I myself had to reschedule 4 different trips to WDW.

 

[bbn1122]

I had plans to go to Aulani in May 2021. I saved 182 points from last year and I was going to bank 2020. I planned to use 2021 points too. We are a family of 5 and the plan was a 2 bedroom for 8 night ot

I live in NJ, where COVID-19 hit our state bad, but now we are doing great!
I decided quickly that Aulani would have to wait. So, back in early May, when I realized I had to use these banked points by May 2021, I had to figure something out. At the time Florida was looking great, so DH and I decided to book a 5 night for November, split stay SSR and RIV, just the 2 of us.

I have never been to Hawaii and I would rather wait a few years.

I still have it booked and I am hoping Florida numbers flatten soon. I really need a getaway. Worse case, we will cancel and rebook for the end of April/May 2021. DH and I are planning to drive from NJ to FL.

I am planning a family trip August 2021 to VB and WDW. Fingers crossed.
Good luck with your plans.

 

[Spartan86]

I still have it booked and I am hoping Florida numbers flatten soon. I really need a getaway

I hope you can go too. We have been lucky to have been a few times since early July and have enjoyed it even amidst some of the strangeness. From FL DOH Thursday: Today, Florida had the sixteenth straight day below 10 percent positivity of new cases.

 

[peabody58]

I myself had to reschedule 4 different trips to WDW.

No disrespect, but those are amateur numbers! I'm now up to 17 trip/reservation changes since Covid. with a possible 2-3 more before March 2021.

 

[Sandisw]

No disrespect, but those are amateur numbers! I'm now up to 17 trip/reservation changes since Covid. with a possible 2-3 more before March 2021.

Made me chuckle! I hope to be close to that many trips someday! Retirement just started so I am currently booked for 6...let’s hope they happen!

 

[peabody58]

Made me chuckle! I hope to be close to that many trips someday! Retirement just started so I am currently booked for 6...let’s hope they happen!

It was originally 2 trips (May/Oct), and is now 4 - 4 nt trips (Oct/Dec/Jan/Feb). But to get from point A to B took many iterations, bookings, changed bookings, rebookings, etc., etc.. Maxing out out extended AP/TIW, and not lose any of our banked/borrowed points.

 

[Randywatson79]

I have a 160 point contract, Dec UY. Just bought it, fully loaded. I'll lose the 160 that was banked from 2018 if I don't use them or move it to RCI.

We had a 8 night trip planned for late September at AKV (home resort). It would have used 230ish points. I moved the trip to November (pretty much last minute in terms of UY) and shrunk the trip length to use just the 160 2018 points in a 1BR at BLV. Banked all of the the 2019 points.

If we don't use it, we're going to give it to friends who are Disney fans and willing to go, and often can't afford to.

 

[AZMermaid]

RCI you need to move it with 45 day lead time to have the most flexibility (i believe someone correct me if that’s wrong). So I’d book an April trip for Aulani. Looks like Apr 11-28 is only one category above Sept, or go in Feb before the 20th for same points as Sept. I’d go April if you can make it work. Maybe stay the first or last night in Honolulu near airport depending on your flight times. If you plan on going to Pearl Harbor, do it while you’re in Honolulu. Even though late April, isn’t 45 days before expiration, you’d know by then if it will be happening. And you *might* be able to switch to May in WDW last minute if you’d rather. Good luck!

 

[Wedgeout]

Super sorry this is happening to you and so many others. Hawaii seems to be falling backwards too lately and far from recovering. (Like my California ugh). With flying, another huge issue to deal with in the planning. But Florida is handling things pretty well. Wish you the best.

 

[keishashadow]

No disrespect, but those are amateur numbers! I'm now up to 17 trip/reservation changes since Covid. with a possible 2-3 more before March 2021.

A contest nobody wants to win. At least you can laugh about it.

We’ve a handful, leaving for beach in a few days, then plan is to deplane in MCO on 9/26

We only have one (gasp) trip booked this far using DVC points next year. I’m just not ”feeling it” but with so many banked points need to do something sooner vs later.

Was waiting to see how badly the virus will roar back this winter before making any further plans. Even if one of the early vaccine combos is a winner, it’s going to be awhile before it’s widely available.

OP As for Hawaii, I’d put that on your back burner. Are you following the travel restrictions? Don’t see how Sept trip would realistically happen. I’d even have strong doubts for spring, sorry.

If me, i’d Utilize the expiring points as MS suggested, book something at WDW this spring. If you want to be ‘safe’, deposit into RCI or try to rent them.

Hawaii is so beautiful, you want to be able to ‘do it right’, it’ll wait for you. Good luck with your decision

 

[Disneypapa]

I agree with some of the other posters. Postpone Hawaii for the time being and either deposit in RCI or rent the points that can not be banked. Good luck.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

I would schedule Hawaii for spring. I am an optimist and think it will all be go by then. It is a bummer that the point chart is higher in spring. Maybe go one day less?

 

[bobbiwoz]

In February we booked a week on Kauai for March 2021, with the plan to add Aulani at 7 months. We decided to cancel Kauai, did get most of the money back, and hope to go in 2022. I don’t think Hawaii will be ready for visitors for quite awhile.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I’m so with you right now in frustration. Our Aulani trip for May was rescheduled to September and now cancelled. I’m now pregnant (due April 2021) and my mom who was going with us was just diagnosed with stage 3 cancer 3 weeks ago. We have over $7000 in credits with Hawaiian air to be used by Spring of 2022. That means my mom basically will loose all her money because doctors expect her to be in treatment until the end and we have to travel with an infant or we loose our travel credits. It stinks all around. Oh and we were first class so I’m sure the other first class passengers will love an infant on a 5 hour flight. I’m pulling my hair out with what to do. I wish they would reopen!

 

[limace]

Travel with your infant! It’s super easy-I flew to Hawaii with all three of my kids when they were babies-much easier than toddlers. But I am so sorry to hear about your mom.

 

[suebeelin]

Its hard to decide but at least you have options?

I am in a similar predicament-- trying to decide what to do with my BLT points (need to be banked by end of September), and I have BWV points already banked into next year. I don't need ALL these points, not really (a terrible place to be in, right? not!).

I was hoping to do an immediate family trip with my two kids earlier in the 2021 year on my BWV points, then a big trip with my parents and siblings at BLT, possibly even in a grand villa at the end of 2021. Now the plans are up in the air. I'm so worried if I bank all my points for next year, something might happen, so I'm tempted to just rent/transfer now. With no clear picture or magic ball to guide us, it's really about how much risk you are willing to take. Ask yourself whether you will regret X if Y happens, and go from there.