DVC newbie...help with banking points

[Disneyfn420]

I am a new DVC member and have yet to book a vacation. I have 130 2010 points and my use year is Sept. I am planning a vacation in Sept 2011 that would require about 190 points. I would like to book this vacation in 2 weeks once I hit the 7 month window. I have all 130 of my 2010 points. But I may want to book a vacation to go to WDW in April but I won't know until after Feb. How would I go about this? I'm not sure if I want to bank all 130 of my points to next year however I would need to bank some to book my trip in Sept. Hope I'm being clear. Can I bank enough points to plan my Sept 2011 trip and then bank more points again in April if I didn't wind up using them?

Leslie

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are talking about booking for this April, you might want to do that ASAP. I'm thinking there would be limited availability by now.

At any rate, you can bank as many as you need for September and wait to bank the rest later if you don't need them for April.

 

[Disneyfn420]

Yeah thanks. the April trip would be a last minute thing. I'm sure there would be availability at one of the resorts. But if I bank points to use next year can I use them for the Sept 2011 trip instead of my 2011 points? Or do I have to make that decision when I book the Sept 2011 trip. I know once you bank you can't bank again so I'd want to use the 2010 points first, but at the same time I may want to hold onto them in case I want to do a trip before Sept.

If you are talking about booking for this April, you might want to do that ASAP. I'm thinking there would be limited availability by now.

At any rate, you can bank as many as you need for September and wait to bank the rest later if you don't need them for April.

 

[vicki_c]

Yeah thanks. the April trip would be a last minute thing. I'm sure there would be availability at one of the resorts.

I don't want to be the downer here, but your certainty is probably misplaced. At only a few months out, and during April which is during spring break and possibly Easter depending on your dates, you may be hard pressed to find an available room, or at least room all at one resort for the days you need. I hope you get lucky though.

If you bank your points from 2010 to 2011, yes then they can only be used for a trip in your 2011 use year. But once they are banked (which has to be by April 30), you won't be able to then use them for any 2010 trip. The only thing you could do at that point is to borrow 2011 points back into 2010 for any trip prior to September.

 

[Disneyfn420]

Well I know SSR is pretty big. My sister was also thinking of a trip to DL Paris. No clue how quickly that books up. But that is an iffy trip regardless. If there is nothing available, then problem solved! The Sept one is a definite so I'm just trying to figure out the best way to plan just in case I wind up doing both. Thanks for all the help!

I don't want to be the downer here, but your certainty is probably misplaced. At only a few months out, and during April which is during spring break and possibly Easter depending on your dates, you may be hard pressed to find an available room, or at least room all at one resort for the days you need. I hope you get lucky though.

If you bank your points from 2010 to 2011, yes then they can only be used for a trip in your 2011 use year. But once they are banked (which has to be by April 30), you won't be able to then use them for any 2010 trip. The only thing you could do at that point is to borrow 2011 points back into 2010 for any trip prior to September.

 

[DebbieB]

I would bank them and then borrow for April if you need to. I did that once, I had already banked and then wanted to book a stay in my current use year, I borrowed for that.

 

[Disneyfn420]

Cool thanks! That does sound like my best option. I didn't know you could borrow back after you banked. Good to know! Thanks again!

I would bank them and then borrow for April if you need to. I did that once, I had already banked and then wanted to book a stay in my current use year, I borrowed for that.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Cool thanks! That does sound like my best option. I didn't know you could borrow back after you banked. Good to know! Thanks again!

You would not be borrowing back your banked points. That can't be done. You would be borrowing 2011 points.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

My action would be to bank only what I needed into the 2011 UY to make the Sept reservation and to book with the banked 2010 and 2011 points. Then, if the April trip does not happen bank the remaining points and ask MS to swap your banked points for the current points used in the Sept trip.

 

[mtsarnacki]

You can always call Member Services with questions. They are very helpful.

 

[Disneyfn420]

Thanks for all of the help! I think I understand it a bit better. I'm sure once I start booking more trips I'll understand it a bit better. I was planning on calling on Saturday to ask questions but I figured I'd try to see if people on here knew. I always get lots of helps from the fellow Disboard members. Thanks again!