Figuring out points/making reservations

[slp87]

We typically go to WDW every other year. Currently we have points banked that my brother is going to use to go this fall. He hasn't decided for sure what dates. We're planning our Mar '06 trip and will be using our '05 points (Feb use year) and part of our '06 points. Will we be able to make our reservations in April before his reservations are made, or will he need to go ahead and decide. Thanks!

 

[tjkraz]

You should be fine to do it now. You'll have to bank all of your '05 points into '06 at the time of the booking, and that process cannot be undone. But, if you should decide your brother needs a few more points for his trip, or something else comes up in the next 12 months, you can always borrow from '06.

 

[CarolMN]

I don't think you need to wait to make your reservation - if I have understood your situation correctly. There is no rule that reservations have to made in the same order as the trips will occur. You just have to have points that will be valid for your trip and be within your booking windows.

You have banked 2004 points into 2005 (so they are now good until 1/31/2006) and those are the ones your brother will use. (These points (originally from 2004) cannot be used for your March 2006 trip). Your brother's only problem with waiting may be availability - the closer it gets to fall, the less likely he will be able to get his first choice of accomodations. If someone doesn't use those points before 1/31/2006, they will expire.

You are going to use your 2005 allotment and some of your 2006 allotment for your March 2006 trip. Since March 2006 is in your 2006 use year, you will have to bank the 2005 use year points to make them valid for that stay before you can make the reservation using them.

You do not need to wait for your brother to make your March 2006 reservation - go ahead and make it when the window opens. As mentioned, you will have to bank the 2005 points you want to use. Be sure MS uses up the points banked from 2005 before any 2006 points are used.

Best wishes -

 

[dianeschlicht]

The only snafu might be if his reservation takes more points than you had planned on, and would need to be borrowed after you banking the 2005 points.

 

[drusba]

As I understand it, you currently have points from 2004 banked into the Feb 2005 use year that your brother will use. Those points cannot possibly be used for your March 2006 trip because they cannot be banked again. Your trip will require either 2005 points banked into 2006 and/or 2006 points. Regardless, you can make your ressie in April before he makes his. That would be the case as long as there are enough points (banked or otherwise) in your account to make the ressies.

 

[slp87]

Thanks everybody! That's what we thought, but wanted to be sure.