Help - First Time not at Home Resort

[CharmedLife]

Hi DISers, I'm hoping for a little experienced advice. We have stayed at our home resort (SSR) for our last two trips to Disney. Next January we are going and would like to try some of the other resorts. At that time we will have 80 points left for the year (we are perpetually in debt to the future...) I have two questions:

1. Will it be difficult at the 7-month window to book at another resort given that January is a low-points time of year?

2. If I book ahead of time at my home resort and borrow ahead 30 points (I would need 110 total), then switch to a lower-point room at another resort (80 points), can I "return" those borrowed 30 points to the next use year, or am I stuck with them once I've borrowed them?

I've confused myself... any advice from those who've stayed at resorts other than their home is appreciated!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You can't "un-borrow" points. They don't go back to their UY. If you are within your banking deadlines, you could ask them to use the borrowed points and bank the current year points instead.

When are you planning on going? Disney Marathon weekend starts Jan 10 and runs through Jan 13.

 

[Goofyhouk]

The 7 month window for January starts in June. When do you have to start banking points - what is your use year? My UY is March, so I have to start banking points by the end of August. I'm also going in January - 1-4. I already have my SSR reservation for a 2 bdrm. We hope to book at OKW - which is less points, plus we really like the laid back feel and layout - and can then bank leftover points in August.

I've never stayed in DVC in January, but I was able to get a 2 bdrm at VWL for Spring Break (March 18-23) this year right at the 7 month point (I was pretty shocked that I didn't even have to waitlist). If I can do that, you should be able to get most anything in January right at the 7 month point.

 

[shellbelle1971]

When we've gone in January we've often reserved some of the nights on cash as a way to save points and avoid borrowing. We've always been able to get the 25% member discount on the weekend nights so far, which, to us, has been a better value than points. Maybe consider trying that?

 

[Granny]

2. If I book ahead of time at my home resort and borrow ahead 30 points (I would need 110 total), then switch to a lower-point room at another resort (80 points), can I "return" those borrowed 30 points to the next use year, or am I stuck with them once I've borrowed them?

As noted by Deb & Bill, you can't "unborrow" points. However, depending on where you are in your UY, at the 7 month mark you can switch to the other resort and ask them to use your borrowed points first. Then use up that UYs points leaving 30 points from that UY which you could then bank if still within the banking deadlines.

 

[CharmedLife]

Thanks for all of the help, everyone! My UY is August. We've never been in a position to bank points before, we're always borrowing them! So I'm not sure when I would have to bank them by. But the tip to have them use up the borrowed points first, then bank the remaining points, is a good way to go if I end up in that situation.

I think at this point I'll take my chances and wait until the 7-month mark. We're trying for the last week in January, so we're avoiding MLK Day, and the marathon. But at this point our dates are kind of flexible, too. We wouldn't mind staying at SSR again if that's the only place we can get (we do like it there, just wanted to try some other places).

Thanks again for your help!

 

[CharmedLife]

When we've gone in January we've often reserved some of the nights on cash as a way to save points and avoid borrowing. We've always been able to get the 25% member discount on the weekend nights so far, which, to us, has been a better value than points. Maybe consider trying that?

Thanks for the tip Shellbelle - honestly, I didn't even know that we get a member discount on the weekends! We were planning to stay Sunday - Thursday because of the points, maybe now we'll add Friday night as well and just pay cash. Do you need a separate reservation to do that, or can it all be on one ressie?

Thanks again!

 

[Deb & Bill]

The only problem with cash discounted nights is that they are not always available.

 

[CharmedLife]

Good thinking. Fortunately we are much more flexible on this trip than normal, so if the cash days aren't available there, we may just head to the beach for the night (I know, nothing like the beach in January...)

Thanks again for your help! I'm going to wait until the 7-month window and then just see what we can get!! For someone who's an over-organized planner, it's a bit exhilerating to "wing it"... (I know, 7-months out isn't really winging it, but for someone like me it's as crazy as I get!!)

 

[Granny]

I'm going to wait until the 7-month window and then just see what we can get!! For someone who's an over-organized planner, it's a bit exhilerating to "wing it"... (I know, 7-months out isn't really winging it, but for someone like me it's as crazy as I get!!)

LOL...I think you have many kindred spirits here on the DVC boards!!