Help! I'm confusing myself!!

[Lexxiefern]

First, let me apologize in advance. I am a new member and will probably inundate you all with questions.

Ok, my use year is december. We are not planning another trip (besides the one we already have booked) until dec 2004. Can I use my dec 03 points to book that trip?

My dec 03 points expire nov 30 2004 correct? So if I want to travel say dec 1-7 2004, would I have to bank my 2003 points before I can use them to reserve those dates?

Thanks for any help,

Becky

 

[RobDoc]

Your Dec 03 points will expire on Nov 30, 2004. To use them beyond that date, you have to bank them. You will then have to use them by Nov 30, 2005 since they cannot be banked again.

Sounds like you should be all set!

Enjoy!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Thanks Doc! So if I bank them right away in dec 03, and I make the reservation in January 04, I will have to borrow the points to make the reservation. So, will I be borrowing my 04 points, or the points I just banked?

I think I am not allowed to borrow banked points, right?

I think I might need to add another trip in to use those points - if I am thinking this out right.

Thanks,
Becky

 

[DebbieB]

Points usage goes by the date of the stay, not the date you make the reservation. You will need to bank the 03 points into 04 and then they will be available for a stay in your 04 use year, no need to borrow when you make the reservation in January 04. For a Dec 04 stay, you will have banked 03 points and current 04 points available and you could borrow 05 points.

 

[PamOKW]

You started out on the right track. Now, you are starting to take a detour.

Your points need to be available for use at the time of your trip. Making the reservation doesn't effect this.

December 2003 points are good for a trip from Dec. 1, 2003-Nov. 30, 2004. Your trip is in Dec. 2004. To use these points for the trip they need to be banked.

You want to reserve your trip at 11 months out or Nov. 2003. (I see where this gets tricky.) When you call, just make the reservation. They will use your Dec. 2004 points. When your Dec. 2003 points become available for use on December 1, have them bank those points and then change the Dec. 2004 reservation so that it uses the banked points.

Doc (or others), have I done this right? My stumbling block was that I didn't think she could bank the December 2003 points in November (before they are available).

 

[Poorman]

Is booked in January not November.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

In December, when you get your 03 points, bank them. Then in January 04, call to book your reservation. They will automatically use your banked points first, then they will borrow, if need be, from your 2004 points. So, if you have enough 03 points for your reservation, you 04 points don't even come into play.

Does this make sense? I hope so!

 

[HookdonWDW]

Originally posted by Disney1fan2002
They will automatically use your banked points first, then they will borrow, if need be, from your 2004 points. So, if you have enough 03 points for your reservation, you 04 points don't even come into play.

Please be sure to confirm with the CM at MS that they are using your banked points for the reservation. Sometimes this is overlooked.

 

[DebbieB]

You wouldn't need to borrow 2004 points because the stay would be in the 2004 use year, making them current year points. You could borrow 2005 points. This is a point that confuses alot of new members. Points usage is guided by the points available on your date of stay, not when you make the reservation.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I called my guide and she explained to me what you all just wrote. Thanks so much! I was getting confused with the fact that I would be making the reservation in a different year than the dates of the actual reservation. I now see that the actual reservation dates are what matter. Thanks again to everyone!!

 

[Caskbill]

Sometimes it's easier to visualize if you make yourself a little chart like this:

<b><u>Use Year</u></b>...<b><u>Good for these Vacation Dates</u></b>
2002..........Dec 01, 2002 - Nov 30, 2003
2003..........Dec 01, 2003 - Nov 30, 2004
2004..........Dec 01, 2004 - Nov 30, 2005
2005..........Dec 01, 2005 - Nov 30, 2006
2006..........Dec 01, 2006 - Nov 30, 2007

You can bank points from any use year into the following use year.

You can borrow points from any use year into the previous use year.

Points used must be within the vacation time period for the use year the points are in.

Reservations are made any time up to 11-months in advance. The points used will be from the timeframe of the vacation.

A trip in Dec 2004 requires points be in your 2004 use year. (Vacation dates Dec 01, 2004 thru Nov 30, 2005)

You can bank 2003 points into 2004's year, or use 2004's regular allocated points, or borrow points from 2005 and put them into 2004. All of these give you points in your 2004 use year which is then used to make any reservations for the timeframe Dec 01, 2004 through Nov 30, 2005.

 

[PamOKW]

Thanks Poorman. I knew something didn't look right. Where's the dunce cap for booking in November vs. January?

 

[reneesam]

This is exactly why we all can't wait for the super-amazing new version of Caskbill's program...we need point management help! Sometimes these numbers drive even the experts crazy!


(I'm blonde and of Polish ancestry, so I find the whole thing even more of a challenge ...I think it's PC to say that if you're talking about yourself)

Renee