Help me figure out this points scenario

[travelbug]

Long time DVC member, but I have a possible scenario that is a new one for me. I'm hoping someone can help me think this through!

I have a December UY. All of my 2013 points will be used in 2014 (exactly) so I will have 0 banked points when I get my 2014 points on 12/1/14.

If I want to make a reservation for 11/29/14 to 12/7/14, I would need to borrow the points for 11/29 and 11/30 to make the reservation. So the points would be going into my previous use year just to cover those 2 nights, right? If I had to cancel for some reason, what would happen with those points? Am I correct that those points would have to stay in the previous use year and be used before 12/1?

One other wrinkle is that I'm not sure what size room I'll be wanting. So if I reserve a 2 BR and later wanted to downsize to a 1BR but keep the same dates, I'd have to cancel the first reservation to make the new one. But if I was going to a smaller room, I'd have more borrowed points left in the previous use year, right? Points that I couldn't use entirely if my new reservation was in a smaller room. Or if I wanted to change at the 7 month window and go with a different resort that maybe needed fewer points?

I don't think I've ever traveled right at the end of my UY before, and I'm feeling confused. The 11 month window to make the reservation is coming quickly. Can anyone help me figure this out so I know if those dates are workable or if there are too many downsides to having 11/29 and 11/30 as part of the reservation?

If you're still reading at the end of this long explanation, bless you! Thank you for any insights you have for me.

 

[SAT887]

Long time DVC member, but I have a possible scenario that is a new one for me. I'm hoping someone can help me think this through! I have a December UY. All of my 2013 points will be used in 2014 (exactly) so I will have 0 banked points when I get my 2014 points on 12/1/14. If I want to make a reservation for 11/29/14 to 12/7/14, I would need to borrow the points for 11/29 and 11/30 to make the reservation. So the points would be going into my previous use year just to cover those 2 nights, right? If I had to cancel for some reason, what would happen with those points? Am I correct that those points would have to stay in the previous use year and be used before 12/1? One other wrinkle is that I'm not sure what size room I'll be wanting. So if I reserve a 2 BR and later wanted to downsize to a 1BR but keep the same dates, I'd have to cancel the first reservation to make the new one. But if I was going to a smaller room, I'd have more borrowed points left in the previous use year, right? Points that I couldn't use entirely if my new reservation was in a smaller room. Or if I wanted to change at the 7 month window and go with a different resort that maybe needed fewer points? I don't think I've ever traveled right at the end of my UY before, and I'm feeling confused. The 11 month window to make the reservation is coming quickly. Can anyone help me figure this out so I know if those dates are workable or if there are too many downsides to having 11/29 and 11/30 as part of the reservation? If you're still reading at the end of this long explanation, bless you! Thank you for any insights you have for me.

I had this happen last year... Crossed over use years - if you borrow they will stay in the year that they are borrowed. Also, if you decided on smaller accommodations you would essentially lose those points because they would stay in your dec 2013 use year.... So your thoughts were correct.

I think it would be best to know exactly what you want or consider a split stay. Otherwise there is potential for loss...

 

[Sandisw]

Yes, that is what will happen...the other option, is to get a transfer of 2014 points for those nights--ones that would still be bankable if you had to cancel--and use those instead of your own points..

It is risky borrowing points from Dec UY for travel in November...I lost 5 points this year because I did that--made a reservation for my parents who ended up not being able to join us for the night--and yes, it KILLED me to lose them...

Good luck!

 

[Nabas]

If you're still reading at the end of this long explanation, bless you! Thank you for any insights you have for me.

You have it right.

Once you borrow your points to use before 12/1/2014, those points will stay in that year. You'll need to use them by 11/30/2014 or they will simply disappear.

In addition, it appears the website doesn't handle reservations that split across years. You'll need to call Member Services to book this all at once.

 

[abner1776]

It's true that the borrowed points will be locked into the current UY but that does not necessarily mean they are "lost." There are many ways to either use those points or monitize them between now and November. You could decide to go a day earlier to use up the points or "rent" them.

We are talking about 11 months from now so it's not like these points expire in 30 days.

 

[Dean]

Long time DVC member, but I have a possible scenario that is a new one for me. I'm hoping someone can help me think this through!

I have a December UY. All of my 2013 points will be used in 2014 (exactly) so I will have 0 banked points when I get my 2014 points on 12/1/14.

If I want to make a reservation for 11/29/14 to 12/7/14, I would need to borrow the points for 11/29 and 11/30 to make the reservation. So the points would be going into my previous use year just to cover those 2 nights, right? If I had to cancel for some reason, what would happen with those points? Am I correct that those points would have to stay in the previous use year and be used before 12/1?

One other wrinkle is that I'm not sure what size room I'll be wanting. So if I reserve a 2 BR and later wanted to downsize to a 1BR but keep the same dates, I'd have to cancel the first reservation to make the new one. But if I was going to a smaller room, I'd have more borrowed points left in the previous use year, right? Points that I couldn't use entirely if my new reservation was in a smaller room. Or if I wanted to change at the 7 month window and go with a different resort that maybe needed fewer points?

I don't think I've ever traveled right at the end of my UY before, and I'm feeling confused. The 11 month window to make the reservation is coming quickly. Can anyone help me figure this out so I know if those dates are workable or if there are too many downsides to having 11/29 and 11/30 as part of the reservation?

If you're still reading at the end of this long explanation, bless you! Thank you for any insights you have for me.

Borrowing and traveling this late in the UY creates risk. Other alternatives would be for cash for those 2 nights or to rent them from another member in addition to borrowing or a transfer.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

They have 1-time rentable points through Disney, so you could always find out what that cost is--i thinking paying cash for those night is the best way to deal with it. you could always book a two bedroom lockoff to maximize the likelihood that you could downsize if needed, and secure two of the nights with cash.

 

[jekjones1558]

Maybe I am misunderstanding this but if OP books now and then switches to a lower cost resort, s/he should be able to ask MS to use the borrowed points for 11/29 and 11/30 in the new reservation and have the extra points that are freed-up come from the 2014 points. Of course if the whole reservation is cancelled the borrowed points will need to be used by 11/30/ 2014.

 

[travelbug]

Thanks, everyone! Appreciate the clarification and the ideas you all had. Now that I know I'm understanding the situation, I'll need to sit down and do some deciding.

Thanks again, and Merry Christmas!

 

[Dean]

Maybe I am misunderstanding this but if OP books now and then switches to a lower cost resort, s/he should be able to ask MS to use the borrowed points for 11/29 and 11/30 in the new reservation and have the extra points that are freed-up come from the 2014 points. Of course if the whole reservation is cancelled the borrowed points will need to be used by 11/30/ 2014.

If I understand what you're saying correctly, the answer is no. The borrowed points (Dec UY) would have to be used for days that occur before 1 Dec. From a points usage standpoint the 2 days in Nov would be stand alone and any points freed up for those 2 days could not be used for the rest of the reservation. Thus if one changed those 2 days and had leftover points, they could not be used in the remaining reservation that occurs in Dec.

 

[jekjones1558]

If I understand what you're saying correctly, the answer is no. The borrowed points (Dec UY) would have to be used for days that occur before 1 Dec. From a points usage standpoint the 2 days in Nov would be stand alone and any points freed up for those 2 days could not be used for the rest of the reservation. Thus if one changed those 2 days and had leftover points, they could not be used in the remaining reservation that occurs in Dec.

What I meant, and obviously did not state well, is that the OP could use the borrowed points from the original reservation for Nov. 29 and 30 in the new reservation. If the new reservation was less points, the OP would not lose all of the borrowed points, only the few extra for those 2 dates. The extras freed-up from the Dec. 1 and later nights would not be lost. MS should do it this way without the OP asking but I try never to assume anything when it comes to using points.

 

[Dean]

What I meant, and obviously did not state well, is that the OP could use the borrowed points from the original reservation for Nov. 29 and 30 in the new reservation. If the new reservation was less points, the OP would not lose all of the borrowed points, only the few extra for those 2 dates. The extras freed-up from the Dec. 1 and later nights would not be lost. MS should do it this way without the OP asking but I try never to assume anything when it comes to using points.

OK, yes they would only lose the difference OR they could chose to have a separate reservation and move after the first 2 nights and likely without having to actually move villas with planning.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

ok not to hijack but just to make sure i understand--my scenario is that i have a trip planned after our banking deadline. I have a waitlist that is more points than the original ressie. If that was to come through after the banking DL, I'd need to borrow from the 2014 points. If for whatever reason we shortened the stay or rescheduled, I would still lose any extra unused points this use year because even if they took the points for a stay from borrowed first, we would still be past our banking Deadline and thus those points would die with the 2014 use yr

 

[jekjones1558]

ok not to hijack but just to make sure i understand--my scenario is that i have a trip planned after our banking deadline. I have a waitlist that is more points than the original ressie. If that was to come through after the banking DL, I'd need to borrow from the 2014 points. If for whatever reason we shortened the stay or rescheduled, I would still lose any extra unused points this use year because even if they took the points for a stay from borrowed first, we would still be past our banking Deadline and thus those points would die with the 2014 use yr

Correct.

 

[Dean]

ok not to hijack but just to make sure i understand--my scenario is that i have a trip planned after our banking deadline. I have a waitlist that is more points than the original ressie. If that was to come through after the banking DL, I'd need to borrow from the 2014 points. If for whatever reason we shortened the stay or rescheduled, I would still lose any extra unused points this use year because even if they took the points for a stay from borrowed first, we would still be past our banking Deadline and thus those points would die with the 2014 use yr

True, and one of the reasons that UY is more important than many realize. You'd still have options though including possibly renting those points (the underlying reservation), using them for a different DVC time within the UY or using for an exchange including CC, DC, RCI or BVTC. Having an exit strategy is important in this situation as you never know when something will happen to interfere with a given trip. DVC will often give you one mulligan to bank such points, esp if the reason for the cancellation were dramatic.