Hey folks, confused question about when I can use points, anyone know this stuff?

[Pluto777]

I am new to DVC and I need to plan a trip for the fall of 2018 (probably Sep-Oct). I have NO points in 2017, but I do have points in 2018 and 2019 with a March UY. If I book in a couple of months (thats November or December 2017) for the fall 2018, can I use my 2018 AND 2019 points as well? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Cyberc1978]

With no points for 2017 left you can not book any accommodation with arrival between now and 2/28-2018 without borrowing from your 2018 allotment.

You can however already book an accommodation with arrival between 3/1-2018 - 2/28-2019(You need to be within your 11 month window) using your 2018 allotment without borrowing and you may borrow any points needed from 2019. Remember that borrowing is a final transaction meaning IF you need to cancel, the borrowed points will remain in the use year in which they were borrowed into, they don't return to 2019 and they would need to be used to book an accommodation with a checkout date no later than 2/28-2019

 

[LaurenT]

if you book on December first, you can get your home resort for November first of 2018. And, since November 1 falls within your 2018 use year, you can use your 2018 points and you can borrow your 2019 points. I've been on borrowed points since I bought in 2008!

 

[maburke]

Your points come from when you STAY, not when you book. It makes no difference when you book from a points perspective.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I am new to DVC and I need to plan a trip for the fall of 2018 (probably Sep-Oct). I have NO points in 2017, but I do have points in 2018 and 2019 with a March UY. If I book in a couple of months (thats November or December 2017) for the fall 2018, can I use my 2018 AND 2019 points as well? Thanks in advance for your help!

Yes.

When you go to book at 11 months from check in if you don't have enough points in the current UY for that trip (2018) it will ask you to borrow from the 2019 UY.

 

[Pluto777]

Thanks everyone, you have all been very kind and helpful! May as well start DVC with a deficit!

 

[Best Aunt]

[I tried to post this and the website refused to cooperate. I'm posting it now because it's all typed and ready. OP might not need it at this point, though.]

I think of it like a Fiscal Year. Your Fiscal Year starts March 1 each year and ends February 28 of the following year. You get your allotment of points on the first day of each Fiscal Year.

If you want to book a trip which starts on September 15, 2018 (as an example): if you will be staying at your Home Resort, you can start booking on October 15, 2017. If you will be staying somewhere other than your home resort, you can start booking on February 15, 2018. You will be traveling in the Fiscal Year which starts March 1, 2018. When you book that vacation, you can use the points which you will receive on March 1, 2018. If that's not enough, you can borrow some or all of the points which you will receive on March 1, 2019.

If that's too confusing, just ignore this!

 

[disneynutz]

Points need to be banked during the first 8 months of your UY. Points need to be available during the dates of your stay, not when you make the reservation. Banking moves points one UY forward, borrowing moves points one UY back. Banking and borrowing are final transactions and can not be reversed.

Bill

 

[com_op_2000]

OP
Get together a spreadsheet that you understand suggestions for including as top of the line things to have:
Website login information
UY
Banking Deadline
Current points in each UY
Planned/Possible trips - need to be looking at least 3 years out
Completed trips - with an area for listing where you stayed (some include the room number) and anything special you did during the trip
Current reservations include points required, location, and reservation number
Anything else you care to have documented over time.