May have to cancel cruise purchased with points. Can you help me?

[MommaluvsDis]

For the first time in 25 years, DH didn't get the vacation he wanted. We have to apply for our next year's vacation in October of the previous year. Not forseeing problems, I (stupidly) went ahead and booked a cruise (4 day) for June of this year. If we can't get our vacation changed (DH's trying!) then what can I do? I've only been a DVC member for a few months. I appreciate your help! I should add that I used all of our '04 points which became available in Dec and borrowed a few from '05.

 

[tjkraz]

When you booked the cruise, the points became Reservation Points. Even if you cancel within the prescribed guidelines, the points can only be used to book an option from the Disney Collection. That includes the cruises, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and all of the NON-DVC resorts at WDW.

The points borrowed from '05 cannot be returned to their Use Year. All of the points you have wrapped-up in the ressie must be used by 11/30/05 or they will be lost.

Also, I believe there is a rule stating that you cannot book from the Disney Collection 60 days before the end of your Use Year. If true, you'll need to decide what you want to do with the points no later than 9/30/05.

If you can't figure out a way to use the points yourself or perhaps give them to a friend or family member, you could consider renting. But given the fact that Disney Collection trade values aren't very good, you may end up taking a bath on a rental. You'd probably be lucky to recoup your maintenance fees plus a couple dollars per point.

Hope everything works out for you.

 

[kathleena]

I think this will leave you in a tough position with your points - so sorry!

If all else fails, can you consider taking the trip without DH this time? I know that's tough, but at least you wouldn't lose the points!

Or - can you find out if it's possible to rent your cruise to someone else and get the names changed on it?

 

[Laurajean1014]

Try selling your Cruise on eBay. You never know who may be interested and it doesn't cost much to try.

Another posted mentioned to take the trip with a friend or w/o your hubby. This could be the fallback plan. Or give it to a friend and look like a hero.

 

[CarolMN]

Can't you just reschedule the cruise for the vacation DH did get? That's what I would do. I know that will involve another $75 fee (at least I think it is still $75), but that would be better than losing all the points or having to sell the reservation at a loss. Since your use year is December, you could "re use" those points for any cruise departing before 11/30/2005. You may not find a cruise for exactly the same amount of points, but I bet you could come close.

Another option is to use the points for a stay at one of the non-DVC WDW resorts or something in the Adventurer or Concierge Collection - the stay must be before the end of November, 2005. (You can't use reservation points for anything in the World Passport Collection (trades via Interval International), though).

HTH. Let us know how it works out.

Best wishes -

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip).....
Also, I believe there is a rule stating that you cannot book from the Disney Collection 60 days before the end of your Use Year. If true, you'll need to decide what you want to do with the points no later than 9/30/05........

That rule doesn't apply in this case since we are talking about reservation points.

If you think about it, DVC took the points out of her account when she booked the cruise and theoretically has already turned them into the cash to pay for the cruise. If DVC doesn't send the cash to DCL, it can just send the cash to pay for some other non-DVC option.

The 60 day rule is to allow DVC time to turn DVC points into cash by renting DVC rooms out to the general public. Since availability is often very limited 60 days or less from arrival, the chances of DVC being able to do that is also limited. That's why they require you to make reservations for non-DVC options more than 60 days from the end of the use year (when the points would expire).

Probably way more than you ever wanted to know about the 60 day rule, right? LOL!

Best wishes -

P.S. I think her best option is just to reschedcule the cruise for the time her DH can get vacation.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Dh and I have taken into consideration all of our options, several of which we got from you! THANKS everyone! His vacation is starting the second week in August. DS doesn't want to cruise then because he'll miss football practice! He just may have to suck it up! Our other option is my cousin and I could possibly go and stay for a week in Grand Floridian's concierge level room. That would eat the points up.

I wouldn't feel right taking a cruise without DH as this is the main reason he bought into the DVC. He loves to cruise. However, he'd be more than happy NOT to run around WDW for a week. So that may be the best option for us.

We have to make solids plans by the 1st week of Feb. That's the time limit we've placed on ourselves because it isn't fair to string my cousin along on a maybe. I called her and she'd love to go to WDW with me if that's the way we need to go.

Do you think I'll have a problem finding something for June or July at this late date?

Thanks again. You guys are great!

 

[bongo59]

there is another option.............you could find another DVC memeber willing to take your cruise for a transfer of thier points back to you. Obviously to make it attractive you wont be able to get as many points back as you used to book the cruise but what that would do is totally give you back your DVC flexibility............And i have time to go in June...............and i have alot of points to play with if this option interests you............just PM me and let me know

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip)....
Do you think I'll have a problem finding something for June or July at this late date?........

Nope! As long as there is availability at the GF conceirge for the dates you choose, you'll be able to use your reservartion points to book it. If you are at all flexible with dates and/or resorts, you won't have any trouble at all finding something in June or July.

Best wishes -

 

[Dean]

This is one of the reason I feels it's better to rent out one's points and book with cash.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Thanks everyone. DH and I have talked about it extensively and have decided to cruise in August if he can't get his vacation changed. DS will have to miss practice and run opportunities to make up for the missed practice when he gets back. But, in the event we find the ship booked up in August, my cousin and I will use the points for an extended stay at the World. She's kind of looking forward to it so either way, they'll get used. I had told her back in Sept when we bought our re-sale that I wanted the 2 of us and her DD to go sometime soon. It may be sooner than we first thought! :

It's not just our vacation that's messed up, it's almost every employee with Dh's company. People that never do the scheduling for some reason took it over and now it's a hugh mess. There is talk that they're going to be re-scheduled by the person that normally does it. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Dean,
I had thought of renting my points in the very beginning but being new to all of this, I really don't know how to do it. It may be something I check into next time.

Again,
Thanks everyone!