New Rule of 4?

[CandleontheWater]

Ok, so how does thing thing work. I understand that you have to bank all your points by 4 months before the end of your use year. My use year is December, so does this means I need to bank all my points before August 1st?

I also have a question about the rule of 4 as it pertains to "member getaways", do member getaways only refer to swaping points to use outside of the DVC system, with one of the partner resorts? Or does it mean that I can't borrow the points for a last min. trip to Vero Beach?

I understand that DVC is all about planning, but I live in Florida, which allows me to make some spontaneous trips. We spent last weekend (Labor Day) at Saratoga Springs, and we only planned about 3 weeks in advance. We called up Member services and they were able to fit us into a studio. I understand that this is not usually the case, but if the availibility is there, we'll take it and borrow the points for last min. trips. I'll be very upset if this new rule does not allow us to do this

 

[Chuck S]

It won't have any affect on using your points to book at VB or any other DVC resort. It means you have to book at least 4 months out for anything in the Disney/Concierge/Cruise or Adventures by Disney collections.

My understanding is the same as yours. For a December use year, any points need to be banked by August 1st.

 

[Orelover]

The way I understand this new rule is you have until 4 months prior to the end of your use year. so yes if your UY is Dec '07, you have until Sept 30th of the following year ('08) to bank any unused portion of your points.

Just curious, were any of you DVC members asked about your experiences with banking and booking before these changes were made? I'm just asking becuase according to Vaction Magic Pres JIM LEWIS and I Quote "Members told us that remembering the different cut-off dates for these options ( booking Member Getaways and Banking Points) could (being the optimal word here) be a bit confusing." So, they have taken this feedback to heart and implimented the following changes. So have any of you been asked? or is this just more Disney sun sh-----

 

[Chuck S]

A December use year begins December 1. 4 Months prior to December 1 is August 1st.

December 1st minus 1 month is Nov 1st, 2 Months Oct 1st, 3 months Sept 1st and 4 months Aug 1st.

As far as being confusing to Members, there have been a lot of thread here with questions about banking deadlines and people not understanding what the percentages meant, so I imagine Member Services received quite a few questions as well.

 

[Orelover]

A December use year begins December 1. 4 Months prior to December 1 is August 1st.

December 1st minus 1 month is Nov 1st, 2 Months Oct 1st, 3 months Sept 1st and 4 months Aug 1st.

As far as being confusing to Members, there have been a lot of thread here with questions about banking deadlines and people not understanding what the percentages meant, so I imagine Member Services received quite a few questions as well.

OH excuse me, I'm not perfect I ment July 31 st.

They never took a poll or contacted members, just change the rules and deal with it. Beause Disney says so. and don't forget to pay those DUES.

 

[Chuck S]

OH excuse me, I'm not perfect I ment July 31 st.

They never took a poll or contacted members, just change the rules and deal with it. Beause Disney says so. and don't forget to pay those DUES.

Disney/DVC has always had the right to change most of the rules at will, whether we agree with those changes or not. I don't particularly like the new banking rules, they "old" rules always worked fine for me...but I do understand the reasoning Disney is using for the change, based on the number of threads we've had on these boards about banking. Especially what designates the 50% or 25% (a total of your contract) as opposed to what many believed was a percentage of the remaining points in their use year.

 

[Orelover]

ok my bad

 

[Mamiamjo]

With the new 120 day rule for banking, does that mean you can bank 100% of your points up until that time (120 days prior to the end of the Use Year)?

Mike

 

[rsinj]

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[Orelover]

I totally agree with you. It should be an automatic bank for any unsed points. I too find it unnecessary and time consuming to have to monitor the months and remember to call and bank those left over 10 -20 points or lose them. I guess you can do this on-line thru DVCmember.com, if you can get logged in and the system dose'nt crash 2 seconds later. I don't think your missing anything, it just the way Disney dose business.

 

[Chuck S]

Disney has no idea how you want to use your points. Banking allows them to estimate the number of DVC room requests they may need as they near the end of a given use year. That gives them the ability to turn rooms over to CRO for cash at 60 days out.

I don't think ANY timeshares, traditional or points based, have "automatic banking." It is the personal responsibility of the owners to intiate the transaction.

With the new 120 day rule for banking, does that mean you can bank 100% of your points up until that time (120 days prior to the end of the Use Year)?

Mike

Mike, that is my understanding, 100% of your points up to 120 days out.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I don't think ANY timeshares, traditional or points based, have "automatic banking." It is the personal responsibility of the owners to intiate the transaction.

Worldmark points are good for 2 years from the beginning of the UY when they are awarded, so in that sense it has "automatic" banking. But you are right, this is exception, not the rule with most timeshares.

-- Suzanne

 

[dvc at last !]

subscribing........

 

[Chuck S]

Here's a thought...perhaps they are simplifying the dates (all 120 days) to make it easier for on online reservation system to handle all the the intricacies of DVC membership. A standard 120 days would be much easier to program into a system for general member usage o the web.

Maybe, maybe not...but a possibility.

 

[rsinj]

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[Chuck S]

You can't borrow points using the banked points first. For instance, if you bank all pionts for a June use year, then change your mind and want to use points, you'd be borrowing points from the NEXT use year, your pionts would remain banked. Banking and borrowing are final transactios, they can't be undone.

 

[rsinj]

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[squirrlygirl]

If you're allowed to borrow the next use year regardless of what you've banked, they still don't know if you'll be using points during those last 4 months anyway. And do you really just LOSE the points at the 4-month mark if they're not banked? I thought under the current system you still were able to use them?

 

[rsinj]

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[figment795]

Yes - my mistake. However, my point is, that when confronted with the issue of "bank them or lose them" I think it's an obvious decision ... even at that 4 month mark.

I called MS and said that I bank at 4 months or loose them. The CM got upset with me and said you do not lose them just use them. The whole idea of banking your points is to save them for the next year for flexibility. Now we are locked into banking or losing 4 month deadline.