New to DVC - Bank/Borrow help with planned March 2026 trip

[Road_Dog]

Hi all. I‘m looking for banking and borrowing strategy for a March 2026 trip my family is planning. We just purchased our first DVC contract—150 points direct at Poly. Oct UY, so I already have 150 points for 2024 UY.

Keep in mind we will likely go 6 nights as we feel it’s the perfect length trip to rope drop all 4 parks at least once and have an off day. Also keep in mind that we’d really prefer to stay at Poly for our first DVC stay.

We will at least need a studio for our family of 4. We’d only stay one weekend night and the rest weekdays to save on points. This comes out to 153 points using 2025’s point chart at Poly.

If we decide to invite more family members (like grandpa and grandma or my brother in law plus his wife and kid) we’d be looking for a 2-bedroom in the tower. This comes out to 419 points using 2025’s point chart at Poly.

I’m curious what my best strategy is to use my points. I know I want to get confirmed yes or no’s from family at the 11-month mark so I know what room to book, but I want to have a game plan in case people are indecisive. A situation I’d want to avoid is borrowing any points I absolutely do not need to—and booking a Poly 2-bedroom out of the gate and later changing it to a studio would stick me in a situation I don’t want to be in.

I think no matter what, I need to roll Oct 2024 UY into Oct 2025. This is because:

• If we end up only needing the studio, I can use all of my banked Oct 2024 150 points towards the stay, and only need to use 3 points from Oct 2025. This lets me bank the remaining Oct 2025 points into Oct 2026 if needed.
• If we do need the 2-bedroom, then I’ll have to do a bank and borrow situation. Basically we’d use all of Oct 2024 (banked), all of Oct 2025, and borrow 119 from Oct 2026 (or 94 if I wanted to buy 25 one time use points—I’m not sure how good of a value this is though).

Is my logic correct here?

My alternative thought process was renting my Oct 2024 points and using Oct 2025s points for the trip—but this only works if we are getting the studio. This is because I could simply buy 3 one time use points for our trip and still have all of Oct 2026’s points intact. I haven’t ran the numbers on this scenario yet, but I guess it hinges on how flexible we want to be for 2026/2027 UY trips. If I’m being honest, after March 2026 our next trip would prob be Oct 2027, but that’s to be determined.

Another thought I had was, if we need a 2-bedroom, maybe I should be more open to something like BLT. This lets me book a Poly studio at 11-months while giving extended family more time to consider if they want to come (since I can’t book BLT until 7-months anyways). It is also only 307 points, so I wouldn’t need to borrow any Oct 2026 points as I’d have all of Oct 2024 and Oct 2025 points and could buy 7 one time use points.

I think I’d much rather have a studio booked and then book a 2-bedroom down the road if needed. Of course, it’s yet to be seen what the demand will be for 2-bedrooms at the Poly tower, and banking on getting a standard view 2-bedroom at BLT at the 7-month mark is wishful thinking (I’d likely be stuck with Lake view for 332 points).

Any been in a similar scenario? Looking for whatever advice from the veterans.

 

[CarolynFH]

It’s all based on the date of the trip relative to UY.

A March 2026 trip is in your October 2025 UY.

So you can bank any extra 2024 points into your 2025 UY, use all or as many 2025 points (current UY points relative to that trip) as you need, and borrow 2026 points.

If that doesn’t add up to what you need, then there’s OTUP (book what you can at 11 months, add nights with OTUP at 7 months if nights are available), a transfer from another owner, or - drum roll - adding on!

 

[Road_Dog]

It’s all based on the date of the trip relative to UY.

A March 2026 trip is in your October 2025 UY.

So you can bank any extra 2024 points into your 2025 UY, use all or as many 2025 points (current UY points relative to that trip) as you need, and borrow 2026 points.

If that doesn’t add up to what you need, then there’s OTUP (book what you can at 11 months, add nights with OTUP at 7 months if nights are available), a transfer from another owner, or - drum roll - adding on!

I appreciate the quick response, but I’m curious if you read my post. I addressed a lot of that and was more looking for an answer of “this is what I’d do if I were in your shoes”. Unless you were just trying to simplify the decision-making process for me by painting it in more simple light.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I would bank 2024, use 2025 and borrow whatever you need in 2026 to make that Poly Tower trip happen. OTU points are an important part of your membership and preserving future points if possible using this method is well worth it IMO. Next year (and the next) will come and those 24 OTU points $20 will be a bargain in the big picture. DVC is a marathon, remember. If you are uncomfortable with the 2 BR, get a 1 BR and a studio which will give you the opportunity to rent the other villa should your family back out. Yes, it is a bit more but will save you if they back out. Otherwise, renting is really for distressed points you know you won't be using. Paying income tax on your rental cuts into any "profit".

Many here on disboards have taken dozens of trips and stayed in every type of villa. Now is your chance to have an incredible trip with your family. Just do it. You have the points and that is why you bought them, right? There will be many other trips down the road where a studio will do and that is fine. From experience, the bigger villas make the trip 100% more enjoyable from the family members you mentioned will likely go.

DO ensure that they understand the financial commitment you are making FOR THEM. Non DVC people often think of it as a hotel and you can "just cancel" whenever and we understand there are many if, ands and buts with this reservation. Personally, I think having some "skin in the game" financially makes it more real to people (those that are willy-nilly with commitments and we all know who they are). If you have any of those people, ask them for a gift card for $ xx for the grocery fund (drinks, snacks etc) which will be several hundred dollars for six nights. You can always give them cash back if you feel bad, but they have made some type of a commitment and that may keep them on track!

Enjoy!

 

[CarolynFH]

Unless you were just trying to simplify the decision-making process for me by painting it in more simple light.

Yes, sorry, I was trying to simplify for you and for future new members who might find this thread.

I agree with above that you need to make sure that potential guests understand what kind of commitment you have to make when you book at 11 months. There is more than one story here on these boards from members who invited family or close friends, booked large accommodations like two bedroom or grand villas, and then the guest backed out at the last minute, believing that the accommodations were as easy to cancel as a hotel room would have been. Some owners have required potential guests to make a financial commitment of either paying the dues cost for the difference in villa size or by buying park tickets or airfare before booking at 11 months.

OTOH, even though it has been 27 years, I still remember how excited we were to buy into DVC! We started our DVC life by borrowing, because we immediately booked a cruise on the brand new Disney Magic using points, plus a March spring break trip that we had not planned to take, plus the Thanksgiving week that we had actually purchased our points for. We invited friends to come for that Thanksgiving week, but we booked a two bedroom that we would have booked anyway, the only difference was that our son and daughter had to sleep in the living room instead of in the second bedroom.

I think my feelings in your case are that you should book the one bedroom for your family of four for your first trip, and take more time, saving up points if necessary as well as educating family members to the ins and outs of DVC, before you invite family members for a later trip. Let your family of four enjoy being DVC members and then share that joy.

By the way, the maximum number of OTUP you can buy is 24 per UY, not 25.

 

[Sandisw]

I always go with my own points vs OTU points so I’d be borrowing, especially since you have to wait until 7 months to buy them.

 

[sndral]

It looks like your point cost totals are based on booking a 2 br. standard view. Realize that if you wait to book until 7 months (in order to buy OTU points) that villa may not be available because:
Lower point cost villas, like standard views, are in high demand & thus book first.
Lots of existing Poly owners will be competing w/ Poly tower owners for the new villas during the 11 - 7 month home resort priority booking.
Poly Tower is the newest resort, lots of existing DVC owners will be trying to book it at 7 months to try out the new resort & their first choice will be those lower point standard views because we like to try new things & to save points doing so.
Also, I believe you’ll need to wait until the phone lines open to make a reservation using OTU points you are buying which is an hour later than online reservations open.
Other possible strategies:
Book 2 studios at 11 months, if BIL & family/grandparents back out either cancel that extra studio & salvage the points or rent it out. The Poly is really good at meeting requests for connecting studios in the original longhouses.
Book 2 br. for 5 nights & add on the last night at 7 months - that way you borrow fewer points & if night 6 isn’t available at 7 months you’ll still have a 5 night vacation.
Or, my personal favorite, book that 2 br. & if BIL/grandparents cancel enjoy all of that space for the 4 of you - that’s what I did when my brother’s family canceled last minute one year & we enjoyed that extra space so much that we bought more points in order to have more space going forward .

 

[Road_Dog]

OTOH, even though it has been 27 years, I still remember how excited we were to buy into DVC! We started our DVC life by borrowing, because we immediately booked a cruise on the brand new Disney Magic using points, plus a March spring break trip that we had not planned to take, plus the Thanksgiving week that we had actually purchased our points for. We invited friends to come for that Thanksgiving week, but we booked a two bedroom that we would have booked anyway, the only difference was that our son and daughter had to sleep in the living room instead of in the second bedroom.

I think my feelings in your case are that you should book the one bedroom for your family of four for your first trip, and take more time, saving up points if necessary as well as educating family members to the ins and outs of DVC, before you invite family members for a later trip. Let your family of four enjoy being DVC members and then share that joy.

By the way, the maximum number of OTUP you can buy is 24 per UY, not 25.

Thanks! Believe me, we're big Disney nerds but just haven't got to go to the parks as much as we'd like, what with COVID and getting married having two young kids. We're finally at a point where we feel we can start traveling, and my wife has expressed interest in Disney Cruises and Aulani, so I feel we'll get great use out of our points (I'm aware cruises aren't a good use of points).

We only wanted to invite family because grandpa and grandma are already in their 70s and I'm not sure how interested they'll be in future Disney vacations. They just came with us 2 months ago for a stay at Saratoga and there were plenty of moments they needed to rest on a bench for a bit. So my idea was to treat them to one more Disney trip before they likely get to the point of "you guys go without us".

Did not know the OTUP was 24 instead of 25--I'll have to fix my spreadsheet.

I always go with my own points vs OTU points so I’d be borrowing, especially since you have to wait until 7 months to buy them.

Oh jeez, didn't realize that! Well that certainly changes how I'll have to think about plans at the 11-month mark.

Or, my personal favorite, book that 2 br. & if BIL/grandparents cancel enjoy all of that space for the 4 of you - that’s what I did when my brother’s family canceled last minute one year & we enjoyed that extra space so much that we bought more points in order to have more space going forward .

Haha I mean I think we'd love the space but I feel it would be such overkill, especially because the 2-bedroom is going to effectively use 3-years worth of points. Why on earth is two studios cheaper? Crazy poly tower chart, I'll tell ya.

Here is one crazy question--can you pick and choose which points get used for a booking? Or another way of looking at it--can you borrow points from a year and later bank points back into that year (from different use years)?

Let's say I booked the 2 bedroom at 419 points right at the 11-month mark. This required me to bank all 150 of 2024 UY points and borrow 119 of 2026 UY points (with the assumption I'm using the full 150 of 2025 UY points as well).

Lets say family cancels and I need to make a switch, so I downgrade to a 1-bedroom (providing they are available). My new cost is 296 points for the 1-bedroom.

Because I've already borrowed 119 points from 2026 UY for the original 2-bedroom booking, and that borrowing is irreversible, can I purposefully book the 1-bedroom using

• (banked) 150 points of 2024 UY
• (Current UY) 37 points of 2025 UY
• (borrowed) 119 points of 2026 UY

This would let me use expiring points first and have 123 points remaining from 2025 UY that I could bank into 2026--leaving me with 154 points in 2026 UY.

 

[CarolynFH]

Here is one crazy question--can you pick and choose which points get used for a booking? Or another way of looking at it--can you borrow points from a year and later bank points back into that year (from different use years)?

Yes, you can do that. In your scenario, as long as you cancel the 2BR longer than 31 days out (so the freed-up points don't go into holding) and before your banking deadline (for an October UY, I think that's the end of May), the 2025 points could be banked into 2026 and therefore replace some but not all of the 2026 points you borrowed.

Banking and borrowing are always final, so if you borrow 119 points from 2026, they're stuck in the 2025 UY no matter what. So are the 2024 points, of course. So the only points you can bank would be 2025 points that end up being extra after you switch from a 2BR to a 1BR.

We only wanted to invite family because grandpa and grandma are already in their 70s and I'm not sure how interested they'll be in future Disney vacations. They just came with us 2 months ago for a stay at Saratoga and there were plenty of moments they needed to rest on a bench for a bit. So my idea was to treat them to one more Disney trip before they likely get to the point of "you guys go without us".

Having traveled with my parents in their timeshares and occasionally in our DVC villas, I definitely agree with this!