New to DVC - question about booking a trip

[Kwaschitz]

We're in the process of purchasing at VGF (since we're new, the paperwork can't be filed until June, but everything is in order). We have an April use year.

It doesn't look like we will be going in 2013 (although there is still a few weeks until we have our points and we do love WDW in the fall and winter).

Now my question is...I want to book a trip in May 2014. To do that, I would use my 11 month window and book in June as soon as I have my points. Now, knowing that I won't go in 2013, am I able to reserve a using a larger number of points than my 2014 allotment? Do I have to bank my 2013 points before I reserve that trip? If I do that, then change our minds on that trip, does that mean that we would not have access to any points in 2013?

 

[myxdvz]

Now, knowing that I won't go in 2013, am I able to reserve a using a larger number of points than my 2014 allotment? Do I have to bank my 2013 points before I reserve that trip? If I do that, then change our minds on that trip, does that mean that we would not have access to any points in 2013?

How many points do you have per year? How many points do you need for your May 2014 reservation?

If you need more than you have, then yes, you would have to bank your 2013 first before you can use them for the May 2014 reservation. You can also borrow from 2015 is you choose.

If you change your mind on that trip, the banked 2013 points stay banked and will expire on March 31, 2015. To use points in a 2013 UY trip (April 2013 - March 2014), you'd have to borrow your 2014 points.

Banking and Borrowing are final transactions.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Since you don't plan to use points in 2013, then it makes sense to bank them and be able to use double the points for 2014.

 

[AmyB2006]

Since you don't plan to use points in 2013, then it makes sense to bank them and be able to use double the points for 2014.

This. If you're definitely not travelling before the end of March 2014, you'll want to bank your 2013 points regardless.

When you make a reservation, Disney will use the banked points first, because once you bank them into 2014, you will have to use them as the transaction is final.

If I were you, I'd bank your 2013 points. Use them first to book your May 2014 trip, and if you need more, then use from the current 2014 points to complete.

 

[Kwaschitz]

Thanks so much for the replies! So I'm thinking we bank immediately and reserve at our 11 month window. Then if something changes after that and we decide we want to go this year (not likely to convince my husband since we went to DLR a month ago and have 2 other vacations planned for this summer not counting trips to visit family), we would borrow the 2014 points to do it and our next trip in 2014 would use 2013 points.

I asked our guide every question except this one (booking a trip for right after a year change at the 11 month window). I don't know why that confused me more than if we banked at the deadline to do so and then wanted a trip after that in the same calendar year, but it really did. I'm blaming the end of the school year and all of the associated activities that have my brain fried

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks so much for the replies! So I'm thinking we bank immediately and reserve at our 11 month window. Then if something changes after that and we decide we want to go this year (not likely to convince my husband since we went to DLR a month ago and have 2 other vacations planned for this summer not counting trips to visit family), we would borrow the 2014 points to do it and our next trip in 2014 would use 2013 points.

Yes, correct. If you decide to vacation before 3/31/2014, you can borrow the 2014 use year points.

I asked our guide every question except this one (booking a trip for right after a year change at the 11 month window). I don't know why that confused me more than if we banked at the deadline to do so and then wanted a trip after that in the same calendar year, but it really did. I'm blaming the end of the school year and all of the associated activities that have my brain fried

You may find this thread helpful:

Understanding Use Year

The dates are a little old, but the info is still correct:

Congratulations on your purchase - and Welcome Home (just a bit early).