Newbie booking question

[dvcwannabetoo]

I just closed on my first DVC points. The title company said to allow 5-8 days for Disney to get my points in the system, so I am very anxious to book by first trip with DVC. Now my question. I purchased 55 points, and there are 39 banked points. My wife and I know we want to go this Fall (October) and we know the specific dates. If we go ahead and book now (since I'm so anxious) but find out in a couple of monthes we are unable to go that particular week due to work, is it a problem to change dates using banked points? I didn't know if we lose points or what type of penalty there may be. I have read on threads before that people often change resorts after original booking, but I didn't know if using banked points is what makes a difference.

Thank you.

 

[ZekeKelso]

What's your use year?

 

[dvcwannabetoo]

Is use year the month? If so, it's March.

 

[Caskbill]

Your 39 banked points are only good for vacation dates between Mar 1, 2008 and Feb 28, 2009. If you used them for an October vacation and later cancelled it, you could still use those points for a vacation anytime prior to the end of Feb 2009.

If additionally you used any regular March 2008 Use Year points for an October vacation, and then had to cancel,you could still use those points sometime prior to the end of Feb 2009, or if desired, you would still be within your banking window and could bank those points into your 2009 use year. With a March Use Year, your banking window is through the end of October.

Note, this assumes that you would cancel more than 30 days prior to check-in. If you cancel less than that, then all the points used (whether they were banked or regular) are returned as Holding Points, and have special restrictions on their usage.

BTW, I assume you already know that October is a very popular time for DVC reservations. If you were thinking of a Studio at BWV or BCV then it's probably already too late to book one. Just be prepared to see what is still available. Also if you book an October week now and in two or three months from now need to move it to a different October week, most likely nothing would be available and your only choice would to be to cancel completely. Just FYI.