Newbie - Understanding Banked Points on Resale

[free888]

We've been going to Disney World for 15 years, and we normally stay at the Swean/Dolphin. Since we like that area so much, we've decided on the BWV, primarily because of the lower points needed for the Villas (we'll normally need the 2 BR) and terrific resale prices buyers have seen recently.

Our favorite time to travel to Disney is between Thanksgiving and Christmas, usually for 5 days/4 nights. After talking to both a DVC guide and some of the time share companies, it sounds like we want a use year of Dec, Oct, ... in that order, with a contract at 150-200 points.

Here's my question - we're not planning to go to Disney in 2011, so should I look for contracts that don't have 2010 points? My thinking is that we'd end up wasting the 2010 points, since we won't be traveling until 2012. I should be able to bid lower on a contract (hopefully in the 50's), if we find a contract without 2010 points, and also avoid the 2011 maintenance fees since the seller would have had use in 2011.

Is my thinking correct?

 

[JimMIA]

First of all, I don't know that the difference between a contract with 2010 points and one without would be great enough to make much of a difference in the overall cost. You'd have to compare deals against each other to know for sure, but I wouldn't assume a big difference.

If I understand your vacation plans correctly, you are not planning another vacation until Dec 2012. If that's the case, you might not have any use for 2010 points even if you banked them. The only scenario where 2010 points would be of any benefit would be Dec 2010 points banked into Dec 2011 and used in late-November 2012.

But for most situations, October would really be a better UY for you than December -- it gives you the option of going either in November or December, both with many months to bank currrent -year points if your plans change. And honestly, I think September is better than December, for the same reason. I'd rethink your UY preference. Don't base your UY preference on the ability to use some points for a single trip...base it on the long-term.

If you bought Dec 2010 points, banked into 2011, and then vacationed in Dec 2012, the banked points would expire 11/30/2012...before your trip.

The other scenario where banked 2010 points could help you is if you wanted to either rent them or deposit them into RCI where they would remain valid for two additional years.

 

[DebbieB]

We've been going to Disney World for 15 years, and we normally stay at the Swean/Dolphin. Since we like that area so much, we've decided on the BWV, primarily because of the lower points needed for the Villas (we'll normally need the 2 BR) and terrific resale prices buyers have seen recently.

Our favorite time to travel to Disney is between Thanksgiving and Christmas, usually for 5 days/4 nights. After talking to both a DVC guide and some of the time share companies, it sounds like we want a use year of Dec, Oct, ... in that order, with a contract at 150-200 points.

Here's my question - we're not planning to go to Disney in 2011, so should I look for contracts that don't have 2010 points? My thinking is that we'd end up wasting the 2010 points, since we won't be traveling until 2012. I should be able to bid lower on a contract (hopefully in the 50's), if we find a contract without 2010 points, and also avoid the 2011 maintenance fees since the seller would have had use in 2011.

Is my thinking correct?

If you want to go between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I would try for August, September or October. If you book a late November trip with a December use year, you could be stuck if you cancel.

 

[Sandisw]

I think that you should, as suggested, look for a fall UY (Sept, Oct) to maximize your flexibilty in terms of what to do with points if you had to cancel or change your trip.

If your first time of travel is going to be be Nov/Dec 2012, then you are correct that having 2010 UY points would go to waste since even if those are banked, they would expire before that time frame with a fall UY.

As far as MF's, those are based on the calendar year and not UY. If you buy in 2011, with 2011 UY points, you will most likely be asked to pay 2011 MF's.

The fact that you won't be traveling until late 2012, you really have a few months to look for the perfect contract. It takes about 2 months to buy resale and your 11 month window for traveling won't open until at least Dec, so as long as you find a great contract by August, you will be an owner in plenty of time.

Good luck!

 

[hauntedcity]

I'm in a similar situation now. I'm buying a contract that's at Disney now for ROFR review. It has a bunch of 2010 points banked up, and after spending so much money to purchase the contract, we really don't have the funds to cover tickets and transportation this year.

(As a side note, our whole plan has always been to bank up 2011 points, go next summer, and get a 2BR so that we can bring along my parents, who have always been so generous in the past sharing rooms with us.)​

Anyway, we found our desired contract at a great price, but it included points we won't be able to use. My hope is to rent out those 2010 points, which has the added benefit of helping cover the maintenance fees for this year.

Fingers crossed on ROFR and point rental!

Doug

 

[free888]

Thanks everyone! I went with the suggestion of an October UY, and just had an offer accepted on a contract that starts with a 2011 UY. I'm paying closing and MF, but at $50/point I'm ok with that. Now crossing my fingers for ROFR.