Planning for a trip that would happen either at the END of 2025 UY or the BEGINNING of 2026 UY

[RivGirl]

Still relatively new to this; just asking for someone to check my DVC planning skills.

We have an October UY. We are looking into a trip that would happen either in September or October 2026, and would require a combo of our remaining 2025 points and some additional 2026 points.

If the trip is in September 2026, we would use our remaining 2025 points and borrow what was needed from 2026 points when making the reservation.

If the trip is in October 2026, we would bank our remaining 2025 points before the banking deadline, and use our 2026 points.

Is this correct?

I’m aware that as far as our UY year is concerned, the October trip is the “safer” choice to avoid points in holding. That’s probably what I’ll push for…

Anything else I should take into account?

 

[Sandisw]

That would be correct in terms of what you’d use.

But, points go into holding whenever you cancel or change a trip less than 31 days before check in.

The Sept trip is riskier because if you cancel it after May, the banking deadline, even if it avoids holding, those points, along with the borrowed points still have to be used by Sept 30th, 2025.

 

[RivGirl]

That would be correct in terms of what you’d use.

But, points go into holding whenever you cancel or change a trip less than 31 days before check in.

The Sept trip is riskier because if you cancel it after May, the banking deadline, even if it avoids holding, those points, along with the borrowed points still have to be used by Sept 30th, 2025.

Thank you for the correction and clarification! One of these days I’ll know it all stone cold…not there yet.

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

I agree that booking in October would definitely be the safer bet if you can manage it.

I did want to add something interesting about reservations that cross over both use years. Say for example, if you wanted to book a stay from 9/29-10/4, they would have to technically be two reservations (9/29-9/30 and 10/1-10/4) because they're coming from two separate pools of points. However, a neat thing you could do to avoid having to get up and have the fastest fingers twice is book the September days right at 8 am online, then call Member Services at 9 to add the October days. They can override the system manually up to 7 days total and also merge the reservations so you don't have to change rooms.