Point Usage Question

[gaphano4451]

Okay wise Disboard, I need some advice…

New member who’s planning a big trip! I am taking 12 of us, (three generations) down to GFV in September. We will be staying in a Grand Villa as long as it remains available at the 7 month window. I have more than enough points to cover, just wondering which i should use first. I have two contracts, one Aug. use year at Animal Kingdom 180 points. 2014 points are banked, and all future years are available. Second contract is at GFV, February use year, 160 points. 85 points banked from 2014, and all future years remaining. The reservation will cost 600 points total for our dates. Should I use all 2014 and 2015 points from both contract, or should I use all the Animal kingdom points 2014, 2015, and borrow 2016, and then transfer the remaining 40 from GFV to cover the need. We do not have any scheduled trips needed in the future. We would love to be able to come back yearly (not the entire family, and not using 600 points.) Basically Im asking if people would use the “cheaper” points first and then use the GFV points later? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

For informational purposes, I am 29, with no children currently of my own (no one to promise a trip to every year). I have a niece and a nephew who I have taken to disney 2 times in the last 3 years, and I recently bought the contracts to be able to take my family, either all together, or just who ever is available.

Thanks all

Cheers,
--Stephanie

 

[Deb & Bill]

Okay wise Disboard, I need some advice…

New member who’s planning a big trip! I am taking 12 of us, (three generations) down to GFV in September. We will be staying in a Grand Villa as long as it remains available at the 7 month window. I have more than enough points to cover, just wondering which i should use first. I have two contracts, one Aug. use year at Animal Kingdom 180 points. 2014 points are banked, and all future years are available. Second contract is at GFV, February use year, 160 points. 85 points banked from 2014, and all future years remaining. The reservation will cost 600 points total for our dates. Should I use all 2014 and 2015 points from both contract, or should I use all the Animal kingdom points 2014, 2015, and borrow 2016, and then transfer the remaining 40 from GFV to cover the need. We do not have any scheduled trips needed in the future. We would love to be able to come back yearly (not the entire family, and not using 600 points.) Basically Im asking if people would use the “cheaper” points first and then use the GFV points later? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

For informational purposes, I am 29, with no children currently of my own (no one to promise a trip to every year). I have a niece and a nephew who I have taken to disney 2 times in the last 3 years, and I recently bought the contracts to be able to take my family, either all together, or just who ever is available.

Thanks all

Cheers,
--Stephanie

When I booked a GV, I booked what I could with home resort points at 11 months out. Then added on another night with non-home points at seven months out. I thought my odds were better to get six nights for sure instead of not knowing.

I'd book with as many GFV points as possible now and add on at seven months.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

That sounds like WISE advice to me. ^^^

I wouldn't put that much confidence in those few GVs being out there at 7 months if I had enough points to do ANY of it at 11.

 

[mort1331]

Its a very wise choice. But would you also not be able to say at the 7 or 6 month mark as for a point reallocation. That way I would use my AKL points and save the VGF points in case you want 11 month advantage there next year.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Its a very wise choice. But would you also not be able to say at the 7 or 6 month mark as for a point reallocation. That way I would use my AKL points and save the VGF points in case you want 11 month advantage there next year.

Can't do that. That defeats the purpose of home resort advantage. You could only replace home resort points with home resort points at seven months. Unless the GV was still available for non-home resort points.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Boy if you could do that, I could see myself riding that pony more than once.

(Which is exactly why you can't do that, obviously.)

 

[mort1331]

Can't do that. That defeats the purpose of home resort advantage. You could only replace home resort points with home resort points at seven months. Unless the GV was still available for non-home resort points.

Sorry thats what I meant. If there was availability. But also couldnt you if you had the GV booked with you home points in theory "risk" for 2 mins and with a CM have the switch by letting it go say at 6 months then rebook with your other resort? I dont think it would be too much of a risk after the 7 month mark has passed and those people waiting for it picked up their resorts.
I know I am clear as mud, as per my DW.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Sorry thats what I meant. If there was availability. But also couldnt you if you had the GV booked with you home points in theory "risk" for 2 mins and with a CM have the switch by letting it go say at 6 months then rebook with your other resort? I dont think it would be too much of a risk after the 7 month mark has passed and those people waiting for it picked up their resorts.
I know I am clear as mud, as per my DW.

I can't imagine taking that risk especially with waitlists pending for God only knows how many people but that's up to you.

My opinion? You will lose. I think your odds are better pulling a number at the roulette wheel but others may disagree. You rolls the dice and you takes your chances.

Fundamentally: Once you cancel that initial (11 month) reservation, it never happened. That's free pool for anybody in line. Not good odds IMHO if I'm understanding what you're saying.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Sorry thats what I meant. If there was availability. But also couldnt you if you had the GV booked with you home points in theory "risk" for 2 mins and with a CM have the switch by letting it go say at 6 months then rebook with your other resort? I dont think it would be too much of a risk after the 7 month mark has passed and those people waiting for it picked up their resorts.
I know I am clear as mud, as per my DW.

This is one rule that cast members universally enforce, at least in my experience. You're very unlikely to find a cast member who will do anything extraordinary to re-book your reservation to bypass the home resort advantage. You certainly won't get a supervisor's approval to hold the room, which is what's required when they do that. As soon as the first reservation is cancelled, the room is fair game to any pending waitlist requests. Even if it only takes a minute, a popular and rare unit like a GV is likely to be lost before the new booking can be made.

 

[Dean]

There are a couple of options one can try right at the 7 month window when one owns both VGF and other points. One is to book the first few days using the VGF points and then if there is availability when the 7 month window opens for that time, book as much as possible with non VGF points and cancel the VGF points booking then rebook the next few days with the VGF points. One can also use the same technique as walking here as well. The other is to book with VGF and then cancel and immediately rebook with non VGF points.

 

[Judique]

Okay wise Disboard, I need some advice…

New member who’s planning a big trip! I am taking 12 of us, (three generations) down to GFV in September. We will be staying in a Grand Villa as long as it remains available at the 7 month window. I have more than enough points to cover, just wondering which i should use first. I have two contracts, one Aug. use year at Animal Kingdom 180 points. 2014 points are banked, and all future years are available. Second contract is at GFV, February use year, 160 points. 85 points banked from 2014, and all future years remaining. The reservation will cost 600 points total for our dates. Should I use all 2014 and 2015 points from both contract, or should I use all the Animal kingdom points 2014, 2015, and borrow 2016, and then transfer the remaining 40 from GFV to cover the need. We do not have any scheduled trips needed in the future. We would love to be able to come back yearly (not the entire family, and not using 600 points.) Basically Im asking if people would use the “cheaper” points first and then use the GFV points later? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

For informational purposes, I am 29, with no children currently of my own (no one to promise a trip to every year). I have a niece and a nephew who I have taken to disney 2 times in the last 3 years, and I recently bought the contracts to be able to take my family, either all together, or just who ever is available.

Thanks all

Cheers,
--Stephanie

I would first use my 2014 banked and my 2015 GFV points to start the reservation now. From what the point chart shows that gives you enough for 2 nights. I would not borrow in any of my GFV points unless at the 7 month mark it looked like the room would be gone. I would try to get rid of my banked AKV points. After that, I would determine what my 'next' trip was going to be to decide which points to use.

It's not an issue of what the points cost once you own them - it is an issue of which 11 month advantage you want to keep available. So that means projecting your possible trips out for a bit.

Enjoy and good luck!