Points are used during the trip, not at the reservation, right?

[rutgers1]

New to DVC. We just bought and banked our developers points since they literally gave us one week to use or bank them. I think I have a September UY.

In DVCmember.com, this is what it says for my September 2008 UY:

Total Annual Allotment of Vacation Points: 210
Total Vacation Points Remaining: 420
Total Vacation Points Available to Bank: 210
Total Vacation Points Available to Borrow: 210

I assume that 210 is what I just banked, and the other 210 (totaling 420) is the new points I get on September 1.

So, let me know if I am right here:
1) Since I already banked 210, I have until August 31 of 2009 to use those previously banked points or I lose them?
2) I could use the new 210 from this September, or bank them.
3) I have to make the decision to bank (the new points) by the end of April 2009, at the latest.

So, when do they deduct points from your total, at the time that you make a reservation, or when the trip occurs? For example, I technically currently have no points available to me since I banked my developers points, unless I were to borrow against next year. Would I have to borrow to make a reservation, or would they look ahead and know that I will have plenty of points available by the time that I take a trip next year? For me, this whole thing gets a bit confusing when you are in one UY and making reservations for a different UY.

I hope this makes sense? I don't want to lose my points and have my family run me out of town!

 

[LakeAriel]

It is confusing and it takes time to feel comfortable with it..I had the same worry the first year or two...When you make the reservation (let's say 11 months out) the points are tied up, but from the alottment you have at the time of that trip... I hope that explains it..

Example..I have a December use year and no points left. I need to book a trip for April of 2009..I call, they see more points will come available in December and use those to book my trip.

 

[rutgers1]

That helps a ton. Thanks!

 

[LakeAriel]

You're welcome and enjoy every moment of membership!

 

[SWB]

It is confusing and it takes time to feel comfortable with it..I had the same worry the first year or two...When you make the reservation (let's say 11 months out) the points are tied up, but from the alottment you have at the time of that trip... I hope that explains it..

Example..I have a December use year and no points left. I need to book a trip for April of 2009..I call, they see more points will come available in December and use those to book my trip.

I think I understand but I want to make sure - your example - the trip you book now for April 2009. At the time of the reservation, MS sees you do not have any current points but does see you will have enough available in Dec. Those points are not borrowed for the reservation are they? I don't think so but I wanted to make sure.

And if you needed to cancel the April 2009 trip, those points would be available to bank as long as you canceled 30 days or greater from the start of your trip?

Thanks

 

[DebbieB]

I think part of the confusion is the sentence "they see more points will come available in December and use those to book my trip". Points for future use years are already in your account. They don't "deposit" when your use year starts. They look at the use year your dates of stay are in and what points are available for that use year. So if your date of stay is within your 2008 use year, you can borrow 2009 points regardless of when you make your reservation.