Points Help Please.

[Sid74]

Hi,

I am a little confused right now, and am hoping someone can help me clarify things.

My aunt, who lived in Florida, suddenly passed away on the 24th March. The funeral was on Sunday 28th March and I needed to make sure that I got my mum from the UK to Florida for her sisters service. I sorted out emergency passports, plane reservations, then used my points to get what must have been one of the last DVC rooms on property.

Here is where the fun comes in.

I have a June use year. I banked 196 of my 200 points in January, so as not to lose them. I had used the other 4 for my trip in October 2009.

I borrowed from my June 2010 points for the reservation in March, leaving 48 points.

My planned vacation was for 2 weeks at OKW in a 1 bedroom for the first 2 weeks of December 2011. I have cut this to 11 days at OKW, and 3 days at an onsite hotel for cash.

I have to phone and make this reservation in January 2011, using my 48 points from 2010, and then borrowing almost all of my 200 points for my 2011 use year, as it will cost me 241 points.
DH would like to either add a day, so we have less time at the cash hotel, or change rooms at the 7 month window to try another resort, and this will take a possible 10 extra points.

Member Services have told me, on 2 occasions, that as my trip is after my 2011 use year starts I will be able to borrow from 2012 points if I want to. This is completely new to me, as I had always understood the rules to be that the points had to be available when you book, not when you travel.

Can someone please help me make sense of this, as it is messing with my planning for the next few years trips, as due to using the points for the emergency booking I am now borrowing points for the first time, and it is throwing my nice ordered plan for the next 4 years vacations out the window!

Thank you for any help.

 

[bumbershoot]

"I had always understood the rules to be that the points had to be available when you book, not when you travel."

Happily, nope! As long as you're in the booking window, you can use the points that will be available then, not just what you have now.


I'm sorry for the reason that this question has arisen, most definitely.

 

[chalee94]

Member Services have told me, on 2 occasions, that as my trip is after my 2011 use year starts I will be able to borrow from 2012 points if I want to. This is completely new to me, as I had always understood the rules to be that the points had to be available when you book, not when you travel.

when you travel, not when you book. that is correct.

so you call in jan 11 to book dec 11 and you have this available:

banked 2010 = 48
current 2011 = 200 (these are not "borrowed" they are "current" if used between june 2011 and may 2012)

borrowed 2012 = 200

for a total of 448 possible pts.

here is a good thread to read for more information.

 

[bookwormde]

Have you considered doing a DVC cash weekend night(s) which saves a lot of points rather than borrowing.

bookwormde

 

[Sid74]

Bumbershoot and Chalee94, thank you so much for helping to clarify the points situation. I have read through the whole 10 pages of the thread that was referred to, and now feel a lot more positive about trying to sort out the planning for our future vacations.

It has been a trying time, and the fact that I was worrying about whether my DH and I could actually take our planned first adults only, long belated Honeymoon trip, wasn't helping matters.

It was just feeling disrespectful that I was concerned about the points, as I have 196 that were banked, which I couldn't use, and I now have to try and use them in the next 12 months, when all of my future points had been accounted for for several years worth of vacations.

Bookwormde we stay at a value on our first night, as the plane doesn't get in until 4ish, and I don't want to waste points on a room that we won't get full value out of. DVC cash nights are a bit rich for my blood when we are perfectly happy with a Value, as we aren't in the room much, over the first few days at least, as we still commando tour for the first week. But thank you for the suggestion.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

here is a good thread to read for more information.

Thank you, it's a very useful and informative thread! Love the DIS!