Points usage question

[TravelMommy]

Is it possible to bank, use and borrow points so that say you wanted to buy a small contract at a different resort, so you could go there every three years? TIA

 

[kenspidey]

Is it possible to bank, use and borrow points so that say you wanted to buy a small contract at a different resort, so you could go there every three years? TIA

Yes and that's what a lot of people do.

 

[Breyean]

Is it possible to bank, use and borrow points so that say you wanted to buy a small contract at a different resort, so you could go there every three years? TIA

Yes. You can use banked and borrow points to go along with your current UY's. So three years of points for one reservation, if you time the trip right.

Keep in mind, if you are buying at a different resort from where you currently own, points retain their home resort 11 month booking advantage. So you could only use points at resort A for a reservation at resort A at 11 months. Points you own at resort B could only be used at 11 months for resort B reservations. At 7 months you can combine all points for all resorts.

 

[chalee94]

Is it possible to bank, use and borrow points so that say you wanted to buy a small contract at a different resort, so you could go there every three years? TIA

sure, but remember that if you need to cancel that trip, only the current pts from that reservation might still have the option of being banked into the next use year (so long as you bank them before your banking window closes).

all the banked and borrowed pts used in that reservation are stuck in that use year and will expire if not used for a stay by the end of that use year.

 

[DisK]

Also remember that you're paying dues on the 2 years you don't go!

 

[JimMIA]

Also remember that you're paying dues on the 2 years you don't go!

True, but there are two ways to look at that:

1. You OWN at that resort, and the obligation to pay for the operations of that resort are one of the things you agreed to when you purchased.
2. You ARE USING the points associated with those years, even if you don't go.

Any way you slice it, banking/borrowing is a good thing.

 

[Dean]

Is it possible to bank, use and borrow points so that say you wanted to buy a small contract at a different resort, so you could go there every three years? TIA

That can be a good way to get access to difficult to reserve resorts but it also puts you in the mode of using banked and borrowed points consistently. This increases your risk and potentially increases your cost. I wouldn't try to get multiple small contracts but maybe have a main contract and a smaller one that's esp. difficult or important. There are those who have bought enough points at multiple resorts to reserve routinely without so much banking/borrowing but that's a lot of points and a very high cost. In general I'd go with a single resort going in and only add once you truly know the system and what your preferences truly are. In general I'd far rather one buy too few points or a cheaper resort than too many points or an expensive resort they'll only use part of the time. Obviously there are a lot of variables.

 

[disneypoor]

Our main set of points is with BLT. We added on a smaller contract at Aulani and have enough points to bank and borrow and make that trip every three years. We have been to Hawaii several times and know we want to continue to go, but with the cost of airfare, we knew we wouldn't be making that trip every year. It has worked fine for us to bank and borrow, but we only use our Aulani points for Aulani.

Susan

 

[TravelMommy]

You guys are great!! I really want to buy a small contract at OKW and I have never banked before (other than a few points here and there). For anyone whose home resort is OKW, what do you like best about it?? TIA!!

 

[Disneyepcot]

You guys are great!! I really want to buy a small contract at OKW and I have never banked before (other than a few points here and there). For anyone whose home resort is OKW, what do you like best about it?? TIA!!

Even though it is not my home resort, I love the boat ride to DD. I love being on the golf course. I love having 2 double beds in the standard studio. I love walking the dockside.

 

[chalee94]

Even though it is not my home resort, I love the boat ride to DD. I love being on the golf course. I love having 2 double beds in the standard studio. I love walking the dockside.

it's actually 2 queen-size beds in the studios. but yeah, it's the oldest resort so the trees and landscaping are mature...very beautiful. all of the villas are relatively large - the 1BR is nearly 1000 sq feet. the buses have been reliable in my experience - no problems at all. the point costs are low and i like that it's a fairly quiet resort, removed from the noise and energy of the parks.

 

[TravelMommy]

We are doing more "research" next year. Really like the look and laid back feel to the resort. The bigger rooms and bedding are a great perk.Thanks again for all the helpful replies

 

[drusba]

As to the original question whether you can bank, borrow, and use current points and just go every three years, the answer is yes with a caveat that you might lose some points doing that. Assume you buy 50 points in 2013 and bank them so that during the 2014 use year, you can use those, plus the 2014 use year points and borrow from the 2015 year, and thus have 150 points to use for a trip during the 2014 use year. The issue you face is that you may not find a room reservation that costs exactly 150 points. Thus, if the reservation you can get costs, for example, 145 points, you will have 5 left that you would not borrow from your 2015 use year, but those can only be banked into your 2016 use and would have to be used before the end of the 2016 use year. Since your next "every three year" trip would not happen until the 2017 use year you would lose those 5 points absent finding someone to transfer them to who will actually do a transfer and pay something for 5 points (that person may be real difficult to find).

 

[kenspidey]

As to the original question whether you can bank, borrow, and use current points and just go every three years, the answer is yes with a caveat that you might lose some points doing that. Assume you buy 50 points in 2013 and bank them so that during the 2014 use year, you can use those, plus the 2014 use year points and borrow from the 2015 year, and thus have 150 points to use for a trip during the 2014 use year. The issue you face is that you may not find a room reservation that costs exactly 150 points. Thus, if the reservation you can get costs, for example, 145 points, you will have 5 left that you would not borrow from your 2015 use year, but those can only be banked into your 2016 use and would have to be used before the end of the 2016 use year. Since your next "every three year" trip would not happen until the 2017 use year you would lose those 5 points absent finding someone to transfer them to who will actually do a transfer and pay something for 5 points (that person may be real difficult to find).

This is where buying the extra 25 points from Disney can come really handy and keep you from losing points as long as you plan properly

 

[Dean]

This is where buying the extra 25 points from Disney can come really handy and keep you from losing points as long as you plan properly

You lost me. If one truly goes ONLY every 3 years, there is always going to be the risk of losing a few points and/or being a few short. Even if one buys exactly the right amount for a given resort based on current charts to go every 3 years, any resort changes and any reallocation will throw you off. Even start day of the week changes or season variations could sabotage this plan. You've really got to go at least 2 times every 5 years with a year in between to avoid the points creep issue. The only other way to avoid this would be to straddle the UY to use 4 years worth of points in one trip.

 

[kenspidey]

You lost me. If one truly goes ONLY every 3 years, there is always going to be the risk of losing a few points and/or being a few short. Even if one buys exactly the right amount for a given resort based on current charts to go every 3 years, any resort changes and any reallocation will throw you off. Even start day of the week changes or season variations could sabotage this plan. You've really got to go at least 2 times every 5 years with a year in between to avoid the points creep issue. The only other way to avoid this would be to straddle the UY to use 4 years worth of points in one trip.

You are forgetting about the one time use year points available from Disney for $15 each. If you maximize you points and always use just enough one time use points every trip you can make it work.

 

[Dean]

You are forgetting about the one time use year points available from Disney for $15 each. If you maximize you points and always use just enough one time use points every trip you can make it work.

OK, thanks. However, you can't buy 25 but only 24 which is why I couldn't follow the thinking. Plus you can only use those 7 months out adding dramatic dramatic additional risk to the equation. A similar but better approach is likely to own roughly 2/3 of what's needed every 3 years and get a periodic transfer for the home resort in question.

 

[kenspidey]

OK, thanks. However, you can't buy 25 but only 24 which is why I couldn't follow the thinking. Plus you can only use those 7 months out adding dramatic dramatic additional risk to the equation. A similar but better approach is likely to own roughly 2/3 of what's needed every 3 years and get a periodic transfer for the home resort in question.

Agreed, it is only 24 and the 7 months is a hurdle but not insurmountable especially if your are willing to do split stays. We essentially agree and having 2/3 of what's needed does make it easier to manage.

 

[Dean]

Agreed, it is only 24 and the 7 months is a hurdle but not insurmountable especially if your are willing to do split stays. We essentially agree and having 2/3 of what's needed does make it easier to manage.

IMO it is about as close to unworkable for the situation in question as possible. What happens if it doesn't work out would be the question. You're already in a situation where you need the planets to align to make it work out and you want to wait until 7 months out and hope it does. I personally wouldn't put myself in that situation if my circumstances dictated a once every 3 year trip and nothing else even with reserving what I could at 11 months out. We don't really know if the option will be there long term. Where the one time purchase points could come into play would be if one had enough to reserve at 11 months out but needed more to change at 7 months out. I also suspect that a higher % of those doing this would be looking at studios that the general membership which further complicates factors. I also wonder if a larger % of them haven't targeted BWV standard, AKV value and BLT standard than the general membership.

 

[MouseMomx2]

OP...keep in mind that it is always easiest if you buy add-on contracts in the same Use Year as your initial contract. While you plan to use these points only for OKW, the time may come when you want to use them in combination with your other points. If they are not in the same UY you will need to transfer them between contracts to do this. Since members only get one transfer per year, having all of your points in the same UY makes everything a bit easier.