Probably a silly question RE: Using Points

[Kiren]

So here's my question. We just purchased direct for 50 points at Poly and part of their explanation was that we could bank our 2015 points (which I've done) and then borrow 2017's for a stay in GCV. But now that I'm thinking about it a bit more I don't think it makes any sense. We told them our next trip was planned for November 2017 and they said it would work but I can't book that early in advance before our points 'expire'. So were we lied to or is there something I'm just not getting?

Edited to clarify the question a bit more.

 

[Grumpy6264]

What Use Year do you have?

 

[Kiren]

December

 

[_auroraborealis_]

GCV is also a tough booking to get with Poly points at 7 months.

 

[Grumpy6264]

A November 2017 trip will fall in your 2016 Use Year, your points for 2016 will be valid for stays from December 1, 2016 thru November 30, 2017. So you will be banking your 2015 points into 2016 and borrow your December 2017 points into the 2016 use year for your trip.

 

[Kiren]

Thank you for clearing that up for me! I think I got the banking deadlines and booking deadlines all confused. (Also just realized that we are in fact well into 2016 already. WOW)

I actually heard about that and took a look a few days ago at what would be my 7 month mark for a dummy trip (January I think it was) And the only one that had a waitlist was the grand villas.

 

[Grumpy6264]

But you are only in your 2015 use year, which runs from December 1, 2015 thru November 30, 2016. Your 2016 use year will not start until December 1, 2016.

 

[Kiren]

I understand now. Thank you for clearing it up for me. It's like End Year for all my financials at work haha. So confusing sometimes!

 

[Cinderpamela]

For the GCV's at 7 months out just be sure to be online right when your booking window opens at 8 am eastern time and have your computer all logged in and ready to press the "book it now" button. If the dates are during any sort of runDisney event or other special Disney fan sort of thing it may be harder as the GCV owners will have booked at their 11 month window. It will help if you have some flexibility in your dates. 1 bedrooms are usually the easiest to get at 7 months out. For more tips and hints on booking and room requests check out the Grand Californian thread here: http://www.disboards.com/threads/th...-californian-owners-lovers-group-2-0.2592085/

 

[Sandisw]

And just a word of caution...traveling in November with a Dec UY is very risky if something happens and have to cancel. Any banked/borrowed points would expire November 30th, and unless the trip is cancelled before July 31st (the banking window for Dec UY), all current UY points will expire as well on that date.

If it is less than 31 days out, all points will go into holding, but still expire November 30th. If traveling in the fall is a typical time for you, you may want to consider a different UY, one that puts your travel within the first 8 months. If you travel at all different times, then just be aware of the drawbacks for traveling late in a UY!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thank you for clearing that up for me! I think I got the banking deadlines and booking deadlines all confused. (Also just realized that we are in fact well into 2016 already. WOW)

I actually heard about that and took a look a few days ago at what would be my 7 month mark for a dummy trip (January I think it was) And the only one that had a waitlist was the grand villas.

Keep in mind that Jan availability is nothing like the last 3 months of the year. But if online right at 8am at 7 months you will hopefully get a room. If you have to cancel though it could make things difficult as you'll have 3 years of points tied up in the reservation. Traveling in the last month of the UY is fine if you never have to cancel but pretty tough should you have to.

 

[Kiren]

So one more question. The Disney Collection has the 95.00 admin fee?

 

[disneynutz]

So one more question. The Disney Collection has the 95.00 admin fee?

A non-refundable $95 transition fee applies per confirmed Disney Collection (excluding Disneyland Resort hotels in California, The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground in Florida, and Tokyo Disney Resort hotels) and Concierge Collection reservations. If payment is not received at the time of confirmation, Disney Vacation Club reserves the right to cancel the reservation.

In addition availability may be limited and room inventory may be different than DVC and/or cash inventory.

Bill

 

[Plaquemine1]

If it is your first DVC Member trip, they will make room for you! Call them!

 

[Lynne M]

If it is your first DVC Member trip, they will make room for you! Call them!

Only if there's an available villa to put you into.

 

[maburke]

If it is your first DVC Member trip, they will make room for you! Call them!

For a trip 18 months after closing, at the smallest DVC resort? Not likely. That might happen at a resort where they can pull strings to get a room back from cash inventory, but I don't know that there is ever cash inventory at VGC.

 

[com_op_2000]

OP, get together a spreadsheet that you understand; nclude UY, points borrowed/banked, banking deadlines for the UY, trips planned and where the points will come from, and any other items you feel you may need. Especially with a Dec UY, keeping track of when the points are available to use, which UY you are traveling in, and other issues related to booking have been reported.

 

[Kiren]

Thank you so much everyone! We are going to try VGC but worst case scenario we will stay at DLR.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you so much everyone! We are going to try VGC but worst case scenario we will stay at DLR.

If you're going to use points for DLH, remember that once those points are used for that DLH reservation they are not usable for a proper DVC stay anymore. So just stop looking at the Grand once you choose to use points at PPH or DLH.

 

[Plaquemine1]

For a trip 18 months after closing, at the smallest DVC resort? Not likely. That might happen at a resort where they can pull strings to get a room back from cash inventory, but I don't know that there is ever cash inventory at VGC.

Hi, I called and they were completely booked solid for July 2-5th. Then the cast member told me she recognized we were new and this was our first trip, and booked us in! She said it is a courtesy they do for first bookings for new members.