question about borrowed points and reservations

[jnrrt]

Hi all,

If I make a reservation that would use all of my current points and I would need to borrow some from the next year as well, when would they be borrowed? At the time of the reservation, or at the time of the trip? Or at the 30 day mark?

I'm asking because we may have to cancel or alter the trip because of a family member's medical condition, and I wonder what happens to those borrowed points then. Do they go back to their original year if I cancel 30 days ahead? Or do they stay borrowed into this year?

Thanks for your help.

 

[RobDoc]

The points will be "borrowed" at the time you make the reseravation. Once borrowed they must remain in the year into which they were moved.

If you later cancel the reservation those points will remain in that Use Year. If you simply modify the reservation, using fewer points than originally, just have MS use the borrowed points for the remaining reservation and you can still bank the now-unused points from that Use Year.

Enjoy!

 

[jel0511]

Points are borrowed at the time the reservation is made and it's a final transaction. Those borrowed points, if you cancel the reservation, would remain in your current use year and would have to be used by the end of your use year or would expire. Also, if you cancel 31 days or earlier prior to check-in all points become holding points and can not be used for DVC resorts, unless the reservations are 60 days or less away from check-in date.

 

[tjkraz]

They are borrowed at the time of the reservation and cannot be returned to the old Use Year or banked. If you have to cancel, they are considered current year points and must be used by the end of the UY or they are forfeit.

You mentioned a family member's medical condition. DVC has been known to make exceptions in dire situations, but I wouldn't recommend going into the situation expecting that.

Note that if the situation is such that you may still take the trip, but would be downgrading to a smaller room, pending availability this can be accommodated. If you need to re-book, you can instruct DVC to use the borrowed points first, and then bank any excess current year points into the next year. All of this is, of course, subject to the normal guidelines which dictate that you have to re-schedule at least 31 days prior to check-in and the point banking rules.

 

[jnrrt]

The points will be "borrowed" at the time you make the reseravation. Once borrowed they must remain in the year into which they were moved.

If you later cancel the reservation those points will remain in that Use Year. If you simply modify the reservation, using fewer points than originally, just have MS use the borrowed points for the remaining reservation and you can still bank the now-unused points from that Use Year.

Enjoy!

Wow, Doc, you're smart! I love having someone else think of all the ins and outs for me!

 

[jnrrt]

Points are borrowed at the time the reservation is made and it's a final transaction. Those borrowed points, if you cancel the reservation, would remain in your current use year and would have to be used by the end of your use year or would expire. Also, if you cancel 31 days or earlier prior to check-in all points become holding points and can not be used for DVC resorts, unless the reservations are 60 days or less away from check-in date.

How hard is it to get something withing the 60 day window? And does that mean you can use them for something else further out, just not DVC?

 

[jel0511]

How hard is it to get something withing the 60 day window? And does that mean you can use them for something else further out, just not DVC?

Depending on the time of year, it can be almost impossible. Like trying to go during the first two weeks of December, any holiday period, Food and Wine festival, holiday weekends... You get the picture. You can use the points at any of the concierge collection or disney collection hotels when they are in holding. I also believe you can deposit them with II for a trade at a later time.

 

[CarolMN]

How hard is it to get something withing the 60 day window? And does that mean you can use them for something else further out, just not DVC?

I am not sure about the rules for II / World Passport Collection, but you still have to book something within 60 days of your planned arrival to use holding points for something in one of the other "Collections". (For example, the GF, DCL, Conceirge Collection options, etc.) And you can't ever use DVC points to make a reservation for a non-DVC resort during the last two months of your use year (except maybe an II trade).

DVC pays for non-DVC options by renting out the equivalent number of points to get cash (or for II, deposits DVC time for a trade). There has to be availability at one of the DVC resorts for them to do it.

Again, there may be different rules for II trades - if someone here doesn't know for sure about that, you'll have to call MS and ask.

Best wishes -

 

[tjkraz]

60 days out I'm sure you'd be able to get SOMETHING just about any time of year--you just won't have the luxury of being very selective about the resort.