Question about borrowing/one time use points?

[buzzrelly]

Hi all,

My date is fast approaching to make our first reservation as members. I have a question for you all before I do this though. I banked 160 points from 2013 and I'll get another 160 in December 2014. I am going to book BLT for April 2015. I was planning on booking 7 nights for 301 points, but am now considering booking 8 nights, which would be 363 points. If I book the 8 nights, I can borrow from my December 2015 points, correct? Could I then at 7 months purchase the 24 one time use points, so that I wouldn't have to borrow so many points?

If I can't do this NOW, could I add a night on at 7 months (assuming it is available) and do it then?

Can I book the reservation online even if I have to borrow points?

Any other ideas?

Thanks!!

 

[vicki_c]

Yes you can borrow the 2015 points but you can't later put them back into 2015.

You can wait until the 7 month window to book the 8th night and buy one time use points then.

 

[buzzrelly]

Yes you can borrow the 2015 points but you can't later put them back into 2015.

You can wait until the 7 month window to book the 8th night and buy one time use points then.

Thank you. So my original plan was to go to "The Dark Side" for Thursday to Sunday, and then move to BLT on Sunday until the following Sunday. But if I added an extra night, I would check into BLT on the previous Saturday. I think what I will do is just forge ahead with my original plan, and then at 7 months, see if that Saturday is available and maybe try to get the one-time-use points then. Orrrr….Could I actually book the 8 nights now, and then at 7 months, drop the Saturday so it is available, and then re-book it? Is that crazy? Would that even work?

 

[Msmithmd]

Stop over-thinking it. Book the reservation you want now, borrowing the needed 2015 points.

Otherwise you might end up with no reservation for that extra night and have to change rooms or resorts. Then if you are short points for the future, either buy more points to own, rent your next reservation from another member, or stay at a cheaper point DVC on that trip.

Waiting to try to get one night at seven months, when you have the points available to make the reservation before seven months, is unnecessary stress in my opinion.

Book your vacation now and be happy. You can worry about 2016 and beyond at a much later date...

 

[buzzrelly]

Stop over-thinking it. Book the reservation you want now, borrowing the needed 2015 points.

Otherwise you might end up with no reservation for that extra night and have to change rooms or resorts. Then if you are short points for the future, either buy more points to own, rent your next reservation from another member, or stay at a cheaper point DVC on that trip.

Waiting to try to get one night at seven months, when you have the points available to make the reservation before seven months, is unnecessary stress in my opinion.

Book your vacation now and be happy. You can worry about 2016 and beyond at a much later date...

Ack! Thank you! I think you're right…I am TOTALLY over-thinking this! Can you tell I'm a newbie?? I am trying to plan my first 3 trips and trying to figure out how many points I'd need to save/borrow, etc… I think you're right though, I should just concentrate on this first one and be done with it. I was going to spend 3 nights at Universal and then 7 nights at BLT, but then someone told me that 3 nights at Universal is too much, and that I could spend one day at each one. That's what made me think that maybe I should do 2 nights at Universal, and 8 nights at BLT. The idea really appealed to me but I was worried about the points. I guess I shouldn't be, huh? Do most of you just kind of go with the flow and plan one trip at a time, instead of worrying about having enough points for another trip 2 years from now? Now that I say it, it does seem kind of crazy. Thanks for the dose of reality!

 

[buzzrelly]

Sorry…another question. Can I book online if I am borrowing points, or do I need to call MS? Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

Borrowing points can be done online.

 

[buzzrelly]

Thanks everyone. I booked this morning...yippee! I didn't actually end up having to do the whole borrowing thing yet, because I didn't realize I could not book the eighth night online. I'll have to call tomorrow to add that night and I'm sure MS can help me with the borrowing. Thanks for the advice and help!