Reservation Point Expiration

[zcasper]

I have a question for the group. I have reservations at the Grand Floridian for 5 nights in August. I borrowed 33 points from next year (I have a December use year).

Now I need to cancel because I may end up in Australia during that time.

I know that the reservation points cannot be banked so that means I will lose them in December. My question is what date in December. Would I still be able to travel on these points in December or do they expire on December 1st?

Thanks in advanced,

Zach

 

[Caskbill]

I have a question for the group. I have reservations at the Grand Floridian for 5 nights in August. I borrowed 33 points from next year (I have a December use year).

Now I need to cancel because I may end up in Australia during that time.

I know that the reservation points cannot be banked so that means I will lose them in December. My question is what date in December. Would I still be able to travel on these points in December or do they expire on December 1st?

Thanks in advanced,

Zach

First, remember that ALL the points for the cancelled GF stay are converted to Reservation points, not just the 33 points you borrowed. Depending on room category and what nights (weekend/weekday) you originally reserved, that's anywhere from 195 points (M-F Garden View) to 443 points (Concierge, including a weekend stay)

Second, it appears you have a December Use Year. The points must be used for a stay that is completed by Nov 30th, 2005. None of your stay may be within your December month.

Third, the 60 day rule applies. This means you must make the new reservation sometime before 60 days from the end of your use year. In other words, you must make the reservation on or before Sept 30th, 2005.

Fourth, the points cannot be used for a DVC stay. They can only be used for one of the outside collections.

If you're going to have trouble using them before Nov 30th, then your best bet is to put them into the World Passport Collection for an II exchange. Those exchanges are for 7-day increments so you may have to add additional points to meet one of the plateau levels: 124, 144, 160, 207, 252, or 270 point exchanges. There is also a $75 fee. The good news is that then you can have up to 2-years to use the exchange.

Hope this helps.

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip)...Third, the 60 day rule applies. This means you must make the new reservation sometime before 60 days from the end of your use year. In other words, you must make the reservation on or before Sept 30th, 2005.

In this case the 60 day rule does not apply. Since the OP already has the reservations, DVC/MS has already arranged to send the equivalent number of DVC resort nights to CRO to rent. The 60 day rule only applies to the first non-DVC reservation a member makes - not subsequent changes between non-DVC options. The OP should try to cancel more than 31 days prior to arrival if at all possible to avoid the holding account, though.

...(If you're going to have trouble using them before Nov 30th, then your best bet is to put them into the World Passport Collection for an II exchange. Those exchanges are for 7-day increments so you may have to add additional points to meet one of the plateau levels: 124, 144, 160, 207, 252, or 270 point exchanges. There is also a $75 fee. The good news is that then you can have up to 2-years to use the exchange.

Hope this helps.

The OP cannot use reservation points for an II exchange. DVC/MS has to deposit DVC resort time into II to trade for an exchange. The "DVC time" was already used when the OP made the initial GF reservation.


Best wishes -

 

[Caskbill]

OK, I can see where the 60-day rule doesn't apply. However I'm sure points never go back as Holding points as if cancelling a DVC-reservation at less than 31 days. Cancellation policy for Disney Collection is 6 or more days prior to arrival, reservation points are returned to your account. 5 days or less, and all reservation points are forfeited. Reservation points cannot be banked and will expire at the end of the use year.

Carol is correct on the II reservation. I missed the fine print. "Restored Reservation Points may not be used for Disney Vacation Club Resorts or World Passport Collection exchanges and will expire at the end of your Use Year." So it appears your only two choices are the Disney Collection or the Concierge Collection.

So if you cancel at least 6 nights before your arrival date, you can make a new reservation as long as the points are used by Nov 30th.

 

[CarolMN]

Well between the two of us, I think we finally got it right! Hope the OP is still reading.

Best wishes -

 

[zcasper]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

Zach