Rule of Four...

[nunzia]

OK..I am once again fuzzy about the rule of four thing and just read (ok skimmed) all 16 pages of the online handbook. Can someone give me this rule in a nutshell again?

 

[Deb & Bill]

You have to bank any current year points before the last four months of your UY.

During the last four months of your UY, you cannot book something outside DCV (except for maybe RCI) and stay during the same last four months.

 

[Sammie]

You cannot book and travel on Disney Collection, Concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection vacations within the last four months of your Use Year.

You can however travel in the last 4 months of your Use Year as long as you booked your stay more than 4 months before the end of your Use Year.

This rule only affects Disney Collection, Concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection vacations.

 

[nunzia]

AHH! That was what I was thinking..you can book and travel at DVC..but NOT outside DVC..sooo..I could book at travel at VGC but NOT DLH...got it...so, since I live closer to DLR and if I forgot and got stuck with points I didn't bank, if I couldn't get to WDW or VB or HH (since VGC would most likely be full) then I'd lose my points if I couldn't rent them.

 

[CarolMN]

AHH! That was what I was thinking..you can book and travel at DVC..but NOT outside DVC..sooo..I could book at travel at VGC but NOT DLH...got it...so, since I live closer to DLR and if I forgot and got stuck with points I didn't bank, if I couldn't get to WDW or VB or HH (since VGC would most likely be full) then I'd lose my points if I couldn't rent them.

The Rule of Four does NOT apply to the Disneyland Resort hotels or the Tokyo Disney Resort. Special exception. Don't know how long the exception will last.

 

[Sammie]

Yep Carol is correct, I did not include that exclusion as I was not aware you were interested in Disneyland and was afraid it would complicate things.

Glad you got it straight, it can get very confusing at times.

 

[nunzia]

The Rule of Four does NOT apply to the Disneyland Resort hotels or the Tokyo Disney Resort. Special exception. Don't know how long the exception will last.

That is good to know since there aren't DVC options at DLR. Thanks

 

[oldkey1]

You have to bank any current year points before the last four months of your UY.

During the last four months of your UY, you cannot book something outside DCV (except for maybe RCI) and stay during the same last four months.

...and in a call to MS I was told I could also use RCI - by either spending points on a per night basis with those RCI properties allowing per night reservations (before the end of my use year) or I could deposit points equal to a week stay according to the RCI chart and then have two years to use that depost according to the current RCI property lising and rules.

At the time, depositing points with RCI seemed like the least amount of work while potentially getting a good value for my points - certainly way better than losing them. Be careful, though, the number of available resorts is smaller than I would have expected....a very small pecentage of the total RCI portfolio, concentrating on "high end" RCI properties.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...and in a call to MS I was told I could also use RCI - by either spending points on a per night basis with those RCI properties allowing per night reservations (before the end of my use year) or I could deposit points equal to a week stay according to the RCI chart and then have two years to use that depost according to the current RCI property lising and rules.

At the time, depositing points with RCI seemed like the least amount of work while potentially getting a good value for my points - certainly way better than losing them. Be careful, though, the number of available resorts is smaller than I would have expected....a very small pecentage of the total RCI portfolio, concentrating on "high end" RCI properties.

Yes, you can deposit with RCI during the last four months of your UY because DVC doesn't have to pay for that. It's a trade out with RCI.

 

[magnusflorida]

I find the "Rule Of 4" confusing as well, and a little frustrating. Does anyone know DVC's reason behind making this rule? I feel like if I have the points available, I should be able to use them when I want to, regardless of where I am in my use year.

I completely understand "based on availability" and I can't book something that's already booked by other members. But let's say tonight that there is an available studio at Kidani. If another member calls to book it for tonight they can do so. But I can't do that exact same thing, because of where I'm at in my use year? I don't get it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I find the "Rule Of 4" confusing as well, and a little frustrating. Does anyone know DVC's reason behind making this rule? I feel like if I have the points available, I should be able to use them when I want to, regardless of where I am in my use year.

I completely understand "based on availability" and I can't book something that's already booked by other members. But let's say tonight that there is an available studio at Kidani. If another member calls to book it for tonight they can do so. But I can't do that exact same thing, because of where I'm at in my use year? I don't get it.

Because DVC has to have time to recover the cost of your trip (that they have to pay for) by selling your points at Disney Reservation Center. That's for all the non-DVC, non-RCI trips. DVC is an even swap. Same for RCI.

You can book a studio at KV tonight for tomorrow. That's not non-DVC, non-RCI.

 

[CarolMN]

I find the "Rule Of 4" confusing as well, and a little frustrating. Does anyone know DVC's reason behind making this rule? I feel like if I have the points available, I should be able to use them when I want to, regardless of where I am in my use year.

I completely understand "based on availability" and I can't book something that's already booked by other members. But let's say tonight that there is an available studio at Kidani. If another member calls to book it for tonight they can do so. But I can't do that exact same thing, because of where I'm at in my use year? I don't get it.

The rule of four does NOT apply to booking DVC resorts. You can book those at any time during your use year, subject to having enough points andd subject to availability.

The Rule of Four only applies to booking non-DVC options in the Disney Collection, the Concierge Collection and the Adventurer's Collection. As noted, the DLH,& PP resorts in Disneyland are exempt frm the Rule.

Again, the RUle of Four doe not apply to booking a DVC resort.

 

[magnusflorida]

Ok I don't know how I had that so wrong!! Thanks for sorting it out for me!!