Still confused about ad ons.

[Hillbilly]

After reading some other posts, I still am confused about ad ons. Let's just say for example that I already own a BCV for 200 points. If I were to buy another resale for another 200 points, would I be able to make reservations 11 months out for a 400 point alotment? I understand it is better to have the same use year. Do they even consider this an add on? Would I have two seperate accounts that I would need to transfer points each time I need them? Or will they combine accounts?

Or do I have to buy points from my guide to add on to my current allotment. Sorry if this is repetitive but I just don't quite understand how this would work.

 

[CRobin]

The answer is a definitive "Maybe"

This would depend upon your use year, and the use year of your add-on. If you were to buy an add-on via resale with a different use year, you would only get the 11 month booking window for each of the 2 contracts basis their respective use years, but would not be able to combine them to book 400 points at 11 months. If it happens to be the same use year, then you have the 11 month window for all 400 points.

MS has historically granted flexibility for an owner of multiple contracts to transfer between them, but you can never do this to take advantage of the 11 month booking window.

Good Luck!

 

[spiceycat]

if you buy through resale - it is other contract - that could have different use year - it is considered by DVC to be a different contract (not an add on).

and yes you could combine them for 400 points (again based on the use year being the same) - but with 2 contracts you will need to watch carefully the banking deadline.

an add-on is generally done through DVC - it can be another resort - just as long as your use year is the same - you can buy as little as 25 points add on if you are paying cash or charging it, 50 points for DVC to finance it, generally a 100 for whatever discount they are currently running. I try to buy enough for a studio for 5 days in off season.

so buying through DVC you can do an add on of SSR (I think this is the only one - maybe OKW) for 25 points if you want.

 

[CarolMN]

Assuming the add on was also for BCV, why wouldn't the OP be able to combine the two contracts to make a 400 point reservation at the 11 month window? Use year doesn't have anything to do with when you can make a reservation.

 

[tjkraz]

CRobin:

I don't think that's entirely correct. Use Year does not have ANY bearing on when you can make a reservation. It simply determines when you receive your annual allotment and your banking deadline.

If OP has both contracts at the SAME Home resort, regardless of Use Year, he/she should be able to make a reservation 11 months from departure. There may be some juggling of points due to the separate contracts, but booking 11 mos out should not be a problem.

Having different Use Years can be a hassle when it comes to banking deadlines. You need to be very clear on which contract points are pulled from when making a reservation so that you know to call and bank at the proper time.

Back to the OP's questions, there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying two separate contracts that have different Use Years. Again, it can be a headache. But there is nothing prohibiting you from going that route. *IF* you add-on direct from DVC (not resale) they will only sell you points with the same Use Year as your current contract. But there is nothing prohibiting you from picking-up another contract via resale with a different UY.

 

[spiceycat]

I don't think there is any add on left at BCV - I could be wrong - call your guide today to see.

if there is no problem at all

however if your use year in June and you get a use year that is Sept - but you want to make a reservation in July - now you see the problem....

plus the way the separate contract use - I think you must reserve a whole night using one contract - you can't use 6 points from one contract, and 6 points from another contract for a 12 point night stay. but you can bank and borrow - so just remember next year which contract you borrowed from and which you banked.

Now I could be very wrong on this - all my add on were from DVC.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by spiceycat
..(snip)....however if your use year in June and you get a use year that is Sept - but you want to make a reservation in July - now you see the problem....

plus the way the separate contract use - I think you must reserve a whole night using one contract - you can't use 6 points from one contract, and 6 points from another contract for a 12 point night stay. but you can bank and borrow - so just remember next year which contract you borrowed from and which you banked.

Now I could be very wrong on this - all my add on were from DVC.

It may be more complicated, but it isn't a problem.

Let's say you want to make a reservation for July 2004. One contract has a June use year and the other a September use year, but both are from the same home resort.

The July 2004 stay falls within the 2004 use year for the first contract (June use year), and it falls within the 2003 use year for the September contract. The 11 month window for the July 2004 stay opened in August 2003. At that time, to make a reservation that requires points from both contracts, you use points from the 2004 use year of the June contract and points from the 2003 use year of the September contract.

If necessary, you could also bank and borrow within each contract to get the required number of points in the proper use year for your stay.

To repeat, it is more complicated with different use years, but it can be done. You do not lose the 11 month advantage just because you have contracts with different use years!

Also, it is my understanding that MS can transfer points between contracts owned by the same member if needed - therefore, a member can use points from more than one contract to reserve the same night. Members have posted here that they have done this.

P.S. I do not recommend having more than one use year unless there is absolutely no other option - you will have to spend quite a bit more time tracking points and banking deadlines to avoid losing points and you will probably spend more time explaining things to some of the MS CMs. JMHO.

Best wishes -

 

[CRobin]

Originally posted by tjkraz
CRobin:

I don't think that's entirely correct. Use Year does not have ANY bearing on when you can make a reservation. It simply determines when you receive your annual allotment and your banking deadline.

You're absolutely right. I missed that one. You can certainly book at 11 months if you will have the necessary home resort points available at the time of your trip.