Thinking of buying DVC but...

[Wilsonfamily4]

I have a question. We know we want to go to Disney in January 2009. We will not go before then. When DVC points come on a certain date is that the date the year begins. So say I got 80 points coming on 12/1/07 and banked those and 170 points coming on 12/1/08 does that mean I can use the 250 in January 2009? Thank you for the help?

 

[Granny]

Yes, you have it correct. You are describing a contract with a December UY.

UY's that come late in the year take a little getting used to because most of your trips during that use year will be in the calendar year following the UY.

Your 2007 points would bank and become 2008 UY points. Your 2008 use year is December 1, 2008 until November 30, 2009. So yes, January 2009 falls within that contract's 2008 UY.

A little confusing but once you get the hang of it, you won't have any problems.

 

[Anthony1971]

You can only bank one years points and there is a time frame that you must bank them in. You can bank the 2007 points that you got in January 2007 and the in Jan 2008 you will have 160 points you can borrow your 2009 points giving you 240 points but these points will need to be used by Dec 31 2008 specifically the banked and borrowed points your current years points could still be banked. This would support a January Use year.

 

[hardingk]

If you make a reservation using your points and have to cancel, do your points get reinstated or do you loose them?

 

[LisaS]

If you make a reservation using your points and have to cancel, do your points get reinstated or do you loose them?

If you cancel 31 days or more prior to your check-in date, the points go back to your account with no restrictions. You can use them to make another reservation or you can bank them subject to your banking deadlines. If you cancel between 30 days and 1 day prior to check-in, the points go into "holding" and can only be used to book a stay 60 days or less in advance and cannot be banked. If you cancel on or after your check-in day, all points are considered used and none are returned to your account.

 

[fwong]

...If you cancel between 30 days and 1 day prior to check-in, the points go into "holding" and can only be used to book a stay 60 days or less in advance and cannot be banked....

Has anybody canceled within 30 days, and not been able to re-book 60 days or less (due to work / kids-school schedule, etc...)?

I supposed you could try to rent the points...how hard is it to put points up to for rent that have less than 60 days usage time available?

 

[CarolMN]

Has anybody canceled within 30 days, and not been able to re-book 60 days or less (due to work / kids-school schedule, etc...)?

I supposed you could try to rent the points...how hard is it to put points up to for rent that have less than 60 days usage time available?

It can be very difficult to use holding points. Availability is often very limited once the 60 day mark arrives. Since holding points expire at the end of the use year (they cannot be banked), most do whatever they can to avoid late cancellations.

Renting to a stranger with less than 60 days to go before arrival is quite challenging - in addition to the availability problem, it's not a lot of time to establish trust and figure out the payment terms, etc. IMHO, it's a not an easy thing to do successfully - especially if you have not rented before.

 

[mikesmom]

And aside from the hassle of renting per se, if 60 days out is a problem making your own reservation, it can be just as big a problem making someone elses ressie. It's all about availability - at many times of the year there just aren't many rooms available at DVC resorts at 60 days out..

 

[fwong]

It can be very difficult to use holding points. Availability is often very limited once the 60 day mark arrives. Since holding points expire at the end of the use year (they cannot be banked), most do whatever they can to avoid late cancellations.

Renting to a stranger with less than 60 days to go before arrival is quite challenging - in addition to the availability problem, it's not a lot of time to establish trust and figure out the payment terms, etc. IMHO, it's a not an easy thing to do successfully - especially if you have not rented before.

I might run into this problem soon. What if I just book some room (ex: Last week in August) in the best DVC resort I can find. (I'm going to lose the points anyways). Then I just eBay the entire reservation away? Will DVC let me book the reservation under my name (the DVC owner) - and then transfer it to some stranger who's paid me via paypal a week before arrival?

 

[CarolMN]

I might run into this problem soon. What if I just book some room (ex: Last week in August) in the best DVC resort I can find. (I'm going to lose the points anyways). Then I just eBay the entire reservation away? Will DVC let me book the reservation under my name (the DVC owner) - and then transfer it to some stranger who's paid me via paypal a week before arrival?

Yes - DVC allows you to change the name on the reservation. You probably won't have time to get a new confirmation letter and send it to the renter if you don't change the name until a week prior, though.