To Bank or not to Bank...HELP!

[donkortajr]

OK, Here's the deal. We bought 250pts at BLT in October 2009
Our use year is February
We are planning our first big DVC trip (with another family) for January 2011.
We will need a BLT Grand Villa so I will need 2 years worth of points.

Do I bank my 2009 points and use in January 2011?

My biggest fear is that if I bank my 2009 pts. due to the 11 month window I won't find out until February 2010 about availability and the date we want is sooo close to the end of our use year.


-don

 

[drusba]

If you have points issued Feb 2009, you will need to bank them by Sep 30, 2009 into the use year beginning Feb 2010 to use them for a trip in Jan 2011.

In Feb 2010 you will call to reserve. If you cannot get what you want you will have to use those banked points by end of Jan 2011 and thus need a back-up plan. Your anxiety seems to be having a trip close to end of your use year. If you have to cancel as you get near your planned trip, it can be a problem because you will have to use those banked points by end of Jan 2011 or lose them. Also, if you cancel after Sep 30, 2010, you will have to use even the 2010 use year points by end of Jan 2011 because you will be beyond the banking date.

Usually cancellation does not become an issue and most make those late use year trips with no problem. However, your situation is the number one cause of a problem--when you are taking other families (your relatives or friends) you have the risk that those quests may bow out late in the game leaving you holding the big reservation that you no longer need. These boards are replete with members' reports of having just that happen to them when they have invited other guests.

 

[Hunclemarco]

If you're unable to get a Grand Villa, you could also get 2 Two Bedroom units for less points and more availablity to add more to your reservation if it became necessary. Then again, there are many more rooming possibilities if you needed them.

 

[donkortajr]

I know the family going with us won't back out.
My greatest fear/anxiety is availability (since theres really no BLT history yet) and having to move the trip into February, and loosing points.
I guess one solution would be to just bank and use my 2009 points in the summer of 2010 and then for the January 2011 trip use my 2010 points and borrow my 2011 points.

 

[drusba]

I know the family going with us won't back out.
My greatest fear/anxiety is availability (since theres really no BLT history yet) and having to move the trip into February, and loosing points.
I guess one solution would be to just bank and use my 2009 points in the summer of 2010 and then for the January 2011 trip use my 2010 points and borrow my 2011 points.

Actually, you are on to your solution. It sounds like you are going to bank those points no matter what. Thus, you can just make a reservation for summer 2010 at 11 months out and then come Feb you can cancel it and use the points for the Jan 2010 trip if you can get the GV. Personally, if you are trying for Jan 2010, I believe there is a good chance you will get the GV as long as you call exactly 11 months out and are not trying to get the first couple days of Jan or MLK weekend time.