Trying to strategize - suggestions appreciated

[squirk]

*Dear mods - just to be clear, this is not some backdoor way to solicit a point transfer. I am just looking for guidance.

Preliminaries:

1. I have two contracts: VB and VWL. 50 and 150 points, respectively. March UY.
2. I have already received a point transfer for my 2013 UY.
3. I had 6 2013 VWL points that I just banked. So I have 206 points ready for my 2014 UY.
4. I would like to stay in BCV in May 2014. Total points required appear to be 313.
5. My 7-month window opens up on October 24th.

Trying to think of the best way to make up the 107-point shortfall so I can book as soon as possible. I would prefer not to borrow.

My understanding is that DVC will not sell more than 25 "one-time use" points for any given UY. Is that right?

Assuming it is, my guess is that my remaining options are either 1.) rent points or 2.) transfer points. I would prefer to transfer points, as I already have 65% of the points I need. A transfer would require much less of a cash outlay for me than a rental.

Soooooo, my conclusion is that I need to find someone selling 2014 points with a Jan-Mar UY, and get them into my account by 10/24.

Is that accurate? Is there anything I am overlooking?

Thanks much!

 

[chalee94]

My understanding is that DVC will not sell more than 25 "one-time use" points for any given UY. Is that right?

24 pts. if you need 25 pts, they'll steer you to buying an add-on contract.

Assuming it is, my guess is that my remaining options are either 1.) rent points or 2.) transfer points. I would prefer to transfer points, as I already have 65% of the points I need. A transfer would require much less of a cash outlay for me than a rental.

not sure if the cash outlay will be different, but if you can find a transfer, you would control the reservation. if you rent a reservation, you would need the other DVC owner to make any changes to the reservation...you could not even discuss that reservation with MS (just like any other renter). you would then need to try to link your reservation to that owner's reservation to be able to stay in the same room.

Soooooo, my conclusion is that I need to find someone selling 2014 points with a Jan-Mar UY, and get them into my account by 10/24.

nope. but the pts would need to be valid for a may 2014 stay (june 2013 UY through april 2014 pts would work - you could even pick up feb 2013 UY pts so long as you bank them by the end of sept 2013).

if you wanted to book BCV, you'd probably be better off getting a transfer from a BCV owner and booking before the 7 month window opens. (but May is a lower demand season so you definitely have a shot at the 7 month window IMO.)

 

[disneynutz]

Transfers can have issues. The points are not displayed in your account and MS has trouble using them.

I would borrow, maybe buy more points if this is a regular pattern.

Next choice would be to rent a reservation and bank.

After a transfer caused MS to lose our reservation, we vowed to never transfer again.

Bill

 

[squirk]

Thanks for the feedback.

@Chalee - so it is more accurate to say I need to ask for points "usable for a May 2014 reservation"?

@Bill - thanks for the feedback. I've done transfers twice now and did not have a problem. Even though my points weren't visible online, the CMs never had trouble finding them.

Rentals, as Chalee said, take control away from me. Paying cash and banking my 2014 points is a good idea. Thank you!

 

[chalee94]

Thanks for the feedback.

@Chalee - so it is more accurate to say I need to ask for points "usable for a May 2014 reservation"?

really, you should understand what you need. i wouldn't count on the other party to understand the rules.

ideally, you'd want to get pts from a sept 2013 UY to an april 2014 UY to give you the most options (if you need to cancel the reservation more than a month in advance, you'd still have the option to bank the transferred pts.)

but if you are sure the stay is a certainty, pts from a UY as early as feb 2013 would work...(but again, you'd need to bank them quickly.)

 

[squirk]

really, you should understand what you need. i wouldn't count on the other party to understand the rules.

I don't count on them understanding the rules. I simply want to know what to ask for. Once they give me a UY, I can call MS and verify the points in question can be used they way I need them to. Then, and only then, will I discuss a deal. Thanks!

 

[drusba]

You mention you have already done a point transfer for the 2013 use year. That means you cannot get a transfer from any 2013 use year (Feb through Dec) because you have already had your one time transfer for the use year. If looking at a transfer, you will thus need points from a Feb, March, or April 2014 use year. No other ones will work for a May 2014 trip. Thus, those are the points you should be looking for as a transfer if you can find anyone to do it. You will need to have that transfer completed by your 7 month reservatiion window.

Be aware in making the decison of the following. You should find that you can get a BCV 2BR at 7 months for that time of year (it was available this year at 7 months out).

 

[chalee94]

You mention you have already done a point transfer for the 2013 use year.

i missed that - good correction.

 

[Deb & Bill]

really, you should understand what you need. i wouldn't count on the other party to understand the rules.

ideally, you'd want to get pts from a sept 2013 UY to an april 2014 UY to give you the most options (if you need to cancel the reservation more than a month in advance, you'd still have the option to bank the transferred pts.)

but if you are sure the stay is a certainty, pts from a UY as early as feb 2013 would work...(but again, you'd need to bank them quickly.)

But he already had a 2013 tranfer. So he would be limited to a 2014 transfer - Feb, Mar, Apr. (Is there an Apr UY??)

 

[chalee94]

But he already had a 2013 tranfer. So he would be limited to a 2014 transfer - Feb, Mar, Apr. (Is there an Apr UY??)

yep. i was wrong due to that.

(and yes, there is an april UY.)

 

[squirk]

You mention you have already done a point transfer for the 2013 use year. That means you cannot get a transfer from any 2013 use year (Feb through Dec) because you have already had your one time transfer for the use year. If looking at a transfer, you will thus need points from a Feb, March, or April 2014 use year. No other ones will work for a May 2014 trip. Thus, those are the points you should be looking for as a transfer if you can find anyone to do it. You will need to have that transfer completed by your 7 month reservatiion window.

Interesting point, as I thought that was the case as well.

However, the point transfer I did earlier this year was a receipt of points (i.e., a "transfer in"). I just hung up with MS, who told me that I can do another transfer in of points for this UY.
According to her, I just can't do a transfer out for the 2013 UY.

I asked at least twice if she was sure, and she said she was. Again, I'm a little wary because that had not been my understanding of the rule.

 

[drusba]

That is incorrect. You can do only one transfer in or out (not both) during any given use year. She was mentioning a prior rule that was changed several years ago. When dealing with MS, you need to think like Ronald Reagan, "Trust but verify."

 

[disneypoor]

But if you have two contracts you should still be able to transfer in or out of the one that hasn't had a transfer, right?

 

[squirk]

But if you have two contracts you should still be able to transfer in or out of the one that hasn't had a transfer, right?

I'm not sure if the rule applies per membership or per contract.

 

[disneypoor]

I'm not sure if the rule applies per membership or per contract.

I do have two contracts. I've done transfers but never have tried more than one per UY. Now you have me wondering as well. Anyone?

 

[Deb & Bill]

It is memberships, not contracts. Unless you have two contracts with different membership numbers.

 

[disneypoor]

It is memberships, not contracts. Unless you have two contracts with different membership numbers.

Thank you!

 

[ppony]

I'm in a similar situation Squirk, so thanks for posting. I got a few answers. Rather that hijack your thread, I'll start a new one for more answers.

 

[squirk]

I appreciate the consideration but if our situations are similar, hijack away. Better to keep good info centralized.

 

[Dean]

*Dear mods - just to be clear, this is not some backdoor way to solicit a point transfer. I am just looking for guidance.

Preliminaries:

1. I have two contracts: VB and VWL. 50 and 150 points, respectively. March UY.
2. I have already received a point transfer for my 2013 UY.
3. I had 6 2013 VWL points that I just banked. So I have 206 points ready for my 2014 UY.
4. I would like to stay in BCV in May 2014. Total points required appear to be 313.
5. My 7-month window opens up on October 24th.

Trying to think of the best way to make up the 107-point shortfall so I can book as soon as possible. I would prefer not to borrow.

My understanding is that DVC will not sell more than 25 "one-time use" points for any given UY. Is that right?

Assuming it is, my guess is that my remaining options are either 1.) rent points or 2.) transfer points. I would prefer to transfer points, as I already have 65% of the points I need. A transfer would require much less of a cash outlay for me than a rental.

Soooooo, my conclusion is that I need to find someone selling 2014 points with a Jan-Mar UY, and get them into my account by 10/24.

Is that accurate? Is there anything I am overlooking?

Thanks much!

The best option, when available, is almost always to borrow the points if you can. You can always skip a trip on points later or do a future transfer as needed that's not so tricky as it would be in this situation. I'm presuming you have no more points to bank and no trips planned in between. IF you had a trip planned in between you might be able to get something with distressed points and bank other points. The other option is discounted cash room if available.

Ways to stretch points to catch up later would include skipping a year at Disney, staying off property, taking advantage of a cash stay, future rental, future transfer, among others.