Two questions...

[RebeccaUC]

1. Can you bank for more than one year? For example if I had 90 points left to bank this year, then don't go next year, can I bank the 90 plus next years full set to be used in 2015?

I other words, can you go every third year and have three years worth of points to use or do the banked points expire at the end of the year you bank them into?

2. The new one time use points they are now selling for $15 each up to 24 pts....is this a one and done thing or could you conceivably buy those 24 points each year? Not saying I would, just curious.

Thanks for the input from my more experienced DVC'ers!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Points can only be banked one time. If you don't use them in the UY that you banked them into they will expire.

But you can go every 3rd year - however it requires getting into a scenario where you are using banked points, current points and borrowed points.

Currently you can purchase up to 24 points every UY should you require that. You can only make the purchase once though each UY so for example you can't buy 5 to finish one reservation and then a few weeks later decide to buy more.

 

[brertoad]

If you bank points into the next year, does it automatically use those banked points first when you book online through the member website?

 

[bcrook]

Points can only be banked one time. If you don't use them in the UY that you banked them into they will expire.

But you can go every 3rd year - however it requires getting into a scenario where you are using banked points, current points and borrowed points.

Currently you can purchase up to 24 points every UY should you require that. You can only make the purchase once though each UY so for example you can't buy 5 to finish one reservation and then a few weeks later decide to buy more.

But, the 24 purchase points can only be used to finish a reservation at seven month window, not the 11 month. If I understand it correctly.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

If you bank points into the next year, does it automatically use those banked points first when you book online through the member website?

When you book online you are given the options of what points to use and it should place the banked points at the top. Double checked though before completing the reservation.

But, the 24 purchase points can only be used to finish a reservation at seven month window, not the 11 month. If I understand it correctly.

That is correct. They are available to complete reservations booked at the 7 month or less mark.

 

[brertoad]

When you book online you are given the options of what points to use and it should place the banked points at the top. Double checked though before completing the reservation.

Cool. Thank you for the heads up. I'll be sure to double check, don't want to accidentally use the current year points when banked points will be in the account. I think we're going to bank a lot of points for this year, I have only a couple weeks left to decide how many to bank.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Cool. Thank you for the heads up. I'll be sure to double check, don't want to accidentally use the current year points when banked points will be in the account. I think we're going to bank a lot of points for this year, I have only a couple weeks left to decide how many to bank.

Although you shouldn't rely on it, if you were to ever use this years points by accident instead of your banked points, you can call member services and they can reallocate points on your reservation. I had to do this when I cancelled a reservation on borrowed points. The points needed to stay borrowed, so I had them reallocated to a different reservation I had that year, and then banked the ones I had used. That's probably not very clear, but either way, as long as you aren't breaking any rules (like trying to return borrowed points to their original year) member services can help you reallocate points.

 

[Dean]

If you bank points into the next year, does it automatically use those banked points first when you book online through the member website?

As noted, it should but there is a caveat. That assumes the points were there to use. If you reserved then later banked points or you had another reservation and later cancelled, any banked points are not automatically used in an existing reservation. You'd then have to call to have them reallocated which is usually OK if done 31 days out, same home resort or a reservation made (and wait listed) 7 months out or less.

 

[brertoad]

Thanks Dean, DisneyRegulars, and KAT4DISNEY.

I was able to bank 106 points today. Then I cancel two reservations that used next years points (dates in Dec and Jan) and rebook using the banked points. This was I am keeping next years points "fresh" and using the "old" points first. It seemed to work automatically, it had the 106 points flagged during the booking process, and then I verified it on the last page where it shows the point allocation.

Overall, it was easier than I thought.