Use year and making reservations question.

[mickerbaby]

Our use year is December. So as of Dec 2008 we will "get" 124 points. So if I called tomorrow to make a reservation for Nov 2008 does this mean I have to borrow from my 2008 point allotment to make this reservation? We already used all of our 2007 points.
The reason I ask is to clarify what will happen if I have to cancel this reservation. If I called tomorrow to make a reservation for Nov 2008 using my 2008 points but then I have to cancel, will these points go into a holding account? I know that when you borrow points from another use year and then you cancel, those points go into a holding account. And I don't want this to happen.
I keep meaning to call MS and ask but I always seem to think about doing this at night when they are already closed!
thanks
Crissy

 

[disneykidatheart]

Our use year is December. So as of Dec 2008 we will "get" 124 points. So if I called tomorrow to make a reservation for Nov 2008 does this mean I have to borrow from my 2008 point allotment to make this reservation? We already used all of our 2007 points.
The reason I ask is to clarify what will happen if I have to cancel this reservation. If I called tomorrow to make a reservation for Nov 2008 using my 2008 points but then I have to cancel, will these points go into a holding account? I know that when you borrow points from another use year and then you cancel, those points go into a holding account. And I don't want this to happen.
I keep meaning to call MS and ask but I always seem to think about doing this at night when they are already closed!
thanks
Crissy

Yes, you would have to borrow from your Dec 2008 UY to make a reservation for Nov. 2008. Your points would go into a holding account if you cancel less than 31 days before the reservation. If you cancel more than 30 days from the date of the reservation the points can still be used for a reservation, but not one made within the last four months of the use year. However, you would still have to use the points before the end of the 2007 UY which would be the end of Nov 2008. Borrowed points cannot be returned to the original UY. I would not borrow under the circumstances you face if there is a possibility of a cancellation.

 

[disneynutz]

This is a perfect example where UY does matter.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Yes, you would have to borrow from your Dec 2008 UY to make a reservation for Nov. 2008. Your points would go into a holding account if you cancel less than 31 days before the reservation. If you cancel more than 30 days from the date of the reservation the points can still be used for a reservation, but not one made within the last four months of the use year. However, you would still have to use the points before the end of the 2007 UY which would be the end of Nov 2008. Borrowed points cannot be returned to the original UY. I would not borrow under the circumstances you face if there is a possibility of a cancellation.

Please clarify the bolded section above. If you borrow points... they become part of the previous use year. I thought you could use those for any reservations in the earlier use year.

/Jim

 

[DebbieB]

Only reservations outside of DVC are restricted in the last 4 months of the use year, you can't book a reservation past the 4 month mark (you can stay in the last 4 months if the reservation is made before the deadline). DVC resorts can be booked in the last 4 months with no restrictions.

 

[Caren]

Please clarify the bolded section above. If you borrow points... they become part of the previous use year. I thought you could use those for any reservations in the earlier use year.

/Jim

It's complications like this that are making me hesitant about buying into DVC. I flat out don't understand the system. We're going to do the DVC tour when I go down in August. Hopefully it will be easier to understand after they explain it to us.

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is a perfect example where UY does matter.

It's a perfect example of how confusing December use years can be. December use years are confusing because your "year" starts when the real year is actually ending. That means that your '08 use year points are used for trips from Dec. 1 '08 through Nov. 30, '09. Very confusing for most folks. For the Noveber '08 trip, you are using points from the Dec. '07 use year. If there are no points left in your '07 use year, you have to use '08 use year points, and that means they would have to be borrowed. It also means that you had better not cancel less than 30 days before the trip, because you wont have time to book another before the borrowed points expire. It's only an example of how use year matters for THIS TRIP! If you plan to always book with borrowed points and travel at the end of your use year, it's a problem, but most folks aren't going to travel the same time every year for 50 years. Travel habits change over the life of the contract, so for this time, it's a bad use year, but it might not be when your travel plans change to spring.

 

[disneykidatheart]

Only reservations outside of DVC are restricted in the last 4 months of the use year, you can't book a reservation past the 4 month mark (you can stay in the last 4 months if the reservation is made before the deadline). DVC resorts can be booked in the last 4 months with no restrictions.

Thank you for correcting me on this point. I thought within DVC the four month mark was the time points are released to CRO for cash reservations.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thank you for correcting me on this point. I thought within DVC the four month mark was the time points are released to CRO for cash reservations.

No that is the last 2 months, but that is also the time frame you have to use if you let points go into reservation status when you cancel within the 30 day window.

 

[disneykidatheart]

Please clarify the bolded section above. If you borrow points... they become part of the previous use year. I thought you could use those for any reservations in the earlier use year.

/Jim

I was corrected on this issue by Debbie B and Diane further explained the issue of UY. I'm sorry to have added confusion to the issue.

 

[Liljam]

I think the Dec. use yea is really nice if you plan to travel from Dec through May. This gives you time to make use of your points later if you should have to cancel your trip. We have Dec. UY and are thankful that it's in that month, but it DOES get confusing until you understand it very well. For example, we're planning to book a trip to HHI Mar. 09 and WDW Dec 09 and we will be using 08/09 points to make this happen. To really understand all of it better, the Caskbill.com programs are totally awesome!!

 

[Grandbuddy]

Our use year is December. So as of Dec 2008 we will "get" 124 points. So if I called tomorrow to make a reservation for Nov 2008 does this mean I have to borrow from my 2008 point allotment to make this reservation? We already used all of our 2007 points.
The reason I ask is to clarify what will happen if I have to cancel this reservation. If I called tomorrow to make a reservation for Nov 2008 using my 2008 points but then I have to cancel, will these points go into a holding account? I know that when you borrow points from another use year and then you cancel, those points go into a holding account. And I don't want this to happen.
I keep meaning to call MS and ask but I always seem to think about doing this at night when they are already closed!
thanks
Crissy

Wouldn't these points expire November 30, 2008, since they will have been borrowed into the current UY?

 

[Liljam]

Wouldn't these points expire November 30, 2008, since they will have been borrowed into the current UY?

Exactly! I am pretty positive that the borrowed points would expire on the last day of Nov. even IF they were holding points. That's what I made of it all anyway.

 

[disneynutz]

It's a perfect example of how confusing December use years can be. December use years are confusing because your "year" starts when the real year is actually ending. That means that your '08 use year points are used for trips from Dec. 1 '08 through Nov. 30, '09. Very confusing for most folks. For the Noveber '08 trip, you are using points from the Dec. '07 use year. If there are no points left in your '07 use year, you have to use '08 use year points, and that means they would have to be borrowed. It also means that you had better not cancel less than 30 days before the trip, because you wont have time to book another before the borrowed points expire. It's only an example of how use year matters for THIS TRIP! If you plan to always book with borrowed points and travel at the end of your use year, it's a problem, but most folks aren't going to travel the same time every year for 50 years. Travel habits change over the life of the contract, so for this time, it's a bad use year, but it might not be when your travel plans change to spring.

The fact that a poorly chosen UY could cause some people problems should make us change the way that we offer advice. I read over and over where experienced members write that UY doesn't matter. New members seem to take what ever UY their guide is currently offering without understanding what impact a UY might have. To some people a UY can matter, suggesting that it doesn't, is doing our fellow members a disservice.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I have always felt UY mattered, even before the recent changes. Having a UY closests to the times you mostly vacation just makes sense. It gives you more time to cancel and re-ressie and to bank. Life is just too un-certain. JMHO.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The fact that a poorly chosen UY could cause some people problems should make us change the way that we offer advice. I read over and over where experienced members write that UY doesn't matter. New members seem to take what ever UY their guide is currently offering without understanding what impact a UY might have. To some people a UY can matter, suggesting that it doesn't, is doing our fellow members a disservice.

But to suggest that what is convenient now will ALWAYS be convenient would be an untruth also. I KNOW that our travel habits have changed in the 11 years we have owned, and I also suspect they will change again. The fact that you MIGHT have to cancel once or twice in 50 years just doesn't seem like that big a deal in the long run. If December is a bad time now when they want to travel in November, it might be exactly the RIGHT time for a use year when school schedules make it convenient for them to travel for spring break. In that case, another use year might be bad. You can't change your use year with the whim of your vacation habits at a given time.

 

[disneynutz]

But to suggest that what is convenient now will ALWAYS be convenient would be an untruth also. I KNOW that our travel habits have changed in the 11 years we have owned, and I also suspect they will change again. The fact that you MIGHT have to cancel once or twice in 50 years just doesn't seem like that big a deal in the long run. If December is a bad time now when they want to travel in November, it might be exactly the RIGHT time for a use year when school schedules make it convenient for them to travel for spring break. In that case, another use year might be bad. You can't change your use year with the whim of your vacation habits at a given time.

I agree with you 100%. I guess I just hate the expression, "UY doesn't matter". I have read posts where based upon their current travel patterns, members are unhappy with their UY. Some have reported losing points because they didn't know anything about UY's. I guess I like the expression, "UY can matter", as better advice.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Only reservations outside of DVC are restricted in the last 4 months of the use year, you can't book a reservation past the 4 month mark (you can stay in the last 4 months if the reservation is made before the deadline). DVC resorts can be booked in the last 4 months with no restrictions.

DebbieB,

Thank you for clarifying... I thought I understood the system properly and am glad that you clarified. it.

Regarding use year. I agree that use year does matter... but Diane is correct that usage patterns will likely change over time. I chose mine at purchase based on my best estimate... and I have been happy with it... even though I occassionally book reservations during the "non-bankable" times.

/Jim

 

[mickerbaby]

If I make a ressie for Nov 13, 2008 with my borrowed Dec 2008 points and I have to cancel, this is what happens:
-cancel 30 days or more prior to arrival....????

-cancel 30 days or less prior to arrival then points go into a holding account and have to be used before the end of Nov 2008??

thanks, Crissy

 

[LisaS]

If I make a ressie for Nov 13, 2008 with my borrowed Dec 2008 points and I have to cancel, this is what happens:
-cancel 30 days or more prior to arrival....????

-cancel 30 days or less prior to arrival then points go into a holding account and have to be used before the end of Nov 2008??

thanks, Crissy

If you cancel 31 days or more prior to check in, your points go back into your account. Because they are borrowed points, you cannot bank them. You can use them for travel up to and including Nov 30, 2008. If not used, they will expire on Nov 30, 2008.

If you cancel 30 days to 1 day prior to check in, your points go into the holding account. They can only be used to make a reservation within 60 days of check in. If not used, they will expire on Nov 30, 2008.

If you cancel on/after your check in day, all points are forfeited.