Use Year Expiring - Need Advice

[SusieQ2452]

We have points that will expire. We are still new at this & have made a newbie mistake in missing the opportunity to bank the points.

I know that we have the option to rent or transfer those points and have read every thread & sticky message on that forum. What I would really like to know is based on your experience, how complicated & time consuming it is to do this and any advice you have pros/cons, etc?

Thanks for your help.

 

[RobDoc]

You might want to call MS and plead ignorance to see if they will allow you an exception to the usual banking deadlines. If you are sure you cannot use the points yourself - why not at least ask if MS will assist in this way.

If not, then you're back where are right now and can still consider trying to rent the points. Many have had great success making reservations for others thru the DIS Rent/Trade Board.

Good luck!

PS - MS is still open right now!

 

[RevBob]

You are going to have to call MS. Basically, not only have you missed the banking deadline, I believe that you are not able to make any reservations and use the points in the last 4 months. Something called the rule of 4! (I'm new at this as well,) But as I understand, you cannot make reservations during the last 4 months of your use year for stays during those last four months. (Maybe someone can explain it better than I can.) So technically, you would not be able to rent out these points as well.

 

[tubtruck]

You are going to have to call MS. Basically, not only have you missed the banking deadline, I believe that you are not able to make any reservations and use the points in the last 4 months. Something called the rule of 4! (I'm new at this as well,) But as I understand, you cannot make reservations during the last 4 months of your use year for stays during those last four months. (Maybe someone can explain it better than I can.) So technically, you would not be able to rent out these points as well.

What? Where did you get this from. This is totally untrue.

 

[RevBob]

We were told this by our Guide when we bought last month. Either he told us wrong or we misunderstood him! He referred to it as the "rule of 4". Anyone know what he was referring to then?

 

[vicki_c]

From dvc.com

New Booking and Banking Guidelines for Members: The Rule of Four
In an effort to simplify Membership, new guidelines combine the three current banking windows into one, so that Members are now required to bank any unused Vacation Points and book Member Getaways exchanges at least four months prior to the end of the Use Year.


This is referring to Member Getaways exchanges, not regular DVC reservations.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I'm new to this, too. But this is what my Vacation Planner says.

"Rule of Four
You cannot book and travel on The Disney Collection (excluding the Disneyland Resort in California), Concierge Collection, and Adventurer Collection vacations within the last 4 months of your Use Year. However, you can travel in the last 4 months of your Use Year as long as you've booked your stay more than 4 months before the end of your Use Year."

 

[WilsonFlyer]

The only thing that I've ever heard that would even resemble anything like something called the "rule of four" would be that you can't bank your points in the last 4 months of your UY.

I'm new to all this too but I'm pretty sure you can use any points you have right up to the DAY your UY ends as long as you're "paid up" with DVC.

There would be mutiny en-masse if what you said above were true.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

OK... Call out the experts. We need some clariffication and explanation here. LOL

 

[RevBob]

I'm new to this, too. But this is what my Vacation Planner says.

"Rule of Four
You cannot book and travel on The Disney Collection (excluding the Disneyland Resort in California), Concierge Collection, and Adventurer Collection vacations within the last 4 months of your Use Year. However, you can travel in the last 4 months of your Use Year as long as you've booked your stay more than 4 months before the end of your Use Year."

This is probably what our guide was referring to. Thanks for clarifying this for us.

 

[DVC Mike]

The "Rule of Four":

You cannot book and travel on the Disney Collection (excluding Disneyland Resort Hotels in California), Concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection vacations within the last 4 months of your Use Year. However, you can travel in the last 4 months of your Use Year as long as you've booked your stay more than 4 months before the end of your Use Year.

As noted, this rule does NOT apply to booking DVC resorts.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Please define "The Disney Collection". I'm assuming they are NOT DVC properties. Maybe Disney hotels, etc.?

 

[DonnaL]

Correct.......The Disney Collection are hotels such as GF, Poly, Yacht Club.....not DVC resorts.

 

[Safari Queen]

Call MS and throw yourself on their mercy. Newbies are often allowed a one-time break on banking.