Using friends DVC points

[raddisneyfan]

Hello everyone: I have been to Disney many times over the years, but have never considered buying DVC. However, I have a friend who for some reason bought. She isn't the Disney type and I don't think she has used her points in the 5 years she's owned them. She has converted to RCI, she used them once to go to Italy. Now, Disney tells her that she cannot convert anymore and she cannot bank, she must use them for a Disney vacation. Not sure why or how this happened, but she doesn't think she'll have enough time or interest really to go before the end of this year. All that said, she knows I like Disney and certainly wouldn't want to waste the points. She wouldn't hear of my renting them from her or even paying her annual maintenance fee. However, I think I will insist on at least doing that. Does anyone know what the annual fee is per point at AKL? I may just slip her a check for the amount. My friends and I went in January to the Boardwalk and they don't want to go again. So, this will be a solo for me. She has 168 points, so I could pretty much stay at any of the resorts in a studio for the week I was thinking of going (11/28 to 12/5). My questions really are regarding how all this will work. I know she makes the reservation and its important for me to get the confirmation number from her. But, what happens next. Who do I call to get my themepark tickets, magicband, etc.? Will there be any issues I should be aware of when checking in, etc.? Thanks to all for your guidance and sage advice!

 

[supersnoop]

You get magic bands by linking your reservation to your MDE profile. You buy park tickets from anyone who sells tickets.

There is likely very little availability for the dates you want. You'll have to have her check to see what is available for you.

 

[raddisneyfan]

You get magic bands by linking your reservation to your MDE profile. You buy park tickets from anyone who sells tickets.

There is likely very little availability for the dates you want. You'll have to have her check to see what is available for you.

Thanks very much for the quick reply. So it looks like it works like my normal reservation at a Disney hotel. That's good since I just went through that whole process this past January/Feb.

We checked last Friday and will probably sit and book tomorrow. The only thing completely unavailable was GFV; no lake view at Poly; no theme park or standard at BLT, no club at AKL. Not interested in staying and BCV or BWV or OKW. I originally thought I would stay at AKL in a Savannah, but think I will go with Poly standard. We'll see what has happened over this past weekend with availability.

Thank again!

 

[supersnoop]

Thanks very much for the quick reply. So it looks like it works like my normal reservation at a Disney hotel. That's good since I just went through that whole process this past January/Feb.

We checked last Friday and will probably sit and book tomorrow. The only thing completely unavailable was GFV; no lake view at Poly; no theme park or standard at BLT, no club at AKL. Not interested in staying and BCV or BWV or OKW. I originally thought I would stay at AKL in a Savannah, but think I will go with Poly standard. We'll see what has happened over this past weekend with availability.

Thank again!

I don't know how you're checking availability, but you're wrong. The only studio available for your dates is At SSR. Heck, the only one bedroom available is at SSR.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thanks very much for the quick reply. So it looks like it works like my normal reservation at a Disney hotel. That's good since I just went through that whole process this past January/Feb.

We checked last Friday and will probably sit and book tomorrow. The only thing completely unavailable was GFV; no lake view at Poly; no theme park or standard at BLT, no club at AKL. Not interested in staying and BCV or BWV or OKW. I originally thought I would stay at AKL in a Savannah, but think I will go with Poly standard. We'll see what has happened over this past weekend with availability.

Thank again!

The availability you are looking at appears to be for cash rooms. As already noted, availability to book rooms using points during this time is very limited at this late date as the time you plan to visit is very popular. I would suspect that SSR will be available for the entire stay or you will have to move between resorts during your stay.

I hope it works out for you. -- Suzanne

 

[raddisneyfan]

I don't know how you're checking availability, but you're wrong. The only studio available for your dates is At SSR. Heck, the only one bedroom available is at SSR.

mmmm....since she's not a pro at this by any stretch. Maybe she did it incorrectly? I guess we'll see when we try officially to make a reservation tomorrow. I'm not stuck on that week, so I can adjust depending on availability.

Do you happen to know the price per point for yearly maintenance at AKL??

 

[raddisneyfan]

The availability you are looking at appears to be for cash rooms. As already noted, availability to book rooms using points during this time is very limited at this late date as the time you plan to visit is very popular. I would suspect that SSR will be available for the entire stay or you will have to move between resorts during your stay.

I hope it works out for you. -- Suzanne

I can go any time in November up until 12/21 and I could also go in January. I'm not sure when her point year begins and ends--I'm not sure if she really knows -- HA! Thanks for the info. I always love the fact that I can get straight answers from folks on this board!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hello everyone: I have been to Disney many times over the years, but have never considered buying DVC. However, I have a friend who for some reason bought. She isn't the Disney type and I don't think she has used her points in the 5 years she's owned them. She has converted to RCI, she used them once to go to Italy. Now, Disney tells her that she cannot convert anymore and she cannot bank, she must use them for a Disney vacation. ...

This last statement sounds a bit fishy. DVC doesn't care how you use your points, as long as you follow the requirements. If she cannot bank points, will they expire before your Nov/Dec trip? Unless she doesn't have enough points to use for RCI. But seeing you say she has 168 points to use, that even sounds funny. But, if she hasn't used points for the last five years, at least three years of those points are gone for good. You can only bank one year's worth of points to use in the next UY. She needs to call Member Services and see what points she has and when they will expire. Then you can go forward and book from there.

But the time you are looking at is the most booked time for DVC members and it gets booked up at seven months out if not before.

If you want to see the annual fees for the various home resorts, just go to the top of the board and look under the DVC Resource thread at the top of the board.

 

[raddisneyfan]

This last statement sounds a bit fishy. DVC doesn't care how you use your points, as long as you follow the requirements. If she cannot bank points, will they expire before your Nov/Dec trip? Unless she doesn't have enough points to use for RCI. But seeing you say she has 168 points to use, that even sounds funny. But, if she hasn't used points for the last five years, at least three years of those points are gone for good. You can only bank one year's worth of points to use in the next UY. She needs to call Member Services and see what points she has and when they will expire. Then you can go forward and book from there.

But the time you are looking at is the most booked time for DVC members and it gets booked up at seven months out if not before.

If you want to see the annual fees for the various home resorts, just go to the top of the board and look under the DVC Resource thread at the top of the board.

Yes, it all sounded pretty sketchy to me, but that's just the way she operates normally. I'm hoping that when we sit together tomorrow and she has all of her information and login and member number, etc. with her that we can finalize something. If it doesn't work out for the dates I'm available, then I guess she loses the points unless she rents them somehow to someone else. Who knows. Again, don't know what her point year is, so don't know exactly when these points she says she has expire.

Thanks much for the info.

 

[com_op_2000]

From the DVC Resource thread, MFs per resort:
Year OKW VB(s) VB HH BWV VWL BCV SSR AKV BLT VGC AHV(s) AHV VGF PVB
2015 5.84 6.28 8.06 6.52 6.07 6.03 5.97 5.17 6.30 5.05 5.15 4.89 6.51 5.52 6.02

OP question:
What UY and HR does your friend own. Since DVC for some reason, is not allowing your friend to a bank or book another RCI you might be looking at a quick trip to use the points. The 'Rule of 4' maybe coming into play here and also your friend is unable to bank the points cause she is within the last 4 months of her UY.

 

[raddisneyfan]

From the DVC Resource thread, MFs per resort:
Year OKW VB(s) VB HH BWV VWL BCV SSR AKV BLT VGC AHV(s) AHV VGF PVB
2015 5.84 6.28 8.06 6.52 6.07 6.03 5.97 5.17 6.30 5.05 5.15 4.89 6.51 5.52 6.02

OP question:
What UY and HR does your friend own. Since DVC for some reason, is not allowing your friend to a bank or book another RCI you might be looking at a quick trip to use the points. The 'Rule of 4' maybe coming into play here and also your friend is unable to bank the points cause she is within the last 4 months of her UY.

Wouldn't surprise me that she has waited to the last minute to do something about this. So, your guess that her UY is with the last 4 months sounds possible. Maybe she'll have a clearer picture tomorrow of exactly what she wants me to do and when. I certainly can't go anytime that soon. Oh well, it was a nice thought if that's the case.

 

[raddisneyfan]

From the DVC Resource thread, MFs per resort:
Year OKW VB(s) VB HH BWV VWL BCV SSR AKV BLT VGC AHV(s) AHV VGF PVB
2015 5.84 6.28 8.06 6.52 6.07 6.03 5.97 5.17 6.30 5.05 5.15 4.89 6.51 5.52 6.02

OP question:
What UY and HR does your friend own. Since DVC for some reason, is not allowing your friend to a bank or book another RCI you might be looking at a quick trip to use the points. The 'Rule of 4' maybe coming into play here and also your friend is unable to bank the points cause she is within the last 4 months of her UY.

Sorry, forgot to mention that her home resort is AKL--Kidani I believe.

 

[nalajms]

FWIW, a few years ago a family friend booked us a room with their points. They wouldn't take money for it (similar to yours they went maybe once since they bought years ago). I estimated $10 a point and bought them an Apple GC because I knew they wanted an iPad.