What happens to my points if...

[beattyfamily]

My use year is December.

My time to bank 100% of my December 2003 points into 2004 is by May 31 right?

Right now, I've already booked my August and October trips.

What happens to my (October trip) points if my friend backs out after May 31? Because if she cancels I then cancel the 2 bedroom and get a 1 bedroom.......what happens to those points now not being used? Do they fall into the next percentage to bank (seeing as we don't need them for this year's trips) since it's past May 31? Or can I still book them at 100%? I'm guessing I'd loose some of them, right?

I need to know this because I want my friend to know she cannot back out after May 31 without my loosing some points. Am I correct?

I see no need to ever bank less than 100% if I don't have to so I'd like to avoid ever loosing any point if possible.

 

[Chuck S]

Say for instance you have a 200 point contract, you can bank all 200 points up to May 31. Then you drop to the next level 50%...you could bank 100 pts. The percentages are based on the amount of points in the total contract, not what is left for available use. So unless the difference between a 1 bdrm and 2 bdrm is more than 50% of your overall contract - or- you've already banked 50% of your overall contract, you should be able to bank those points.

 

[jel0511]

Banking deadlines are about your total point total, not reservation totals. Here is a more practical example that will explain it better:

You have a Dec use year, you have 200 points

You can bank up to 200 points prior to May 31, 2004 (!00%)
You can bank up to 100 points prior to August 31, 2004 (50%)
You can bank up to 50 points prior to September 30, 2004 (25%)

So if you have to change a reservation AFTER May 31st, the amount of points you can bank changes based on the percengage of total of points you own.

 

[CarolMN]

As long as you cancel the reservation 31 or more days ahead of arrival, the points will be returned to the current use year (in your case, 2003 use year). So, you can cancel the October 2 bedroom, make a new reservation (subject to availability) for a 1 bedroom and still bank points into the next use year as long as you get that all done by August 31, 2004.

IIRC, with a December use year, you can bank up to a total of 50% of your annual allotment if you do it by the end of the 9th month. For a December use year, the 50% deadline would be August 31.

I have assumed that the number of points that would be "freed up" would be less than 1/2 of your total annual amount and that you haven't yet anked any points from your 2003 use year. If you have banked some 2003 points, the number already banked plus the amount you ask to bank as a result of the October trip change must add up to less than 1/2 of the total.

Sorry to be so wordy. Hope that makes sense.

P.S. Your 25% banking window is September 30. You can't bank at all in october or November.

 

[beattyfamily]

Oh now I get it! I was really confused. Now it makes sense! It's a percentage based on my total!

I have 270 points and I'm using 154 points for the October trip and it would be 114 points if she canceled leaving 40 points I'd need to bank or use for that August trip (better resort or room).

I'm using 81 points for the August trip and that leaves 0 points left for 2003 use year...unless, of course, my friend does cancel then I have 40 to bank or use.

Thanks so much for the clarification!

Now I have a new question based on the last post...if I want to change my reservation from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom because she cancels, I have to start all over again and cancel and rebook? I can't just get rid of the studio portion?

Thanks

 

[PamOKW]

Worst case, if your friend cancels once you are into October you will have to use those points for a DVC trip prior to December 1, 2004. You cannot make a reservation for a non-DVC option once you are into the last 60 days of your Use Year (you can take the trip but the reservation must be made by September 30 (you'd need to check the exact cut-off date with MS). You would also be past your banking deadline and within 30 days of the start of the trip. A last minute cancellation toward the end of your Use Year is the only time that Use Year really comes into play.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by PamOKW
Worst case, if your friend cancels once you are into October you will have to use those points for a DVC trip prior to December 1, 2004. You cannot make a reservation for a non-DVC option once you are into the last 60 days of your Use Year (you can take the trip but the reservation must be made by September 30 (you'd need to check the exact cut-off date with MS). You would also be past your banking deadline and within 30 days of the start of the trip. A last minute cancellation toward the end of your Use Year is the only time that Use Year really comes into play.

Yes, I've realized in the last 2 years that a December Use Year for us isn't the best as we like to go in October or December. But when the kids get harder to take out of school, then we'll be moving our vacation months anyway.

Thanks again.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
Now I have a new question ... ...if I want to change my reservation from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom because she cancels, I have to start all over again and cancel and rebook? I can't just get rid of the studio portion?

I expect you'll be able to just get rid of the studio portion of the 2BR (this is why the lockoff setup is so handy), as there are more 1BRs than 2BRs. You should not have any problem. With or without your friend, October ought to be great down there (tho you will be missing a big chunk of the only nice weather New England ever gets ).

 

[jel0511]

Now I have a new question based on the last post...if I want to change my reservation from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom because she cancels, I have to start all over again and cancel and rebook? I can't just get rid of the studio portion?

Actually you can not. MS doesn't allow that so people don't reserve all the two bedrooms and then drop the studio portion closer to the check-in date. There will have to be a one bedroom available at the time you wish to make the change. If there is someone on the wait list for a two bedroom, they'd get first dibs on BOTH the units and not you by just dropping the studio portion.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by jel0511
Actually you can not. MS doesn't allow that so people don't reserve all the two bedrooms and then drop the studio portion closer to the check-in date. There will have to be a one bedroom available at the time you wish to make the change. If there is someone on the wait list for a two bedroom, they'd get first dibs on BOTH the units and not you by just dropping the studio portion.

Now that's really unfortunate. So all along I was worried that if my friend canceled, I'd loose points when what I really should be concerned about is that I might loose my room! What a bummer.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
Now that's really unfortunate. So all along I was worried that if my friend canceled, I'd loose points when what I really should be concerned about is that I might loose my room! What a bummer.

Well, you'd only lose your room if you cancelled the reservation. If you called and there was no availability you could still keep the 2 bedroom, albeit probably too much room, but you'd still have a place to go. If that does happen, you could always keep the 2 bedroom ressie, and go on the waitlist for a 1 bedroom. Worst case, you have a too big room, and spent 40 extra points for it.

 

[manning]

Be care about the last 60 days (I think, may be 30) of your use year. I had to cancel Nov. Use year is march. I cancelled in Sept. I was told there was certain conditions about booking when getting 60 days out of your use year. I don't remember what it is. Check with MS

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by manning
Be care about the last 60 days (I think, may be 30) of your use year. I had to cancel Nov. Use year is march. I cancelled in Sept. I was told there was certain conditions about booking when getting 60 days out of your use year. I don't remember what it is. Check with MS

If you are within 60 days of the end of your use year, you will be unable to bank any unused points. If you can't use those points before the end of your use year, they will expire.

Availability (for rebooking) is usually quite limited 60 days or less from arrival. This limits your ability to re-use the points for another DVC resort reservation (so it may be difficult to rent those points, too). eep in mind that MS generally releases any unbooked points inventory at 60 days to WDWTC/CRO to rent for cash. Members can still book those rooms for points, but they will be competing with the general public.

If you are within 60 days of the end of your use year, you may not book and stay at any of the options in the Disney Collection (non-DVC WDW resort hotels, DCL), the Adventurer's Collection or the Conceirge Collection. You may use them for a Members' Getaway exchange via II, but there are some restrictions on those options as well.

As far as I know, those are the limitations/challenges of using points 60 days or less from the end of the use year.