Will it ever get any easier!!?

[cavecricket]

Maybe I am just not all there but I am a new member and sooo confused by the banking, borrowing, use year ect... Please tell me that I will get it eventually!!!!

No matter how many times it is explained to me I still dont get it! And having 2005 points when I joined in October 2005 is making me crazy! I guess I am using the 2005 points next year?! but I already banked them so how can I book a trip when my points have been banked?!

Oh and by the way I tried to make my reservation for SSR a month too early! How embarassing!!! lol

omg...I am so lost!

 

[DebbieB]

What is your use year month?

 

[cavecricket]

What is your use year month?

I know this one!!!!!

My use year is April

thanks

 

[DebbieB]

I have April too! So your 2005 points are good for stays between 4/1/05 and 3/31/06. Since you banked them, they are now good for stays 4/1/06 to 3/31/07. Make yourself a chart:

2005......4/1/05 to 3/31/06
2006......4/1/06 to 3/31/07
2007......4/1/07 to 3/31/08

When you bank, you move them ahead one use year (2005 would bank into 2006). When you borrow, you move them back one year (2006 could be borrowed back to the 2005 use year). All use is based on the date of stay, not the date when you make the reservation. So you look at what points will be available on the dates of your stay, even if it's a future use year. So if you are planning a trip in June 2006, your April 2006 use year points would be considered current year points, you could also use banked 2005 and borrowed 2007. The most common mistake new members make is looking at the points available on the date they make the reservation, not the date of their stay. All use is based on date of stay.

 

[cavecricket]

You are a lifesaver!!!!

4 calls to member services, massive online searches, and reading through pages and pages of legal hoo-hah = total chaos and worry!

Getting an educated and quick response from a fellow DVC member who has it all together = priceless!!

Thanks again for your help! Glad to know we have the same use year! ( I promise I wont bug you! )

Jennifer

 

[DVCLiz]

Jennifer - these boards are great for questions like yours!!!! There's always someone better educated in the ways of DVC who is happy to help - and it can get confusing at times!!!!

 

[cavecricket]

now, is it true that you can only borrow so many points per year?

With banking points, does that give me blackout dates?

I know, ..... I really need to read and ask questions before signing my life away on contracts! But its Disney, I can trust em' !!!!!

Thanks !

 

[Talkingwoody]

Wow,

I am brand new to these boards and a new owner. It seems so simple now. That was a great explanation. Now I just have to decide what to do...

Thanks

 

[DebbieB]

now, is it true that you can only borrow so many points per year?

With banking points, does that give me blackout dates?

I know, ..... I really need to read and ask questions before signing my life away on contracts! But its Disney, I can trust em' !!!!!

Thanks !

Glad to help!

You can borrow all your next year's points, there is no limit. There is no blackout on banked points (there is a provision in the contract that DVC can restrict banking but that has not happened so far). The only thing you have to watch with banking points is the banking deadlines. With an April use year, you can bank up to 100% of your points by 9/30, 50% by 12/30, 25% by 1/31. So if you have 200 points, to bank all of them, you have to do so by 9/30 (they will make exceptions when you first buy, which I assume happened in your case), on 12/30 you can only bank 100 total, 1/31 you can only bank 50 total.

Keep in mind that banking and borrowing are final transactions, you can't change your mind afterwards if your plans change.

 

[canwegosoon]

Despite my best intentions I have yet to bank points(although this year I only borrowed 5 points)...easier to keep track of if you are always in a borrowing status!!! Please no one suggest an add on until I get my new house!!!

 

[Caskbill]

One thing that's often confusing is that dues are based on a calendar year Jan-Dec, but points are based on a Use Year.

A Use Year is simply the 12-month period that begins on the 1st day of your Use Year Month, and ends 365 days later.

For example, in our State, Auto license plates are staggered so the entire state isn't renewing plates at the same time. Our plates go from July - July, so you can think of that timeframe for us as being our auto registration's use year.

 

[cavecricket]

I always take october and sometimes september for my trips....will an april use year affect that in any way? seeing as i would have to bank by 9/30???

 

[CarolMN]

I always take october and sometimes september for my trips....will an april use year affect that in any way? seeing as i would have to bank by 9/30???

No, IMHO, April is a pretty good use year for September and October trips.

It is true that to bank 100% of a year's points, you would need to do it by September 30.

But let's think about cancelling reservations. If you cancel 31 days or more prior to arrival, you can bank (subject to the banking deadlines, of course).

If you cancel 30 days or less, the points are returned to your account, but they are in "holding status". In addition to restrictions on how you may use holding account points to make reservations, holding account points can't be banked will expire at the end of the current use year.

Bottom Line: If you are going to cancel an October reservation, you need to do it at least 31 days in advance to prevent your points from going into holding. If you cancel on time, you will have time to bank before the 100% deadline for September 30.

Best wishes -

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have never worried about having to cancel last minute, becaue I fugure it wont happen very often. We probably have the worst use year for our travel habits (March use year and like to travel Dec. and Jan.), but we have never nad to worry about it yet in 8+ years of membership. Just remember that use year has nothing to do with when you can book. It only effects when you can bank.

 

[byoung]

I agree it's going to be hard for me to cancel a trip.