Yet another usage question

[disneyfan2kids]

If I have a Dec. 2006 Use year then my 100% banking date is on May 31st 2007.

If I'm unsure of the rest of my yearly trips at that May date, can I just bank 100% of my 2006 points and if I decide to book a trip prior to Dec., then I just borrow the exact needed # of pts from the next years allotment. Is there any "down side" to doing this?

If not, shouldn't I just do this EVERY year so as to only have & use the exact # of pts needed. (Understanding that I can't put the banked 2006 pts into the 2008 UY.)

What am I missing?

 

[Dean]

You can do this and unless you think you will have a trip in the last half of your use year, this is the best approach. The main negative is that if you borrow and then cancel, you may well lose those points. Plus you'd end up with borrowed points in the "current" use year and banked points in the next use year, both situations giving less flexibility but preferable to losing points consistently. This is one of the reasons why I feel use year can be important for many and can have a value up to around $10 per point and even more in some cases.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

You can do this and unless you think you will have a trip in the last half of your use year, this is the best approach.

Great...thanks!

The main negative is that if you borrow and then cancel, you may well lose those points. Plus you'd end up with borrowed points in the "current" use year and banked points in the next use year, both situations giving less flexibility but preferable to losing points consistently.

That was my thought process...understandably risky if you choose to cancel a ressie that was made on borrowed points. However, assuming no cancellations (ever) you'd always use the exact number of points you had available...right?

This is one of the reasons why I feel use year can be important for many and can have a value up to around $10 per point and even more in some cases.

Whoa...you lost me there...what do you mean?

 

[Dean]

That was my thought process...understandably risky if you choose to cancel a ressie that was made on borrowed points. However, assuming no cancellations (ever) you'd always use the exact number of points you had available...right?

Whoa...you lost me there...what do you mean?

You are correct in that if you used the same number of points over time, you would end up the same place.

As for a better use year worth more, it depends on your situation. If you have known risk to your plans as far as you or some other members of your party canceling, that can cost you points. If you travel around the same time every year, say June, a use year shortly before your usual travel gives you the chance to bank if you have to cancel and more time to use any points you can't bank (previously banked or borrowed). Of course if you have little risk of canceling and travel all throughout the year OR mostly travel on fairly short notice, the use year means far less.