Use year falls in middle of our holiday

[cheryl.UK]

Hi all, we are heading to WDW for 24 might starting in September and ending in October. October is our use year. How do we book the section which falls 25 sept to 02 October? Do we have to borrow from the next use year or bank from the current one. We have not quite enough in the current use year to do this. The problem hasn't occurred before because we usually go August/September but I retire this year, Yay!

 

[TinkAgainU]

Obviously, booking two trips so you do not have to bank or borrow is the best strategy. They can link the two reservations for you.

If you are just a few points short, consider getting someone to transfer you (same resort) points. Or buy a few OTU points, although those are only good at the 7 month date. If you are booking at 8am at 7 months (versus calling in when they open), consider booking a trip that adds the OTU points you need, then cancel it, and the points should remain in your account for online booking later - although still a bit of a crapshoot. If I HAD to bank or borrow, I'd bank, since those will at least expire later all other things being equal.

 

[Willow Ufgood]

Hi all, we are heading to WDW for 24 might starting in September and ending in October. October is our use year. How do we book the section which falls 25 sept to 02 October? Do we have to borrow from the next use year or bank from the current one. We have not quite enough in the current use year to do this. The problem hasn't occurred before because we usually go August/September but I retire this year, Yay!

I usually recommend booking the dates that fall at the end of your UY. In your case that would be Sept 25 - Oct 1. Then call member services to add Oct 1 - Oct 2 to the existing reservation. They can make reservations that cross UYs. I'm not sure if calling is an option since you're in the UK but of it is, that is the route that I would take.

 

[SteveMouse]

You will want two reservations. One covering your dates in September and a second reservation from October 1 through the end of your stay.

You will need to have sufficient points in your 2024 Use Year for your September reservation. These could be your 2024 points, one time use points, points you borrow from 2025, or points transferred from a different membership. You can ask Member Services to link the two reservations. Assuming they are both for the same room type, you may not have to change rooms.

It is important to note that if you cancel it wish to change your triip you will need to be cognizant of holding rules. It may be very difficult to change your trip without losing some or all of the points for your September stay. The rules are much different for the October portion of your stay since that is at the beginning of your Use Year

 

[cheryl.UK]

This sounds really risky to me guys as it will be a 7 night stay at BCV in a 1 bed at the 7 month mark. 6 night in September and just 1 in October. I really don't want to have to move rooms mid stay. Just for info, we are hoping for BLT (home resort, already booked) 15-25 Sept BCV 25-2 and then GFV 2-10 October

 

[TinkAgainU]

Also, can you book the BCV single night, same category room, as a refundable CASH room that night as a safety net?

 

[sndral]

Just for info, we are hoping for BLT (home resort, already booked) 15-25 Sept BCV 25-2 and then GFV 2-10 October

When my visit crosses my use year I call MS because MS can book a stay that crosses use years.
I’ll book the nights that fall in my earlier use year online, wait an hour until MS opens, then call & ask them to add the days that are in my ‘next’ use year.
In your case the section of your trip impacted is BCV Sept. 25 - October 2. Assuming you are waiting until 7 months - on 2/25 go online & book the nights of 9/25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 - those are all in your 2024 use year -so be sure to use up any banked points & ‘current’ 2024 points. Then wait an hour until MS opens & call them & ask them to add the night of 10/1 to your BC reservation, for that night you can use any leftover 2024 points by banking them (since you are now in your 2025 use year) - they’ll talk you through which points they’re using - I write it down as I chat w/ them to avoid becoming confused .
I will note, that BCV is very small & popular during the fall - my fall back option if BC isn’t available at 7 months would be to book BWVs, which as a larger resort is more likely to have availability.
You can book the VGF October 2 - 10 section of your stay entirely online since it all falls in your 2025 use year - on 3/2 go online & book the first 7 nights - 10/2, 10/3, 10/4, 10/5, 10/6, 10/7, 10/8, then the next day on 3/3 go online to modify & add 10/9.
Good luck & congratulations on your retirement - what a wonderful way to celebrate .

 

[TinkAgainU]

...
I will note, that BCV is very small & popular during the fall - my fall back option if BC isn’t available at 7 months would be to book BWVs, which as a larger resort is more likely to have availability.
...

Good point, it's always helpful to note EXACTLY how many rooms of a given category are available - for example there are a LOT more Pool/Garden studio rooms than Boardwalk rooms at Boardwalk, and a LOT more Resort studio rooms than Deluxe rooms at Grand Floridian (different beds/views but similar views). And of course, typical availability changes week by week - but has been tracked for years so you can get an idea in advance how it'll look. There are places to check all this online for free I suppose, but I bought the www.dvcfieldguide.com for my info and use it constantly.