2 Different Use Years Make Sense?

[dcfromva]

I think a Dec UY still works well for you for trips in Feb, Easter and even in the summer. With a Dec UY, your 100% banking deadline is May 31st so if you had to cancel a Feb or Easter trip, you would still be in your 100% banking window and could bank all of the points, provided you cancelled at least 31 days prior to check in. Your 50% banking window is Aug 31st so if you cancelled a summer trip after May 31st (but at least 31 days prior to check in) you could bank up to 50% of your points. If your BCV contract is an "add on" to your VWL master contract (same UY, same names on the deed), then the total points you own on both contracts are used to calculate that 50%. So depending on whether you had banked any of your VWL points that UY, you might be able to bank all of the BCV points returned to your account from cancelling a summer reservation.

Example: Let's say you had 150 VWL points and added on 100 BCV points. You booked a trip for August at BCV using all 100 of your current-UY points but then cancel that trip in June. If you have not banked any points earlier in your UY, you can bank up to 125 points during your 50% banking window (50% of your combined total of 250 points). So you could bank all 100 of the BCV points returned to your account from the cancelled reservation even though you are in your 50% banking window!

I'm not so sure this is an advantage. Looking at this example on the other hand with 150 VWL DEC UY and the 100 BCV (as a resale) with a Feb or Mar UY and separate master contracts, 100% of the BCV points could still be banked until Jul 31 (Feb UY) and Aug 31 (Mar UY) --assuming the cancelled ressie is not within 31 days, of course. This would be independant of how the VWL points were managed (50-100% of the VWL points could have already been banked with no effect on the BCV banking).

About the only advantage I can see to having the points on the same Master contract is being able to combine them at the 7 month point. I think it depends on your planned points usage. In my case, I have been able to get my needed points by banking and borrowing on each master contract. Sometimes, I have to map out my points usage for the next 3+ years to figure out my banking and borrowing plan.

But, if you the OP finds they are unable to make ressies more than 7 month in advance anyway, it doesn't much matter which home resort (the OP should pick the least expensive one with the least expensive maint. fees) and it might be a bigger advantage to be able to combine the points on the one master contract.

-DC

 

[dcfromva]

True enough but if everyone only made their DVC reservations along this line of thinking, few would travel in the last 6 months of your use year and no one would travel in the last few months. We have always gone when we wanted and have not yet had to cancel and lose points yet.

HBC

HBC,
I think that is something that should be considered when buying points. If a person doesn't have any specific time they go each year, then it doesn't much matter. But if you know before you buy that you will go at one specific time, picking the right UY could give you a whole lot more flexibility in planned usage for the next 35-50 years. (As mentioned before--usage patterns can change as the family situation changes, but you make the best decision you can make at the time. )

Also, there are a lot folks that very generously share their points with family and friends. Sometimes there are last minute cancellations due to reasons beyond the DVC member's control. I know I don't worry as much (maybe a day ) if the ressie has been made in the first 6 months of the UY. I doubt that I would make a ressie using points (for other than DH, DS and myself) that were within the last 60 days of the UY window. (It is probably something that I would not have thought of, except I read the threads on this board of stuff that happens and I know I would not like losing lots of points! )

-DC

 

[jcf]

I'm not so sure this is an advantage. Looking at this example on the other hand with 150 VWL DEC UY and the 100 BCV (as a resale) with a Feb or Mar UY and separate master contracts, 100% of the BCV points could still be banked until Jul 31 (Feb UY) and Aug 31 (Mar UY) --assuming the cancelled ressie is not within 31 days, of course. This would be independant of how the VWL points were managed (50-100% of the VWL points could have already been banked with no effect on the BCV banking).

About the only advantage I can see to having the points on the same Master contract is being able to combine them at the 7 month point. I think it depends on your planned points usage. In my case, I have been able to get my needed points by banking and borrowing on each master contract. Sometimes, I have to map out my points usage for the next 3+ years to figure out my banking and borrowing plan.

But, if you the OP finds they are unable to make ressies more than 7 month in advance anyway, it doesn't much matter which home resort (the OP should pick the least expensive one with the least expensive maint. fees) and it might be a bigger advantage to be able to combine the points on the one master contract.

-DC

Since I definitely plan on using VWL only for Thanksgiving or Christmas and wanted another resort for Feb, Apr or Summer. I thought BCV would be a great choice. As you said, more time to cancel and bank.

 

[LisaS]

Christmas decorations go up right around Thanksgiving. There is no such thing as a November use year and if there was it would be the worst for you considering you want to travel at Christmas.

If a Nov UY did exist, it would work well for those who travel in December. I think you meant this the other way around: that a Dec UY would be the worst choice for someone who normally travels at Thanksgiving.

 

[LisaS]

I'm not so sure this is an advantage. Looking at this example on the other hand with 150 VWL DEC UY and the 100 BCV (as a resale) with a Feb or Mar UY and separate master contracts, 100% of the BCV points could still be banked until Jul 31 (Feb UY) and Aug 31 (Mar UY) --assuming the cancelled ressie is not within 31 days, of course. This would be independant of how the VWL points were managed (50-100% of the VWL points could have already been banked with no effect on the BCV banking).

Excellent post. I wasn't trying to present it as an advantage but rather to say that a Dec UY is still viable for those who travel in Feb, Easter and occasionally in the summer.

About the only advantage I can see to having the points on the same Master contract is being able to combine them at the 7 month point. I think it depends on your planned points usage. In my case, I have been able to get my needed points by banking and borrowing on each master contract. Sometimes, I have to map out my points usage for the next 3+ years to figure out my banking and borrowing plan.

I would list one other advantage: when adding on, you can purchase fewer than 150 points directly from Disney and you get a full set of bankable current-year points. And given the premium price for small add-ons on the resale market plus the closing costs, for some resorts it is more cost effective to purchase directly from Disney. Also, I find having the same set of banking deadlines for all of my contracts makes it easier to manage my points.

But my intentions here are not to try to push add-ons over separate master contracts. I really just want to help the OP understand when UY comes into play and that it has nothing to do with when a reservation can be made.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

If a Nov UY did exist, it would work well for those who travel in December. I think you meant this the other way around: that a Dec UY would be the worst choice for someone who normally travels at Thanksgiving.

Yes Lisa I meant to say Thanksgiving. It is fixed in my original post. Thanks for knowing what I meant. Now if I could just get my DW to understand what I REALLY mean too, that would be great.

HBC

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I think that is something that should be considered when buying points. If a person doesn't have any specific time they go each year, then it doesn't much matter. But if you know before you buy that you will go at one specific time, picking the right UY could give you a whole lot more flexibility in planned usage for the next 35-50 years.

Agree completely. But The OP has already purchased and already has a use year. I was really trying to help the OP not worry about it so. If the OP hadn't already purchased I would be suggesting a careful look at travel patterns.

HBC

 

[jcf]

Agree completely. But The OP has already purchased and already has a use year. I was really trying to help the OP not worry about it so. If the OP hadn't already purchased I would be suggesting a careful look at travel patterns.

HBC

What do you suggest given what I have written about my travel times?

 

[Granny]

What do you suggest given what I have written about my travel times?

I think the suggestion of a February or March UY makes sense given your travel times. I think HBC was just counseling you that UY really only comes into play if you cancel vacations withing 30 days of a trip.

We have contracts with a February and December UY. But we never make our plans on which contract to use based on what the UYs are.

Keep in mind, you are talking about 35 more years. What are the odds that your travel patterns will not change in that time? I think getting a good UY is nice, but when looking for a resale contract I wouldn't pass up a good contract because of the UY. Just my opinion.

 

[jcf]

Best way to go given my anticipated travel times