Another 2nd Use Year Question - For Mid April to Mid May Travel

[LavaMama]

I'm relatively new to DVC. We purchased our first contract, August UY, last year. When we bought, our plan was only for fall travel. Earlier this year we took a trip in April and now we would like to plan for April/May travel as well. Our current 3/31 banking deadline makes that risky if our plans change so after originally being convinced we would only ever have one UY, we are now considering a second UY. What use year do you recommend for mid April to mid May stays?

 

[Chili327]

I’d guess Feb or March… and maybe April if you think you’ll never go in Feb or March.

 

[buzzrelly]

We originally had a December UY and it was great for our December and Spring trips but then we fell in love with October in WDW and ended up purchasing April UY points. I feel like our combo takes us through the whole year pretty well.

 

[Wedgeout]

Not a fan of multiple UY’s but if going to add points to alternate trips, feeling safer about cancellations, it would be February. The 6 month match to your August. (Or pick closest to that apart).

I’ve noticed the 4 UY’s that don’t exist match up to this 6 month system as well. I have April. Its sibling match would be October.

 

[Wedgeout]

Also keep in mind April is still ok with your August UY. Cancelling at the 31+ days to avoid holding, still falls within your banking window. (December trips I love taking still works for my April UY). It’s those May-July ones you book that have most emergency risk factor.

 

[RuntheMouse]

I'm relatively new to DVC. We purchased our first contract, August UY, last year. When we bought, our plan was only for fall travel. Earlier this year we took a trip in April and now we would like to plan for April/May travel as well. Our current 3/31 banking deadline makes that risky if our plans change so after originally being convinced we would only ever have one UY, we are now considering a second UY. What use year do you recommend for mid April to mid May stays?

We have August for fall/winter travel and February for spring travel.

 

[airjay75]

Anything other than June or August work fine for April/May trips. But, which months are you least likely to use your points? You want those to be as close to the end of your UY as possible.

 

[TCRAIG]

With an August UY - I would recommend February as your second.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I'm relatively new to DVC. We purchased our first contract, August UY, last year. When we bought, our plan was only for fall travel. Earlier this year we took a trip in April and now we would like to plan for April/May travel as well. Our current 3/31 banking deadline makes that risky if our plans change so after originally being convinced we would only ever have one UY, we are now considering a second UY. What use year do you recommend for mid April to mid May stays?

As you are “new” to this, I would strongly recommend AGAINST purchasing a second use year until you have more established travel patterns.

 

[TCRAIG]

As you are “new” to this, I would strongly recommend AGAINST purchasing a second use year until you have more established travel patterns.

I’m going to respectfully disagree - travel patterns can significantly change as your family and work dynamic changes…having 2 UYs gives you the flexibility to travel whenever you want without worrying about banking deadlines.
My only advice would be to keep each UY a unique resort or resorts and enough points so you don’t have to transfer.. and bank any left over points.
Keep Feb UY for travel from Feb thru July and Aug UY for travel from Aug thru Jan.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I’m going to respectfully disagree - travel patterns can significantly change as your family and work dynamic changes…having 2 UYs gives you the flexibility to travel whenever you want without worrying about banking deadlines.
My only advice would be to keep each UY a unique resort or resorts and enough points so you don’t have to transfer.. and bank any left over points.
Keep Feb UY for travel from Feb thru July and Aug UY for travel from Aug thru Jan.

I respect your right to disagree, but I believe that second UY’s do significantly more harm than good unless there is an overwhelming reason to own more than one by someone who is very skilled in what they are doing.

 

[Tumnus]

I respect your right to disagree, but I believe that second UY’s do significantly more harm than good unless there is an overwhelming reason to own more than one by someone who is very skilled in what they are doing.

I think it comes down to average length of trips - if you tend to do shorter trips (more local/driving), two use years is amazing. If you fly down and do long trips, it would be a pain.

 

[TCRAIG]

I think it comes down to average length of trips - if you tend to do shorter trips (more local/driving), two use years is amazing. If you fly down and do long trips, it would be a pain.

I do a hybrid - I drive (but it’s a long drive so I split in half) and then stay 10 days - 4 times a year. Having multiple UYs means I never have to worry about cancelling outside my banking window. Maybe it’s because my job was in tech design and code (retired now) - but I’ve never had a problem keeping up with my multiple UYs and in all my 15 yrs of DVC, I’ve never not used every point!

 

[Chili327]

I do a hybrid - I drive (but it’s a long drive so I split in half) and then stay 10 days - 4 times a year. Having multiple UYs means I never have to worry about cancelling outside my banking window. Maybe it’s because my job was in tech design and code (retired now) - but I’ve never had a problem keeping up with my multiple UYs and in all my 15 yrs of DVC, I’ve never not used every point!

Do you ever have to transfer points between memberships, or just works out by banking, & not needing to transfer ever?

 

[TCRAIG]

Do you ever have to transfer points between memberships, or just works out by banking, & not needing to transfer ever?

No - never transfer. Rather than transfer, I’ll book (7 months out or less) a non home resort and the call DVC MS to ‘link’ the 2 reservations and show as a continuing stay so I can stay in the same room. As far as banking - somehow - even with a bunch points - I’m always in borrow mode!

 

[tx911]

I do a hybrid - I drive (but it’s a long drive so I split in half) and then stay 10 days - 4 times a year. Having multiple UYs means I never have to worry about cancelling outside my banking window. Maybe it’s because my job was in tech design and code (retired now) - but I’ve never had a problem keeping up with my multiple UYs and in all my 15 yrs of DVC, I’ve never not used every point!

Out of curiosity, how many times in 15 years have you canceled a trip where it would have made a difference?

I ask because personally I have never cancelled a planned trip in my adult life (knock on wood).

 

[airjay75]

Out of curiosity, how many times in 15 years have you canceled a trip where it would have made a difference?

I ask because personally I have never cancelled a planned trip in my adult life (knock on wood).

I'm also genuinely interested in hearing the answer to this question from anyone with multiple UYs. I do get the peace of mind aspect of it - sometimes just knowing you could cancel is enough to justify it. But, were the occasions where you had to cancel, and, had it been with your other UY points, you likely would have lost them?

I will add, one other thought I had where I could see the benefit of multiple UYs. Let's say your UYs are September and February. You book a summer trip in June, July, or August using your February points, but end up having to cancel less than 30 days out, and the points go into holding. It will probably be easier to have all the way until February to use those points as opposed to if you had used your September UY points. Even though points go into holding regardless of UY, you at least have more time to use them if you use your February UY.

 

[tx911]

I'm also genuinely interested in hearing the answer to this question from anyone with multiple UYs. I do get the peace of mind aspect of it - sometimes just knowing you could cancel is enough to justify it. But, were the occasions where you had to cancel, and, had it been with your other UY points, you likely would have lost them?

I will add, one other thought I had where I could see the benefit of multiple UYs. Let's say your UYs are September and February. You book a summer trip in June, July, or August using your February points, but end up having to cancel less than 30 days out, and the points go into holding. It will probably be easier to have all the way until February to use those points as opposed to if you had used your September UY points. Even though points go into holding regardless of UY, you at least have more time to use them if you use your February UY.

Yes, I agree with everything you’re saying. With a February use year, I definitely have to be careful with reservations in December and January. As long as I cancel before the end of September, no big deal at all. After that, I would likely have to rent out the reservations to avoid losing points.

But then I think again that I’ve never had to cancel a vacation up until now. And so you have to weigh whether it’s worth the other negatives that come every single year of the membership when you have more than one use year. For me the answer is no.

 

[tx911]

The bottom line is that people should put a good amount of thought into it before they get a second use year. I think some people believe that just because they travel year-round they need more than one UY, and I don’t think that is the case at all. For some people it works, and it’s great, but it’s not for everyone and perhaps not even for most.