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

[AstroBlasters]

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!

So you stay 40 nights a year at WDW and get there by driving?

 

[TCRAIG]

So you stay 40 nights a year at WDW and get there by driving?

Yup…but it’s an @8+ hr drive each way…that’s why I really like my multiple UYs…each one is a designated season…with Disney’s Hilton Head thrown in the mix.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Yup…but it’s an @8+ hr drive each way…that’s why I really like my multiple UYs…each one is a designated season…with Disney’s Hilton Head thrown in the mix.

So, I would venture to guess that 40-nights a year and driving to WDW (albeit over 1.5 days) is a different galaxy than someone who is “new to DVC, 1 contract, took one trip this year and are now considering an April/May trip instead of just fall”…

 

[Sandisw]

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.

Sometimes the reasons needing to cancel or even change can be out of one’s control.

But, we have had to cancel or change a few times and I simply adjusted to make it work…but very happy that I had the additional time to reschedule the trip or at least move them into a different trip I had scheduled.

 

[TCRAIG]

So, I would venture to guess that 40-nights a year and driving to WDW (albeit over 1.5 days) is a different galaxy than someone who is “new to DVC, 1 contract, took one trip this year and are now considering an April/May trip instead of just fall”…

Possibly - but I got my second UY very soon after my first - when I was only going 1-2 times a year and realized June wasn’t a good UY for spring travel…same as the OP. And (IIRC), the OP was looking to ADD a spring trip - not necessarily replace the fall one and asked what would be the best 2nd UY. So I’ll stand by my recommendation that, with an August UY, the best 2nd UY to add would be Feb or March.

 

[Blondientor]

For April/May trips, I’d probably look at a June use year. That way if plans shift last minute you’ve still got plenty of time to bank points without stressing.

 

[airjay75]

For April/May trips, I’d probably look at a June use year. That way if plans shift last minute you’ve still got plenty of time to bank points without stressing.

Your banking deadline is 4 months before your UY begins. For June UYs, that is January 31st. And, you can only bank points if you've canceled your reservation more than 30 days in advance. So, if you have points with a June UY and you made changes to an April or May trip, that would not be ideal. If you cancelled those reservations more than 30 days in advance, but after January 31st, you would have to use those points by the end of May or lose them forever. If you canceled them with less than 30 days in advance, they would go into holding, which means you can only use them for bookings in the next 60 days, but also before the end of your UY which would effectively mean you have to use them for different dates in April or May if you can find somewhere to use them.

So, I would have to politely disagree - I think a June UY would be the worst UY you could pick for April/May trips. Sept/Oct/Dec/Feb/Mar/April UYs could all work just fine if you regularly travel in May/April. To pick the absolute best UY among those, additional info is needed - namely, which months are you LEAST likely to use your points. If you can identify those, having them come right before your UY begins would get you your best UY IMO.