Another Use Year Question

[Dawn16]

Hi. New here and I have been doing a lot of research lately (these boards are very helpful - thank you!) but I still have a question regarding Use Year. I've noticed most people say it really doesn't matter what month you get. But in plotting out how we'd use our points over the next several years it seems that some months require more banking and/or borrowing than others. We typically go to WDW for one 10 day trip per year in either August or November (alternating years beginning with Aug. '08). We're planning to buy 210 points at AKV and keep roughly the same vacation schedule. In comparing months, it seems like a December Use Year would require less 'shifting' so to speak. Of course, I'm not sure I'd even have December as a choice so it may be a moot point. But does it make sense that it would be easier to deal with an end of year month vs. a June or August that would necessitate more tracking and planning on my part? Maybe I'm just making a big deal out of nothing? Any suggestions? Sorry for the long winded first post!

 

[DVC Mary]

Hi. New here and I have been doing a lot of research lately (these boards are very helpful - thank you!) but I still have a question regarding Use Year. I've noticed most people say it really doesn't matter what month you get. But in plotting out how we'd use our points over the next several years it seems that some months require more banking and/or borrowing than others. We typically go to WDW for one 10 day trip per year in either August or November (alternating years beginning with Aug. '08). We're planning to buy 210 points at AKV and keep roughly the same vacation schedule. In comparing months, it seems like a December Use Year would require less 'shifting' so to speak. Of course, I'm not sure I'd even have December as a choice so it may be a moot point. But does it make sense that it would be easier to deal with an end of year month vs. a June or August that would necessitate more tracking and planning on my part? Maybe I'm just making a big deal out of nothing? Any suggestions? Sorry for the long winded first post!

We have a Feb use year & have to remember to bank in the summer. It doesn't bother us, b/c we're like you guys & usually only do 1 trip a year in the summer. I will bank a month or two early sometimes, just so I don't forget. It doesn't matter, in the end b/c you can plan a trip for next year using next year's points too. You use up your borrowed points 1st & then move on to that year's points.

You might be able to get a Dec. use year if you ask & never hurts to ask.

Good luck! You'll love DVC.

 

[kend58]

The biggest impact of UY is the banking window.

The biggest impact of the banking window is on unplanned trip cancellations/changes.

Having most of your expected travel occurr within the 1st six months of your UY maximizes your banking privileges and rebooking opportunities in the event of trip disruption.

Other than that UY has no impact on making reservations or utilizing one's points

 

[Figment2]

I would not recommend a Dec. use year if you travel in Nov. If for whatever reason you needed to cancel that reservation within 30 days of travel, you would have to find someone who could rent that reservation or risk losing those points.

I would recommend Oct.

Cyn (and I have a Dec. use year)

 

[Dawn16]

Thanks everyone! I think I was correct in assuming that I was making a bigger issue of it than I needed to. I'm sure once I'm a DVC veteran the whole remembering to bank/borrow correctly won't seem so daunting.

 

[LisaS]

We typically go to WDW for one 10 day trip per year in either August or November (alternating years beginning with Aug. '08). We're planning to buy 210 points at AKV and keep roughly the same vacation schedule. In comparing months, it seems like a December Use Year would require less 'shifting' so to speak.

For reasons already mentioned, it's best to have a UY that begins just before your primary travel dates. Given your plans to travel in Aug or Nov, an August or a June UY would work well. (There is no July UY.)

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by certain Use Years requiring less "shifting". You can book a stay at your home resort 11 months from your check out date regardless of your UY. A stay at your home resort in Aug 2008 could be booked in Sep 2007.

With an Aug UY, your 2007 UY points would be valid for trips from Aug 1, 2007 - July 31, 2008. Your 2008 points would be valid for trips from Aug 1, 2008 - July 31, 2009, and so on until your contract expiration date. So for a trip in Aug 2008, you could use Aug 2008 UY points and/or points banked from your Aug 2007 UY. You could also borrow points from your Aug 2009 UY.

 

[wildernessDad]

I would choose August for your UY if you are SURE that you will be vacationing either in August or November. With an August UY, you would be able to bank 100 % of your points by the end of January. You'd have time to bank your points in case your vacation plans when awry. I would definitely NOT choose December.

 

[Dawn16]

Thanks again for the responses. Sounds like August or June would work best so that's what I'll shoot for if available.

LisaS - I guess by 'shifting' I just meant that a December UY seemed to require less banking and borrowing as I'd mainly be using the points inside the UY based on our travel plans. Being new to this I suppose I was looking at whatever required the least manuevering. I'm sure its really not as complicated as it probably seems to a newbie!

 

[LisaS]

LisaS - I guess by 'shifting' I just meant that a December UY seemed to require less banking and borrowing as I'd mainly be using the points inside the UY based on our travel plans.

OK, I think I see what you mean. With an Aug UY, if your first trip was in Aug 2008, then you would bank your Aug '07 points into your '08UY to use for that trip. If you needed more than one UY's worth of points you would use some of your 2008 points as well and then bank the remaining '08 points into your 2009 UY. With a Dec UY, you would use Dec '07 points for the Aug '08 trip and if you needed more, would borrow from your 2008 UY. So yes with an Aug UY and your first trip no earlier than Aug or Nov 2008, you would start off by banking that first set of points. Now most people would think that was a good thing! Having some extra points when you are starting out can mean adding an extra day to the trip or possibly even taking a second trip every few years to use up that surplus.

 

[Dawn16]

OK, I think I see what you mean. With an Aug UY, if your first trip was in Aug 2008, then you would bank your Aug '07 points into your '08UY to use for that trip. If you needed more than one UY's worth of points you would use some of your 2008 points as well and then bank the remaining '08 points into your 2009 UY. With a Dec UY, you would use Dec '07 points for the Aug '08 trip and if you needed more, would borrow from your 2008 UY. So yes with an Aug UY and your first trip no earlier than Aug or Nov 2008, you would start off by banking that first set of points. Now most people would think that was a good thing! Having some extra points when you are starting out can mean adding an extra day to the trip or possibly even taking a second trip every few years to use up that surplus.

Yes, you're definitely right about the point surplus being a good thing. With so much new information to digest I think I was just looking for an easy way out, so to speak. But, no matter the UY, I'm going to own DVC at AKV so I'm happy! Thanks again for your input!

 

[LisaS]

Yes, you're definitely right about the point surplus being a good thing. With so much new information to digest I think I was just looking for an easy way out, so to speak. But, no matter the UY, I'm going to own DVC at AKV so I'm happy! Thanks again for your input!

There is a lot to learn, but after you read enough posts here, suddenly it all goes "click" and starts to make sense. And there are a lot of folks here who have all gone through that same learning curve and will be happy to answer questions and offer advice.

Nice to hear we will be welcoming you home sometime soon, AKV neighbor-to-be!

 

[Dawn16]

There is a lot to learn, but after you read enough posts here, suddenly it all goes "click" and starts to make sense. And there are a lot of folks here who have all gone through that same learning curve and will be happy to answer questions and offer advice.

Nice to hear we will be welcoming you home sometime soon, AKV neighbor-to-be!

Thanks. We're making the purchase tomorrow actually, I'm very excited! No AKV trip until next August but luckily we're heading down to Wilderness Lodge in November so that should hold us over. My last "cash reservation". Luckily we got an AP discount at least!