Best "Use Year" for me?

[dolphinea]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so far for all the great and thoughtful advice! Still researching...

I like to travel in the first two weeks of December, maybe even over Thanksgiving staying through the end of the first week of December, some years.

I like to switch up resorts, rotating between BCV, VWL and I'd like to try OKW and the new Saratoga Springs sometime.

What would you all suggest as the best "use year" to purchase?

(My instinct is to go for a resale at WLV, by the way.)

Thanks!!
Amanda

 

[CRobin]

Amanda, I would make use year secondary to getting the best deal on your resale.

Use year really only comes into play with cancellations. If you cancel with borrowed points, they expire at the end of your current use year. And, if you cancel within 31 days, your points go into a holding account with a lot of restrictions on use that may force you to let them expire.

Get the best deal on your purchase, don't fret use year too much.

Good Luck!

 

[DebbieB]

August, September or October would be good for you. June might also work, you have until Nov 30 to bank 100%. There is no July or November. I would only worry about it if you think you may have to cancel close to your stay. I take my mom on some trips and worry about it because she is not in good health.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DebbieB
August, September or October would be good for you. June might also work, you have until Nov 30 to bank 100%. There is no July or November. I would only worry about it if you think you may have to cancel close to your stay. I take my mom on some trips and worry about it because she is not in good health.

I agree. Look for all resorts that interest you. I personally would concentrate on resale contracts that are the use years mentioned above, I think it's that important for many and it seems like it would be in your situation. Good luck.

 

[disneyberry]

just wanted to chime in and say, i agree w/ the suggestions of Oct, Sep, Aug, or Jun.

some other things to think about:

* is your travel pattern truly that predictable? will you really always travel in Nov/Dec for the next 38+ years?

* are there any other months that would be your 2nd choice travel time?

* are there any months that you are least likely to travel during? for example, if you absolutely can't stand the heat and crowds combo of summer during mid-Jun to mid-Aug, then Aug UY or Sep UY are good choices.
this is because it can be a risky thing to travel during the last 2 months of your UY. (if you unexpectedly need to cancel, you're left w/ little to no banking options, and points expiring too soon to salvage)

 

[BigTigger]

> I like to switch up resorts, rotating between BCV, VWL
> and I'd like to try OKW and the new Saratoga Springs
> sometime.

Unless you are buying a BCV resale, you may want to think a bit about where you buy.

If you truly want to stay at BCV, you will most likely need to have that as your home resort or be real flexible in when you go. The times you indicate (Thanskgiving and early December) are very busy DVC times and I doubt you'll be able to get BCV on a seven month window.

Having said that, VWL is a very nice home. You should be able to trade at the seven month window into BWV or OKW without problems (maybe a waitlist for a few nights, but they usually come through). Given the planned size of the resort, I'd guess SSR would also be readily available to trade into.

Remember that a new BCV contract with the Magical Beginnings (or whatever it's called now) is only $74 per point, not much more than a resale. Good luck in your decision and purchase process!!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by BigTigger
> I like to switch up resorts, rotating between BCV, VWL
> and I'd like to try OKW and the new Saratoga Springs
> sometime.

Unless you are buying a BCV resale, you may want to think a bit about where you buy.

If you truly want to stay at BCV, you will most likely need to have that as your home resort or be real flexible in when you go. The times you indicate (Thanskgiving and early December) are very busy DVC times and I doubt you'll be able to get BCV on a seven month window.

Having said that, VWL is a very nice home. You should be able to trade at the seven month window into BWV or OKW without problems (maybe a waitlist for a few nights, but they usually come through). Given the planned size of the resort, I'd guess SSR would also be readily available to trade into.

Remember that a new BCV contract with the Magical Beginnings (or whatever it's called now) is only $74 per point, not much more than a resale. Good luck in your decision and purchase process!!

Actually VWL will be as hard or harder for Decembeer than BCV. BCV is only $74 if you give up the first years points. That would be comparable to a resale with no current years points. That's why you must look at each resale individually to see if it works for you.