Best Use Year for our travel times?

[cabloom]

Hi - we are in the "consideration" phase of purchasing a DVC resale. We are late 40s, no kids, and figure our trips will be a mix of just us, along with occasionally inviting family along. To date, all 5 of our trips have been in May but I can also see us visiting in October through early December. Right now, we always go backpacking in September but at some point in the future, sleeping on the ground might lose it's appeal - so Sept trips could also be a possibility.

I'd like opinions on what use year would work best for us, should we decide to buy, given our potential travel times. Oct? That would make May the end of our banking window. Or would something like April be better?

I do not foresee us ever visiting during summer, spring break, or holidays. I also don't foresee us needing to cancel a trip ... but you just never know!

 

[disneynutz]

Rather than just give you a month, I will explain why you need to pick the correct UY.

You can only bank your points during the first 8 months of your UY. When you cancel a reservation, you want to have time to bank your points if you can't reschedule your vacation.

Take a look at your anticipated vacation times within a 8 month period and pick a UY at the beginning of the period.

We don't like the warmer months at WDW so we have a Oct UY. Vacations in Oct - May are covered if we need to cancel, which we have due to a death in the family, a job relocation, and the flu.

Bill

 

[malamida]

sure is a lot to consider with DVC

 

[Missyrose]

sure is a lot to consider with DVC

It seems like a lot, but once you start to research the system, it should make more sense.

 

[AJA]

OP our travel times are May and September (because of work Sept is easier to swing than Oct) but in the future we do want to try October. We're pretty much set on a September use year. For us, our Fall trip would have a better chance of getting canceled/rescheduled than our May trips. We want to have our use year early in the fall.

sure is a lot to consider with DVC

Yes there is! As an example we've been kicking around the idea of buying DVC for two years. This summer we're finally ready to take the plunge. We've weighed the pros and cons over and over and the pros win. I'm an ubber planner though and have to admit I enjoy the research.

I'm the type that likes to research ANY major purchase though and DVC (to me) is def a major purchase.

 

[cabloom]

OP again - thanks everyone for your replies. I totally understand how the UY works with the ability to bank points, but now I'm afraid I am overthinking the whole thing because I'm still undecided on what would be best for us.

We know we like to go in May, all of our previous trips have been in May. I also know that we would like to go in Oct, Nov, early Dec & possibly Jan. I think that we would also like Sep at some point on down the line.

Here's where the overthinking part comes in - so, say we have an Oct UY. That would allow us until the end of May to bank points. But - if we had a May trip scheduled, we would have to cancel no later than some time in April anyway (31 days before) or else the points would go into a holding account - correct? - which negates the purpose of an Oct UY. So maybe having a Sep UY would be better - that way we could definitely schedule Sep trips without fear of losing the points if we had to cancel.

But, it seems when I look at resale UYs in general - all resorts - you just don't see many Sep UYs. And right now none appear to be available at the BCV, which is our first choice. However - August seems to be much more popular! Maybe August would work ok for us - then we would have to bank by March, so if we had to cancel a May trip, we'd either have to do it by then or else the points would go into holding (which they most likely would have with an Oct UY anyway, depending upon when in April we cancelled). And then we would have the popular summer months to try and find a renter.

Or is it just that I desperately want to start making offers and am trying to justify in my mind why an August UY would be perfect for us?

If only I had a crystal ball and could see into the future - and know whether most of our trips will be in the fall or in May ... Regardless, the only reason we would cancel a May trip would be something sudden and catastrophic, which would likely result in holding points.

I realize that there is no absolutely perfect UY (May would be, but there is no such thing!) but am I agonizing over this too much? Help!

 

[CarolMN]

I just updated the Understanding Use Year thread. Give it a look!

IMO, either Sept or October would be good use years for someone who plans to travel as you posted. But September is much better than October if you ever think you might want to go in September .

 

[CarolMN]

.......(snip)......
We know we like to go in May, all of our previous trips have been in May. I also know that we would like to go in Oct, Nov, early Dec & possibly Jan. I think that we would also like Sep at some point on down the line.

Here's where the overthinking part comes in - so, say we have an Oct UY. That would allow us until the end of May to bank points. But - if we had a May trip scheduled, we would have to cancel no later than some time in April anyway (31 days before) or else the points would go into a holding account - correct? - which negates the purpose of an Oct UY. So maybe having a Sep UY would be better - that way we could definitely schedule Sep trips without fear of losing the points if we had to cancel.........(snip).....!

Yes, that is correct. Anytime you cancel 30 days or less prior to arrival, the points go into holding. Points in holding cannot be banked and always expire at the end of the current use year.

If you think you might want to go in September in addition to the other times you listed, then September would be better for you than October.

 

[disneynutz]

I have 2 recommendations, buy where you love to stay and pick the UY that protects you for the majority of your vacations.

Bill

 

[drusba]

If time of year you will go is May or any time from Sep to Jan, buy a Sep use year. What you are telling me is that you probably won't go June through Aug (if I did not have kids to take with who are on school schedules I would completely avoid those months too) but anything else is a possibility (e.g., if you think are thinking Sep through Jan you might even try Feb.) Oct is is not good for Sep trips and Sep is OK for May -- banking deadline would be April 30; fact is if you don't cancel by 31 days before arrival you won't get to bank anyway because all points go into holding account and thus Sep is fine for May.