Best UY for Me

[quinnc19]

I'm seriously considering taking the plunge but I am a bit confused about what the best UY would be. Am I correct in thinking that October would be good if I am least likely to want to travel in July, August, and September?
Thanks so much for your thoughts on this!

 

[Disneycouple99]

A OCT. UY would be good for you. You normaly want a UY that falls right before you travel.

 

[Sandisw]

You got it! Picking a UY that falls just before your typical travel does offer the most flexibility in terms of what you can do if you have to cancel or change a trip.

The rule of thumb is to get a UY where you will be traveling during the first 8 months so that you can still bank points, or give you time to rebook a trip if you have to change or cancel.

While travel habits do change over time and no UY is perfect for every time of year, I think that if anyone knows what they will most likely do for several years, then why not try to pick a UY that will allow that fits with that.

We did this when we chose June. I teach so we go in the summer. But, even when DH and I retire, we will probably go in the fall or January so June works well for this.

Good luck!

 

[erikawolf2004]

I have this same question...We won't go when it is super hot and humid, but will mix it up in 2009 we went in Sept, then we just went in Dec and want to do the Garden Show in 2012, so is a fall UY good for us? Sorry to take over your thread.

Thanks

 

[Sandisw]

I have this same question...We won't go when it is super hot and humid, but will mix it up in 2009 we went in Sept, then we just went in Dec and want to do the Garden Show in 2012, so is a fall UY good for us? Sorry to take over your thread.

Thanks

Yes, a Sept UY would work for the times you mention. With that, you have until April 30th of the following year to bank your points. This means any trips that take place through May would still be covered since you have to cancel at least 31 days in advance to avoid having all points for the reservation go in to holding. Holding points expire at the end of the UY they are in, regardless of whether they were banked points, current UY points, or borrowed points.

Sept UY's leave vulnerable June, July, and August. If there are your least likely times to travel, then that is what you want.

No UY will cover all the travel periods that is why there are some members who actually put up with having two memberships (different UY's) so they can cover their bases. We had two UY's at one point and I thought it was more trouble than it was worth.

 

[quinnc19]

Thanks - very helpful!

 

[kansas_wazzu]

You have probably already read this, but just in case you haven't, I would put UY at or near the bottom of deciding factors. All other things being equal (price per point, home location, dues, number of points, loaded resale contract, etc.) then yes, UY is something to consider.

It (I have June) was not a deciding factor for me.

Good luck!

 

[erikawolf2004]

Yes, a Sept UY would work for the times you mention. With that, you have until April 30th of the following year to bank your points. This means any trips that take place through May would still be covered since you have to cancel at least 31 days in advance to avoid having all points for the reservation go in to holding. Holding points expire at the end of the UY they are in, regardless of whether they were banked points, current UY points, or borrowed points.

Sept UY's leave vulnerable June, July, and August. If there are your least likely times to travel, then that is what you want.

No UY will cover all the travel periods that is why there are some members who actually put up with having two memberships (different UY's) so they can cover their bases. We had two UY's at one point and I thought it was more trouble than it was worth.

Thank you so much, that really helps!

 

[Sammie]

Yep, we have an October use year and almost always go June, July or August and it has been a headache at times.

 

[CarolynMink]

Just an additional thought.

We choose an August UY because we thought we would be going to WDW in the fall. My children were little. Now that my daughter is in HS, we can no longer take them out of school. Then during winter breaks their activities are so busy we still can not get away.

We are now going in the summer. Our last trip was in August. I am planning our next trip for June. The August UY has not caused a problem.

So, keep in mind things change. DVC is flexible enough to handle it.

Good luck.

 

[chalee94]

We are now going in the summer. Our last trip was in August. I am planning our next trip for June. The August UY has not caused a problem.

this is correct in that UY will only cause an issue if you have to cancel.

if it's what you have to do, then you take your chances.

but if you are still considering buying in and choosing a UY month, it's good to think through how it would be different to have to cancel a reservation in june if you have a june UY month rather than an aug UY month...

 

[Sunshine22]

UY is an important factor, especially if you are borrowing or banking points or travelling in the last 4 months of your use year. We've had some unexpected medical issues in our family and have had to make changes to trips within the last few months of our use year. We were forced to rent points for a trip that we had to cancel and had to take another vacation without 2 family members. We took a Feb. use year when we purchased direct from Disney because we didn't understand use year as well as we thought we did. A December use year would have been a better choice for us and would have eliminated the issues I mentioned above.

 

[Sandisw]

UY is an important factor, especially if you are borrowing or banking points or travelling in the last 4 months of your use year. We've had some unexpected medical issues in our family and have had to make changes to trips within the last few months of our use year. We were forced to rent points for a trip that we had to cancel and had to take another vacation without 2 family members. We took a Feb. use year when we purchased direct from Disney because we didn't understand use year as well as we thought we did. A December use year would have been a better choice for us and would have eliminated the issues I mentioned above.

I think you bring up the best point about UY. People considering DVC should learn what it is and how it could effect your travel plans.

If someone knows that there are certain times when they want to travel now, and possible think about the future, then it doesn't hurt to try to get a UY that will allow the most flexibility.

We made this mistake when we bought our first contract. We went resale and just looked for a small contract at VWL, since we thought this would be our 2nd favorite resort as the plan was to get our foot in the door and then wait about a year to add on at BLT, where we really wanted to own.

Well, I picked an Oct UY and realized that it just wasn't a good idea with our late July/August trips. I ended up selling and just buying BLT with a June UY, which is much better for the times I travel.

That doesn't mean I will never travel in the Spring, but if I did, I would then probably consider getting the insurance in case a cancellation had to happen.