Better deal or use year? Which is better

[fflmaster]

I am looking at adding a couple resale contracts (pvb and ccv) to purchase.

I have looked at the pros and cons of having different use years, but wanted to ask those that have multiple contracts their thoughts on use years. Does it really make a difference?

In the perfect world the best contract would be the same use year, but would the use year really matter if the resale contract was a better value at purchase?

For example, if February was your current use year which contract is more valuable to you:

Both same resort 100 pts at same price

1. February use year, 100 pts in 25, 100 pts in 26

2. March use year, 200 pts in 25, 100 pts in 26

 

[ehh]

Don’t get a different Use Year to save a few bucks or for a short term windfall of points.

Only get a new UY if it improves your planning and traveling capabilities, such as if you find yourself traveling frequently after the banking period of your current UY and want to stop.

(owner of two UY and 10+ contracts here)

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I have 4 use years— this is too many, do not recommend!

However I have BCV in its own UY and I would do that again in a heartbeat because I don’t ever intend to combine it with anything else.

I’d probably be OK with 3 (love having many waitlist options when trying to sneak in for Moonlight Magic stays or last minute holiday trips) but wish I had all of my points that I use as SAP/SAP+ in one contract.

 

[lilsonicfan]

If they are going to be at the same resort, I’d say don’t do this to yourself. It’s way harder to combine points. I have points in Florida and Aulani and while they are the same UY, I could see myself using two years’ worth at Aulani one year and two year’s worth in Florida another year. But if same resort, it seems a hassle for not a ton of savings.

Some UY have more contracts than others.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I am looking at adding a couple resale contracts (pvb and ccv) to purchase.

I have looked at the pros and cons of having different use years, but wanted to ask those that have multiple contracts their thoughts on use years. Does it really make a difference?

In the perfect world the best contract would be the same use year, but would the use year really matter if the resale contract was a better value at purchase?

For example, if February was your current use year which contract is more valuable to you:

Both same resort 100 pts at same price

1. February use year, 100 pts in 25, 100 pts in 26

2. March use year, 200 pts in 25, 100 pts in 26

Always go for the same UY.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

As others have said, less is more. But agree that having two (June and December) works well if you need the flexibility to travel year-round. We used to travel exclusively in August and December, so June worked well. But eventually we added a March trip into the mix, and I didn’t feel comfortable using points after their banking deadline.
.

 

[intamin]

The only time I’d consider a different use year is if its for Grand Cal, Aulani subsidized, Beach Club or Boardwalk. Also I’d probably try to make sure the other membership has 100 points minimum to be able to function independently. Otherwise there’s not a good reason to have a separate UY and it’s worth being patient to keep everything in one UY. You could also make the argument that the other UY is for traveling during a time that falls during your banking window but even so, generally I wouldn’t recommend it and I own multiple UYs.

It’s not hard to manage if you understand the system but it just adds an extra layer of things to do like doing self transfers, having to keep tabs on how many points you actually transferred to yourself, not being able to book a continuous stay for ADRs if you book one night with one membership and then another with the other instead of doing the transfer. I know you can call Disney dining and have them link it so you can make all of your reservations 60 days out but again, it’s just one more thing to do.

 

[RuntheMouse]

In your case I’d pick the Feb UY for simplicity. Don’t muck it up for the banked points.

As for us, we have 3 UY. 80% of our points are in AUG because we do the bulk of our travel in fall/winter. We have a DEC contract because it was a deal and covered some December/January split stays and then we have a FEB contract for our maybe spring trips. All of our have a purpose.

 

[fflmaster]

The only time I’d consider a different use year is if its for Grand Cal, Aulani subsidized, Beach Club or Boardwalk. Also I’d probably try to make sure the other membership has 100 points minimum to be able to function independently. Otherwise there’s not a good reason to have a separate UY and it’s worth being patient to keep everything in one UY. You could also make the argument that the other UY is for traveling during a time that falls during your banking window but even so, generally I wouldn’t recommend it and I own multiple UYs.

It’s not hard to manage if you understand the system but it just adds an extra layer of things to do like doing self transfers, having to keep tabs on how many points you actually transferred to yourself, not being able to book a continuous stay for ADRs if you book one night with one membership and then another with the other instead of doing the transfer. I know you can call Disney dining and have them link it so you can make all of your reservations 60 days out but again, it’s just one more thing to do.

Why a different use year for beach club or boardwalk?

 

[intamin]

Why a different use year for beach club or boardwalk?

Even for those I would try to keep it the same unless it’s a really smokin’ deal, but the reasoning is it’s unlikely you’re going to be able to combine those points with other points at 7 months anyways because it’s difficult to book at those resorts so a separate UY would not matter as much. Also those points are expensive, you do not buy BW/BC/VGC points and then turn around and book Saratoga Springs unless you like burning money. Plus some people use those points specifically for food and wine so if one owned like a December UY or something, it may be better to have the second UY so the trip doesn’t fall during their banking window.

 

[jcolvin5]

Don’t get a different Use Year to save a few bucks or for a short term windfall of points.

Only get a new UY if it improves your planning and traveling capabilities, such as if you find yourself traveling frequently after the banking period of your current UY and want to stop.

(owner of two UY and 10+ contracts here)

This

My biggest DVC regret, so far, is buying a different UY when I didn't need to.

 

[fflmaster]

So, would most of those experienced with multiple contracts pay $10 more per point to have same use year? The use years are separated by one month, so no advantage in time of year bookings. February is my current and March is the better deal.

 

[jcolvin5]

So, would most of those experienced with multiple contracts pay $10 more per point to have same use year? The use years are separated by one month, so no advantage in time of year bookings. February is my current and March is the better deal.

For 100 points? No question I'd choose the same UY and pay more PP. It's not the complexity to it that's a problem for me. You just lose so much flexibility when you go to transfer those points from one contract to another. Year after year.

My regret is on a 250 pt contract and I'm now selling it and working from one UY moving forward.

 

[intamin]

So, would most of those experienced with multiple contracts pay $10 more per point to have same use year? The use years are separated by one month, so no advantage in time of year bookings. February is my current and March is the better deal.

Yes. I own a March and an April but thats only because subsidized Aulani with an April UY are few and far between. Otherwise I wouldn’t have done it. I’d offer somewhere in the middleground between the 2 if you really need the points and refer to the other posting as a bargaining chip if necessary to keep things in the same UY.

 

[fflmaster]

I just received an email that if I add my son’s name to the new contract (which I wanted to do for future) it will create a new member number no matter what use year. ugh

 

[fflmaster]

Those that have different member numbers do you also have to have different logins for each member number or can you easily switch online from one membership number to the next?

 

[tx911]

I’d pay thousands more to stay in same UY if I had to

 

[Chili327]

Those that have different member numbers do you also have to have different logins for each member number or can you easily switch online from one membership number to the next?

Multiple memberships are under one login.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

The only time I’d consider a different use year is if its for Grand Cal, Aulani subsidized, Beach Club or Boardwalk. Also I’d probably try to make sure the other membership has 100 points minimum to be able to function independently. Otherwise there’s not a good reason to have a separate UY and it’s worth being patient to keep everything in one UY. You could also make the argument that the other UY is for traveling during a time that falls during your banking window but even so, generally I wouldn’t recommend it and I own multiple UYs.

It’s not hard to manage if you understand the system but it just adds an extra layer of things to do like doing self transfers, having to keep tabs on how many points you actually transferred to yourself, not being able to book a continuous stay for ADRs if you book one night with one membership and then another with the other instead of doing the transfer. I know you can call Disney dining and have them link it so you can make all of your reservations 60 days out but again, it’s just one more thing to do.

This is a much better elaborated version of my answer. How do you get Disney dining to link res?

 

[TCRAIG]

I have 4 use years— this is too many, do not recommend!

However I have BCV in its own UY and I would do that again in a heartbeat because I don’t ever intend to combine it with anything else.

I’d probably be OK with 3 (love having many waitlist options when trying to sneak in for Moonlight Magic stays or last minute holiday trips) but wish I had all of my points that I use as SAP/SAP+ in one contract.

I’ve got 5 UYs - but use them for very specific villas and times - for instance, my April UY (VGF) is for my May trip, June is for fall, Oct UY is for Christmas and the other 2 are Hilton Head only. My SAP points are in my June UY. I would 100% prioritize UY over a couple bucks savings.