Booking first DVC reservation

[JasD]

We are still researching but I want to be clear on when I can actually book once a contract is approved. I’m looking either August or September UY. If I get one with 2019 points I can use them for a 2020 trip? If I don’t get points until 2020 those would be for a 2021 trip?
I don’t want to start out having to borrow points as we’d like to go every year.

 

[disneynutz]

Points need to be available for your stay dates, not your booking date. August 2019 points are good for stays thru the end of July 2020.

Bill

 

[CarolMN]

Spend some time with this thread:

Understanding Use Year

It will help you make your decision and should clear up the questions you have. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Rush]

If you don’t want to have to borrow, you need a contract that has 2019 points, so long as you plan to travel after Aug/Sept of this year, and they’d be good for booking until July/Aug of 2020, unless banked. You would need to decide to bank them to 2020 by March 31st/April 31st if you don’t plan to travel prior to Aug/Sept next year. Once banked, those 2019 points will be useable until July of 2021, but can’t be borrowed back into 2019. That said, one risk of a late in your UY reservation (after your banking deadline), if you don’t bank and then need to cancel your trip, those points risk expiring if you can’t rebook for within the remainder of UY, which can be difficult depending on the time of year.

I’m not sure what you mean by “contract approved”, I get the sense that means passing ROFR. Keep in mind, you still have a couple of weeks before you’d have a members account and points loaded for booking.

 

[JasD]

So if I buy a contract with the first points coming in Aug or Sept 2020 I can book in October 2019 for a September 2020 trip and use those points. Basically Im trying to figure out if I need 2019 points or if they would just be a bonus I could bank and use for a longer 2020 trip or possibly 2 trips in 2020.

 

[Rush]

Yes, for an Oct 2020 trip, you could book as early as Nov/Dec 2019 for that stay using Aug/Sept 2020 points, assuming it’s at your home resort. You could use them for a trip prior to that by borrowing from those points as well. I think you would be disappointed borrowing right out of the gate, you’ll find yourself in a perpetual borrowing state if you want to go every year. A loaded contract with banked or at least full 2019 points would be ideal to get you started off on a good foot.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yes, for an Oct 2020 trip, you could book as early as Nov/Dec 2019 for that stay using Aug/Sept 2020 points

And, I will add: SHOULD book as early as Nov/Dec 2019, as October is one of DVC's busiest months.

 

[stewart715]

You have all of your points. Look as the yearly point allotment as a budget for a given year. For 2020, for example, your 'budget' is say 100 points for Aug 1 2020 to Jul 31 2021. When you book has nothing to do with your use year. If DVC all of a sudden opened up reservations for 5 years from now, you could use your 2024 points.