Choosing user year/month?

[itsreally4mommy]

It seemed like a good rule of thumb is something like 3months prior to most frequently anticipated trips? Why is this a factor?

 

[shortypots]

Main reason- If you cancel a normally planned trip, you still have several months to bank or book another trip. You hate to spend all that money on DVC and then not end up using it. Although, a lot of people have found their travel tendencies change as they and their kids get older, so what may work for you now, may not work later.

However, I have found that if you are smart in how you plan, and plan in advance, you will have no problems barring emergencies of course.

 

[chalee94]

here is a good thread for more information: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1942668

 

[Sandisw]

During the first 8 months of your UY, you can bank your points. When you travel during those times, you have a lot of flexibility to adjust or cancel your trips.

I own June and travel in August. Last summer, I could make changes to the reservation right up until 31 days prior without worrying about the changes taking less points as I was traveling only 2 months in.

Plus, if you borrow points for a trip and end up having to cancel, you must use the points by the end of your UY. If you are traveling late in the UY, you are not given much time to use them up.

When I was first bought my VWL contract, I bought with Oct UY. I then realized how horrible that would be for my August trips since it would only leave Sept if I had to cancel a trip. I teach and can never travel in September, so there would never be a chance for me to use those points. I sold and ended up buying in at BLT with a different UY.

 

[itsreally4mommy]

Thanks for your responses. I think my first priority is Christmas to snag VWL (or Thanksgiving if they go back to early decorating one day) so I'm guessing Aug-Oct should work?

I would also like one of the other resorts for warmer times. W/kids that would be Spring Break or Summer. I may keep two separate sets of contracts/UY.

 

[disneynutz]

We vacation at WDW between the months of Nov and May so we choose a Oct UY. Should anything happen, we still have plenty of time to back our points if necessary.

No one expects to have to cancel a vacation but it happens all of the time. Work schedule changes, H1N1, death in the family, sick kids. All it takes is forfeiting your points once to teach you about the correct UY.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

Thanks for your responses. I think my first priority is Christmas to snag VWL (or Thanksgiving if they go back to early decorating one day) so I'm guessing Aug-Oct should work?

I would also like one of the other resorts for warmer times. W/kids that would be Spring Break or Summer. I may keep two separate sets of contracts/UY.

if it's mostly christmas, spring and summer vacations, i'd look for a dec UY.

just don't plan on travelling much in the last 3-4 months of your UY (late august through november with a dec UY.)