The "use year" is simply the date when a new set of points are available for you to use. Let's say you buy 200 points and your use year is December. Each December 1st you get 200 points which can be used from Dec 1st of that year until November 30th of the next year.
So on December 1, 2001 you get 200 points that can be used between December 1, 2001 and November 30, 2002.
You can make a reservation for a vacation that will take place during a given use year with points from that same use year before that use year actually begins.
So lets say you want to take a vacation in March 2002. This vacation takes place in your December 2001 use year and uses points that become available for your use on Dec 1, 2001.
If you will be staying at your home resort (where you purchase), then you can make the reservation 11 months before the vacation begins. (your 11 month window). So you could reserve the room in April 2001.
If you will be staying at a different
DVC resort than the one you own, then you can make the reservation 7 months before the vacation begins. (your 7 month window). So you could reserve the room in Aug 2001.
I hope this helps clear things up a bit.
Keep asking questions. It can all be very confusing at first
