Does Use Year Really Matter?

[DsnyDreaminDad]

Does UY matter that much if you have the flexibility to travel any time of the year?

 

[JETSDAD]

I would stil buy based on when you may be most likely to travel. You can't cover everything but might as well try to cover as much as possible.

 

[macman123]

I have three different use year on 3 contracts. But I tend to travel every year at the same period and never cancel So the reality is that makes no difference but that's for me.

Your position may be different.

 

[chris_ant]

It matters only so much in that if you would plan to travel consistently at the same time in a given year. Do you prefer traveling during a specific holiday or festival time? If you have no travel consistency, then I guess not, but would you see a pattern in the future if your current situation changed?

 

[Sandisw]

When you can travel within the first 8 months of a UY, you have a little more flexibility if you have to change or cancel a trip More than 31 days out,

It allows you to still bank or gives you at least 4 months to rebook, As mentioned, no UY will cover everything, but if there are months that are more likely than others work with that,

UY doesn’t have any impact on when you book either, It just determines which points can be used to cover the trip.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

When we purchased at the original resort (now Old Key West), the use-year conversation really didn't seem all that important. As we've bought other contracts, we've followed the recommendation of keeping them all in the same use-year. But as a rule, we really have not seen any issues or problems making reservations or banking points based on the use-year we have.

It did appear that there could be use-year consequences for some folks around banking points during this pandemic, but even a lot of that has worked itself out - and I sure hope we don't have another event like this again. But in general, we've never thought we should have gotten a different use-year.

 

[bwvBound]

The question, in my mind: Am I willing to risk losing points if something changes for a trip booked after the banking window?

• My answer to that question: NO, I do not wish to gamble with my points in the last four months of the UY. Cancellations happen in my world.
• Thus, I consider DVC a points-based, floating system with an 8-month reservation window.
• Choose the best 8-month window and purchase the UY that matches the start of that window.

To me, UY matters.

 

[SL6827]

I like to travel during varuious times of the year so I eventually deemed use year not as important to me when I did purchase my OKW contract. But what I didn't realize when I bought it was that I had a less common use year for OKW and when I put it up for sale it went quick and for full price. They buyer was wanting the perfect match I had. Now I guess this could also work in the opposite favor, but for me, it was golden.

 

[Dreamer24]

If I prefer to travel in late February through early May, what use year is best?

 

[JETSDAD]

If I prefer to travel in late February through early May, what use year is best?

I'd go with December or February.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When we bought our first contracts our son was four and we got a Sept UY. The first year we went when we wanted to; after that school got in the way, so we'd go right after school was out in May before the points went up on June 10. It gave my husband a few points to go for the Marathon in January, too. It didn't impact us too much. Now with F&W, the Sept UY is great for Sept, Oct and Nov trips. Our singleton 50 point Dec UY at OKW works great for our Dec trip.

 

[CarolynFH]

Have you seen this thread? Can be helpful in deciding whether UY will matter or not for you.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/understanding-use-year-updated-march-10-2019.1942668/

 

[AdamsMum]

Keep in mind that your travel patterns may change over the years. I purchased an April UY and we always went to WDW in May. But now the kids have grown up, marriage broke up, and I'm pretty much the captain of my own ship. I tend to travel in the fall and winter now, so if I cancel late its the holding account. The only trip I've had to cancel was one booked for my niece in July of this year, though. I've been fortunate enough in my 13 years of ownership to only lose 1 point.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We retired, and now can and do travel any month.