Duh

[Candlelady]

We are on the verge of buying into the DVC.

I'm trying to understand the use month, but it seems the more I try, the less I understand. 11 mths from when? From your use month? Can anyone explain in simple 'duh' terms for me please?

Thanks

 

[PamOKW]

I'll give it a try!

First -- Use Year has nothing to do with when you make your reservation. You can always book 11 months out for your Home Resort and 7 months out for any resort. The 11 months is from the date of your check-out. If you want a reservation for December 25, 2003 you can call and make a reservation on January 26, 2002 -- 11 months from your date of check-out. (Same with the 7 month date.)

Use Year is the month in which you will get your yearly allotment of points. If your Use Year is May -- you'll get points in May 2002 that must be used by the end of April 2003 or banked. In May 2003 you'll get your next allotment of points. This will also be the start point for knowing when you can bank a percentage of your points. DVC gives you a chart that tells you when the banking deadlines are.

The only time Use Year can be a factor is if you have to cancel a trip less than 60 days from the end of your Use Year. Your options to use the points are then very limited since they can only be used for a DVC trip. It is not worth worrying about this circumstance since it may never actually happen.

Hope that helped...if not, ask again and we'll see if we can talk you through it!

 

[cswans]

What a clear explanation--thanks PamOKW!

 

[Mary Ellen]

There is another time that use year will factor in - cancelling an upcoming trip AFTER your 100% banking period.

For example:

If you have a January use year, you have until the end of June to bank 100% of your points. If you cancel during July to the end of September, you can only bank 50% of that use year's points. Cancelling during October you will only be able to bank 25% of your points. None in November and December.

If you have a trip scheduled for early December (our favorite time to go) and have to cancel, you'll have to cancel by June 30th or you'll have points that will expire on December 31st.

 

[lsyorke]

OK this seems like the place to ask this. I have a june use year. I know I have to bank in October. Once banked when do those banked points become available to book. Do I have to wait until June again ie once banked for 2002 can't be used until june 2003??

 

[PamOKW]

The points you bank can be used for trips from June 1, 2003 through May 31, 2004. When you can call to make the ressies follows the 11/7 month rule. Any points you bank have to be used by May 31, 2004 or they are lost....they can't be banked again. They also can't be borrowed back into this year.

However, if something came up and you did need points this year after you bank them, you can "borrow" from your June 2003 for reservations up until May 31, 2003.