Help with figuring out use year

[gray52]

We currently have 100pts at OKW, December use year... our to little mice, DS7 & DD5 are at the point where we (when i say "we" i mean DW and I) need a 1-bedroom. So we're looking at adding on another 85-100 points in the next few months. We enjoy staying at other resorts, so we usually book OKW at 11-months, then call at 9am of the 7-month window to re-book part or all of the week at other resorts (this will change once we stay at them all and weed out the "bad ones").
So two questions...
1. How much importance is it to buy our next points with the same use year? We usually travel in January, so that is why we bought the December use year.

2. Typically, how hard do you think it will be to get a 1-bedroom in January at the 7-month window (at BCV, BLT-SV, BWV-SV or OKW)?

Also... we're only considering buying at BCV, BWV or OKW (buy where you want to stay)... so i'm sure that will complicate things even more? We sorta enjoy split stays, so that's not a problem, but anything else to look out for?

 

[DisneyMotherOf2]

Life will be much easier if you buy in the same UY. As long as the contracts are signed the same as the last ones they can tie them into your current account. Otherwise you'll have 2 different accounts not to mention extra juggling and multi-tasking with banking, etc. We just added on ourselves. We owned 150 BCV Feb UY and wanted to add on 150 BWV Feb UY. It took a little while to find the right contract, but we found it within a few months.

There are others here on the boards who can speak better to having multiple contracts with different UY's. The general consensus when I made the same inquiry in the summer was to buy using the UY if at all possible. It just makes life more simple.

Good luck!

 

[DisneyMotherOf2]

I don't believe January (apart from New Years Eve/New Years Day time frame) is generally a heavily traveled month so I think you'd be able to get what you want. We recently booked a one bedroom at VWL for April vacation and were able to get it for our upcoming trip. And I would think April is a busier time than January. I realize that isn't one of the resorts you mentioned, but I believe it's also one of the smaller resorts and can be difficult getting rooms there.

Good luck!!!

 

[Sandisw]

Having one UY is easier than two because you can't combine points for a single night without a transfer if you end up with different memberships.

We own two--Dec UY with our BWV points and June UY with our BLT points. We didn't worry too much but only because we always book our summer trip as a split stay so having the two memberships wasn't a big deal that I was making two different reservations at the 11 month mark.

In terms of the resorts, I do think January is an easier time, but it has gotten busier--Marathon weekend and MLK weekend are busy. Also, I think BLT SV rooms are difficult at 7 months, no matter when you go-not impossible, just not likely so if you really think you would only be able to do BLT with that view, then I might consider buying points there--however, if LV is fine, then it should not be a problem.

Good luck!

 

[drusba]

Advise same use year for reasons noted above. As to difficulty at 7 months , it depends on what you are looking for and when. First week of Janaury (not just first couple days) has basically become Christmas week 2 for crowd sizes and thus demand is likely to be high then with possible issues at 7 months out. Moreover, if wanting BWV boardwalk or standard view, BLT MK or standard view, AKV concierge or value, treehouses or any Grand Villas, you may find you are blocked out at 7 months. Important is to call exactly 7 months out and don't delay beyond that.

 

[gray52]

Thanks guys... We typically alternate the weeks of January (avoiding new years hold overs and MLK holiday) to take advantage of annual passes.
@Sandisw.... We also enjoy split stays... So dual contracts won't be in an issue in that regard.
@drusba... Thanks for the info... Makes sense that those resorts/categories would be the most popular.
I think we've settled on 100pts at BWV or BCV with sept, oct or December use year.
So we're allowed one transfer per year... If we were to buy 100 points at BWV, for example, Would we be able to transfer the points from our OKW contract to the BWV contract and combine those to book at BWV at 11-months or are we still restricted by the booking window of the OKW contract?
Worst case, we do partial week at each at 11-months, then try to complete the week at either resort (or elsewhere) at 7-months... Which we'd be fine with us.
Thanks!

 

[gray52]

Just read about manipulating banking /borrowing to always be able to book at 11-months (with 2 contracts at two resorts)... I assume that's fairly straight forward? I'm thinking that i read that banking/borrowing hasn't always been an option of DVC... So could be eliminated easily?