How does Use Year work

[FANOFDSNY]

I understand that the UY is when you are allotted points each year, but I have read several messages from people that say they wish they would have thought about their UY before they purchased and if they had they would have purchased at another time. I guess I don't quite understand. If we buy this month and we usually go to WDW in Jan or Feb, wouldn't this work out for us?? Am I missing something? For example say we want to make a reservation for Jan 2007, and say we need to borrow some Jan 2007 points to get a larger unit and to make the reservation in March this year. Aren't we able to do this??

Thanks
FANOFDSNY

 

[MrShiny]

The one issue is that you cannot book and travel within 60 days of the end of your use year. You can book or you can travel, but not both.

So let's say you have a February use year. Let's say you made a res for January 11 months ago, but now you need to change the dates. Since it's less than 60 days before the end of your use year (1/31), if you change the dates, they must be after 1/31. You'd end up loosing those points. You'd also be unable to change the res dates even before 1/31 - you would have had to do that at least by 12/2.

Because of this little wrinkle, I think it is best to pick a use year at a time when you are least likely to travel.

 

[coasterbob]

I understand that the UY is when you are allotted points each year, but I have read several messages from people that say they wish they would have thought about their UY before they purchased and if they had they would have purchased at another time. I guess I don't quite understand. If we buy this month and we usually go to WDW in Jan or Feb, wouldn't this work out for us?? Am I missing something? For example say we want to make a reservation for Jan 2007, and say we need to borrow some Jan 2007 points to get a larger unit and to make the reservation in March this year. Aren't we able to do this??

Thanks
FANOFDSNY

I just PMed you....... Bob

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Ok, I think they are using August use year,I am not for sure.So you would all of 2005 points when you join and then in August your 2006 would be availible.
Your 2005 would need to be banked and then you could make your reservation.If you need to borrow from 2007 you would have to wait till after August to do so.Because then thats when all 2006 points are availible and then if you need more then you could use them.You could not borrow 2007 points until you get 2006 allotment
I hope I have not confused you to bad.

 

[Chuck S]

The one issue is that you cannot book and travel within 60 days of the end of your use year. You can book or you can travel, but not both.

So let's say you have a February use year. Let's say you made a res for January 11 months ago, but now you need to change the dates. Since it's less than 60 days before the end of your use year (1/31), if you change the dates, they must be after 1/31. You'd end up loosing those points. You'd also be unable to change the res dates even before 1/31 - you would have had to do that at least by 12/2.

Because of this little wrinkle, I think it is best to pick a use year at a time when you are least likely to travel.

You can book & travel to a DVC resort anytime (if room is available), even during the last 60 days. Trade outs to other locations are restricted in that you can not book them less than 60 days from the end of your use trade out.

 

[Tinkaroo]

You can book & travel to a DVC resort anytime (if room is available), even during the last 60 days. Trade outs to other locations are restricted in that you can not book them less than 60 days from the end of your use trade out.

Okay, now I'm a bit confused. When you are talking trade outs - is this to DVC resorts other than your home resort, or to exchanges through Interval International?

 

[FANOFDSNY]

I just called DVC to get this clarified... If you stay at any DVC resort the 60 days does not apply. This only applies to ressies at a select few other resorts other than a DVC.

 

[LisaS]

I understand that the UY is when you are allotted points each year, but I have read several messages from people that say they wish they would have thought about their UY before they purchased and if they had they would have purchased at another time. I guess I don't quite understand. If we buy this month and we usually go to WDW in Jan or Feb, wouldn't this work out for us?? Am I missing something? For example say we want to make a reservation for Jan 2007, and say we need to borrow some Jan 2007 points to get a larger unit and to make the reservation in March this year. Aren't we able to do this??

Thanks
FANOFDSNY

Your "use year" has nothing to do with when you purchase your contract. From what I've been reading on the boards, if you purchase SSR right now you will most likely be purchasing an August use year, though there may be other options available.

The main reason people get concerned about which use year they own is because your use year determines your point banking deadlines. As you get close to the end of your use year you can no longer bank any points. So a worst case scenario is one where you have a trip booked during the last month of your use year and have to cancel that trip on short notice. You could end up with a lot of points that are just about to expire and no time to use them before they do, and it's too late to bank them.

If you know that you will often visit WDW at a particular time of year, then try to avoid purchasing a use year that might put you in that situation. For example, if your dream is to spend Christmas week at WDW every year for the life of your DVC contract, you probably don't want a February use year.

The problem is most of us will visit WDW at more than one time of year and travel patterns can change over time so trying to figure out your "ideal" use year can be a challenge!

 

[LisaS]

If we buy this month and we usually go to WDW in Jan or Feb, wouldn't this work out for us?? Am I missing something? For example say we want to make a reservation for Jan 2007, and say we need to borrow some Jan 2007 points to get a larger unit and to make the reservation in March this year. Aren't we able to do this??

Thanks
FANOFDSNY

As I mentioned in my other reply, if you purchase SSR now I think you would be getting an August use year. They will give you "2005" use year points with your purchase. Those points can be used for stays between now and Jul 31, 2006. If you are allowed to bank those points then you could use them for stays between Aug 1, 2006 and Jul 31, 2007 which includes your travel dates in Jan 2007.

Your 2006 points can also be used for a Jan '07 reservation because those points can be used for stays between Aug 1, 2006 and Jul 31, 2007. You do not have to wait until Aug 1st to use them to make a reservation. Points do not "drop" into your account on day one of your use year, they are already there and you could use them right now if you needed to for travel dates between Aug 1, 2006 and Jul 31, 2007. And if even that wasn't enough, you could borrow some/all of your 2007 use year points as well. Again, those points are already in your account. They currently are good for stays between Aug 1, 2007 and Jul 31, 2008 but if you needed them for a reservation for Jan 2007, you can borrow them and use them for stays between Aug 1, 2006 and Jul 31, 2007.

Just be aware that when you bank or borrow points, that is a final transation. You cannot move them back to their original use year. And they expire at the end of the use year into which they have been banked or borrowed.

Hope this helps!