How important is it to have same use years?

[Cinderpals]

For those of you that have different use years at different resorts, have you run into any trouble using your points, or combining them when needed? I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. I haven't closed on my purchase yet, but already want to add some more points, possibly at a different resort too. If I purchase a points at a different resort, should I make sure that I have the same use year? If I purchase more points at my home resort, I'll look for the same use year since I would definitely be using the points together at some time. I was just wondering if I need to have the same use year at different resorts too. My guide didn't explain this very well to me, just told me that they only would sell same use year. Anybody?

 

[KennyK]

Cinderpals,

When we first bought into DVC at VWL we got a February use yr. We have added on once at VWL and again was given a February use yr. I just recently added on at SSR and my guide made sure we got February use yr. I had inquired about phase II purchase for the discounted price incentive. She explained that there was no February use yr being sold right then for phase II but they still had available February use yr for phase I, even though the phase was already sold out to new potential buyers. She said they really try to keep use yrs the same for all contract add ons. This does not happen if you buy a resale from ttss as you are buying the contract pts with the existing use yr.

It does make it easier when making reservations especially if you are using pts from both resorts. You only have to worry about the 11 mth or 7 mth window, not different windows for each resort/contract.

Hope this explains it alittle better


Kennyk

 

[Dean]

Keeping up with multiple use years is much like balancing a checkbook. It's no problem for most people. But there are some intricacies associated. If you add points at a different resort, you have two home resorts with all the pluses and minuses associated looking at the 7 and 11 month booking windows. You have more to keep up with and have to keep in mind the use year especially when booking a stay that falls in between the use years. You can combine stays by linking them. The only problem is in combining points for a single night and even that is workable if you know how to do it.

If all points are in one account/use year, the banking windows are based on the total where they are independent for separate use years. But there are some advantages. In some ways it's actually easier to keep the points separate from the two accounts, especially if they are different resorts. And it gives you the opportunity to chose which use year is best for a specific stay, quite nice for some trips.

 

[carol1231]

I have points at three differnet DVC resorts, all with the same use year (bought thru Disney). I definelty think it is easier to manage your points when they are all on the same schedule, but I'm sure not impossible. I sometimes run into confusion managing the points,just being at three differnt DVC resorts. I am happy that I have all the same use year.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have 3 contracts with different use years, but all at BWV, and Dean was correct that it's alot like maintaining a check book. My contracts are for trips at 3 different times of year, purchased because I was having trouble with going at Christmas with a Feb. use year. Once I had to cancel, and I had no time to schedule another trip before the points expired. Therefore, my Feb. contract is now for trips in the spring, my March contract is for summer trips, and the August contract is for Christmas. In this way I am sure that if I have to cancel a trip, I can still use the points.

Add-on contracts at different resorts pose a different problem, due to the 11 month window. I used to own at BCV, but I never seemed to be able to use them correctly. I either had too many points, or not enough, to do what I wanted. It drove me crazy, and required extra brain power to keep track of, so I sold it, and bought a couple of add-ons at OKW with EXACTLY the points needed for 1 grande villa

 

[Cinderpals]

So, if I were to have March use year, would I be safe to book until last two weeks of August. If I had to cancel, would I have enough time to bank 100% of those points?

If I were to book Oct/Nov with March use year, I would have enough time only to bank half of my year's allotment?...or half of regular points left for the year.

With March use year, points used for December trips would be...? if cancelled?

 

[KennyK]

You are basically correct.

For March use years, 100 % banking can happen up to the end of August.

50 % to end of November

25 % to end of December. After December 31st. Any pts not used or returned because of cancellation of reservation are lost. That's when I go to the rental boards and rent them out to other DVC'ers who might need them for a vacation.

Hope this helps.

kennyk

 

[Cinderpals]

Thank, Kenny! It helps to have some feedback.

March will work for most of my planned trips, but it's not the best for Christmas Season. Like you said, I could always sell/rent points if I had to cancel for some reason. I only plan to go every other year during the Christmas Season.

I love reading these responses!