I finally understand what a "use year" is but year "is, now Why and how you choose???

[snowwhitemom]

I finally understand what a use year is, how and why do you make your choice? Thanks for your help. Suzy

 

[anniet]

I'm not really sure how others did it. I didn't have an option. We bought in March '02 and DBF really wanted WLV. Our guide didn't think he could sell it to us, since they started pre-con sales on BCV and WLV had supposedly been sold out. He came back and told us that we could get 150 points if we started our use year in August 2001, but that we could either bank the points or Disney would buy them back at $10 per point. So we didn't have a choice of when our use year would begin, since it was a take it or leave it kind of thing.

Anyway, what I realized after was that we have to bank our points by 1/31 in order to bank 100%. Since we almost ALWAYS visit in January, this couldn't have worked out more perfectly for us. We can take our trip and I will definitely know if I'm going to use any more points before August by the end of our January trip. So for us it fit like Mickey's glove.

I'm not sure how others do it, especially if they vary the time they visit.

 

[DVC1996]

You will probably get different opinions but I think it is better to get a use year which begins shortly before the time when you normally vacation. For instance, I have a March Use Year and we typically vacation during Spring Break ( March or April) and again in the summer. However, we have gone in Oct, Nov, and Christmas. The latest I have ever vacationed is during Christmas. You don't want to vacation close to when your Use Year ends because you might have to cancel your vacation and thus won't have time to reschedule another vacation or bank your points. I don't want to be stuck with points. Does this make sense?

 

[DebbieB]

If you have to cancel a trip more than 30 days before, the points go back into your account and may have to be used by the end of your use year or banked depending on banking deadlines. We usually go May and December. I have an April use year. So if I have to cancel a May trip, I have until March 31 of the following year to rebook or I could bank all the points by September 30. If I have to cancel December, December 31 is my 50% banking deadline, I could still bank some points. If I had a June use year and had to cancel a May trip, I would only have until May 31 to use the points if my banking deadline had passed. It's really only a consideration when you buy if you have a consistent time you like to go.

 

[kem330]

Snowwhite,
Usually Disney assigns a use year based on what they are selling at the time. Use years are: Feb, March, April, June, Aug, Sep,Oct and Dec. You could request a certain use year if you have a strong feeling about it, and they probably would sell it to you if its available. It really isn't a big deal- After all, how often do you cancel a vacation at the last minute? You can always rent out points or give them to a friend if you can't use them.

 

[dvc_bwv]

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I didn't think you had a choice of use year when you make your initial purchase. Doesn't it depend on what use year they are selling at the time? Then any subsequent add ons tht you do through Disney are the same use year as your original contract. Is this correct?

We purchased in September and got an April use year and all subsequent add ons have also had an April use year. If you want to do an add on and they don't have your use year then you can be put on a wait list with your DVC guide and if anything becomes available for your use year they can call you.

 

[DebbieB]

They will usually first offer you the month they are selling, but you can usually request a different one. They usually will not go backwards. If they are selling March this month, they will not go back farther, but you may be able to get April or after. When I bought, I knew they were working with the 100% banking deadline and would be offering April in September, so I waited until September to buy because I wanted April. I could have bought it earlier and requested April, but then I would have had to start paying dues earlier.

 

[snowwhitemom]

Okay...I think, I have taken in so much info in the last fee weeks, I think I understand, it is very possible that I will be getting a resale. We go in Oct., Jan. and March, so is there a certain use year I need to look for? Sorry but this almost greek to me still, but I am trying. Thanks to all the responces, I need to see differ cases to understand , it helped alot but still a little unsure. Also the 11 month booking date has nothing do do with your use yeaar ...Right??

 

[DVC1996]

Originally posted by snowwhitemom
Also the 11 month booking date has nothing do do with your use yeaar ...Right??

You can always book 11 months in advance of your check-out date ( regardless of your use year) providing the points will be available at the time of your stay. They do not have to be available when you book the reservation but must be there when you actually stay at the resort. If you don't have the points available for use then you obviously can't make a reservation at the 11 month window.

 

[dvc_bwv]

You can only book 11 months ahead at your "home" resort. If you are booking at any of the DVC resorts other than your "Home" you have only a 7 month window.

 

[DVC1996]

Originally posted by dvc_bwv
You can only book 11 months ahead at your "home" resort. If you are booking at any of the othe DVC resorts other than your "Home" you have only a 7 month window.

Sorry.....I should have clarified this in my earlier post. I thought we were discussing your "home resort" but dvcbwv is correct in that you must wait till 7 months prior to your check-out date for other DVC resorts. You can book at 11 months for II exchanges, Concierge Collection, and cruises.

 

[Shontell_Crawford]

Snowwhite,

I agree with everything Harriett has said!
While the use year shouldn't matter if you travel at different times of the year, since you mentioned traveling in Oct-March, you might try for an October use year...that way if you have to cancel, you still have time to bank.

Best of luck!
Shontell

 

[Desperado]

since you mentioned traveling in Oct-March, you might try for an October use year...that way if you have to cancel, you still have time to bank.

We agree and thought this was one of the more important points of the use year, having enough time to use up the points if we had to unexpectedly had to cancel and couldn't bank the points because we borrowed ahead.