Just bought AKV tonight, did I do the right thing?

[drusba]

As noted above, you could ultimately have a cancellation/banking issue if you go usually in July and have Aug use year. Aug use year is ideal for that issue if you go usually in Aug. At the same time, you should not overevaluate this factor. This will be a long term ownership. Many who say we usually go in July or August are really saying that is what we do now because of school or other schedules (but if we did not have a school issue, we would usually go when it is not so darn hot). Ten years from now, the "usual" time you might want to go may change significantly. In other words, cancellation is not something that happens often to any particular member and that use year hedge for cancellation/banking issue may look substantially different as the years progress.

 

[DeeCee735]

You'll be better than ok! You're going to LOVE THIS!

WELCOME HOME!

 

[JenSop]

I'm curious why your guide did not advise you better concerning the UY. Since DH is a teacher, we have to do most of our traveling in the summer. Our gude suggested an April UY because of that.

As to just the overall DVC purchase, I think you'll be super happy!

 

[robinb]

So lets suppose I bought a DECEMBER UY and like to travel in JULY and AUGUST, would DECEMBER or AUGUST UY be better? Thanks.

December. With a December UY you have until the end of July to bank anything forward. That means that you will likely know if a vacation will be canceled in time to bank the points for both July and August trips. I would call MS back and see if you can change to a December UY.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I did it. I finaly bit the bullet tonight and said "I'll take it". But I am not sure if I did the right thing. I have been confused about your user year and its impact on being able to bank points for cancelled vacations. Please tell me if I will be okay. I bought a user year of AUGUST and my family usualy vacations in July or AUGUST. What do you think?

 

[Coach81]

I think you're in great shape! Welcome to the "building priceless memories with Disney club" or as we call it.. DVC!!!!

 

[ktbugsmom]

You did not make a mistake! I just added on 50 AKV points last week and have already used my points to book part of next January's vacation - 4 nights in a concierge studio!

As for your use year, I think you have gotten good advice from the others. I have an August use year as well and it works fine for us - but we normally go in January and then I try to take a mini trip in August... no banking issues for us.

You won't regret it. DVC is wonderful! Oh yes - Welcome Home!!

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

I'm curious why your guide did not advise you better concerning the UY. Since DH is a teacher, we have to do most of our traveling in the summer. Our gude suggested an April UY because of that.

As to just the overall DVC purchase, I think you'll be super happy!

She was looking at it from another angle that seems to make sense. All August trips are safe in case of a cancellation. We will always get our points in time (AUGUST 1) in time for our August vacations. We are safe for the Holidays ifwe decide to travel then. And when my DW and me are older we will travel in the winter JAN & FEB and those trips will also be safe pending an unsuspected cancelation. The only issue would be a cancelled July trip (and I am not crazy about FLORIDA in JULY). You can look at user year advantages and disadvntages from so many angles thet you get a headache. The best advice that I have gotten from anyone so far was to not over think things, just enjoy my membership.

 

[robinb]

She was looking at it from another angle that seems to make sense. All August trips are safe in case of a cancellation. We will always get our points in time (AUGUST 1) in time for our August vacations. We are safe for the Holidays ifwe decide to travel then. And when my DW and me are older we will travel in the winter JAN & FEB and those trips will also be safe pending an unsuspected cancelation. The only issue would be a cancelled July trip (and I am not crazy about FLORIDA in JULY).

BUT all that could also be said for a DECEMBER use year and you have the addition of the safely of the possible JULY cancellation.

* You have 31 days prior to the first day of your trip to cancel and not put your points in holding. The holding account has some special rules for using the points and points in holding cannot be banked.

* You have 8 months in which to bank your points forward from the current UY to the next one.

* If you have a AUGUST UY you can bank your points until March 31st. Any vacations booked between May 1 and July 31st must be taken or you will lose your points. Vacations booked in April can be canceled and the points banked only if you cancel in March.

* If you have a DECEMBER UY you can bank your points until July 31st. Any vacations booked between September 1 and November 30th must be taken or you will lose your points. Vacations booked in August can be canceled and the points banked only if you cancel in July.

I still think that a JUNE Use Year would work the best for you:
* If you have a JUNE UY you can bank your points until January 31st. Any vacations booked between March 1 and May 31st must be taken or you will lose your points. Vacations booked in February can be canceled and the points banked only if you cancel in January.

I know it doesn't seem like a big deal now, but it will once you look at losing points from a canceled July reservation.

 

[sajetto]

I know it doesn't seem like a big deal now, but it will once you look at losing points from a canceled July reservation.

I agree with Robin. I'm a teacher and have a December Use Year. I go in either the months of May or June or possibly July, but never August. Then I go again in December for Christmas. The Dec. UY works perfectly for this and I know that I would have some concerns with an August or October Use Year.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

I agree with Robin. I'm a teacher and have a December Use Year. I go in either the months of May or June or possibly July, but never August. Then I go again in December for Christmas. The Dec. UY works perfectly for this and I know that I would have some concerns with an August or October Use Year.

I completely agree! Don't regret my DVC purchase in the least, but HATE my Aug UY. I know people say that our travel habits may change, but as long as DH is a 4th grade teacher (which I don't see changing any time soon, as he LOVES his job ), we'll be tied to June/July/Aug trips for the next 25 years!!! That's the one piece of DVC that I thought I understood, but really didn't. Oh well...we make the best of it. But it sure would be something I'd change if I had it to do over again.

To the OP, as long as you understand, do what seems best for you! Everyone has their own opinions and on rare occassions, it can be more confusing than beneficial. Wishing you many happy DVC vacations!!!

 

[sajetto]

Oh well...we make the best of it. But it sure would be something I'd change if I had it to do over again.

Well, if it makes you feel any better, I would have bought OKW to begin with if I could do it all over again. I think SSR is a really nice place, but I'm an OKW fan all the way. Even though I had heard the advice "buy where you want to stay," I didn't take it all that seriously. I'm glad the OP went with his gut feeling to buy in where he intended to stay.

ETA: The good news is that I am intending to add on at OKW