Looking at small contract, have a couple questions on use.

[cruisehopeful]

It's been a while since I've owned a DVC and I am looking at a small point package for reasons that I won't go into to not get sidetracked. I have a few questions:

1.) If I want to travel Oct - early Dec, will it be difficult for me to book at 11 months with a Dec use year? I'm looking at using every 2-3 years.

2.) I've read that we cannot borrow more than 50% of our points. Can we bank 100% of the points?

3.) Is banking done 4 months in advance? If I had a Dec use year and wanted to bank, I think I'd need to do that by August? I don't think I've ever banked points, so this will be a new experience for me.

 

[Ruttangel]

It's been a while since I've owned a DVC and I am looking at a small point package for reasons that I won't go into to not get sidetracked. I have a few questions:

1.) If I want to travel Oct - early Dec, will it be difficult for me to book at 11 months with a Dec use year? I'm looking at using every 2-3 years.

2.) I've read that we cannot borrow more than 50% of our points. Can we bank 100% of the points?

3.) Is banking done 4 months in advance? If I had a Dec use year and wanted to bank, I think I'd need to do that by August? I don't think I've ever banked points, so this will be a new experience for me.

1.yes (depends on room and resort, UY not really a factor
2.yes
3.yes

also a Dec UY could be a problem if you cancel a trip 3 months out and can’t bank points. Sounds like a Sep UY would be best

 

[MICKIMINI]

Go for a September or October UY. IMO, since you can only borrow 50% of a small point contract, it would be better if you can find a loaded contract to get you off to a good start. Good luck!

 

[supersnoop]

1.) If I want to travel Oct - early Dec, will it be difficult for me to book at 11 months with a Dec use year? I'm looking at using every 2-3 years.

Your use year has nothing to do with how difficult it would be to book. A December use year would be risky for an October or November trip.

Generally speaking, the first week of December is the most difficult to book, especially in studios.

 

[princesscinderella]

I think an Aug use year world work too

 

[chalee94]

1) 11 months is 11 months whether your UY is Dec or Aug.

But Dec is a TERRIBLE choice for a UY for Oct to Dec stays. Very risky.

2) borrow limitation is temporary. you can bank 100%. (that can change in the future.)
3) banking has to be done within the first 8 months of your UY

if you get to Sept 1 and have an emergency that requires you to cancel an Oct or Nov stay, those points disappear into the void and you get no value unless you can rent the stay at the last minute...

 

[CarolMN]

@cruisehopeful, you may find this thread helpful:

Understanding Use Year - Updated February 10 2021

 

[cruisehopeful]

New question came up for me: I am getting a June use year. Points coming June 2021. Correct me if I am wrong.
Points will be good from June 2021 until May 2022. If I bank them, they will be good for June 2022 - May 2023 with my June 2022 points.

If I want to go in Feb or March 2023, I will have these points available:
50 from June 2021 banked
50 from June 2022 - normal use year
25 from June 2023 borrowed

Am I understanding it correctly? Also, does Disney still sell up to 24 single use points for one reservation per year?

 

[supersnoop]

New question came up for me: I am getting a June use year. Points coming June 2021. Correct me if I am wrong.
Points will be good from June 2021 until May 2022. If I bank them, they will be good for June 2022 - May 2023 with my June 2022 points.

If I want to go in Feb or March 2023, I will have these points available:
50 from June 2021 banked
50 from June 2022 - normal use year
25 from June 2023 borrowed

Am I understanding it correctly? Also, does Disney still sell up to 24 single use points for one reservation per year?

You're correct on your accounting. I believe Disney will sell 24 one-time-use points per year and now allows them over multiple reservations.

In your example, however, it's important to note the risk. With a June use year, your banking deadline is January 31st. If you have to cancel your example trip, you'd have your banked and borrowed points stuck with not much time to use them, and your current year points would be past the banking deadline. That's why we often refer to an appropriate use year as "free insurance." A June use year is terrible if you'd normally travel in March.

 

[cruisehopeful]

You're correct on your accounting. I believe Disney will sell 24 one-time-use points per year and now allows them over multiple reservations.

In your example, however, it's important to note the risk. With a June use year, your banking deadline is January 31st. If you have to cancel your example trip, you'd have your banked and borrowed points stuck with not much time to use them, and your current year points would be past the banking deadline. That's why we often refer to an appropriate use year as "free insurance." A June use year is terrible if you'd normally travel in March.

Thanks for that additional information. Ironically, I was originally looking at December use years and got creeped out by the thought of losing those points if I had to cancel an end of year visit, thinking I'd visit Oct - Dec. So, I reset my mind to travel in the spring and made an offer on a June contract. I guess I can go back to my original plan, which was to travel Oct-mid December. Although, honestly, I'd be happy going anytime other than summer.

 

[Marionnette]

New question came up for me: I am getting a June use year. Points coming June 2021. Correct me if I am wrong.
Points will be good from June 2021 until May 2022. If I bank them, they will be good for June 2022 - May 2023 with my June 2022 points.

If I want to go in Feb or March 2023, I will have these points available:
50 from June 2021 banked
50 from June 2022 - normal use year
25 from June 2023 borrowed

Am I understanding it correctly? Also, does Disney still sell up to 24 single use points for one reservation per year?

DVC will sell you up to 24 one-time use points per membership per UY. The points may only be purchased at the 7-month mark and must be used to make a reservation at the time that they are purchased. The OTUPs cannot be borrowed or banked if you cancel your reservation but may be used for a new reservation. There are no refunds. OTUPs expire at the end of the UY for which they were purchased.

 

[disneykim17]

What is the cost per point that DVC will sell you the 24 one-time use points?

 

[Marionnette]

What is the cost per point that DVC will sell you the 24 one-time use points?

The current price is $19/point.

 

[disneykim17]

The current price is $19/point.

Thank you for the information, greatly appreciated.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for that additional information. Ironically, I was originally looking at December use years and got creeped out by the thought of losing those points if I had to cancel an end of year visit, thinking I'd visit Oct - Dec. So, I reset my mind to travel in the spring and made an offer on a June contract. I guess I can go back to my original plan, which was to travel Oct-mid December. Although, honestly, I'd be happy going anytime other than summer.

The key for UY is to try and get one that has you traveling during the first 9 months so if you have to cancel or change a trip, you can still bank or use up expiring points,

No UY works for every month of the year but having one that starts as close to travel as you want just minimizes the risk of lost points.

So, a June UY works well for June to February travel since you have to bank by the end of January...even February trips are covered since you have to cancel at least 31 days ahead to avoid holding penalties.

 

[Amyeliza]

Your use year has nothing to do with how difficult it would be to book. A December use year would be risky for an October or November trip.

Generally speaking, the first week of December is the most difficult to book, especially in studios.

Do you find that the first week is difficult to book at your home resort too at 11 mos for the first week in December?

 

[Marionnette]

Do you find that the first week is difficult to book at your home resort too at 11 mos for the first week in December?

That would depend on what your home resort is and what kind of room you’re looking for. In general, studios at the smaller, near-park resorts are difficult to book in early December and are often walked.

 

[foreUT]

If you have months you know you will never travel, but months you bl you might travel (bc of F&W, F&G, Christmas or whatever), it might be wise to create a chart that lists the UY w their banking deadlines and discard those UY that won't work for your criteria. Just looking at your choices for vacations, August or September look as if they would be good choices. With August, that excludes Ap, May, June and July from banking a failed vacation (which sounds doable for you), just as Sept excludes May, June, July and August from any failed vacation recovery. But, both include your other months you mentioned, October,December, and March. Might include October UY in there, too, as an option.

However, as Sandisw explained, w the criteria of 31-days, your June UY should be fine. Congratulations for returning to the family, too.

 

[Amyeliza]

That would depend on what your home resort is and what kind of room you’re looking for. In general, studios at the smaller, near-park resorts are difficult to book in early December and are often walked.

My home resort will be the Poly, so hopefully I will have a good chance since it's mostly studios!