Multiple Home Resorts - what is the impact of different use years?

[Jlo85]

Sorry for so many questions - we're first time buyers. We're thinking of buying 2 100 point contracts with different home resorts with the goal of doing split stays. We would either go ourselves for a week each year, or bring family and friends with us every other year. When I average it out, the math seems to make sense. We plan to travel in November, so the 11 month window is important to me.

I want to ask how important having the same use year is for multiple home resorts? I know people mention the convenience, but I'm just questioning if it's that big a deal if one resort has a February year and one has a March? If I'm traditionally planning to travel in November, does that really matter that much?

Is it easier to transfer / merge points at 7 months if I have the same use year? My understanding is that for different use years I need to call member services, is that not the same if it's the same year? The calling member services every year thing does sound inconvenient, but not sure if the same use year doesn't require that.

 

[RoseGold]

The streams can't cross. I have two UYS. I use them for fall-ish and summer-ish stays. To mix points, I have to make it a split stay. I also use my 4 waitlists often.

If you're booking with 11 month priority, then you don't care about combing points. Obviously, the issues are going to be stray points and hassle. This is more risky with smaller contracts. If you're trying to book at 7, then you need 1 UY.

For traveling once a year, 1UY is probably better.

 

[Spinster Travel]

Agree with @RoseGold that you should get one UY. Those with multiple UY's benefit most when they are traveling at different times of the year or multiple trips per year- I'd suggest you stick with the Oct UY if you plan on November trips each year.

 

[CarolMN]

Use year doesn't matter at all as far as the 11 month priority goes. FWIW, February & March aren't particularly good use years to have for November travel. Spend some time with this thread -

Understanding Use Year

I will assume you are planning to purchase resale. If you are purchasing direct, the minimum first time purchase is 150 points. To get two different use years by purchasing direct, you would have to buy 150 points for each use year. Different use years means two different memberships.

 

[sethschroeder]

I wouldn't do multiple use years. I thought originally it wouldn't be a big deal but it is a pain to deal with booking the points completely separate.

At 7 months the points recombine so there is a chance you will be able to get waitlists in and have a single combine stay which then makes booking dining and such easier. Also who knows what else is advanced booking in 5/10 years time and you have lost that advantage because you are on a split stay instead of trying to get one stay for the full week.

 

[Jlo85]

The streams can't cross. I have two UYS. I use them for fall-ish and summer-ish stays. To mix points, I have to make it a split stay. I also use my 4 waitlists often.

If you're booking with 11 month priority, then you don't care about combing points. Obviously, the issues are going to be stray points and hassle. This is more risky with smaller contracts. If you're trying to book at 7, then you need 1 UY.

For traveling once a year, 1UY is probably better.

I read that Disney allowed transferring points between contracts, so the streams could cross. Is that not the case? I know it would only really work for 7 month window booking. This is where I get a little confused because I've read that different Use Years make it different memberships, allowing for transferring. But if I have the different home resorts with the same use year, would it be one membership? This is where it goes a little over my head and there doesn't seem to be a ton documented online.

 

[CarolMN]

I read that Disney allowed transferring points between contracts, so the streams could cross. Is that not the case? I know it would only really work for 7 month window booking. This is where I get a little confused because I've read that different Use Years make it different memberships, allowing for transferring. But if I have the different home resorts with the same use year, would it be one membership? This is where it goes a little over my head and there doesn't seem to be a ton documented online.

Different use years mean different memberships, even if the resorts are the same.

Yes, you can transfer between memberships.

 

[Jlo85]

Different use years mean different memberships, even if the resorts are the same.

Yes, you can transfer between memberships.

Thank you, so I guess that is the one big pro of different use years. I just wasn’t sure if different home resorts also created 2 memberships, but I’m gathering it doesn’t, it’s only use year differences. Thanks everyone for the help!

 

[RoseGold]

I read that Disney allowed transferring points between contracts, so the streams could cross. Is that not the case? I know it would only really work for 7 month window booking. This is where I get a little confused because I've read that different Use Years make it different memberships, allowing for transferring. But if I have the different home resorts with the same use year, would it be one membership? This is where it goes a little over my head and there doesn't seem to be a ton documented online.

You can transfer between memberships. You can only do it once, it's permanent, and it's Disney IT, so it's a mess. And, you need to do this I guess before the 7 month window opens and hope you get it? This stuff goes fast, as I'm sure you know. There's not time to monkey around on the phone.

Two UYs are like two people. They can't see each other or share points without transfer.

One UY and two resorts is the same person (member number)

 

[Spinster Travel]

One more additional thought; 100 point contracts are not that difficult to find, so getting two of them in one UY really shouldn't be that difficult. You might have to bid around a bit, but I think it's totally worth it given that you plan on traveling the same time each year. Good luck!

 

[macman123]

I have 30 contracts At different resorts. all the same UY.

why make life complicated …

 

[supersnoop]

I guess that is the one big pro of different use years

I wouldn't call that a "pro" at all. I'm worried you might have some misunderstanding about how DVC works.

First, a February use year is terrible for November trips, and March isn't much better.

Transfers don't change the home resort of the points. A transfer would only allow you to book a single stay at 7 months or closer. You have to call to transfer. After you transfer, I think you can use the points online, but you might have to call for your reservation, which puts you at an hour disadvantage (phone lines open up a hour after online booking is available).

The only real "pro" of owning multiple use year is that you get two concurrent waitlist requests per use year, so you could waitlist more options with different points. If a different use year provides additional protection for traveling at different times of year, that could be a personal "pro" too.

Generally, I ask this question when people consider multiple use years: How often will you want to combine points from the two contracts for a single reservation? If your answer is "never," then go ahead. If your answer is "rarely" (like, once every 7 years or so), then it might be okay. Anything other response and it's not in your best interest.

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you, so I guess that is the one big pro of different use years. I just wasn’t sure if different home resorts also created 2 memberships, but I’m gathering it doesn’t, it’s only use year differences. Thanks everyone for the help!

Having two different memberships can work, but it is not as easy to use points for a single reservation and you have to be sure that what you transfer won't need to be borrowed in order to accomplish it.

In order to use home resort points at 11 months with a transfer, you will have to call...the online system doesn't work well with home resort priority for 11 month bookings...a few reports that people have had success, but more often than not, they don't.

November is a very busy DVC time so you don't want to have to lose that one hour advantage of booking at 11 months you can achieve online. Now, if you are planning split stays during the same trip, the two UY's isn't as big as a deal, as you simply book one home resort in its membership and the other home resort in its own membership without the transfer.

Its when you want to use both home resort together at 7 months to book either one of those resorts...or trade out. I have three UY's and I don't transfer because honestly, its just easier to book some nights for the trips on each one...and I use the different contracts in each membership for different trips.

Easiest is to keep it the same.

 

[Jlo85]

The only real "pro" of owning multiple use year is that you get two concurrent waitlist requests per use year, so you could waitlist more options with different points. If a different use year provides additional protection for traveling at different times of year, that could be a personal "pro" too.

From what I've read, having multiple use years can be a way to circumvent the banking deadlines. That if I miss my banking deadline for February Use Year, I can transfer those points to another use year (say August) where I could bank the points. Is that not allowed - I'm not seeing a rule preventing it? I understand there are other restrictions on transferred points.

Also, having more one-time use points available is a plus. I mean there definitely are some nice things about it.

 

[RNstitches]

From what I've read, having multiple use years can be a way to circumvent the banking deadlines. That if I miss my banking deadline for February Use Year, I can transfer those points to another use year (say August) where I could bank the points. Is that not allowed - I'm not seeing a rule preventing it? I understand there are other restrictions on transferred points.

I believe that points that are transferred maintain their Use Year and home resort, i.e. You can't transfer February Use year points into a August Use Year, even if they are the same home resort

 

[_auroraborealis_]

From what I've read, having multiple use years can be a way to circumvent the banking deadlines. That if I miss my banking deadline for February Use Year, I can transfer those points to another use year (say August) where I could bank the points. Is that not allowed - I'm not seeing a rule preventing it? I understand there are other restrictions on transferred points.

Also, having more one-time use points available is a plus. I mean there definitely are some nice things about it.

Points always retain home resort and UY. So if you miss your banking deadline for February UY they cannot be banked even if transferred.

 

[Jlo85]

Points always retain home resort and UY. So if you miss your banking deadline for February UY they cannot be banked even if transferred.

Can I please get confirmation on that? I understand that they retain the use year and will expire at the end of the use year, but several websites and the rules seem to suggest that the 8 month banking window does not apply to transferred points.

 

[Sandisw]

From what I've read, having multiple use years can be a way to circumvent the banking deadlines. That if I miss my banking deadline for February Use Year, I can transfer those points to another use year (say August) where I could bank the points. Is that not allowed - I'm not seeing a rule preventing it? I understand there are other restrictions on transferred points.

Also, having more one-time use points available is a plus. I mean there definitely are some nice things about it.

Transferring changes nothing about the points. It simply puts them in a different place.

Feb UY points stay Feb UY points, even if they are in an Aug UY. It just means you can use them to book a room with Aug UY points at the same time.

The big piece is that transferred points can not be borrowed so you have to be sure when you do it they can be used for the trip.

For example, I can transfer my Dec 2023 points into my June 2023 UY, but those points can not be used for any trip from June 2023 until Dec 1st 2023 because it would require borrowing them because they stay Dec 2023 points even though they are now housed in the June UY.

 

[Sandisw]

Can I please get confirmation on that? I understand that they retain the use year and will expire at the end of the use year, but several websites and the rules seem to suggest that the 8 month banking window does not apply to transferred points.

You may mean referring to owners who have been given an exception to bank points transferred in after the banking deadline.

If it has happened, it is pixie dust and not a rule…they do not have to allow those who receive transferred points after a banking deadline the ability to still bank.

So, you should not assume those exceptions would be made.

 

[kandlsutton]

Is a 100pt contract big enough for your travel time and duration? A week in many of the studios will require more than 100 points. With 100pt contracts at 2 home resorts, you can only use those 100 pts (plus any banking/borrowing) in the 11 month home resort priority window. If you alternate contracts and bank in alternating years, you would have 200pts plus any borrowing, but those points wouldn‘t be available the next UY. So, multiple home resorts could work depending on point charts, but would require more planning.

February points have to be banked by 9/30 and March by 10/31. So if you typically travel in November, you would be traveling past the banking window for those UYs. Therfore, a September or October UY would be better for November travel. If traveling once per year or every other year, it would be much easier with 1 UY.

i have 3 memberships-2UY-5 home resorts, but we travel in spring and fall/winter, avoiding the summer heat. We do split stays and book at 11 month and then see what is available at 7 month. I will borrow at the 11mo window from one contract to get the days/room I want even if there are current UY points available on another contract, all keeping in mind the banking deadlines if we have to cancel.

ETA: corrected banking dates.