My guide called....

[rentayenta]

....just to say hi and see what our travel plans are. Started talking about adding on the GCV. He said to always have the same use year and that different UY are difficult to manage.


Is this common? Any experiences with different managing different UYs?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think that different UYs are difficult to handle, but there are some here who have them and use them advantageously.

If you want to combine the points for a night, they have to be in one account, so a transfer is in order because different UY will mean each will have a membership number associated with it. If you have the same UY and the one membership number, there is a different number after the decimal point to differentiate the different contracts. xxxxx.1, xxxxx.2 and so on.

Bobbi

 

[kikiq]

We have two different use years. March UY for our SSR points and two contracts at VGC June UY. So far, I haven't any problem managing two different UYs. We bought VGC points because using our SSR at 7 months didn't work out for the specific weekends we wanted. Our guide didn't think that we would have problems with our different UYs because they're not huge contracts and it's not likely that we would combine them at any point.

I have "stickies" on my desktop with each contracts banking dates and any reservations on the books. We're "small fish" in the point pond anyway, only 350 points.

 

[Candace]

....just to say hi and see what our travel plans are. Started talking about adding on the GCV. He said to always have the same use year and that different UY are difficult to manage.


Is this common? Any experiences with different managing different UYs?

I have two use years. In April, I have two home resorts, and in August, I have three home resorts. Is it doable? Yes! Would it be easier if all were the same one? Probably, but you still have to keep up with what points you have in each account/home resort for the 11 month booking.

 

[DenLo]

We don't have different UYs, but do own at two resorts. At times just owning at two resorts is complicated enough for me. If we had two UYs, I would only do it thinking we would never join the points for one reservation.

Also did you know if you have two UY's you also have two membership numbers and have to pay your dues separately? So when you call MS you need to have the correct Membership number for the points you are going to use for your reservation.

 

[BUDDYBEAR]

no on two use years for me

 

[jekjones1558]

We have 2 resorts (BWV and OKW) and one use year (Oct.) However, if I were considering points at GCV or Aulani I might consider a different use year. Our travel plans to GCV or Aulani might differ from our WDW patterns, so a different use year might be better.

 

[magicaldisney]

We are getting ready to add on and after doing my homework, no way will I do two different use years. I love the planning of our vacations, but I don't want it too difficult.

 

[disneynutz]

All it takes is missing one banking deadline for you to wish that you only had one UY. Unless you have a great reason for more than one UY, I say keep life simple!

Bill

 

[taaren]

We added on with a different UY at VGC because it was exactly the contract we wanted - right size, right price, etc, and really the UY we picked the second time around works better with our travel plans.
Advantages - we're always point shy so if we need to do transfers in we get 2 per year! If we look for another add-on we'll have 2 UY's to choose from when we look at contracts.
Disadvantages - banking (never do it, see above!), can't combine points ... not a problem since we have both contracts at same resort just book different nights with different contracts and link reservation.
Don't know if it'll work for you but honestly its not that big a deal if you don't want to combine and you're one of those people who never banks like so many of us small-amount-pointers ...

 

[dbs1228]

I have 2 UY's and do not think it is a big deal, although 1 UY takes less thought process. I am a planner so I bank points well in advance and when i have called to transfer points CM told me since both contracts are in my name I can transfer as many times as I need for MY contracts. Who know what the next CM will say?!

 

[rentayenta]

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

We are looking to add on at GCV. My guide strongly suggested not having different UY. There are no desirable contracts (to me) through Disney right now with a Dec UY. There are however other UY available. I like that he didn't try to sell me GCV for the sake of selling it.

I'm thinking it wouldn't be a huge deal to have different UY because a) we like to travel to the GCV in early winter and having a Dec UY is the worst for that time of travel. It works fine for WDW as we like May but are trying October for the first time in 2012. And b) if we needed those GCV points to use at SSR, aside from the THV, I have read that SSR is the biggest resort and therefore doesn't fill up as quickly.

Is my thinking screwy? I must be missing something.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

For me it's not a big deal to have different UY's and I specifically bought a second one b/c of GCV and the times I wanted to travel there compared to travel to WDW.

And having had to cancel/change trips 2 times in the last year inside of the 30 days I've had plenty of time to use holding points so the reason for the different UY's has paid off.

I also agree that you would not have a problem using the points at SSR at 7 months for most accommodations. I have used points from both UY's more than once and linked the reservations.

 

[rentayenta]

For me it's not a big deal to have different UY's and I specifically bought a second one b/c of GCV and the times I wanted to travel there compared to travel to WDW.

And having had to cancel/change trips 2 times in the last year inside of the 30 days I've had plenty of time to use holding points so the reason for the different UY's has paid off.

I also agree that you would not have a problem using the points at SSR at 7 months for most accommodations. I have used points from both UY's more than once and linked the reservations.

That's exactly what I'm thinking. Our Disneyland travel times are different than WDW. I'm not brilliant by any means but cannot imagine that two UY are that hard to manage. I do like to keep things simple but a Dec UY for the GCV is just about the worst UY I could get other than March if I'm understanding correctly for June travel.

 

[Granny]

We are looking to add on at GCV. My guide strongly suggested not having different UY.

Keep in mind that the people posting on the DVC DisBoards are uber-educated about DVC. My guess is that the guide has seen a lot of people with a fuzzy understanding of banking & borrowing guidelines and for most of them this would be very good advice.

We own at two resorts with two UY's. Mostly because the BWV contract we bought on resale was a great deal and just the right amount of points. I haven't had any issues with managing two UY's, but again I stay on top of that more regularly than the "casual" DVC owner.

I don't think you'll find any issues in two UY's. But I didn't think Disney would even sell a contract to an existing owner with a separate UY. Guess if people are willing to buy, they're willing to bend that guideline.

 

[rentayenta]

Keep in mind that the people posting on the DVC DisBoards are uber-educated about DVC. My guess is that the guide has seen a lot of people with a fuzzy understanding of banking & borrowing guidelines and for most of them this would be very good advice.

We own at two resorts with two UY's. Mostly because the BWV contract we bought on resale was a great deal and just the right amount of points. I haven't had any issues with managing two UY's, but again I stay on top of that more regularly than the "casual" DVC owner.

I don't think you'll find any issues in two UY's. But I didn't think Disney would even sell a contract to an existing owner with a separate UY. Guess if people are willing to buy, they're willing to bend that guideline.

That is actually a really good point; I'm sure he has no clue that I am a total Disney geek. And also hasn't a clue that I have all of you to help with insights.

He said I could buy a different UY just didn't support the idea.

Applause again though to him for not selling just to sell.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That's exactly what I'm thinking. Our Disneyland travel times are different than WDW. I'm not brilliant by any means but cannot imagine that two UY are that hard to manage. I do like to keep things simple but a Dec UY for the GCV is just about the worst UY I could get other than March if I'm understanding correctly for June travel.

If your planning June travel to GVC then December is fine for that and March would be even better. The worst would be Aug & Sept. UY is only important if you ever have to cancel and your best off having a UY that would still allow you to bank your points if you wouldn't be able to book another trip in that UY. Or, like my case, where cancelling within 30 days and the points go into holding then it's nice to have as much time left in your UY to use the points in holding.

Keep in mind that the people posting on the DVC DisBoards are uber-educated about DVC. My guess is that the guide has seen a lot of people with a fuzzy understanding of banking & borrowing guidelines and for most of them this would be very good advice.

We own at two resorts with two UY's. Mostly because the BWV contract we bought on resale was a great deal and just the right amount of points. I haven't had any issues with managing two UY's, but again I stay on top of that more regularly than the "casual" DVC owner.

I don't think you'll find any issues in two UY's. But I didn't think Disney would even sell a contract to an existing owner with a separate UY. Guess if people are willing to buy, they're willing to bend that guideline.

I know I've gotten comments from my guide about 2 UY's and have been told I'm one of the few they felt comfortable in having that!

I believe in the past Disney required a minimum if you want to get a new UY but hasn't restricted it. Now that the minimum seems to be a moving target depending on the day it might be much easier than it used to be.

 

[Greysword]

As Kathy mentioned, the reason a month makes for a poor UY is due to the Rule of Four (banking rules, collection access). That said, it is easy to calculate these poor months. For example...

I'm thinking it wouldn't be a huge deal to have different UY because a) we like to travel to the GCV in early winter and having a Dec UY is the worst for that time of travel.

...the bad UY months for frequent December travel would be January-April, since December would be within the Rule of Four for these months.

I do like to keep things simple but a Dec UY for the GCV is just about the worst UY I could get other than March if I'm understanding correctly for June travel.

...the poor UY months for frequent June travel dates would be July-October, since the Rule of Four would be in effect for June with these use years. If you had to cancel a June trip and you had a December UY, you could still bank the points or use them in other collections, since June is the 7th month in this UY period. Thus, December is fine (barely).

The easy way to determine the if the travel dates are affected by the Rule of Four, just take the four months following the travel month. If your UY is one of these, be cautious about canceling or waiting to book in a Collection.

Personally, I would think the hardest part about managing two UY would be keeping the member numbers straight. Although, you may be able to get some benefits, such as a promotion that is "one per member", having each spouse manage a separate (their own) account, splitting the DVC membership between children (they can't undercut each other if they both have separate accounts), and possibly others.

I do caution; however, about making a decision based on "we don't plan to do X or we won't need to do Y". Murphy's Law will come along and make sure you need to do both X and Y...at the same time...frequently

Good luck!

 

[rentayenta]

As Kathy mentioned, the reason a month makes for a poor UY is due to the Rule of Four (banking rules, collection access). That said, it is easy to calculate these poor months. For example...

...the bad UY months for frequent December travel would be January-April, since December would be within the Rule of Four for these months.

Wouldn't the bad UY be the 4 months prior to travel? Have I got myself confused?

...the poor UY months for frequent June travel dates would be July-October, since the Rule of Four would be in effect for June with these use years. If you had to cancel a June trip and you had a December UY, you could still bank the points or use them in other collections, since June is the 7th month in this UY period. Thus, December is fine (barely).

The easy way to determine the if the travel dates are affected by the Rule of Four, just take the four months following the travel month. If your UY is one of these, be cautious about canceling or waiting to book in a Collection.

Personally, I would think the hardest part about managing two UY would be keeping the member numbers straight. Although, you may be able to get some benefits, such as a promotion that is "one per member", having each spouse manage a separate (their own) account, splitting the DVC membership between children (they can't undercut each other if they both have separate accounts), and possibly others.

I do caution; however, about making a decision based on "we don't plan to do X or we won't need to do Y". Murphy's Law will come along and make sure you need to do both X and Y...at the same time...frequently

Good luck!

for explaining this to me.




KAT, great info as usual.