Need clarification re: 7 month window and Use Year

[SML123]

Ive started by reading many posts so that I know what I am purchasing, but cant nail down this last piece of info before I begin to execute my plan.

We live in Arizona and love the Grand Californian - we have been staying in the hotel for 4 nights a year, last year we were there in September but we would go any time and 4 or 5 nights is plenty as we are Seniors and its a lot for us. I laid out clothes for my 82 year old husband to wear each day and he had NO IDEA why so many people were smiling and telling him he looked GREAT all day. He was Mickey to my Minnie, Goofy to my Snow White and, Donald to my Cruella... unbeknownst to him!

We also love Hawaii, plus our kids and grands and great grands live in Florida but they come to see us, so we would use an occasional week at WDW. We intend to use a mix which makes our Use Year important. (or maybe not)

Use Year is confusing because of the 7 month window for ask for time at other than home resort. Im planning on buying a 75 to 100 points contract to start with, that maybe has some 2021 points added in, as it seems I can buy unneeded points from people fairly easily IF I need them or vacation with DVC every other year as we have other things we love to do too.

I think rather than say how I think it works, its better for me to ask:

WHICH IS THE BEST USE YEAR FOR ME TO BUY IF WE VACATION IN Sept Oct Nov Dec? And please explain why so I understand. Or tell me that this really isnt that big a deal.

Also I thinking that a resale contract at Saratoga, Old Key West, or Polynesian or Aulani resorts - from what I have read, I should be able to get a Studio or 1br at GC with points from these home resorts but really would go any time of year that is available. We are never nailed down to specific week for ourselves. Confirm please that its straight up availability and not trading power that gets you into another resort, yes?

Help me out if I am incorrect or need a bit of redirection. Thank you so much.

Susan

 

[Sandisw]

I would say August or September. UY has nothing to do with when you book. It simply is when the status of points change each year.

When you travel at the beginning of your UY, you have more flexibility if you have to cancel or change a trip at least 31 days out..less than that points become holding which have other rules.

Since your trips would be in the banking window, you can still bank. That is why people recommend trying to get a UY that starts right before typical travel.

No UY is perfect, but a well planned one can help.

Think of UY as your new calendar. Trips. An always be booked with points you have banked from the UY prior, points from the UY of travel, and borrow up to 50% from the UY after travel.

So, with a Sept UY, that is when things”change” for lack of a better word. For example, we are in the Sept 2021 UY

Any trip someone booked from Sept 2021 all the way until Aug 31st,2022 takes place in that UY and could have been booked with banked 2020, 2021 abs borrowed 2022 points.

Hope this helps.

 

[DVChris]

I agree with August or September.
For Grand Californian, it is very difficult to find 4-5 days together at the 7 months mark. You may want to look into buying into VGC or wait for the new DLT which is expected to open in 2023.
To answer your other question, yes, straight up availability.

 

[CarolynFH]

This thread will help you understand UY: Understanding Use Year.

 

[SML123]

For Grand Californian, it is very difficult to find 4-5 days together at the 7 months mark..

Hmmmm, is this because Grand Cali owners use the property more than owners of other DVC resorts use their home property? Maybe because there are so many at WDW but just one at DL?

 

[SML123]

I agree with August or September.
For Grand Californian, it is very difficult to find 4-5 days together at the 7 months mark. You may want to look into buying into VGC or wait for the new DLT which is expected to open in 2023.
To answer your other question, yes, straight up availability.

Thanks, I get it now!!!

 

[RoseGold]

Grand Californian is very small and the points are very expensive. People have been buying those points just to use them there for many years, which is why the pricing is so high. You aren’t likely to get four nights without home resort advantage. I guess it’s possible, but it’s not likely.