New DVC member- thoughts and experience needed!

[nurselalie]

Hello to all of you! My husband and I just bought into the DVC (through Disney). As part of our deal, we were "given last years points", which we thought was great because it meant we could use those for a trip we were already planning in May and put the budgeted funds from that right towards the purchase. Our points are going to have a Sept or Oct use year (I know we'll have our next allotment of points on Oct. 1, but I'm still figuring out the use year term!), so we won't actually be getting the points we are "paying for" (meaning not the "free" bonus ones) until then. Here are my questions. 1) Did we get screwed over on this whole "last years points" thing since our use year isn't until Sept/Oct? It seems like having our use year closer to the date of purchase would mean a better deal for us- am I just not understanding things right? and 2) We wanted to use this years points (that we get in Oct) and some points from next Oct to book a stay for Jan 2015 at our home resort. Will they let us book the stay before we are able to use those points? Or do we have to wait till Oct when we would officially be able to borrow from 2015's allotment? I guess I'm wondering when they actually take those points out of your account- when you make the reservation or when you get closer to check in. Thanks in advance!

 

[MsTessP]

If you were told you get more points on Oct 1, then your UY is October. But I want to make one thing clear to you - you were NOT given "last years" points as part of a deal - that was a misleading sales tactic. When you bought in with an Oct UY, you automatically received THIS years points ( for 10/1/13 - 9/30/14) which would have been given to you anyway. (Otherwise, you would not have any points at all until October 1st, and nobody would go for a "deal" like that!)

You can use your points plus borrow some of the points you will be receiving on Oct 1 to make reservations now,

However, It would be helpful for us to know which resort you purchased. I'm a bit concerned because it doesn't appear that you have a very clear understanding of how DVC works. When did you buy, and did you buy Grand Floridian? If not, do you know about the resale market for the other resorts?

 

[Kidanifan08]

Hello to all of you! My husband and I just bought into the DVC (through Disney). As part of our deal, we were "given last years points", which we thought was great because it meant we could use those for a trip we were already planning in May and put the budgeted funds from that right towards the purchase. Our points are going to have a Sept or Oct use year (I know we'll have our next allotment of points on Oct. 1, but I'm still figuring out the use year term!), so we won't actually be getting the points we are "paying for" (meaning not the "free" bonus ones) until then. Here are my questions. 1) Did we get screwed over on this whole "last years points" thing since our use year isn't until Sept/Oct? It seems like having our use year closer to the date of purchase would mean a better deal for us- am I just not understanding things right? and 2) We wanted to use this years points (that we get in Oct) and some points from next Oct to book a stay for Jan 2015 at our home resort. Will they let us book the stay before we are able to use those points? Or do we have to wait till Oct when we would officially be able to borrow from 2015's allotment? I guess I'm wondering when they actually take those points out of your account- when you make the reservation or when you get closer to check in. Thanks in advance!

You have an Oct UY. You received points that are current UY, which are Oct 2013 points. Those can be used for DVC stays starting 10/1/2013 and going through 9/30/2013. Those points can be banked into your 2014 UY, but that needs to be done by 5/31/14. Your 2014 UY starts 10/1/2014 and those points can be used for DVC stays through 9/30/2015. So, for your Jan 2015 trip, you can use your 2014 UY points. If you want to use points for your May trip this year, you will use your 2013 UY points. Any leftover 2013 points should be banked into 2014 and those points should ideally be used first for any travel in your 2014 UY.

UY only dictates when the points are available for use at a DVC resort. It does not dictate when you can make your reservation. You always have 11 months from the day of arrival to book at your home resort and 7 months from the day of arrival at all of the other resorts.

The UY becomes important if you see yourself always traveling at a specific time every year. If you are someone who will probably only go to WDW in Oct for F&W and Dec for the Christmas activities, then an Oct UY is perfect. But, if you see yourself primarily going in May-Aug then an April, March or Feb UY may be better. Banking of points needs to be done 4 months before the end of a UY. If your trips are always in those last 4 months and you suddenly need to cancel, the points will not be bankable when you cancel and you risk losing out on using them if you can't reschedule before the end of your UY. If you travel at all times of the year, then UY is probably not that important. FYI, there are no Jan, May, July or Nov UY's. Nobody knows why, but they just don't exist.

Welcome Home!!

 

[disneynutz]

Hello to all of you! My husband and I just bought into the DVC (through Disney). As part of our deal, we were "given last years points", which we thought was great because it meant we could use those for a trip we were already planning in May and put the budgeted funds from that right towards the purchase. Our points are going to have a Sept or Oct use year (I know we'll have our next allotment of points on Oct. 1, but I'm still figuring out the use year term!), so we won't actually be getting the points we are "paying for" (meaning not the "free" bonus ones) until then. Here are my questions. 1) Did we get screwed over on this whole "last years points" thing since our use year isn't until Sept/Oct? It seems like having our use year closer to the date of purchase would mean a better deal for us- am I just not understanding things right? and 2) We wanted to use this years points (that we get in Oct) and some points from next Oct to book a stay for Jan 2015 at our home resort. Will they let us book the stay before we are able to use those points? Or do we have to wait till Oct when we would officially be able to borrow from 2015's allotment? I guess I'm wondering when they actually take those points out of your account- when you make the reservation or when you get closer to check in. Thanks in advance!

Very common questions and the common response is the suggestion that you rescind the contract to give yourself time to learn about the DVC rules, policies, pros and cons. Buying resale can save you thousands of dollars and that may be a better option for you.

Good luck and happy learning.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

We wanted to use this years points (that we get in Oct) and some points from next Oct to book a stay for Jan 2015 at our home resort. Will they let us book the stay before we are able to use those points?

your lack of knowledge makes me nervous also.

"Use year" is when you "use" the pts for stays. nothing at all to do with when you can book a stay.

you can book 11 months out at your home resort. so you can book jan 2015 in feb 2014.

since you have an oct UY, that means a jan 2015 stay is in your 2014 UY (which runs from oct 1, 2014 to sept 30, 2015).

for stays in your 2014 UY, you can use banked 2013 UY pts (what you describe as your "free" pts - they need to be banked first before you book the jan 2015 stay - assuming you have any left after your may 2014 stay)...

...plus 2014 UY pts (they are current for a jan 2015 stay - not borrowed)

...plus borrowed 2015 UY pts (if needed - and yes, they can be borrowed right now - no need to wait till oct - but once you borrow them, remember that they can never be put back into your 2015 UY).

but read and bookmark this link for more info on UY if you get confused:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1942668

 

[Deb & Bill]

I agree with the others. Rescind your purchase now and take some time learning about DVC first. And also consider resale purchases. Ultimately, all you are guaranteed with a DVC purchase is using your points at DVC resorts. Everything else could change on the whim of the management company, which is currently Disney.