New DVC purchase direct

[frb47]

My wife and I are meeting with a Cast Member to purchase 200 Direct points for the Grand Floridian on May 20th. Question about use year. Can be back date to a March UY so as to use 2022 years points for this Nov or Dec stay and then bank what might be left over for a longer 2023 stay. We are planning for a late March '23 stay for our wedding anniversary but did not want to wait for that to be our first trip as DVC members, Any suggestions would be appreciated, Thanks

 

[CaptainAmerica]

When will you TYPICALLY travel? Are there any times of year when you'll NEVER travel?

March would be a poor choice of Use Year if you plan to do a lot of November and December traveling.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Yes, you can choose the March UY, and you would be able to book your fall trip with 2022 pts & your anniversary trip with 2023 pts (congratulations!!).

But as @CaptainAmerica said, it’s usually best to choose a UY based on your preferred travel times in general, & not just the upcoming 2 trips.

 

[DeeBee3]

I'm piggy backing on this about UY. How do you figure out what is best for you?

 

[Jwaire]

I'm piggy backing on this about UY. How do you figure out what is best for you?

When do you travel? If you travel in May every year, you don't want a June use year. You want an April or earlier use year.

Once that's settled, I'd look at banking deadlines. For example, we typically travel in Summer, but I wanted the option to travel in September and Spring Break. I picked February because the banking deadline isn't until Sept 30. That deadline is beyond my typical travel dates, so in case I have to cancel for some reason, I'll get to bank my points into the next year.

https://dvcrentalstore.com/blog/use-year-guide-for-disney-vacation-club-members/

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I'm piggy backing on this about UY. How do you figure out what is best for you?

Pick the four months (consecutive) when you're least likely to travel, then pick the next month as your UY.

I'll never travel in September, October, November, or December, so my ideal Use Year would be January. Since January UY doesn't exist, I get December or February.

The reason for this is that those four months are outside of your banking window. Pretend you have a February Use Year. If you're going to bank points, you need to do it by the end of September. If you mostly travel in November, and then have to cancel a trip for some reason, you can't bank those points because your banking deadline has passed. You're left scrambling to find a way to use or rent those points by the end of your UY.

 

[frb47]

When will you TYPICALLY travel? Are there any times of year when you'll NEVER travel?

March would be a poor choice of Use Year if you plan to do a lot of November and December traveling.

We would typically travel between November and May. We reside an hour from Disney but leave Florida to go up north May thru September

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We would typically travel between November and May. We reside an hour from Disney but leave Florida to go up north May thru September

You would be best with an October UY.

 

[frb47]

Pick the four months (consecutive) when you're least likely to travel, then pick the next month as your UY.

I'll never travel in September, October, November, or December, so my ideal Use Year would be January. Since January UY doesn't exist, I get December or February.

The reason for this is that those four months are outside of your banking window. Pretend you have a February Use Year. If you're going to bank points, you need to do it by the end of September. If you mostly travel in November, and then have to cancel a trip for some reason, you can't bank those points because your banking deadline has passed. You're left scrambling to find a way to use or rent those points by the end of your UY.

It sounds like I should then pick a September use year since my four months of non-travel would be May, June, July and August.

 

[frb47]

You would be best with an October UY.

That sounds about right. Thanks

 

[CarolMN]

Understanding Use Year

 

[Sandisw]

I will just add that since you must cancel at least 31 days to avoid holding, that 9 months is also doable. For example, my banking deadline for Dec UY is July 31st...so I could squeak in a trip in August and if I had to cancel, I would still be able to bank.

Of course, the best situation to minimize your risks (no UY works for all travel) is to try to travel toward the beginning of the UY...its why I have 3...so I can strategically plan trips all year long and still have flexibility. It takes work, but I have figured it out.