new member

[dcfromva]

I am new to this forum and I am also a new member of DVC. (I just found out that our deed was recorded May 31st!)
Our first visit to our home resort will be in late December. This forum is so amazing, I am learning lots of stuff!

I do have a question I have pondered for a while regarding use-years. When I joined, it wasn't something I could pick. But, I have been thinking about adding more points with a resale and it looks like there are quite a few options. Some folks say it's best to stay with your same home resort and keep the same use year otherwise it gets to be too confusing.

I was wondering if there was any other opinions on this?

-DC from VA

 

[Lew]

Welcome Home, dcfromva!

 

[ralphd]

DC

Use year- Disney will not sell you a different use year unless you buy a new contract of 150 points or more.
Different resorts- We own at BWV, VWL and BCV. There are advantages (11 month reservation window at more than one resort) and disadvantages (your points are split, so you may not have enough to book the full time period at one resort).

And congratulations and welcome home!!!!!!!!!


ralphd

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Welcome home and welcome to the Dis Boards.

Regarding use year: I purchased an add-on (re-sale) with a slightly different use year because it was such a great deal. Low cost, points left over from the past year, current year points and none borrowed.

I like having more than one resort with enough points to give me a lot of options at the 11 month booking window. We own at the same resorts as ralphd. Between banking and borrowing, I have tons of flexibility, which our family really likes to have.

Six months is an important point for you because you can bank 100% of your points. So if you vacation in December and April lets say, an optimum use year might be December because both December and April are within the 6 month banking window in case you have to cancel.

It can be somewhat confusing having two separate use years but if you keep good track of things, it can be done. If you can avoid it though, I would. Two home resorts, yes. Two use years, only if you can get an incredible deal and are willing to work at understanding the system

HBC

 

[dcfromva]

Thanks! I have tried to figure it out in terms of reserving Christmas time borrowing and banking points, but I had not even considered the possibilty of cancellation!
Wow! That could be really devistating if you were using lots of points!

-DC

 

[PKK/MJK]

We have two different use years at three different resorts! WHEW!! It can get confusing. You just have to be very careful, be organized and pay attention to what you are doing. I always mark my banking dates on my calendar so I don't forget--although I rarely have anything left to bank!! Our use years are June and December which work out wonderfully well for us. We usually vacation in July or August (I know it's hot but I'm one of those "old fashioned" parents who wouldn't take the kids out of school for vacations.) using the June points and when we want to go for Christmas , New Years or the first part of January, we use the December points. With careful planning, banking and borrowing, having different use years can be very useful.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

<font color=red>WELCOME HOME!</font>

 

[EROS]

CONGRATULATIONS........AND WELCOME HOME

I know that there are many here who love to have points at more than 1 resort. We prefer to have them consolidated at BWV. Each to his/her own........

 

[dcfromva]

Thanks you all for the warm welcome home. You've given me lots more to think about it...
I guess a person can never have too many points and it is really important to manage them in order to get the most benefit out of them!

Gosh, another question occurred to me regarding when you can make a reservation. Example, suppose your use year is in Feb and you have already used up all your points for 2002. If you wanted to book something for 2003, do you have to wait until after Feb 2003 when you receive your next year's points or can you make a reservation prior to Feb 2003 for May 2003 in anticipation of getting more points in Feb 2003?

Thanks again,
-DC

 

[nisiemouse]

Welcome home! You just have to have the points in your account by the time you take your trip. So yes you can go ahead and make that reservation as long as you will have the points by the time you actually travel. I asked that question myself a couple of months ago right after we joined.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Congratulations!
Welcome Home!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Welcome Home!!