New purchase question

[Plan Man]

I was talking to a Disney agent today on the phone trying to understand what I would receive in terms of points immediately after the purchase. I am looking at a 200 point contract. ( I know the value of resale but we want Poly)

I was trying to determine the best Use Year month and trying to figure out if there was an advantage to buy a December use year or February based on my question above. We would typically visit in March.

If I understood him correctly he recommended a February use year. He said I would receive 200 pojnts for the use year of 2015 (paying prorated annual dues - purchase in August so 5/12 of the annual dues) and then I would receive another 200 points in February 2016. Does this make sense?

And I assume I would immediately bank the 200 2015 points into the 2016 year. So I would have 400 points available to use from Feb 2016 to January 31 2017.

Please let me know if I am missing something.

THanks

 

[Kaigler]

Why did he recommend February? What time of year do you plan to travel?

 

[Plan Man]

march he said either would work but he seemed to focus more on February

 

[disneynutz]

march he said either would work but he seemed to focus more on February

He is pushing February because that is the UY month that he is told to sell. Same month was used at BLT, they have their reasons we just don't know what they are.

I would choose a UY that works best for your vacation patterns not what they are pushing. Do you have a history at the Poly? Have you stayed at the different DVC resorts?

Bill

 

[Plan Man]

I have never stayed at Poly. We have never stayed at any DVC resorts = We have stayed at the contemporary and many other Disney hotels. February works fine but I was trying to figure out if made a difference in points at purchase.

I have also read something about fixed weeks? What exactly is tht?

 

[disneynutz]

I have never stayed at Poly. We have never stayed at any DVC resorts = We have stayed at the contemporary and many other Disney hotels. February works fine but I was trying to figure out if made a difference in points at purchase.

I have also read something about fixed weeks? What exactly is tht?

Fixed week is you automatically get the same sun - sat reservation each year, you buy 10% more points, if you cancel the reservation, the points can be used at other resorts like regular points.

I caution you that you may not be in love with the Poly in a year or two, we bought BLT when new and found that we should have stayed their first a couple of times. It has turned out to not be our favorite resort. If that happens you can sell your contract and buy somewhere else maybe at additional cost. Another tactic is to buy SSR resale, use those points to learn about the DVC, resorts, room, views, locations and later buy at your favorite resort once you figure out where that is.

Bill

 

[Kaigler]

I can see not liking BLT. But Poly is basically still Poly. They didn't builld a new section like BLT. I guess you would have to be nostalgic about the changes they've made and are making. But otherwise the resort is gorgeous and the changes are great.

 

[disneynutz]

I can see not liking BLT. But Poly is basically still Poly. They didn't builld a new section like BLT. I guess you would have to be nostalgic about the changes they've made and are making. But otherwise the resort is gorgeous and the changes are great.

Gorgeous to you but not to everyone. That is what makes DVC work, something for everyone and the reasons are all over the place. I heard a couple talking at BLT that they love being close to the MK, they really don't care for the resort but they bought because they love the smell. I don't remember a smell.

Bill

 

[queendarvet]

If you want a December use year then you would receive 2014 points that you can have them bank into 2015. Those points would have to be used by November 30, 2016 however. The banking window for a December use year is July 31 but even if you are past that date your guide can still bank those 2014 points for you.

 

[CarolMN]

Assuming you buy direct before 12/1/2015:

February use year: You immediately receive 2015 points, which are good for stays between 2/1/2015 and 1/31/2016. You may bank them into the 2016 use year, which would then make them good for stays between 2/1/2016 and 1/31/2017. If you don't use them by 1/31/2017, they expire and are forfeited. Your next allocation of points would occur on 2/1/2016. Those points are good for stays between 2/1/2016 and 1/31/2017. You may bank them into your 2017 use year if you do so before 9/30/2016.

Keep in mind that WHEN you make a reservation (the booking windows) have NOTHING to do with use year. See the following thread for more help with use year:

Understanding Use Year

December use year: You immediately receive 2014 points. Those points are good for stays between 12/1/2014 and 11/30/2015. Banking deadline for December use years is normally the following July 31. However, for direct purchases, Disney waives the banking deadline (for the first year only). If you bank, the points will then be good for stays between 12/1/2015 and 11/30/2016. If you do not use those points by 11/30/2016, they will expire and are forfeited. Your next allocation of points would occur on 12/1/2015. Those points are good for stays between 12/1/2015 and 11/30/2016. You may bank them into your 2016 use year if you do so before 7/31/2016.

December use years can be tough to get used to for those new to DVC. Be sure to read the thread referenced above for more info.

A new direct purchase of either use year would give you a double allocation to use for a March 2016 trip (if you bank the first year's allocation of points). Either use year would give you time to bank points if for some reason you had to cancel a planned March trip. Again, more info in the referenced thread.

HTH.

 

[pangyal]

I know that you have probably researched the options and have a reason for wanting the Poly, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to note that there are NO one-bedrooms at this resort. If you ever want to bring somebody else, or your family expands, you will either be looking at booking two separate studios to accommodate everyone, or at a different resort, in which case your reasoning for avoiding resale becomes moot.

As I said, I'm sure you know this, but it has been a dealbreaker for so many people that I thought I would stress this point once again .

 

[bwvBound]

Re: Dec (2014) vs Feb (2015) for Poly ...
If I recall correctly, Poly started sales this year -- and there are no Dec points at this time. I think Dec 2015 will be the first round of Dec UY. {{??? Yeah/Nay ???}}

OP, if you plan to travel in March, or even anytime between Feb-Sept but not Oct-Jan -- then a Feb UY would work well. That a new purchase today would include 2015 points immediately ... to be banked into Feb 2016 ... would be a nice start to cushion your account.

 

[queendarvet]

OP would receive 2014 points as it is still within the 2014 use year for December. The 2014 use year spans December 1, 2014-November 30, 2015. A December use year does take a little bit of extra thinking at first but eventually it does make sense!

 

[freediverdude]

I just purchased Poly, so I guess I can speak to this. If you purchase the December UY, you get 2014 points. I don't believe any other use years will get the 2014 points, they will start with 2015. So you do get one extra set of points if you purchase right now direct with the December UY. If you look at it by calendar year, for a trip in 2016 using 2016 points, you would actually have 3 sets of points to use. Over the whole 50 years of the contract you get 51 sets of points with the December use year. The guide talked about this with me. December 2014-December 2065 = 51 sets, February 2015- February 2065 = 50 sets. I would take the December. Yes you would be technically borrowing the points for each current calendar year with December UY unless you stuck to last year's points, but just think an extra set of points! This was a selling point with the guide.

 

[JimMIA]

I know that you have probably researched the options and have a reason for wanting the Poly, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to note that there are NO one-bedrooms at this resort. If you ever want to bring somebody else, or your family expands, you will either be looking at booking two separate studios to accommodate everyone, or at a different resort, in which case your reasoning for avoiding resale becomes moot.

As I said, I'm sure you know this, but it has been a dealbreaker for so many people that I thought I would stress this point once again .

Pangyal makes a very good point here, especially considering that you have never stayed at Poly. Your only lodging choices at Poly are studios or 2 bedroom bungalows.

I would also urge you to take a look the points chart to see how many points are required for a stay. Are you really willing to pay 169-269 points for seven nights in a studio?

 

[ziravan]

I wouldn't buy a fixed week for trips routinely made in Mar. I would - and did - buy a fixed week for trips routinely made during the last 3 months of the year, especially during F&W.

If, after PVB sells out, it becomes as difficult to rent studios as VGF (and I think that's a bigger possibility than most people do), then you're all set with a fixed week. If it's not as difficult to book, then you can trade out, rerent the same week, and hold onto the few extra points. Win. Win.

A fixed week only costs 10% more points if you use the fixed week. With a little planning you would only do that if it became difficult to book at 11 months. IF it becomes difficult to book at 11 months, that premium is a bargain. If not, you have a 10% pad on points, and that's not a bad deal, either.

I think the DVC veterans will tell you that booking patterns have changed, sometimes drastically, over the years. My fixed week offers me protection not only for the next few years where I can make a prediction on booking patterns, but also for the next 40 plus years where who knows what will happen?

 

[ziravan]

Also, Dec UY gives you 2014 points as well and won't affect trips made in March.

Get the Dec UY and more points.

 

[Kaigler]

Thats great info. We are likely about to buy direct next week at Poly. I was thinking a June or December UY. This has definitely made up my mind.

 

[ziravan]

Thats great info. We are likely about to buy direct next week at Poly. I was thinking a June or December UY. This has definitely made up my mind.

Not June. Since June has already passed this year, you'd start with 2015 points. If it doesn't affect your travel plans, get a UY with any month between now and the end of the year and it'll include 2014 points.

 

[Kaigler]

Right, I understand. I was debating between June and December. I'll want a December UY for us now.