Newbie Question on Use Year

[YourEveryDayAdam]

Hello everyone. Long time lurker, first time poster. I am reading all the discussions on DVC, and the whole Use Year has me confused.

I understand that it's the month of the year that your points become available.

Here is where I am confused and am hoping for a little help:

I plan on traveling primarily in the summer time (Early june).
I may also occasionally want to travel in early december for xmas.
I would (more rarely) want to travel in March...it's my birthday.

Can someone explain to me what would be the best use year to get for my travel plans?

Also, when you buy from Disney, can you just pick your use year?

Thanks! Been so great reading so far.

 

[chalee94]

Here is where I am confused and am hoping for a little help:

I plan on traveling primarily in the summer time (Early june).
I may also occasionally want to travel in early december for xmas.
I would (more rarely) want to travel in March...it's my birthday.

Can someone explain to me what would be the best use year to get for my travel plans?

depends on when you travel. generally you'd like to be able to travel primarily in the first few months of your UY. (and not have to travel at all in the last 3 months of your UY). but it's only an issue if you have to cancel, it has nothing to do with when you can call and book a reservation.

if you would probably never travel from sept-nov, then a december UY might be your best bet. again, it would only be an issue if you have to cancel. if you never have to cancel a reservation, UY is no big deal.

link to banking window chart.

here's a thread with more detailed information on use year if you need it...

Also, when you buy from Disney, can you just pick your use year?

they will generally offer what they are selling at the time, but will usually work with you if you have a strong preference.

 

[5forDiz]

You can probably cover your bases pretty well with a December Use Year.

You'd get your annual allotment of points each December 1 and

would have until July 31 to bank those points into next UY.

So for example on Dec 1 2008 you received your 2008 UY allotment
and these points are available to use until Nov 30 2009 unless you
bank them into 2009 UY by July 31 2009.

Use Year as mentioned by pp is hopefully going to prove to be 'helpful'

if you have to cancel a trip so that you either have some time to

reschedule before end of your UY or bank the points into next UY.

A December UY is a bit dicey if travelling in June because if you cancel

late in June you would only have until July 31 to use the points BUT

at least you'd be able to bank points from a cancelled June resi up

until July 31.

** Keep in mind that reservations must be cancelled 31 days

or more BEFORE Check-In for points to still be bankable otherwise

if cancellation is 30 days through 1 day before check-in those points

are unbankable and must be used by end of that Use Year or lost.

If you cancel on check-in date points are forfeitted.

 

[Pinkerbelle8]

If I purchased a December use year, would I be able to bank AND borrow points for a trip over Christmas (Dec 23-Jan 2)?

 

[chalee94]

If I purchased a December use year, would I be able to bank AND borrow points for a trip over Christmas (Dec 23-Jan 2)?

for a trip in dec 2009,

you would need to bank the points you received in dec 2008 when you call in january to book at 11 months using banked 2008 and current 2009 pts - and at that point, you could also borrow dec 2010 pts to complete the reservation if necessary.