Optimal Use Year?

[Vacationhunting]

Hi,

We are currently looking into joining and buying resale at BLT. If our typical travel window would be a week anywhere from May 1 to Aug 31, what is a good Use Year to target to have best flexibility to bank points in case something happens and plans need to be scuttled for this year (meanng the trip cancelled and points banked to next year)?

I see several Feb UY BLT contracts, which I think would work, but wanted to poll the "experts".

Thanks

 

[chalee94]

april is ideal - but feb is fine.

more info on UY here if you need it:

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

 

[dzorn]

I would get a April or May UY. Any trips cancelled before 31 days would still be able to be banked.

Denise in MI

 

[chalee94]

I would get a April or May UY.

except that there is no may UY.

i got tricked by that issue a week or so ago...

 

[Sammie]

Avoid October for summer trips.

 

[bookwormde]

Dec, Feb, March, April are Ok

 

[Sandisw]

I agree with many. April UY is ideal and if you were going through Disney, I would suggest that one.

However, Feb UY would work out fine and since many of the initial contracts sold for BLT through Disney were Feb UY, those are the ones you will see more often on resale right now.

If you think you would ever travel during the holidays (Dec), then I might try for a Dec UY as that would also work for your summer travel.

Good luck!

 

[JimMIA]

April would be perfect, Feb and Dec okay, I'd certainly avoid Aug, Sep, and Oct.

Also -- and this will shock a few folks probably, because I am usually an advocate of resale over buying direct from DVC -- BLT is one resort where you should at least take a look at buying direct if you really want BLT.

If buying direct means you can get exactly the number of points you want, AND the April UY that would work best for you, that should certainly be weighed against the cost savings of buying resale.

Buying direct should also be considered if a Dec UY would work for you.

(The reason we suggest certain UYs is that you must bank points within the first 8 months of your UY. So Dec UY points would have to be banked no later than the last day of July. Trying to follow the KISS principle, if you had a Dec UY, you would have to cancel a ressie at least 31 days prior to your arrival date, AND prior to July 31 in order to be able to bank the points into the following UY.)

If you usually would be able to cancel prior to July 31, and therefore a Dec UY would work, you could buy a Dec 2009 contract direct and they would allow you to bank the 2009 points into 2010.

The Weasel Speakers will try to make you think you are getting "free points" or "bonus points," but that's not true. You get 2009 points anyway, because you are buying still in the 2009 UY for Dec.

What you are getting, tho, is an extension of the banking deadline beyond July 31 that allows you to bank those points. That is a legitimate benefit that will give you extra one-time points your first year.

If you don't really want BLT, you can probably buy in for $40 or more per point less via resale.

 

[NewDCLGuy]

It's a 50 year contract. Plans change.

Find the best contract based on other factors. Whatever use year that contract has is the "ideal use year. "

 

[JimMIA]

It's a 50 year contract. Plans change.

Find the best contract based on other factors. Whatever use year that contract has is the "ideal use year. "

This is a valid point, and one that is often overlooked. A family may not be able to vacation any time other than summer because they have middle- or high-school kids who are involved in things they can't miss. A few years later, that changes.

So you should always try to evaluate things longterm -- not based just on today.