Ready to purchase but have a few questions about use year

[ALWAYSDISNEYDREAMING]

We have made the decision to purchase AKV but I have a question I hope someone will be able to help me with. We usually travel in August and we were offered a December use year. I would like to book 11 months out which would put me into mid September but I would not receive my points until December which would put me at 8 1/2 months out. Can I book in September since that will be 11 months out or must I wait until I receive my points in December before I book. If I must wait until I receive my points before I can book my room what month should I change my use year to? TIA.

 

[drusba]

Use year is irrelevant to when you can call to reserve. With a December use year you can call in September 2008 to book August 2009 and use points that will be in your account come December 1, 2008. In fact, those will be "current" use year points for that trip -- status of points used is determined by when you will be in WDW not when you call to reserve.

 

[Grandbuddy]

For a December use year, the banking deadline is August 1. If you usually travel in August, you could encounter problems, should you have to cancel your travel plans - as it will be too late to bank your points into the following year. A spring or early summer use year would work better for you.

 

[DebbieB]

This is a common misconception with new members. Points do not "deposit" when your use year starts, they are in your account in advance. I have an April use year and if I look at my account online, it shows points up to the 2011 use year.

When you want to make a reservation, you look at your date of stay and what use year those dates fall into. That year would be current year, you can used points banked from the use year before or borrow points from the following use year. There is no waiting period to use them.

 

[CarolMN]

For a December use year, the banking deadline is August 1. If you usually travel in August, you could encounter problems, should you have to cancel your travel plans - as it will be too late to bank your points into the following year. A spring or early summer use year would work better for you.

A December use year will work for August vacations. That's because banking is not an option if a member cancels a vacation 30 days or less prior to arrival.

If a member doesn't cancel a vacation at least 31 days prior to arrival, the returned points go into the holding account. Holding points cannot be banked and cannot be used to book a vacation more than 60 days in advance. They expire at the end of the use year.

As long as an August vacation is canceled at least 31 days in advance, the points can be banked.

 

[bookwormde]

The simple rule for picking a use year for cancellation/banking reasons is pick a use year which that you do not typically travel in the preceding 3 months. In other words for this criteria a December use year is perfect unless you plan on traveling in Sept., Oct, or Nov.


bookwormde

 

[3happydancers]

The simple rule for picking a use year for cancellation/banking reasons is pick a use year which that you do not typically travel in the preceding 3 months. In other words for this criteria a December use year is perfect unless you plan on traveling in Sept., Oct, or Nov.


bookwormde

Need a little help. Just got back from WDW and went on the DVC tour. We are considering joining, but the point system and use year is rather confusing. We do typically travel sometime in Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov/Dec. So according to the simple rule, we should be looking for a UY in April? But if we wanted to travel during a different time of year, can we still do that without much of a problem? Is there anything else we should know about when it comes to the point system? I am a little unsure about moving forward with a commitment for fear of not asking the right questions and then learning too late that this is not right for us. The system seems a little complicated to keep on top of. I was also told by our guide that 100 points is enough to start with (we have been traveling to WDW yearly for the past 4 years and stay on average 8-10 nights).

 

[3happydancers]

The simple rule for picking a use year for cancellation/banking reasons is pick a use year which that you do not typically travel in the preceding 3 months. In other words for this criteria a December use year is perfect unless you plan on traveling in Sept., Oct, or Nov.


bookwormde

Also, forgot to mention that we were told the UY would be December. Can we just request a change or do they get to designate the UY date?

 

[chalee94]

We do typically travel sometime in Aug/Sept/Oct/Nov/Dec. So according to the simple rule, we should be looking for a UY in April?

june or august UYs might be best, but april would work.

But if we wanted to travel during a different time of year, can we still do that without much of a problem?

yep. absolutely.

UY is only an issue if you have to cancel. some people never think about their UY month.

Is there anything else we should know about when it comes to the point system? I am a little unsure about moving forward with a commitment for fear of not asking the right questions and then learning too late that this is not right for us. The system seems a little complicated to keep on top of.

scan through threads here on the DVC forums to learn things. use the search function if you're not clear on something and follow up with a question if you're still not sure.

there's a lot to learn - and it changes (the banking window used to be staggered at different points in the use year, with different percentages of the total that could be banked at each stage - the new rule is much simpler) - take your time. but if you visit wdw at least every other year and are willing to pay extra to stay onsite at moderates or above, don't feel like you have to understand everything before jumping in...

I was also told by our guide that 100 points is enough to start with (we have been traveling to WDW yearly for the past 4 years and stay on average 8-10 nights).

that might be optimistic. make sure you run the numbers yourself and are comfortable with what you're getting.

Also, forgot to mention that we were told the UY would be December. Can we just request a change or do they get to designate the UY date?

you are free to dictate the UY month that you want. if what you want is sold out, you may have to waitlist however.

 

[bookwormde]

3happydancers

I think chalee94 covered most of your questions.

While number of points needed depends on a lot of variables, but in general for a salesperson (who did not try to oversell you) I think you got good advice to start with the minimum from DVC. As you learn more you can always add on with as little as 25 points more with no closing costs.

If you know you are visiting DVC once a year for 8-10 days that is a big chunk of what you need to know.

Other than that you need to consider

What season you are traveling since point requirements are different

What size room you want

What resort you will stay at the most (since point values are different at some resorts)

If you are going to your full vacation on DVC points (weekdays are the most efficient use of points, you may want to do resorts which are not DVC etc.)

Remember with banking and borrowing you can average your needs between years.

bookwormde

 

[ALWAYSDISNEYDREAMING]

Thanks for all your help but I have one more question. If I buy 100 points at one resort and 100 at a second resort and it takes 200 points to book a week at either resort and I don't want to split my stay between the two resorts will I be able to book 11 months out for my whole stay or will I only be able to book half of my stay and will have to wait until 7 months to book the rest of my stay. (Are you confused yet because I am)

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for all your help but I have one more question. If I buy 100 points at one resort and 100 at a second resort and it takes 200 points to book a week at either resort and I don't want to split my stay between the two resorts will I be able to book 11 months out for my whole stay or will I only be able to book half of my stay and will have to wait until 7 months to book the rest of my stay. (Are you confused yet because I am)

You may only use the 100 points from the first resort at the 11 month mark. You can't combine points from different resorts until the 7 month mark.

But you could bank and borrow and alternate your stays between the resorts every other year.

For example, 100 points at AKV and 100 at VWL. First year, bank the 100 VWL points. Borrow 100 AKV points and make a 200 point reservation for AKV.

Next year, make a 200 point reservation for VWL. (No points left for AKV since you used them last year). Then the next year, repeat the process.

 

[ALWAYSDISNEYDREAMING]

Thank you CarolMN you have cleared up my confusion and the clouds in my brain are finally gone. Now I just have to get the money together to make the purchase.