Rule of 4

[nukker7]

Okay, Let me get this right.....I can travel during the last four months of my UY, I can book during the last for months of my UY, but I cannot book and travel during the last four months.

Thanks,
nukker7

 

[chalee94]

the rule of 4 only applies for trades out of DVC - such as using pts to stay at the GF or take a cruise. (edited to add: you are trading DVC pts to get something outside the DVC system - so DVC needs time to convert your pts into cash to give to the wdw resorts division or disney cruise line to pay for your trade.)

if you want to book and stay at a DVC resort in the last 4 months of your UY - it's risky - but there's no rule against it...

 

[disneynutz]

if you want to book and stay at a DVC resort in the last 4 months of your UY - it's risky - but there's no rule against it...

And that's why it could be important to select the correct UY for your travel habits.

No one plains on having to cancel a vacation, but I can almost guarantee that it will happen during a typical ownership.

We have had two last minute cancellations in the last few years. DW Mom was hospitalized and the other time, work canceled all vacations due to a work stoppage.

Bill

 

[nukker7]

OK...So I am thinking right as to our habits?

We normally book in the fall for the summer of the next year and my UY renews in September.

Thanks

 

[drusba]

^You don't have to be in your use year to reserve a trip that occurs in the use year. For example if you have a Sep use year, you can call today to reserve a trip for May 14 to 21, 2011 at your home resort using points coming in Sep 2010 (which would be "current" use year points for that trip). Thus if you are going in "summer" next year you can call up to 11 months out, e.g., for a June 2011 trip, you can call in July 2010 and use points coming in Sep 2010.

 

[chalee94]

OK...So I am thinking right as to our habits?

We normally book in the fall for the summer of the next year and my UY renews in September.

this is not an ideal situation.

if you are staying in july and you decide to cancel in may, you'd be more than a month out BUT your banking window closed in april, so you'd have to use or rent your pts before the end of august or you'd lose them.

if you were staying in july with a JUN UY and decided to cancel in may, you'd be more than a month out (so the pts would not become "holding pts") AND you'd be well within your banking window and have 8 months or so to decide whether to use current pts in that UY or else bank them to the next one.

please remember that UY has nothing to do with booking a reservation. nothing at all.

 

[Lindabelle]

Thank you so much for explaining this so clearly. We have only been members for 1 1/2 years and now understand better how the rule of 4 works. My guide gave me the impression that we couldn't travel in those months. I am so glad to finally understand. Thank you. The Disboard rocks!

 

[wrighter]

Wait. So technically we CAN book and travel during the last four months of our UY? I'm confused.

Our UY is December. We have always been under the impression that we could never, say, take a last minute trip to WDW during Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas if we chose to. Because we would be forced to make those ressies by the end of August.

Am I way off?

 

[chalee94]

if you are talking about booking at a DVC resort, you can call on november 28 and book that evening if there is something available. doesn't matter what UY.

but you can't trade out in the last 4 months for the GF or whatever in the disney collection. (again, the point being that DVC doesn't have time to use your pts to book something and rent it before the pts expire - meaning they wouldn't have the cash to pay the wdw hotel division.)

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Wait. So technically we CAN book and travel during the last four months of our UY? I'm confused.

Our UY is December. We have always been under the impression that we could never, say, take a last minute trip to WDW during Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas if we chose to. Because we would be forced to make those ressies by the end of August.

Am I way off?

We're either happy or sad to tell you that yes, you are way off. As long as you want to stay at SSR/OKW/BLT/AKV/BCV/BWV/VWL/HHI/VB/VGC you can call after Aug 1st and book a stay for Aug-Nov - if there is availability. The so called rule of 4 does not apply to DVC resorts.

I hope that helps for the future and hasn't hurt your vacation planning too much in the past.

Also - the rule of 4 doesn't apply to the DL hotels (DLH or PP) so if you wanted to do a last minute trip to CA you could.

 

[mdsd8700]

I have been reading along with this thread, can someone explain the Rule of 4? I have not come across that term yet while reading the boards. I can get a little idea of what it is by reading all the Q and A, but wonder exactly what it is. Thanks.

 

[chalee94]

I have been reading along with this thread, can someone explain the Rule of 4?

The rule of 4 refers to the change in the banking deadlines a few years back.

Now there is no banking points in the last 4 months of your UY and no booking & traveling on the Disney Collection (except DL), Concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection.

 

[drusba]

Last 4 months of use year/Rule of 4: if you want to trade out of DVC (to Disney hotels, etc.) you cannot both call to reserve and reserve in last four months of use year; you can call during any month before last four months of use year and make a reservation for a time in the last four months.

 

[mdsd8700]

Thanks I get it. Since I am new I don't have any prior knowledge of what the banking/booking rules were before. I knew about the banking rule already, but will make a note for myself about trading out of DVC. I appreciate your help!