Rule of 4?

[Cruellafan]

I'm a new member, and the rationale behind the "Rule of 4," as well as its rules, are still eluding me.
I'm in the last 4 months of my user year, yet during this time I was able to book my home resort 9 months ahead.
What can I do during the last 4 months of the user year?
What can I not do during that time?
What is the rationale behind "Rule of 4?"
Thanks ahead of time for responses.

 

[erionm]

Rule of Four from the member website:

You cannot book and travel on The Disney Collection, (excluding Disneyland© Resort Hotels in California and Tokyo Disney Resort®), Concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection vacations within the last 4 months of your Use Year. However, you can travel in the last 4 months of your Use Year as long as you've booked your stay more than 4 months before the end of your Use Year.

The Disney Collection are Disney Resort Hotels and Disney Cruises.
Concierge Collection is an over priced group of hotels (Lowes Regency in NYC for example).
Adventure Collection is Adventures by Disney trips.

 

[Sandisw]

The rule of 4 in terms of booking relates to non-DVC options. You can not book AND travel during the last 4 months of your UY if you want one of those options, like a Disney cruise, WDW hotels, etc. If you want to travel during those last 4 months, you must book it prior to the 4 month mark.

For DVC reservations, there is no restriction in terms of the rule of 4. You can call and book for the next day if you have the points and there are rooms.

The only other piece that impacts the last 4 months of your UY is your banking deadline. You must bank points in the current UY by the end of month 8 (prior to the last 4 months) or they will expire at the end of the UY.

Your UY has nothing to do with when you can book DVC reservations. You can always book 11 months out at your home resort and 7 months out at all others.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You also cannot bank any points for the current UY during the last four months of the UY. They have to be banked before that time.

 

[chalee94]

What is the rationale behind "Rule of 4?"

the rule of 4 only applies for trades outside of DVC - such as using pts to stay at the GF or take a cruise. further it only applies to these trades when you attempt to book them after your banking window has closed.

you are trading DVC pts to get something outside the DVC system - the rationale is that 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 tried to trade pts that expire next week for a stay at the GF, DVC would not have time to convert those pts into a reservation and sell it before the pts expire...so the rule of 4 means you have the responsibility to manage your pts carefully and can't simply stick DVC with worthless pts at the last minute.

 

[Breyean]

FWIW, to further complicate/clarify, it does NOT apply to Disney hotels in DLR.

 

[Cruellafan]

Many thanks for the rules and rationales postings!
Love,
Cruellafan