Second Purchase Use Year Question

[KimMcGowan]

So, I have a question I should know the answer to. I am sorry to recover old ground. We own an April use year contract at Polynesian. We (really I) have add-on fever and want to add either CC or BRV. The problem is that April Use Years are all kinds of hard to find. So, as we look for a small add-on contract we are faced with a dilemma, search for an April contract or have a different use year on the new property. We currently like to travel around May. In 6 ( or so years) when we retire we will have greater flexibility and may like the early fall. However, we live far enough away that we will probably only make one trip per year.
Is having the same use year really all that important? I know if I want to combine points it is. BUT if I looked at an October use year it opens up the fall a little and I would still be able to bank points until the end of May (right?). But combining points on these contracts might be a challenge.
I know people fall on both sides of this argument, so please give your best argument both ways.

 

[Stargazer65]

It sounds like you understand the advantages and drawbacks of two UYs pretty well already.
I have a June UY for BLT and SSR, September for BRV. I live far enough away also that I only want to go there once a year right now. It's manageable to do that with two use years. Sometimes you might be forced into a split stay. Like in April we're going to stay at BRV then move to BLT because we have banked points in both use years. However, just having two resorts could force you into a split stay occasionally, even with the same use year, when you book in your priority window.
When you have two use years, you have two memberships. You can transfer points between your two memberships if you want to combine them, but you have to call MS to do it, and you can't transfer banked points.
There is an advantage of booking different times of the year with different use years as you mentioned, and April/October gives a good spread. I would do two use years again, its not hard to manage, but other people don't want the added complication.

 

[D-Trick]

I was in your same shoes not long ago, and decided to stick to hunting for my existing UY, which I did end up getting after looking for a month or so.

In the years I've owned DVC (pre COVID), I have seen my travel habits change drastically. I now find myself using my points in the last month of my UY-- a big no-no on these boards.

But I know my travel history, and the ease of using of a single UY for the next 40 years outweighs the rare occurrence and risk/penalty of having to cancel a trip at the end of my UY.

Good luck!

 

[Sandisw]

As long as you don't want to use the points together for a single reservation, then you can manage a 2nd UY. However, if you do, you have to transfer points. Points transferred maintain their own UY, and can not be in the banked or borrowed status to do that.

If you don't transfer, you can book a few nights on one and a few on the other. Then ask MS to link the two so you don't have to switch rooms. They will tell you it is not guaranteed, but we do it all the time and it has never not been granted.

 

[macman123]

I have 21 contracts - all the same UY as it makes it tidier for me......

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have 21 contracts - all the same UY as it makes it tidier for me......

We’re like you, many contracts, same UY. It wasn’t easy finding March UY, but about 1/4 of our contracts are resale. BCV was the only resort that we accumulated all 220 points a little at a time, direct.

 

[CarolMN]

If you only see yourselves going once per year and don't want split stays, two use years will bring you nothing but frustration.

Consider getting enough points to stay every other year at another resort you enjoy and alternate resorts. Go to resort A in year 1. Bank A's points in year 2 and go to resort B in year 2 (using points you banked from year 1).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Every UY is difficult to find at the time you are looking. If you decide to go ahead with another UY then the next day the one you wanted will pop up for sale.

However - we have both April and Oct UY. Tend to use them independently. If the intention had been to always use them together then I'd be a bit sorry I had gone with 2 UY's. Our April came about because I planned to mostly use it for my birthday in the summer. (and often have) Now I also use it to book Sept stays - should have done Sept instead of October for our original. It works but one UY would have been much more simple.

 

[RoseGold]

The problem is the new member number. I think of them like separate people. If you like split stays, I don't view this as a huge deal.

You're right that adding an October UY would give you some flexibility for your opposite calendar travel. That's how I use my two UYs.

 

[TinkB278]

The problem is the new member number. I think of them like separate people. If you like split stays, I don't view this as a huge deal.

You're right that adding an October UY would give you some flexibility for your opposite calendar travel. That's how I use my two UYs.

Can you explain more about how having two member numbers comes into play and makes things difficult?

Ive also been thinking about adding on and I have been actively looking for a different UY than my October UY since we travel mostly May-September. I think I saw you mention the different member numbers before but I’m not sure what impact that has.

 

[CarolynFH]

Can you explain more about how having two member numbers comes into play and makes things difficult?

Ive also been thinking about adding on and I have been actively looking for a different UY than my October UY since we travel mostly May-September. I think I saw you mention the different member numbers before but I’m not sure what impact that has.

Having two member numbers means that as far as DVC is concerned you are two different people. To combine points from both memberships for one reservation you either have to book some nights with one membership and some with another or else call MS to transfer points from one to the other. And of course you’d have two different banking deadlines.

 

[Sandisw]

Can you explain more about how having two member numbers comes into play and makes things difficult?

Ive also been thinking about adding on and I have been actively looking for a different UY than my October UY since we travel mostly May-September. I think I saw you mention the different member numbers before but I’m not sure what impact that has.

Two UYs is like you are two different owners. You can’t use the points together to book a single reservation unless you transfer points from one membership to the other.

Points transferred retain their own UY so you have to be strategic if you do this. Transferred points work online but sometimes can cause issues and you have to call.

Plus, if you bank points, you can not then transfer them. If you need to borrow points, they can’t once transferred.

We have 2 and use each for different trips.

 

[lions1995]

I had the same issue you are having back when I was adding my last resort. So I have 3 contracts / resorts, two separate UYs. This has never caused me much grief, but it does take a little more effort in points management (banking, which ones to use under the 7 month mark..).

 

[TinkB278]

Two UYs is like you are two different owners. You can’t use the points together to book a single reservation unless you transfer points from one membership to the other.

Points transferred retain their own UY so you have to be strategic if you do this. Transferred points work online but sometimes can cause issues and you have to call.

Plus, if you bank points, you can not then transfer them. If you need to borrow points, they can’t once transferred.

We have 2 and use each for different trips.

This might be a dumb question and is a little off-topic, but what about if you have two contracts with the same UY but one is direct and one is resale (restricted)? Can you still combine your points for the same reservation as long as the resale are not being used at riviera?

 

[CarolynFH]

This might be a dumb question and is a little off-topic, but what about if you have two contracts with the same UY but one is direct and one is resale (restricted)? Can you still combine your points for the same reservation as long as the resale are not being used at riviera?

Yes, as long as they're the same UY they function as one membership. If they're the same home resort, they can be used together at 11 months; if different home resorts, they can be combined at 7 months. As you say, the only restriction would be using the resale points at RIV.

 

[Sandisw]

This might be a dumb question and is a little off-topic, but what about if you have two contracts with the same UY but one is direct and one is resale (restricted)? Can you still combine your points for the same reservation as long as the resale are not being used at riviera?

Yes. When you go to book, the restricted contract won’t show up as a choice if you are choosing RIV

For all other resorts, both will be there. Because RIV is our top resort, we didn’t like having restricted and unrestricted which is why I sold it less than a year later! Lol

 

[asunutgirl]

We have two home resorts - both with the same use year because we bought direct. (March) If we buy a resale contract, is there any way Disney would consider matching our use year? Or are we stuck with two member numbers? Just doing some resesarch as I saw a resale that caught my eye but it's a different use year.

 

[macman123]

We have two home resorts - both with the same use year because we bought direct. (March) If we buy a resale contract, is there any way Disney would consider matching our use year? Or are we stuck with two member numbers? Just doing some resesarch as I saw a resale that caught my eye but it's a different use year.

If you buy Direct Disney will always match your UY.

If you buy resale then the UY can not be changed. Its as it is in the resale listing

 

[asunutgirl]

Are you in the MDE app? You have to do through that and not website.

If you buy Direct Disney will always match your UY.

If you buy resale then the UY can not be changed. Its as it is in the resale listing

I figured. But I thought I'd ask. Thanks for your reply.

 

[macman123]

I figured. But I thought I'd ask. Thanks for your reply.

Personally, I would keep it the same. Makes it far easier. As I posted above I have 3,300 points over 21 contracts. All same UY