Significance of use year?

[druidia]

I tried searching for this, but no luck with this search engine; server is always too busy. So I apologize in advance if this has been asked and answered previously.

Is there any particular use year that is more desirable over another? For instance, if we decide to buy, we will likely not have a use year that renews during the summer, as we will probably not visit WDW during the summer. Or would it be better to have a UY that renews during a time when you won't visit (thereby conserving your points that much longer)?

I'm assuming your use year is around the time you purchase?

Hopefully this question makes sense to one of you DVC vets out there!

 

[RobDoc]

Use Year is simply the month each year when your points renew and it has nothing to do with when you may make reservations or travel.

Use Year could be an issue if you will cancel a reservation wihtin 6 months of arrival- since it could affect your ability to use or bank the points freed up.

Points are returned to your account when a reservation is cancelled. If you are beyoind your banking deadlines (determined by Use Year) the points would expire unles used before the end of the Use Year. For example, if you have a June Use Year and make a reservation to travel in April - but end up cancelling that reservation 5 weeks prior to arrival- all of the points will be returned to your account to be used or banked. You would be allowed to bank a maximum of 25% or your total points still at that time- if you had already banked that many or more, you would not be able to bank these points and MUST use them by May 31 or they would expire. If you are unable to travel by May 31 (either based on your personal schedule or availability) the points will be lost. The same example would apply by changing the Use Year and reservation dates for any Use Year.

However, Use Year will only come into play if you will need to cancel reservations late in your Use Year- this is the reason that some will recommend having a Use Year just prior to the dates you will normally travel. If you are unlikely to cancel, then Use Year is just when your points will renew each year.

Enjoy!