Small contract add on questions

[Elephantay]

We currently own a direct contract and want to buy another at a different resort for the 11 month advantage...But how does that help if we only have the points from the small contract to book at 11 months, then need to wait four months for the rest?? Also we've been advised to choose the same use year but aren't sure why thats needed either?
We have a September use year now, and like to travel in April-May or September but at some point would like an late Nov/early Dec trip too....
Thanks!

 

[starsaber25]

When you purchase contracts in the same use year it makes all of your contracts easier to manage. All contracts you own will be listed under one member number and you can access them on one page. If you choose different use years then you will have more then one member number and you will need to switch back and forth between contracts to use them. It is just about ease of use but there are plenty of people out there with contracts with different use years.

 

[AnnaS]

You would bank and borrow to have enough points to book the resort you want at that particular time so you can secure it when your 11 month window opens up.

If it's a hard to get resort, depending on time, etc, I would not wait to combine both contracts (from two resorts) at the 7 month window. So one year you stay at one resort (bank and borrow), next year you do the same with the other resort.

 

[Sandisw]

Points carry the home resort advantage so if you have a small contract at one resort, you will only be able to use those points at the 11 month window.

As mentioned, some using banking and borrowing to get more nights and then alternate their trips between the home resorts they own.

Contracts that have the same owner and same UY are part of one membership. That means, you can use the points together to make a single reservation. So, when you buy a contract, it is considered an add on because it goes into the same membership. When buying direct with DVD, add ons can be bought with as little as 25 or 50 points, depending on the resort.

If you wanted a different UY, and are buying direct, then it is no longer an add on, but a new membership, which means the smallest contract you can get is 100 points.

If you have contracts in different UYs, you have different memberships. It is like being two different owners. Points can not be combined into the same reservation without a transfer. And, you are only allowed one transfer in or out of your membership.....for the past 4 to 5 years, they had been allwoing owners with multiple memberships to do more than one, but that is no longer allowed.

If you buy resale, and get a different UY, it becomes a new membership. Many of us do have multiple UYS, but we also have enough points in each so they can function on their own....use for different trips, do split stays, or just book some nights on one, some on the other, and ask MS to link so we don't have to change rooms (which they don't guarantee, but they have never made us move).

 

[D-Trick]

Do you plan on combining your points at 7mo to extend stays or try a different resort?

If the answer is yes (whether it be 25/50/75/100% of the time), then DEFINITELY get the same UY.

You say you'll take Nov-Dec trips "at some point," but they haven't happened yet, if they ever will. Most people have a fear of using points past their banking deadline, but only you know your travel habits. Do you often cancel trips last minute?