Some questions

[MrsLS]

I'm looking into the resales and I was wondering if the use month makes a difference. I know (think) that is when you receive your new points, but does that make a difference in when you can look into booking your home resort. If I wanted say book November for a trip at my home resort, can I just start booking at 11 months out (if I have the points) or does the month of the contract matter?
Also how hard or easy is getting the desired week month usually? We like the full week before Thanksgiving or an April trip (not the peak Easter break weeks). Do you usually get what you want at your home resort (at the 11 month mark)?
Thanks!

 

[erionm]

Use year has no impact on booking at DVC resorts. You can always book 11 months in advance at your home resort and 7 months is advance at any other DVC resort.

 

[erionm]

Use year does determine your banking deadline. You can bank any bankable points during the first 8 months of your use year.

If you are booking outside of the DVC resorts, you can't call to make a reservation during the last 4 months of your use year for a stay that will also take place during those last 4 months.

 

[Figment2]

Use year can be important when you travel. I have a December use year but travel ususally the end of October. If for whatever reason I have to cancel, I could have a problem. I may be past the banking deadlines and unless I could rent out the reservation or re-arrange things to take my trip before Nov 30 I could lose all those points. It could be especially problematic since I'm almost always in borrowing mode. Borrowing cannot be undone.

That said, it's not been a problem for me mostly because I travel with friends. One year I did have a work conflict so I came home early but friends stayed on.

Cyn

 

[ticofan]

I agree with Figment2.

We have a December use year (and a May contract also). We usually travel in December. If our normal vacation does not work out, we have 11 more months in which we can use those points.

If we want to go to WDW in the summer or for Halloween. I use the May use year points. Then again, I still have a lot of time to use the points if our plans change. (I guess our plans change a lot. )

 

[nolanboys]

I'm looking into the resales and I was wondering if the use month makes a difference. I know (think) that is when you receive your new points, but does that make a difference in when you can look into booking your home resort. If I wanted say book November for a trip at my home resort, can I just start booking at 11 months out (if I have the points) or does the month of the contract matter?
Also how hard or easy is getting the desired week month usually? We like the full week before Thanksgiving or an April trip (not the peak Easter break weeks). Do you usually get what you want at your home resort (at the 11 month mark)?
Thanks!

We just bought a resale contract this spring and chose an Oct UY. Our kids are very busy, so right now we plan on using our points over Christmas break and spring break or President's weekend in Feb. When they get older, and it is just DH and myself, we plan to visit in the fall. We may book in the summer, and hope that we don't have to change plans because of the banking window (Oct UY has to bankby the end of May). For when you like to travel, an Oct UY would work well for you - there is no Nov UY.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Use year can be important when you travel. I have a December use year but travel ususally the end of October. If for whatever reason I have to cancel, I could have a problem. I may be past the banking deadlines and unless I could rent out the reservation or re-arrange things to take my trip before Nov 30 I could lose all those points. It could be especially problematic since I'm almost always in borrowing mode. Borrowing cannot be undone.

That said, it's not been a problem for me mostly because I travel with friends. One year I did have a work conflict so I came home early but friends stayed on.

Cyn

I agree. The key thing about "use year" is to buy one before you normally travel. If you travel typically in October then a March, April, June, August, September, or October use year would all work well for you. If you had to cancel that October trip even with a March use year it would give you until the end of October to bank those points.

Or course, if someone is already a member I do recommend that they buy more points with their same "use year."

Jason