Use Year, Banking Points Question

[ScottakaMickey]

Use Year
1. What is the most popular use year. I assume that for those people that look for Spring break prefer a certain month, where people who prefer Xmas have a different month they prefer.

Banking Points
1. I have read there is a window when points can be banked. So, if I have a January Use Year, then when is the banking window?
2. If I bank points, do they have to be used within a year, so if I bank 2007 points from a January use year, do I have to use them by December 31 of 2008?

We are finally going to pull the trigger and was looking for some assistance in this area as I'll be getting some 2006 points and will be able to choose my month, purchasing from Disney, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Granny]

Use Year
1. What is the most popular use year. I assume that for those people that look for Spring break prefer a certain month, where people who prefer Xmas have a different month they prefer.

UY "popularity" is probably all over the board depending on vacation preferences. If you really think you will vacation mostly at a particular time of the year, pick a UY that starts a little before your typical vacation time. That way, if you cancel you will have many months still to use those points.

Banking Points
1. I have read there is a window when points can be banked. So, if I have a January Use Year, then when is the banking window?

Here's a link with banking deadlines for all UYs: Banking/Booking Key Dates

2. If I bank points, do they have to be used within a year, so if I bank 2007 points from a January use year, do I have to use them by December 31 of 2008?

Yes, you have to use them in that following year if you bank points. Banked points can never be "re-banked" into the following year.

So basically, for any give UY points, you can use them

- in the original UY you get them in
- in the prior year by borrowing them
- in the following year by banking them

They can't be used in any other timeframe.

Good luck with your research!

 

[hellerjw]

I'm new to DVC myself but will take a stab at your questions:

I don't know if there is a "most popular" UY. As you mentioned some prefer to get one just before the time they travel most so they have the most time to bank if they need to cancel. We have to follow the kid's school schedules and travel most in the Spring & Summer, so for us a March UY gives us the most banking flexibility.

Others may not have a strict travel schedule (due to kid's school schedules, etc) and don't care what their UY is. UY is really only important when you need to cancel a trip, since there are banking deadlines that are tied to it.

You have 6 months from your UY to bank 100% of your points. It then goes down to 50% of your points are bankable in the 7th - 9th months, then 25% in the 10th month. At the 11th and 12th month (from your UY) you can't bank the points anymore and they have to be used.

If you do bank them into the next UY they have to be used by the last day of that UY. So the example you gave with a Jan UY would be correct.

Other, more knowledgeable DISers will surely correct me if I'm wrong

Good luck and an early "Welcome Home" !

 

[Caskbill]

One other thing:

There's no such thing as a January Use Year. There are only 8 Use Year months used by DVC, as follows:

February
March
April
June
August
September
October
December

So, using your example and a February UY instead. Those with Feb UY are currently in their 2007 UY. If they banked points into their 2008 UY, those points would be good exclusively for a vacation date of Feb 2008 through Jan 31, 2009.

Someone with a December UY is currently in their 2006 UY. They for example could bank points (pending banking deadlines) into their 2007 UY which would cover vacation dates Dec 1, 2007 through Nov 30, 2008

Hope this helps

 

[ScottakaMickey]

Here's a link with banking deadlines for all UYs: Banking/Booking Key Dates

Thanks for the link.

Next question, holding account. If points go into the holding account do they have to be used that UY? Can they be banked? Any other restrictions/limitations?

Also, Is it correct that once you bank, you can't "unbank"?

 

[LisaS]

Next question, holding account. If points go into the holding account do they have to be used that UY? Can they be banked? Any other restrictions/limitations?

There is a good description of the holding account on that same website: http://members.cox.net/disneyvacationclub/pages/Reservations/planning.htm

Also, Is it correct that once you bank, you can't "unbank"?

Yes that is correct. banking is a final transaction.

 

[ZekeKelso]

UY "popularity" is probably all over the board depending on vacation preferences. If you really think you will vacation mostly at a particular time of the year, pick a UY that starts a little before your typical vacation time. That way, if you cancel you will have many months still to use those points.

If your schedule is such that you don't anticipate having to cancel plans, it might make more sense to pick a use month based on your purchase date, rather than your typical vacation month.

To be clear - I don't understand the process fully. So this post isn't to tell how things worth, but to suggest something else to investigate.

When you buy directly from Disney, you get current year use points. Assume you buy 250 points in July 2007. If you buy with an April use year, you get your 250 2007 points. If you buy with an August use year, you get 250 2006 points, then 250 more points in August 2007. But it could be darn tricky to use those 2006 points - it's too late in the year to bank them and they have to be used by August.

Others can confirm if I have this correct. But, assuming I do, it seems to me the ideal use year for someone who isn't worried about cancelling plans is one later in the calendar year than when you intend to buy.

 

[LisaS]

If your schedule is such that you don't anticipate having to cancel plans, it might make more sense to pick a use month based on your purchase date, rather than your typical vacation month.

To be clear - I don't understand the process fully. So this post isn't to tell how things worth, but to suggest something else to investigate.

When you buy directly from Disney, you get current year use points. Assume you buy 250 points in July 2007. If you buy with an April use year, you get your 250 2007 points. If you buy with an August use year, you get 250 2006 points, then 250 more points in August 2007. But it could be darn tricky to use those 2006 points - it's too late in the year to bank them and they have to be used by August.

Others can confirm if I have this correct. But, assuming I do, it seems to me the ideal use year for someone who isn't worried about cancelling plans is one later in the calendar year than when you intend to buy.

Excellent point! Disney has been letting people bank those current-year points, even if they are in the final days of their UY. So in the example you mention (purchasing an Aug UY in July) the purchaser could bank the 2006 points and basically start off with two years worth of points. There is no guarantee that Disney will always continue to do this, so anyone in this situation should verify with their guide that they will be allowed to bank the current-year points.

 

[ScottakaMickey]

Excellent point! Disney has been letting people bank those current-year points, even if they are in the final days of their UY. So in the example you mention (purchasing an Aug UY in July) the purchaser could bank the 2006 points and basically start off with two years worth of points. There is no guarantee that Disney will always continue to do this, so anyone in this situation should verify with their guide that they will be allowed to bank the current-year points.

Thanks to both of you. My guide did mention this and it is one of the factors we are leaning towards OKW resale from Disney instead of SSR. I have a call into him to get the exact details of this offer and how it relates to my use year selection.

Now I just have to hope he'll call me back.

 

[grizbuzz]

Ok...I'm officially confused.

We've put a down payment on AKV for 160 points, but haven't yet signed and sent in all forms. Use year now is Sept 2007. Does this mean that I get 160 2006 UY points and then another 160 points 2007 UY points in September?? That would be great, but somehow doesn't sound right. I think I'm mixed up.

Assuming that I did get 2006 UY points...do I have a choice on the start of our UY? Could I ask my guide for another use year month so I'd have more time to use points? Could I bank those 2006 use year points?

Also, we got 320 incentive developer points. Does that change the equation on whether on not we'd get 2006 use year points?

I hope someone can help me... I'd like to have more information before I call my guide.

Thanks,
Jen

 

[LisaS]

We've put a down payment on AKV for 160 points, but haven't yet signed and sent in all forms. Use year now is Sept 2007. Does this mean that I get 160 2006 UY points and then another 160 points 2007 UY points in September??

ZekeKelso's comments apply to every resort except AKV. AKV is brand new. Its first Use Year is 2007. There are no 2006 AKV points.

 

[grizbuzz]

Got it.
Thanks,
Jen

 

[grizbuzz]

Got it.
Thanks for the quick response,
Jen