Use Year for Newbies

[Jaguar Skills]

Hi all,

We have tried to do a lot of research on this but me and my finacee are at loggerheads. The arguing could kaibosh the purchase of DVC ahead of any financial issues

Anyway, we are UK based and our son will start school in 2021 so if we purchase, we will then need a use year that works around the school holidays.

School holidays in the UK are roughly

Feb-1week
March or april -2weeks (depending on easter)
May- 1 week
July- 1. 5 weeks
August 4.5weeks
Oct- 1 week
Dec 2.5 weeks

Now we would probably go in August most years as we like the heat but obviously may want to mix it up some times and go in some of the other school holidays. So whats the ideal use year?

My fiancee worked out Feb, March, April would be the best use year based on the fact the last 4 months of the that year we are least likely to go and therefore there is less risk of booking/canceling and losing our points. Does this make sense?

My opinion is that it is just best to get use year as august (which is probably the most common time we would go) and have to risk never cancelling an April / May holiday.

If I am wrong I won't show the responses

 

[Carol_]

July

 

[Jaguar Skills]

July

Thanks Carol, but you can't get July I didn't think? Hence I went for next year of August.

 

[Carol_]

Thanks Carol, but you can't get July I didn't think? Hence I went for next year of August.

You’re correct.... then June. We planned on mostly visiting in September and got August. My morning brain just calculated that way.. Get the month that gives you the most flexibility at the 11 month mark especially now with the pandemic screwing things up.

 

[chalee94]

Here is a thread that you will find helpful to bookmark:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/understanding-use-year-updated-march-10-2019.1942668/
if you go in August mostly, a June UY is fine.

UY has very little to do with the 11 month window - only if you are determined to walk your reservations. Otherwise, 11 months is 11 months.

If you travel early in your UY (say, July or August for a June UY), you get some free insurance if you have to cancel late.

If you travel late in your UY (say, in March, April or May with a June UY), then you are asking for trouble if you need to cancel that reservation.

No UY covers every travel date...

 

[Jaguar Skills]

Here is a thread that you will find helpful to bookmark:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/understanding-use-year-updated-march-10-2019.1942668/
if you go in August mostly, a June UY is fine.

UY has very little to do with the 11 month window - only if you are determined to walk your reservations. Otherwise, 11 months is 11 months.

If you travel early in your UY (say, July or August for a June UY), you get some free insurance if you have to cancel late.

If you travel late in your UY (say, in March, April or May with a June UY), then you are asking for trouble if you need to cancel that reservation.

No UY covers every travel date...

Thank you. She is still trying to claim she is right. God help me.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Hi all,

We have tried to do a lot of research on this but me and my finacee are at loggerheads. The arguing could kaibosh the purchase of DVC ahead of any financial issues

Anyway, we are UK based and our son will start school in 2021 so if we purchase, we will then need a use year that works around the school holidays.

School holidays in the UK are roughly

Feb-1week
March or april -2weeks (depending on easter)
May- 1 week
July- 1. 5 weeks
August 4.5weeks
Oct- 1 week
Dec 2.5 weeks

Now we would probably go in August most years as we like the heat but obviously may want to mix it up some times and go in some of the other school holidays. So whats the ideal use year?

My fiancee worked out Feb, March, April would be the best use year based on the fact the last 4 months of the that year we are least likely to go and therefore there is less risk of booking/canceling and losing our points. Does this make sense?

My opinion is that it is just best to get use year as august (which is probably the most common time we would go) and have to risk never cancelling an April / May holiday.

If I am wrong I won't show the responses

If your goal is to travel in August, I would think June would be the best UY because it is the first UY prior to August. In a perfect world, you want your UY to be just before you would travel. This eliminates any issues with banking deadlines. However, keep in mind that your ideal travel months now will most likely change over the course of your membership. For example, your son will be done with school in the future and you may want to plan around his work availability. Things change. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Noodlez]

I actually agree with your fiancee. If you're likely to go in the February half term then I would pick February, but otherwise March. June would be really bad for trips at those times, as can be seen with the current situation.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

You’re correct.... then June. We planned on mostly visiting in September and got August. My morning brain just calculated that way.. Get the month that gives you the most flexibility at the 11 month mark especially now with the pandemic screwing things up.

Your UY doesn't have any impact on booking at 11 months out. That only applies to your home resort. For example, I have a June UY. But I can book 11 months out at my home resort whenever I want. The 11 month benefit has nothing to do with my UY.

 

[JETSDAD]

If you're least likely to travel in the fall then I would go with February as my first option. February covers the spring/summer trips including August.

 

[Carol_]

Your UY doesn't have any impact on booking at 11 months out. That only applies to your home resort. For example, I have a June UY. But I can book 11 months out at my home resort whenever I want. The 11 month benefit has nothing to do with my UY.

 

[Jaguar Skills]

If your goal is to travel in August, I would think June would be the best UY because it is the first UY prior to August. In a perfect world, you want your UY to be just before you would travel. This eliminates any issues with banking deadlines. However, keep in mind that your ideal travel months now will most likely change over the course of your membership. For example, your son will be done with school in the future and you may want to plan around his work availability. Things change. Just something to keep in mind.

This was my thought. Our son is only 2 so 16 years is quite a long time. I don't know if at that point he is going to want to be coming on holiday with us!

 

[Jaguar Skills]

I actually agree with your fiancee. If you're likely to go in the February half term then I would pick February, but otherwise March. June would be really bad for trips at those times, as can be seen with the current situation.

Thanks. I guess the problem is no UY fits every scenario. Feb is probably one of the least likely times for us to go and July/August is most likely given the long period of time kids have off school.