Use Year Questions

[Rainman]

We are DC members and are thinking of purchasing additional points. We have enough points for trips about every year and a half, but want to go annually. So we are going to purchase additional points.

I have read other posts that recommend adding with the same use year to make it easier to manager. However, I think we want to purchase with a different use year, as we like to travel at different times of the year, so having two contracts with use years separate gives us more flexibility. This is especially true if we have to make adjustments to a planned trip and to not have an issue with banking points or having to use before use year hits. For example if we want to travel in March and we have a contract in June and one in December, It would make more sense to use the December Contract for that trip.

Am I crazy or does this make sense?? I don’t want to make a mistake on this.

 

[Cruelladeville]

If you add on thru Disney, you don't have a choice, they will give you pts in your main contract's use year, only. If you buy thru TTS or other resaler, you can buy whatever contract you find, but you will have to pay closing costs, which could really raise the cost of the contract you buy. It is almost never cheaper to buy a small contract, say 50 pts, thru a resale company, due to the closing costs, but lots of people do it anyway. I own 3 contracts with 3 use years because I take 3 trips per year, and wanted to have a different contract for each trip, so I didn't have to deal with banking/borrowing issues with the pts. The main difficulty with this is that there is alot more paperwork involved with keeping track of the different accounts. Give this some thought before you decide to go thru with your plan, as it requires a person who wants to keep a log of which pts are being used for each ressie. It's enough to drive some people crazy!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Cruella is partially correct. If you buy from Disney, they will require you to get your same use year UNLESS you buy a minimum of 150 points in your add-on.

 

[CarolMN]

Some things to consider before you decide -

If you have two different use years, you are going to have to spend more time managing your points. You will have two different member numbers and for all practical purposes, you will look like two different members to Disney. That means you will only be able to transfer one time per use year between your contracts - so you won't always be able to pay for one night with points from both contracts (like you would with an add on from Disney or resale the same use year), even at the 7 month mark. You will also have to keep track of different banking windows. When you make reservations, you will have to be very specific with MS if you care about which contract's points are being used (and you will have to care if you don't want to end up losing points).

All of that is doable, but be sure you understand all the ramifications/hassles so you can make an informed decision. Will you schedule very many vacations for late in your use year? How many of those do you anticipate having to cancel? Maybe having two different use years "just in case" isn't worth it.

Best wishes -

 

[Rainman]

Thank you for your comments! All very good points. I think about every third year we will want to travel two months before the end of our use year. That make me a little nervous, however it would be every third trip so maybe I should not worry so much. The trips the other two years would be two months and six months after the use year which are pretty much almost perfect for being able to adjust if we need to reschedule.

As we need a two bed room we will be adding 150 points so purchasing from Disney is an option.

What are the cancellation / change issues again. If you borrow points they have to be used before the end of the use year. If you cancelle before 60 days there is no penality. If you cancelle after the 60 day mark before the trip you have to book a trip within 60 days as they are in holding points?? Both Holding points and borrowed points have to be used before the end of the use year??

Also, If a reschedule happened you can always rent the points??

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip).....What are the cancellation / change issues again. If you borrow points they have to be used before the end of the use year.

Ues, that is correct.

If you cancel before 60 days there is no penality.

Actually, for no penalty, you need to cancel at least 31 days in advance.

If you cancelle after the 60 day mark before the trip you have to book a trip within 60 days as they are in holding points?? Both Holding points and borrowed points have to be used before the end of the use year??

Again, if you cancel 30 days or less prior to arrival, the points go into the holding account. Holding points cannot be banked and expire at the end of the use year. They may only be used to make a reservation for a stay that will occur in 60 days or less from the date you call for the reservation.

Also, If a reschedule happened you can always rent the points??

Yes, if you can find a renter, you may rent the reservation you cannot use.

Best wishes -