use year - why does it matter?

[chip1]

OK, I am new to all this DVC stuff. I am trying to educate myself by reading our guidebook, and reading all the threads on this site. We purchased on 210 BVC points on 2/3 and were told we would have a February use year. No problem. Now I read about all the people who want a certain use year. I understand, if you were doing an add-on, it would make things easier to have the same use year. When else does it matter? If you have a Feb use year, you must bank my end of July, a Mar use year, by end of Aug. What's the difference?? Thanks, all your help makes me see things easier!

 

[CarolMN]

The only time a particular use year matters is if you find it necessary to cancel a DVC reservation. For example, if you have a February use year and have to cancel a June reservation - no problem. If you can't reschedule your trip before the points expire (January 31), you can bank the points into the next year. However, if you had to cancel a December reservation, you could not bank the points (you'd be past the banking deadlines) and you would lose the points if you couldn't use them before January 31.

Some people want a specific use year because they usually vacation at a particular time every year. Using the above example, someone who likes to vacation in December, would most likely prefer a use year between August & December.

Again, this only matters if you have to cancel a reservation and cannot use the points before the end of your use year. It has nothing to do with WHEN you can make a reservation. That is always 11 months ahead of check out for a home resort and 7 months for a non-home DVC resort.

Hope that helped.

 

[chip1]

CarolMN, thanks so much for your reply and very clear explanation. On 2/3 when we purchased, our guide told us we would have a Feb use year, and I just said ok. I had no idea that we could have asked for another one, nor did I know the reasons that I should have. We do typically vacation in December, so an Aug use year would make sense. Carol, do you have any idea if we could now switch it, after the fact and also, if we did ask for and receive the change, would that mean we could not book until August? Carol, again, thank you. Warmly.

 

[chip1]

update--I just hung up with my guide. She has to ok it with management, but we should be able to get an Aug use year if we'd like. I asked if we'd lose our ability to book on March 6th, since she said we'd have to do a re-write. She said no. It would, however, delay our closing. I asked her how that affects us, and she said it does not. Any thoughts??

 

[Minybear]

CarolMN

With them selling the BCV's they are selling Feb use year. We normally vacation (like chip1) in Dec and Jan. So you are saying we need a August use year? When are the banking guidelines? Can we request a Aug use year when they are selling February? I thought we had no choice in use year.

 

[CarolMN]

I really don't know if you can switch use years after the fact. However, since none of the BCV contracts close until June, maybe you can. I'd recommend that you give your guide a call and see what he/she could do for you.

As long as you will have points available at the time of your reservation, you can book on March 6. So if you do get an August use year, you can use those 2002 use year points for your December 2002 reservation. In fact, if you wanted to (and had enough points), you could book a BCV for any night(s) up to February 5, 2003. The night of 2/5/03 is the farthest out you could reserve from 3/6/02 under the 11 month home resort rule.

Making a reservation has nothing to do with use year. You can always make a reservation at your home resort 11 months prior to your desired check out date as long as there are or will be points in your account at the time of the reservation.

Good luck - Hope your guide can help! (You'll probably have to sign a new set of paperwork if the guide says OK).

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Minybear
CarolMN

With them selling the BCV's they are selling Feb use year. We normally vacation (like chip1) in Dec and Jan. So you are saying we need a August use year? When are the banking guidelines? Can we request a Aug use year when they are selling February? I thought we had no choice in use year.

If you have an August use year, you can bank 100% of your points if you do it by the end of January. You can bank 50% if you do it by the end of April and 25% by the end of May. You cannot bank any points in June or July. The percentages are cumulative. For example if you have 200 points and decide to bank 100 in January, you cannot bank anymore for that use year after 1/31.

Several posters have reported requesting and receiving a specific use year. Apparently, it depends on availability.

I am NOT saying you need an August use year. Again, this is ONLY important if you have to cancel a trip (and we all hope that doesn't happen or happens infrequently). Keep in mind that you may not always travel at the same time of the year over your 40 year membership.

That said, if you DO have to cancel a reservation and normally travel in December or January, an August or December use year would be best for you. (Not all months are available - I'm pretty sure there isn't a November use year, but I'm not sure about September and October. If those are available, they would be good for your situation as well).

Good luck with your decision.

 

[chip1]

CarolMN, you are right. A new set of paperwork does need to be signed, but it is possible, I have found out.

 

[chip1]

We finalized it last night. Our guide called and we changed our use after having already signed our papers. What this will mean, is our paperwork will have to be re-written. I will still be able to make Dec. reservations on March 6. Thanks for your guidance.

 

[KyBill]

We purchased OKW 3 weeks before sell out in 2/1998. During our tour we were told our use year would be March. That seemed OK. When we went back the next day to sign the papers, we were told that March was gone and we would have a choice of only December.
Since joining I have found that Dec use year has become a problem. The majority of our trips are in October and November. And it seems we are in a constant state of borrowing. Borrowing for those late trips in the fall are a definite hazard using borrowed points. If you can't go and cancel, you can't bank and the points have to be used by 12/1. Of course the answer is to buy more points. We started with 250 and have added on 4 times. Still , like this f all, we are using borrowed points.
Use year becomes important to some and we are one of them.