Use year

[gskywalker]

Lots of people mentioning "use year" mattering a lot. I just got the call that the points have come available so that we can get our contract at OKW direct from DVC. It comes with a February "use year". The adviser said he could ask to have it changed. I don't have any other points at this point, so does it really matter? We will likely be using our points every 2 or 3 years to have enough points to get the two bedroom suites. In terms of when we will use the points, likely Adventure or Choice season unless we do a Spring break trip some year. Coming from Canada, so different school calendar than some states if that matters at all. What would make sense and why? Thanks.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you're traveling in fall, February is a bad UY for insurance purposes.

Basically, if you schedule a fall trip and have to cancel, the points will then have to be used by January 31. Banking deadline for February points would be September 30; anything banked or borrowed couldn't be moved that way.

A better UY for fall trips would be August; September would work if you wouldn't ever travel in August. June would be better than February as well because it extends your banking deadline and use deadline in the event of a cancel.

Important reminder you didn't ask for: Adventure Season is DVC high season. Choice also overlaps into some high demand dates. Be sure you are buying where you won't be unhappy to stay, and are willing to book at 11 months. You will find Adventure Season hard to switch resorts at 7 months.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

A good UY for your preferred times of travel gives a bit of free insurance should you ever have a last minute cancellation. If you are using 3 years of points or a trip that could be very important. A Feb UY is not great for most of the Adventure and choice seasons.

You may want to read this thread to help understand UY: https://www.disboards.com/threads/understanding-use-year-updated-march-10-2019.1942668/

 

[gskywalker]

If you're traveling in fall, February is a bad UY for insurance purposes.

Basically, if you schedule a fall trip and have to cancel, the points will then have to be used by January 31. Banking deadline for February points would be September 30; anything banked or borrowed couldn't be moved that way.

A better UY for fall trips would be August; September would work if you wouldn't ever travel in August. June would be better than February as well because it extends your banking deadline and use deadline in the event of a cancel.

Important reminder you didn't ask for: Adventure Season is DVC high season. Choice also overlaps into some high demand dates. Be sure you are buying where you won't be unhappy to stay, and are willing to book at 11 months. You will find Adventure Season hard to switch resorts at 7 months.

Wow thanks, lots of good info. He had mentioned that if we cancelled it could make it difficult with a Feb UY. We are getting the points at OKY and while its not the fanciest, newest resort, with our family of 6 we like the idea of the large rooms. Even thought we may just use the one bedroom on a trip and bring along an air mattress as their 1 bedrooms are monstrous.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Wow thanks, lots of good info. He had mentioned that if we cancelled it could make it difficult with a Feb UY. We are getting the points at OKY and while its not the fanciest, newest resort, with our family of 6 we like the idea of the large rooms. Even thought we may just use the one bedroom on a trip and bring along an air mattress as their 1 bedrooms are monstrous.

1 BRs at OKW have a max occupancy of 5 plus 1 under 3. Your family of 6 either is or will soon be too big to book that.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

And, to add to what Kat said, occupancy is strict. It is not flexible.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Be aware that most of the buildings at OKW do not have elevators, only three do. So you may need to request a first floor villa if your daughter is still using a wheelchair. Make sure you book a HA villa if you need a shower that is accessible.

 

[zavandor]

I would not count too much on the current seasons to remain constant. Part of the rolled back 2020 reallocation included a bit of rebalancing of the seasons. This means DVC has recognized there is a problem. Out of all the changes they did, this was the only that is clearly allowed in the contract and no one argued about. I would expect a little bit of rebalancing for some of the seasons in 2021. It's a good idea buying a little bit more points than the ones that you need right now.
And once the seasons are reallocated, demand may change. May and the summer are a very slow periods for DVC, if DVC lowers their cost, that may change. LIkewise, if the first two weeks of December are moved to Dream season*, maybe it won't be the mad rush that it currently is and people would stop doing crazy things like walking reservations for months to get some room categories like the standard and values for those two weeks.

* If they ever decide to go down this route, moving a week from Adventure to a higher season may require many years, as there is a limit on how much they can reallocate every year and they probably would want to assess the impact of the change before doing multiple adjustments.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

maybe it won't be the mad rush that it currently is

I am not sure they can make summer high demand without really blowing up the charts. The sweatiness.

 

[Jkarrows]

Wow thanks, lots of good info. He had mentioned that if we cancelled it could make it difficult with a Feb UY. We are getting the points at OKY and while its not the fanciest, newest resort, with our family of 6 we like the idea of the large rooms. Even thought we may just use the one bedroom on a trip and bring along an air mattress as their 1 bedrooms are monstrous.

The beauty of OKW is the 3 bedroom grand villas are the cheapest to rent on Disney property in some cases you can stay here cheaper then a 1 bedroom room at some of the other resorts.

For me with a large family its a bonus that's why our home resort is SSR due to the flexibility of the rooms and size plus we like the bonus of being able to walk to Disney Springs without the need of transport.

From OKW you can take the boat which is a pleasant ride on a warm evening.