What to do 🤔

[tx911]

Is it true that you can only extend your points for one year? If I purchased a loaded contract with points for 24/25/26 would that mean I must use the 24 points by the end of this year 2025?

Idk if you’ve been to the DVC website, but they have some pretty good explaining banking/borrowing etc

 

[melissa70]

Idk if you’ve been to the DVC website, but they have some pretty good explaining banking/borrowing etc

Yes I have been. Thank you

 

[sethschroeder]

If you have any doubts I wouldn’t buy.

Eh I wouldn't say this. Your goal should be to have answers/data to the question the doubt comes from and make determination of the risk.

I will ALWAYS have doubts. It comes with the territory about being well informed with a variety of information. I would never have bought if I needed to remove all doubts.

DVC resale holds its price really well so even if you hate it you can likely turn around, sell it, and not really come out that bad.

Do you own and have regrets? I have doubts about paying the maintenance fees more than the initial purchase!

The easiest way to think of a DVC purchase is that your upfront purchase is paying Disney all their profit for the next whatever number of years. Meanwhile the MFs are purely for the cost of running the hotel.

Example if 1 night at Boardwalk cost $700 the actual cost to Disney might be $300 (what your MF pays for / you pay each year) and the $400 is profit (you paid the profit upfront never paying this again).

So for the next 15/30/45 years you are ONLY paying for the upkeep of the resort and not paying anything on profit that Disney charges. Meaning long term you are going to come out ahead on the price increases. If Disneys profit is 57% and the cost of upkeep goes up to $350 they are not going to keep the room the same cost. Disney is going to look to keep that 57% profit or even increase it to 60% long term.

So thats why after owning for 5-10+ years you are going to be out ahead. The risk to this though is if WDW goes downhill and can't charge a premium anymore on their resorts.

 

[sethschroeder]

Yes I have been. Thank you

Yes you can only bank or borrow the specific point 1 time at which point its locked in to that new use year.


I am going to give a more general overview though in case you have questions that it can answer.

1) Calendar year - forget it exists January doesn't start a new year its whatever month is your Use Year
2) The 1st of your Use Year month is when your year starts and it runs for 12 months (April Use Year means your year goes from April 1st to March 31st - remember forget the calendar of 2025 starting January 1st your years start on the 1st of your Use Year Month)
3) Which Use Year is used? Based on WHEN the night is that you are staying and nothing else (example when you book does not matter its the night you will be in the bed at Disney that matters)
4) "Normal" use of your points is during that 12 month period

Okay what happens when life comes up and I can't visit as much one year or need more time or a bigger room some other year?

5) If you are planning your stay for the year and decided not to use all your points you can until the last day of the 8th month (Use Year month is Month "1" - charts exist to show dates) save your points for the next and only in to the next year - banking
6) If however you are opposite and decided now that you wanted another trip or longer stay but were short on points you could pull points from your next and only next Use Year in to your current year to use - borrowing

Make sense hopefully?

7) Each point can only be moved a single time in total. Meaning it can only be moved up a single use year or back a single use year. Once a point is moved its locked there forever and either needs to be used in that Use Year or will expire (poof gone).

 

[Patmcpsu]

Think about it this way. If you're buying direct, it will be 150 points because there usually isn't much reason to buy more than that. There are some exceptions, but it's a safe assumption.

150 points resale at SSR should cost about $95/point or $14k total. 150 points direct should cost $215 per point or $32k total. The difference is a one time cost of $18k. So if you use the membership for 10 years, you're effectively paying $1800 per year for the perks. If 20 years, $900/year. You get the idea.

There are also in-between cases of buying other resorts resale at a higher price. For example, if you are buying Poly resale at $170/point, buying direct only becomes a $7k premium.

But after the one-time purchase price is behind you, the ongoing maintenance fees cost exactly the same. For 150 points, that equates to about $1000/year (and usually rising with inflation).

 

[melissa70]

Yes you can only bank or borrow the specific point 1 time at which point its locked in to that new use year.


I am going to give a more general overview though in case you have questions that it can answer.

1) Calendar year - forget it exists January doesn't start a new year its whatever month is your Use Year
2) The 1st of your Use Year month is when your year starts and it runs for 12 months (April Use Year means your year goes from April 1st to March 31st - remember forget the calendar of 2025 starting January 1st your years start on the 1st of your Use Year Month)
3) Which Use Year is used? Based on WHEN the night is that you are staying and nothing else (example when you book does not matter its the night you will be in the bed at Disney that matters)
4) "Normal" use of your points is during that 12 month period

Okay what happens when life comes up and I can't visit as much one year or need more time or a bigger room some other year?

5) If you are planning your stay for the year and decided not to use all your points you can until the last day of the 8th month (Use Year month is Month "1" - charts exist to show dates) save your points for the next and only in to the next year - banking
6) If however you are opposite and decided now that you wanted another trip or longer stay but were short on points you could pull points from your next and only next Use Year in to your current year to use - borrowing

Make sense hopefully?

7) Each point can only be moved a single time in total. Meaning it can only be moved up a single use year or back a single use year. Once a point is moved its locked there forever and either needs to be used in that Use

5) If you are planning your stay for the year and decided not to use all your points you can until the last day of the 8th month (Use Year month is Month "1" - charts exist to show dates) save your points for the next and only in to the next year - banking
6) If however you are opposite and decided now that you wanted another trip or longer stay but were short on points you could pull points from your next and only next Use Year in to your current year to use - borrowing

Yes you can only bank or borrow the specific point 1 time at which point its locked in to that new use year.


I am going to give a more general overview though in case you have questions that it can answer.

1) Calendar year - forget it exists January doesn't start a new year its whatever month is your Use Year
2) The 1st of your Use Year month is when your year starts and it runs for 12 months (April Use Year means your year goes from April 1st to March 31st - remember forget the calendar of 2025 starting January 1st your years start on the 1st of your Use Year Month)
3) Which Use Year is used? Based on WHEN the night is that you are staying and nothing else (example when you book does not matter its the night you will be in the bed at Disney that matters)
4) "Normal" use of your points is during that 12 month period

Okay what happens when life comes up and I can't visit as much one year or need more time or a bigger room some other year?

5) If you are planning your stay for the year and decided not to use all your points you can until the last day of the 8th month (Use Year month is Month "1" - charts exist to show dates) save your points for the next and only in to the next year - banking
6) If however you are opposite and decided now that you wanted another trip or longer stay but were short on points you could pull points from your next and only next Use Year in to your current year to use - borrowing

Make sense hopefully?

7) Each point can only be moved a single time in total. Meaning it can only be moved up a single use year or back a single use year. Once a point is moved its locked there forever and either needs to be used in that Use Year or will expire (poof gone).

What do you mean by 8 th month?? This use year thing has me a little bit confused. I deal with Rci points so I’m familiar how the points system works- so if my UY is December, I own 300 points and only used 250, the remaining 50 have to be used by the following year and in this case, would the eighth month be considered August?

 

[McCrae]

DVC resale holds its price really well so even if you hate it you can likely turn around, sell it.

This isn’t always the case. Resale prices have fallen significantly from their recent highs. Historically DVC resale prices has performed well, this is an anomaly for the timeshare market and may not be repeated. A conservative approach is to write off the entire investment you make in DVC and assume you will get nothing back.

Our family had no doubts about buying DVC, financially it made sense and emotionally it ticked all our boxes. We have had great value from it.

 

[melissa70]

Think about it this way. If you're buying direct, it will be 150 points because there usually isn't much reason to buy more than that. There are some exceptions, but it's a safe assumption.

150 points resale at SSR should cost about $95/point or $14k total. 150 points direct should cost $215 per point or $32k total. The difference is a one time cost of $18k. So if you use the membership for 10 years, you're effectively paying $1800 per year for the perks. If 20 years, $900/year. You get the idea.

There are also in-between cases of buying other resorts resale at a higher price. For example, if you are buying Poly resale at $170/point, buying direct only becomes a $7k premium.

But after the one-time purchase price is behind you, the ongoing maintenance fees cost exactly the same. For 150 points, that equates to about $1000/year (and usually rising with inflation).

This isn’t always the case. Resale prices have fallen significantly from their recent highs. Historically DVC resale prices has performed well, this is an anomaly for the timeshare market and may not be repeated. A conservative approach is to write off the entire investment you make in DVC and assume you will get nothing back.

Our family had no doubts about buying DVC, financially it made sense and emotionally it ticked all our boxes. We have had great value from it.

I agree- this is what I’m considering a luxury purchase. I want to experience all of the deluxe resort, but I want to be able to control my reservation not have to worry about renting points of finding confirmed reservations. I know people say to buy two contracts, but isn’t that more costly with two closing costs? I think I would like to get about 300 points

 

[melissa70]

Can anyone answer me this? If I have 160 points coming to me in December 2025 and I would to book something for January 2026 can I use those 160 points and when could I book this week? Not at my home resort.

 

[Wedgeout]

Can anyone answer me this? If I have 160 points coming to me in December 2025 and I would to book something for January 2026 can I use those 160 points and when could I book this week? Not at my home resort.

All by date you are booking for. January 2026 is in the December 2025 UY. Points in that UY are used. Home resort can be booked in February 2025 and can book in June 2025 for non home resort for January 2026.

 

[T00dles]

Can anyone answer me this? If I have 160 points coming to me in December 2025 and I would to book something for January 2026 can I use those 160 points and when could I book this week? Not at my home resort.

Yes, those Dec '25 points are good for reservations from Dec. 1 2025 till Nov. 30th, 2026. If not at your home resort you will have to wait till June '25 to book a Jan. '26 reservation (7 month window).

 

[Wedgeout]

For example on when can book reservation. The home resort December 2025 DVC booking frenzy competition is happening now in this January month.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Think about it this way. If you're buying direct, it will be 150 points because there usually isn't much reason to buy more than that. There are some exceptions, but it's a safe assumption.

150 points resale at SSR should cost about $95/point or $14k total. 150 points direct should cost $215 per point or $32k total. The difference is a one time cost of $18k. So if you use the membership for 10 years, you're effectively paying $1800 per year for the perks. If 20 years, $900/year. You get the idea.

There are also in-between cases of buying other resorts resale at a higher price. For example, if you are buying Poly resale at $170/point, buying direct only becomes a $7k premium.

But after the one-time purchase price is behind you, the ongoing maintenance fees cost exactly the same. For 150 points, that equates to about $1000/year (and usually rising with inflation).

I wouldn’t agree with your comment about direct above 150 points. Various resorts can have significant incentives at larger point purchase levels (200 points). Someone may also want the ability to have future resorts unrestricted on all of their points.

It really is a case by case basis.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Can anyone answer me this? If I have 160 points coming to me in December 2025 and I would to book something for January 2026 can I use those 160 points and when could I book this week? Not at my home resort.

I would download the DVC Calculator app if you have an iPhone.

 

[eticketplease]

What do you mean by 8 th month?? This use year thing has me a little bit confused. I deal with Rci points so I’m familiar how the points system works- so if my UY is December, I own 300 points and only used 250, the remaining 50 have to be used by the following year and in this case, would the eighth month be considered August?

So for your use year, Earlier you mentioned December...

So as @sethschroeder stated throw the calendar away.

Right now we just entered 2025 but with a December use year you will be in 2024.

So your each December your points are loaded into your account for use.
Your Points from that year expire on November 30th.
If you will not use all of your points during your use year period, Dec 1 - Nov 30 you may bank any unused points to the next year for next years trips.
The banked points stay in the use year that they are banked and will expire at the end of the next use year so in this case Nov 30, 2026.
In order to bank they points you have to do so by the banking window and that is the 8th month.



You can also borrow from the next year which has no time frame.
Like banked points, if you borrow they remain stuck in the use year that they are borrowed to.
If you borrow 2025 points to make a reservation in the 2024 use year (Again sticking with December they will expire Nov 30, 2025)

You mentioned booking a January 2026 Trip.

This trip will use your 2025 points and any that you have banked and borrowed into 2025.

Even though the points are not loaded for December of 25 you can still book the trip.
You could book as early as February 2025 if staying at your Home Resort.
If you decided to switch things up and stay somewhere else you could book as early as June 2025



Also DVC does have a pretty smart system and if you have banked or borrowed points which will expire it will use those first so that if you do not use your full allotment of points you can then bank those to the next year.

 

[eticketplease]

Think about it this way. If you're buying direct, it will be 150 points because there usually isn't much reason to buy more than that. There are some exceptions, but it's a safe assumption.

While it is true the 150 is the "right now" amount of points to qualify for Membership Extras.

As @AstroBlasters pointed out the incentives generally are better when you go up and give you more flexibility when booking other resorts.

I look at the points charts for the season you generally go and the accommodation type you usually stay at. I then look at the other resorts points charts that I would like to visit keeping in mind that a Standard/Resort view will most likely not be something that I can 7 month into.

There are more than a few exceptions imo. You can always add more direct or resale points later but it is generally more $ or more restricted if buying resale.

 

[VandVsmama]

Can anyone answer me this? If I have 160 points coming to me in December 2025 and I would to book something for January 2026 can I use those 160 points and when could I book this week? Not at my home resort.

Here's how it would work:

If you have 160 points and a Dec UY (use year), AND you want to book something for Jan. 2026 AND (for the sake of this example) you want to book something for Sun 1/11/26-Sat 1/17/26...

• Start of 11 month book window: Mon 2/10/2025. ** THIS would be your date to logon to the DVC member website to book your reservation for your home resort.
• Start of 7 month booking window: Tues 6/10/2025. ** THIS would be the date to logon to book your reservation at a resort that's NOT your home resort.

Remember:

1. the start of the 11 or 7 month booking window occurs REGARDLESS OF YOUR USE YEAR.
2. Which year's worth of points the reservation uses is dependent on: (a) what your UY is; and (b) what date range in which calendar year the reservation occurs.

In the above example, since you'd have a Dec UY, then even though the reservation would be in January 2026, the points usage would go against your Dec 2025 points allotment.

 

[eticketplease]

Here's how it would work:

If you have 160 points and a Dec UY (use year), AND you want to book something for Jan. 2026 AND (for the sake of this example) you want to book something for Sun 1/11/26-Sat 1/17/26...

• Start of 11 month book window: Mon 2/10/2025. ** THIS would be your date to logon to the DVC member website to book your reservation for your home resort.
• Start of 7 month booking window: Tues 6/10/2025. ** THIS would be the date to logon to book your reservation at a resort that's NOT your home resort.

Remember:

1. the start of the 11 or 7 month booking window occurs REGARDLESS OF YOUR USE YEAR.
2. Which year's worth of points the reservation uses is dependent on: (a) what your UY is; and (b) what date range in which calendar year the reservation occurs.

In the above example, since you'd have a Dec UY, then even though the reservation would be in January 2026, the points usage would go against your Dec 2025 points allotment.

Typo, It would be 2/11 or 6/11

 

[melissa70]

Typo, It would be 2/11 or 6/11

I was wondering why it was a day behind lol

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

I wouldn’t agree with your comment about direct above 150 points. Various resorts can have significant incentives at larger point purchase levels (200 points). Someone may also want the ability to have future resorts unrestricted on all of their points.

It really is a case by case basis.

This 100%. I bought direct points at $95 a point last year - if it happened before it can happen again; no one expected the OKWe fire sales after the VGF deal not long before. And the value of direct can vary a lot by use case. For me, the primary factor was unrestricted access to current/future resorts.