What use year should we look for/request?

[Dodie]

It's just DH and I. Our favorite time to travel to WDW is mid-September. Our second favorite is early May (but, after doing this during 2007, I think the crowds are going to push us to September most often).

I know that use year is discussed and rediscussed, but, if you have an opinion about what our use year should be, please explain why you are choosing what you chose.

Thanks.

 

[DVC Mike]

Since you won't be able to bank points in the last 4 months of your use year, you want to pick one where you don't expect to be regularly making DVC reservations in the preceeding 4 months. That way, if something comes up and you must cancel, you can still bank the points into the following year.

 

[bwvBound]

Deleted ... Paul's suggestion below is better.

 

[Paulieuk1969]

It's just DH and I. Our favorite time to travel to WDW is mid-September. Our second favorite is early May (but, after doing this during 2007, I think the crowds are going to push us to September most often).

I know that use year is discussed and rediscussed, but, if you have an opinion about what our use year should be, please explain why you are choosing what you chose.

Thanks.

The general rule is to get a UY that starts just before you usually vacation, this gives the greatest flexibility if you need to cancel a vacation.

Since you are not ruling out the May vacations completely, I would ask for an April UY, this gives you the flexibility to use it in both May or September. Should you need to cancel a September vacation (assuming you cancelled at least 30 days before so that the points don't go into the holding account) you would still able to bank 100% of your points, or have until the end of March to use them.

 

[LisaS]

As Paul said, April would work for you. You could also get a September Use Year.

Once the new banking rules go into effect, you will be able to bank up to 100% of your points during the first 8 months of your Use Year. With a Sep UY, your banking deadline would be April 30th. That actually covers you for trips in May as well because you must cancel a reservation at least 31 days prior to check-in, otherwise your points go in to the "holding" account. Points in holding cannot be banked and can only be used to make a reservation 60 days or less prior to check-in. So in order to bank the points, a May trip has to be cancelled in April and you would still be in your 100% banking window at that time.

So a Sep UY would be great if you will normally travel from Sep 1st through May 31st. An April UY would work well if you will normally travel from April 1st through Dec 31st.

 

[Didney Daddy]

The key is whether you are a pre-planner or not. If you plan 11 months out and are highly confident of keeping that date - then UY is irrelavant. If you plan at less than 11 months then you face other issues besides flexibility such as not getting the location you desire. We have found the DVC works best for pre-planners. Having said that, if you highest priority is flexibility then securing the UY month 1 month prior to normal travel is the most flexible.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The key is whether you are a pre-planner or not. If you plan 11 months out and are highly confident of keeping that date - then UY is irrelavant. If you plan at less than 11 months then you face other issues besides flexibility such as not getting the location you desire. We have found the DVC works best for pre-planners. Having said that, if you highest priority is flexibility then securing the UY month 1 month prior to normal travel is the most flexible.

I am not sure I understand your comments. If I want to book a trip to my home resort in May, I can reserve 11 months out, so June of the year before. This is the same booking window if I have a April UY or a Sept UY or any other UY.

The difference in the UY comes into play when you need to cancel unexpectedly more than 30 days before the reservation but less than 4 months before the end of your UY. Then, the right UY would mean you could bank your points instead of having to plan a last minute trip.

The real problem with buying the perfect UY is that your idea of the perfect time to vacation can change. We bought an Aug UY because we planned to vacation in October: F&W and our birthdays and ainniversary. Then, we decided that we needed to go to the F&G festival in April and then we needed to see the CP in Dec. And so it goes.

All you can do is plan the best you can and then understand that vacationing in some months will be riskier if you need to cancel.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[Littlegem]

Hi all..... Sorry to butt in on this topic,

But could somone confirm for me please if I have understood this correctly..

I want to vacation mostly in July, August & September..

So to take advantage of the banking of points should I have to cancel more than 31 days out, I would be best asking for a June UY... Right..?


I would be grateful if anyone could just confirm for me, so I know what to ask for when I go to buy..

Many Thanks, Hazel

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

But could somone confirm for me please if I have understood this correctly..

I want to vacation mostly in July, August & September..

So to take advantage of the banking of points should I have to cancel more than 31 days out, I would be best asking for a June UY... Right..?

You are correct. That way you will have until the end of January to bank points under the new rules.

HBC