Why does Use Year matter?

okworbust

Mouseketeer
Joined
May 27, 2007
Messages
111
Hello - I have been a member for a long time and I have used my points in many, many ways. I just don't get why a use year is that important. I have always been able to bank/borrow or use and have never been denied no matter when I have booked.

So can someone explain the big dilemma people have when they are looking to purchase. Maybe I have just been very lucky?

Thanks
 
Most of the time no use year doesn't matter, but it can. Also if you own multiple contracts and they are different use years they will be different membership numbers with the DVC as well. Multiple contracts would require you to transfer the points to combine the points for one night.

See this thread by CarolMN about use years.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1942668
 
It matters in terms of the flexibility if you ever want to change a trip or have to cancel.

For example, I teach and can only travel certain times of the year. We mostly go in August. When I first bought, I had an Oct UY. If I ever had to cancel that August trip after May 31st (the banking deadline for this UY), I would only have until September 30th to use the points. Since I can never go to WDW in September due to my job, those points would be lost.

Now, I own a June UY (sold the Oct UY contract). By traveling in the beginning of the UY and well before my banking deadline, I have a lot of flexibility in what to do with points should I need or want to change things.

If I canceled that same August trip, I would have until May 31st, to use up the points, giving me plenty of time that works in my schedule.

By choosing a UY that falls before your typical travel, it just gives you some peace of mind if something happens. Even if you want to downgrade your room size, if you are in the beginning of the UY instead of the end, you don't have to worry about the points.

I have friends that bought last year and went with a March UY for their Feb vacations (school teachers as well so they travel on our Winter break), because that was the UY being pushed by DVC at the time. I tried to explain it to them but they didn't seem to care too much.

If something ever happens and they have to cancel that trip, all those points will be lost.

If you never cancel or trip or ever want to change a trip, then UY will be of less importance, but emergencies do happen. If you have a choice when buying, there is no harm, IMO, of getting a UY that will give you the most flexibility.
 
Thanks for the explanation - and now I understand why it didn't ever matter to us before.

We own two contracts Feb. & Mar. so it has been pretty easy keeping track and secondly, I always purchase travel insurance so I never have to worry about "loosing" points. Always figured that the small amount of money in insurance always outweighed giving up points!

Thanks again!
 




















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