Understanding Use Year - Updated 5/31/2012

[Missyrose]

Originally Posted by kat3668

Looking into possible purchasing DVC... I usually travel Sept , Dec, late jan early Feb or march what would be the best use year for me?

Ideally, you want your UY to be just before you travel, so September would work best for you. August would probably also be just fine.

[gert]

I am really having a hard time understanding UY.

I'm planning on becoming a member through resale once my home equity loan closes. Probably 150pts at BWV to start. Our travel times would almost always be from June 15th-August 15th every year.

I don't anticipate that changing for another 10 years, and by then I'll have caught addonitis so many times and I'll be so flush with points that it won't matter if they go into holding and expire

What's my best UY?

[Sandisw]

Originally Posted by gert

I am really having a hard time understanding UY.

I'm planning on becoming a member through resale once my home equity loan closes. Probably 150pts at BWV to start. Our travel times would almost always be from June 15th-August 15th every year.

I don't anticipate that changing for another 10 years, and by then I'll have caught addonitis so many times and I'll be so flush with points that it won't matter if they go into holding and expire

What's my best UY?

June would be ideal--if you can't find that, with the travel dates you mention, I would look for April, March or Feb UY. Those would all work too.

Having a UY that starts just before your typical travel offers the most flexibility if you have to cancel or want to change a trip at least 31 days in advance.

UY does not have any impact on when you can book. You can always call 11 months in advance to book at your home resort and 7 months in advance for the others.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Sandisw

June would be ideal--if you can't find that, with the travel dates you mention, I would look for April, March or Feb UY. Those would all work too.

Having a UY that starts just before your typical travel offers the most flexibility if you have to cancel or want to change a trip at least 31 days in advance.

UY does not have any impact on when you can book. You can always call 11 months in advance to book at your home resort and 7 months in advance for the others.

Bless you! No idea why I had so much trouble figuring out my best UY. I read all 12 pages of this thread and when I was done my brain hurt and I finally went from long-time lurker to first-time poster.

[luv2sleep]

I have asked for a June UY contract. My travel time would be July, Aug, October and December (plus the occasional 1st week of Jan). Besides June, what other UYs would work for me? I am on the VGC waitlist.

[disneynutz]

Originally Posted by luv2sleep

I have asked for a June UY contract. My travel time would be July, Aug, October and December (plus the occasional 1st week of Jan). Besides June, what other UYs would work for me? I am on the VGC waitlist.

A June UY is great for vacations between June - January which it the 8 month banking period should you ever need to cancel a vacation. Vacations in February - May if canceled have to have the points used before the end of May or you lose them.

Bill

[luv2sleep]

Originally Posted by disneynutz

A June UY is great for vacations between June - January which it the 8 month banking period should you ever need to cancel a vacation. Vacations in February - May if canceled have to have the points used before the end of May or you lose them.

Bill

Thank you! I will stick with June then.

[emilymad]

I currently have a December UY. I am looking to add on but not yet sure where or how many points. I seem to change my mind 15 times a day! I had been looking at contracts only with a December UY. In another thread it was pointed out to me that having a second UY can greatly increase your flexibility. Is my thinking correct that if I look for a June UY that between that and my December UY I would have the whole year covered?

[chalee94]

Originally Posted by emilymad

Is my thinking correct that if I look for a June UY that between that and my December UY I would have the whole year covered?

it would cover the whole year, provided you are using june UY pts for stays in oct and nov...and using dec UY pts for stays in april and may. if you need to use pts from both contracts, it lessens the benefit.

owning 2 UYs makes it a little more complicated to keep up with. not a big deal but if you take your eye off the ball, it's a little easier to forget to bank or something and lose pts.

also, you cannot combine june UY pts and dec UY pts to book a single night's stay, so you'd need to book 3 nights with one contract and 4 with the other and ask MS to link the reservations (or else transfer pts from one contract to the other.)

[emilymad]

Thanks! I think I could keep it all straight. I had forgotten about not using the points from each UY on the same night. That is good to keep in mind.

[babesboo99]

Thank you.. I am going to print this out as well this answered alot of questions for me..

[babesboo99]

My DH and I are planning to buy BCV points with an Oct UY we usually travel Oct-Jan maybe a few times in the spring or summer. Is Oct a good UY for us? We will probably bank and borrow depending on what size rooms we get.

[luv2sleep]

Great info about having two different use years. Thank you!

[MousekeTom]

[luv2sleep]

Wow, that's so helpful! I actually saved a copy of that image, lol! Makes it very clear!