Not ROFR thread - general discussion

[WinterSolider]

Ideally, you want a UY right before your ideal travel dates. You can bank points up until 8 months from your UY. For example with a Mar UY, you can bank points up until the end of October, which if you need to cancel a trip, you would be able to bank those points into the next UY. Some DVC members like to think that this is a built in cancellation policy.

Unless you travel the same dates very consistently, I think it's better to buy a contract immediately after the months you're least likely to travel rather than immediately before the months you're most likely to travel.

It's a small distinction, but can be an important one.

Our most common travel month is April, which would give us an April Use Year. But we occasionally go to Aulani in February and even though it's rare, it's not ideal to do a February trip on an April Use Year. So we slide our Use Year to December because we know we're very unlikely to ever travel in September, October, or November.

 

[sarahlord]

Unless you travel the same dates very consistently, I think it's better to buy a contract immediately after the months you're least likely to travel rather than immediately before the months you're most likely to travel.

It's a small distinction, but can be an important one.

Our most common travel month is April, which would give us an April Use Year. But we occasionally go to Aulani in February and even though it's rare, it's not ideal to do a February trip on an April Use Year. So we slide our Use Year to December because we know we're very unlikely to ever travel in September, October, or November.

I wish I had read this advice before I bought my first contract, I never to to Florida June-September, I should have gotten an October use year but I ended up with February

 

[Brian Noble]

The missing piece that you allude to but don't say explicitly is that the market tends to under-discount stripped contracts (or under-premium loaded contracts).

100% correct. That's why buy-strip-flip can outperform other rental models.

And that's why you see a fair number of these for sale at some of the largest brokerages. For example, https://www.dvcforless.com lists several contracts that are stripped until the 2027 UY.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I want to 100% clarify use year when buying a resale contract. We do not own DVC right now. We want to use some points in November 2025 so we know we need to try to find a resale contract ASAP. If we bid on a contract with February or March Use year with listed 220 points for 2025, we will be able to use those in November 2025? Is there any particular benefit to which month Use Year you get?

I would highly recommend NOT bidding on a contract until you have a very good handle on this.

 

[disneylandtour]

I would highly recommend NOT bidding on a contract until you have a very good handle on this.

I'd second this. Maybe rent some points, try out a few resorts, see what you like. Also look very closely at the member fees, as those will be a big (but often hidden) part of the overall cost. And lastly, unless you visit the resorts reasonably regularly--and have for a while--such as once a year or once every other year at minimum--DVC may not be your best path. DVC works well, I'd say, for people who have an established habit/pattern of visiting the resorts regularly and who also know the different feel of the various resorts (OWK is different than AKV which is different than BLT, etc). What is reasonably common is this: someone is interested in visiting Disney (maybe as a relatively new interest), buys DVC but then later (1) discovers that the member fees on their contract is pretty costly compared to other resorts, (2) discovers that there is a different home resort they'd rather have, or (3) loses interest in Disney after a few years but then still has a yearly contract, points, and ongoing member fees.

 

[juxtapose]

Ideally, you want a UY right before your ideal travel dates. You can bank points up until 8 months from your UY. For example with a Mar UY, you can bank points up until the end of October, which if you need to cancel a trip, you would be able to bank those points into the next UY. Some DVC members like to think that this is a built in cancellation policy.

Thanks, that's helpful advice. We will generally travel March-June so a Feb/March UY one sounds like it'd be best if I can find one.

 

[juxtapose]

I'd second this. Maybe rent some points, try out a few resorts, see what you like. Also look very closely at the member fees, as those will be a big (but often hidden) part of the overall cost. And lastly, unless you visit the resorts reasonably regularly--and have for a while--such as once a year or once every other year at minimum--DVC may not be your best path. DVC works well, I'd say, for people who have an established habit/pattern of visiting the resorts regularly and who also know the different feel of the various resorts (OWK is different than AKV which is different than BLT, etc). What is reasonably common is this: someone is interested in visiting Disney (maybe as a relatively new interest), buys DVC but then later (1) discovers that the member fees on their contract is pretty costly compared to other resorts, (2) discovers that there is a different home resort they'd rather have, or (3) loses interest in Disney after a few years but then still has a yearly contract, points, and ongoing member fees.

We've rented and stayed at several DVC resorts (OKW, AKL, BWV, GCV), I've just never owned so trying to figure out how the Use Year works.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We've rented and stayed at several DVC resorts (OKW, AKL, BWV, GCV), I've just never owned so trying to figure out how the Use Year works.

For me, reading it still always confused me. I watched many you tube videos on the subject and it was nice because different people have a different way of explaining it, so I recommend searching and watching a few videos to see if that will help you.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Unless you travel the same dates very consistently, I think it's better to buy a contract immediately after the months you're least likely to travel rather than immediately before the months you're most likely to travel.

It's a small distinction, but can be an important one.

Our most common travel month is April, which would give us an April Use Year. But we occasionally go to Aulani in February and even though it's rare, it's not ideal to do a February trip on an April Use Year. So we slide our Use Year to December because we know we're very unlikely to ever travel in September, October, or November.

This is extremely helpful-- especially if you are locked into certain travel seasons, but more than one possible season. The folks aboard the Disney Wonder just sold us Aug direct without any discussion beyond "we might go over Thanksgiving or Spring Break" and while AUG it's a great UY for WDW trips for us, it's really NOT ideal for a family that often spends some of summer break in Hawaii.

We've rented and stayed at several DVC resorts (OKW, AKL, BWV, GCV), I've just never owned so trying to figure out how the Use Year works.

Just want to add that renting and reserving at BWV and GCV (and certain room types at AKL, as well as a few other resorts) are totally different animals, assuming you weren't renting more than 9 months out.

 

[AstroBlasters]

We've rented and stayed at several DVC resorts (OKW, AKL, BWV, GCV), I've just never owned so trying to figure out how the Use Year works.

Absolutely! You are smart to do your research. Don’t feel a rush to bid on anything until you feel you have a good handling on some of the following:

1) Use Year
2) Pros and Cons of Multiple Use Years
4) Banking and Borrowing
5) Holding Points
6) Home Resort Booking Window
7) Point Banking Deadlines
8) Walking a Reservation
9) Availability Charts
10) The impact of dues over time
11) Contract Expiration Dates
12) Difference in various resort Point Charts
13) Direct Purchase Membership Extras
14) Restricted Resale Resorts and Resale Points
15) Difference in various resorts room sizes/sleeping surfaces/bathrooms/and layouts

I’m not trying to scare you off. But the more informed you are upfront then you’ll likely be a better buyer and a happier owner.