What to do 🤔

[melissa70]

If I buy two separate contracts, but usually want to use them together, do I need to buy the same use year?

 

[melissa70]

Completely agree with this. I am 52 and first bought in late 2023. Personally, I have a "no 2042 contract" rule. Not that I don't absolutely love the resorts, but I just cannot justify owning any of them with such little time left. That'll be an individual decision that you will need to make for your family's needs.

Are your contracts for 2057?

 

[starsaber25]

If I buy two separate contracts, but usually want to use them together, do I need to buy the same use year?

Pretty much. If you buy the same use year then both contracts would be under the same membership number. If you buy different use years then each contract would have a different membership number and you would have to switch between both in order to book with each contracts points. Most everyone says the same use year is much easier to handle.

 

[VandVsmama]

If I buy two separate contracts, but usually want to use them together, do I need to buy the same use year?

From what I've read, yes. Yes, but...

• it depends on what resort you want to use them together for.
• For example, you have 2 separate contracts of 100 pt each, for a total of 200 pt. Same use year and same resort. You want to book a stay at your home resort. No problem.
• OR 2 separate contracts, same use year & same home resort, but you want to use the total points to stay elsewhere. Should be no problem...you'll be able to book at the 7 month window.
• OR 2 separate contracts, same use year but DIFFERENT home resorts, and you want to use the total points combined to stay at home resort of Contract A OR to stay at home resort of Contract B. This, from what I understand, is problematic. Would need others more knowledgeable than I to weigh in on this.
• OR 2 separate contracts, but different use years - this, from what I've read, results in you getting 2 membership #s and to use the points together, you have to transfer points from 1 membership to the other, which would result in, I think, you having to wait until the 7 month window to book stuff.

 

[jcolvin5]

Are your contracts for 2057?

2054 (SSR), 2057 (AKL), 2060 (BLT) and 2070 (RR). We own a few contracts, both direct and resale, in two separate UYs (Feb/Oct). I would not recommend multiple UYs to most owners, but it works well for us.

 

[AstroBlasters]

If I buy two separate contracts, but usually want to use them together, do I need to buy the same use year?

Generally speaking, most people should do everything possible to keep their contracts in the same Use Year.

You will get examples of some ninjas who make point tracking a full time hobby…. but for most simplicity is the way to go.

 

[eticketplease]

OR 2 separate contracts, same use year but DIFFERENT home resorts, and you want to use the total points combined to stay at home resort of Contract A OR to stay at home resort of Contract B. This, from what I understand, is problematic. Would need others more knowledgeable than I to weigh in on this.

It is not a problem per say. You can use them together to stay at the home resort of Contract A or Contract B however you would need to do so at the 7 month window.

Now say the 2 resorts in question were BCV at 100 points and BWV at 100 points. What people will do so that they can take advantage of the 11 month booking window is in year 1 Bank the 100 points from Beach club to Year 2. Borrow the 100 points from BWV and use the 200 Points and book at BWV at 11 months. Year 2 You would book using the 200 points at BCV using the 11 month window.

Doing this you always have the 11 month advantage for all of your 200 points.

 

[eticketplease]

but for most simplicity is the way to go.

And that is not even simple!!

 

[kilik64]

Did you have any problem booking 7 months out at other resorts? That is what I worry about as I don’t like really like Saratoga springs but it sound like contract and fee wise it may be a good deal

If you don't like SSR, I wouldn't necessarily buy there, but plenty of people have and have managed to never stay there since owning. If you hate SSR and you wouldn't be ok staying there, might wanna go with something else.

It all depends on when you go, what rooms you book, and if you like split stays as a lot of the time it might be easier to get 2-4 days at one resort and 2-4 at another vs say a whole week at just one. Also depends on how much work you want to put in on getting what you want. And also how flexible you are with dates. I don't have a long history but so far:

1st trip, march of 2022 spring break so busier time, got a split stay 3 and 3 with BLT and BCV. BLT i got at 7 months fairly easy for a studio, waitlisted the bcv and with SSR already booked, waitlist came through a couple months later
march 2023 family trip, 3 studios at SSR
Memorial week May 2024 - 6 nights at poly, standard view studio, originally had trouble getting the first night but stalked and got it finally.
Memorial week may 2025 - 6 nights BRV 2 bedroom, originally booked normal, had to waitlist lockoff and it came through a couple weeks ago. Got waitlist for BWV 2br both boardwalk view and garden/pool pending currently, most likely wont come through but never know. We are good with BRV if it doesn't.

But again end of the day, if we were "stuck" at SSR, wouldn't be all that upset, still in the bubble and still gonna have a good trip. Honestly I think out of all the resort pools, I have liked the paddock area the best so far. Even over SAB, not a huge fan of it. It was fine and fun, but I am not in the OMG its the BEST camp for it.

 

[Chili327]

Generally speaking, most people should do everything possible to keep their contracts in the same Use Year.

You will get examples of some ninjas who make point tracking a full time hobby…. but for most simplicity is the way to go.

And that is not even simple!!

I was going to say the same, even that can be hectic. lol

BUT... also there are a few perks to different use years, but not really worth factoring in when buying.

 

[clbielick]

Just purchased 2042(1). Cost was low (94/pt) for the resort i love to stay at- boardwalk. It simply means that my per point cost for the life of the contract is $5/pt, plus maintenence fees. As we don't go during high priority times, I believe I'll be able to get decent rooms and used much fewer points than if I had bought one of the newer resorts- which makes up for the higher cost per point.

Ultimately, I look at dvc as prepaying for my vacations at a significant discount. With the total cost being so much in maintenence fees rather than up front cost, the ability to sell the contract is not important to us. Ensure you are looking at point charts during your decision as well.

 

[eticketplease]

Just purchased 2042(1). Cost was low (94/pt) for the resort i love to stay at- boardwalk. It simply means that my per point cost for the life of the contract is $5/pt, plus maintenence fees. As we don't go during high priority times, I believe I'll be able to get decent rooms and used much fewer points than if I had bought one of the newer resorts- which makes up for the higher cost per point.

Ultimately, I look at dvc as prepaying for my vacations at a significant discount. With the total cost being so much in maintenence fees rather than up front cost, the ability to sell the contract is not important to us. Ensure you are looking at point charts during your decision as well.

Congrats and Welcome Home!!

Glad you go at lower priority times to give me a shot at 7 months at getting in

 

[Sandisw]

From what I've read, yes. Yes, but...

• it depends on what resort you want to use them together for.
• For example, you have 2 separate contracts of 100 pt each, for a total of 200 pt. Same use year and same resort. You want to book a stay at your home resort. No problem.
• OR 2 separate contracts, same use year & same home resort, but you want to use the total points to stay elsewhere. Should be no problem...you'll be able to book at the 7 month window.
• OR 2 separate contracts, same use year but DIFFERENT home resorts, and you want to use the total points combined to stay at home resort of Contract A OR to stay at home resort of Contract B. This, from what I understand, is problematic. Would need others more knowledgeable than I to weigh in on this.
• OR 2 separate contracts, but different use years - this, from what I've read, results in you getting 2 membership #s and to use the points together, you have to transfer points from 1 membership to the other, which would result in, I think, you having to wait until the 7 month window to book stuff.

Points can only be used at their own home resort during the home resort booking period.

So, if someone owns two different resorts but same UY and owners, they will be in one membership.

Each can be use at their home resort more than 7 months out. To use together for a stay, the owner must wait until 7 months.

So, it’s not a problem at all…it’s just that you don’t have the big pool to use until 7 months.

If they are different memberships, then you have to transfer between the two, regardless of whether the points are from the same resort or not.

 

[eticketplease]

Points can only be used at the home resort during the home resort booking period.

This first part doesn’t make sense to me as it seems like you can’t use the points at 7 months the way I read the statement. Obviously we know that is not the case but that is how I’m reading it…

 

[Chili327]

Points can only be used at the home resort during the home resort booking period.

This first part doesn’t make sense to me as it seems like you can’t use the points at 7 months the way I read the statement. Obviously we know that is not the case but that is how I’m reading it…

Home resort points can be used at ONLY your home resort before the 7 month window opens.

Sound better?

 

[Sandisw]

This first part doesn’t make sense to me as it seems like you can’t use the points at 7 months the way I read the statement. Obviously we know that is not the case but that is how I’m reading it…

Thanks for catching that. My brain went faster than my hand…it should have said at “their home resort”

 

[Sandisw]

Home resort points can be used at ONLY your home resort before the 7 month window opens.

Sound better?

Yes! That was what I meant!!

 

[melissa70]

What if you can’t find what you want at 7 months out? Does that mean you should book your home resort first at 11 months and then if you find something you want cancel and book that? Are there cancellation fees?

 

[eticketplease]

What if you can’t find what you want at 7 months out? Does that mean you should book your home resort first at 11 months and then if you find something you want cancel and book that? Are there cancellation fees?

Yes you should always book your home resort in the 7-11 month window even if it is SSR as that way you know you still have a room at the time you wish to visit.

The only cancellation fees are if you cancel 30 days or less days before checking in. If that happens you don’t lose your points but the lose their flexibility and become placed into holding.

Holding points cannot be banked and must be used to book a trip 60 days or less from when you wish to travel as opposed to 7 or 11 months out.

 

[melissa70]

Now i just have to figure out where to buy my Sleep around points and how much to buy. I think I’d rather purchase one contract as I am not worried about selling it. I figure if it gets bad enough to where I have to sell my DVC I have bigger problems to worry about. Not worried about contract length either,, being in my 50’s how long will I use this? Not past 2042 anyway. This will just for us