Use Year and Adding Points, Same UY????

[TrvlPrincess]

Hi, I am still trying to figure out use year...:coffee2: here is the question...
If I do an Add on, do I want it to be the same UY as the one that I already have or different?
We have December UY, we usually go to Disney in January-February. Is December a good UY? If I add on, to a different resort should I have the same UY? this is confusing. (I am new at this):whatababy

[tomandrobin]

If you are doing an add-on thru Disney, your use year will be the same as your original contract.

If you travel primarily Jan/Feb then December use year would be terrible for you.

[TrvlPrincess]

Oh NO! What happens If i get a separate contract from DIsney in another resort, Do I still have to use December UY? also for a Jan-Feb Vacation when should my UY be?:rolleyes:

[glypnirsgirl]

I am not the UY guru for sure. I am interested in the explanation for why December is not a good UY if you mainly travel in January and February. It seems to me that it would be fine. You would have all year to know whether or not you had used all of your points.

the hardest thing for me to get my mind around is the fact that THE IMPORTANCE OF UY IS FOR THE BANKING AND BORROWING not the reservations. Reservations are made based on point availability. You do not have to wait for your UY to make your reservations. Reservations can be made 11 months before your intended trip at your home resort. You do not wait until the beginning of the UY to make reservations.

DVC Mike does a great explanation of UY --- you may want to look in the archives at some of his posts. I had been a DVC member for 12 years before joining here and FINALLY, by reading his and other's explanations, I finally understand the difference between UY and the 11 month window.

Elaine

[greenban]

I must differ with TomandRobin, I think that a December UY is the perfect UY for Dec-April travel, which includes your Jan & Feb Plans.

Why, UY only really affects your banking deadlines, you can always (regardless of UY) book Home Resort vacations 11 months in advance of travel dates.

With a Dec UY, if you cancel a ressie, you will have until the end of July to bank those points (assumming they haven't been borrowed or banked before.) With that in mind I feel the DEC UY is the best UY for your plans as there is no January use year!

Add-ons through Disney will be to your existing Master Contract, and will always have the same UY, unless your purchase a new Master Contract (at a current MINIMUM 160 points) which can be any of the 8 UYs Disney sells.

-Tony

[TrvlPrincess]

THANK YOU! :blueflowegreenban (Tony) & Glypnirsgirl! what a relief!!!
I like how you broke it down Tony. SO I am saving this bit of info for when I make my reservations. :kickingco

[tomandrobin]

Hmmm, for Jan/Feb travel I thought an June or August use year would be best.

[Rumblebuffin]

I agree - We have a March UY and have been traveling in April due to job requirements (until we both retire). Never had a problem with booking 11 months out. Just borrow from the upcoming UY, (use any banked points first).

[JimP]

Hmmm, for Jan/Feb travel I thought an June or August use year would be best.
I agree that December is the best possible use year for Jan/Feb travel. If you need to cancel the reservation at the last minute... you have until Nov 30th to book something new.

June would be OK for Jan reservations since a June banking window ends on 1/31. August would be better than June... but not as good as December.

/Jim

[tomandrobin]

I agree that December is the best possible use year for Jan/Feb travel. If you need to cancel the reservation at the last minute... you have until Nov 30th to book something new.

June would be OK for Jan reservations since a June banking window ends on 1/31. August would be better than June... but not as good as December.

/Jim

I guess it all comes down to when you might cancel.

[greenban]

I guess it all comes down to when you might cancel.

True, but in my experience, I'm more likely to know when I plan to go, then when I might have to cancel for an unknown reason. Or in frog speak, I'm far more certain when I want to go, than when I may need to cancel. If you cancel < 31 days in advance, it doesn't matter, your points become holding points. But if you hope to bankpoints, UY really matters now, since the banking simplification).

However, if you are in borrowing mode, and have booked with borrowed points, then for Jan/Feb travel, the Dec UY is the best UY, since the points won't expire until Nov 30, of the next year.

-Tony

[TW1]

True, but in my experience, I'm more likely to know when I plan to go, then when I might have to cancel for an unknown reason. Or in frog speak, I'm far more certain when I want to go, than when I may need to cancel. If you cancel < 31 days in advance, it doesn't matter, your points become holding points. But if you hope to bankpoints, UY really matters now, since the banking simplification).

However, if you are in borrowing mode, and have booked with borrowed points, then for Jan/Feb travel, the Dec UY is the best UY, since the points won't expire until Nov 30, of the next year.

-Tony

This is exactly how I view UY. You want your year to begin when your typical vacation cycle begins. Thus if your first trip in any year needs to be cancelled and your points are put in holding, you have almost the entire year to re-use those points before losing them.

Our UY is March and we go to HHI the last week of March each year. I book my March trip 11 months before hand, in April (I just booked my March 09 trip yesterday with my March 09 points.) If next Feb I need to cancel that trip my points could end up in a holding account that will be usable until Feb 2010.

So a UY that begins when your travel cycle begins can be a benefit.

[rlcarmichael]

You really SHOULD keep all of your use years the same. Otherwise, you are trying to keep track of which points expire when. That would drive you completely insane.

[greenban]

You really SHOULD keep all of your use years the same. Otherwise, you are trying to keep track of which points expire when. That would drive you completely insane.

I have 5 UYs now.....

Perhaps that explains some things.......

:idea:

-Tony

[tinker_me_happy]

So to clarify my own confusion after reading this thread:
I have an August use year. August is a good time for us to vacation. SO August is a good use year for me to have in case I may need to cancel some future trip?

ALSO: NOT that I can afford it right now, but I have been eyeing adding on when my current contract is paid for (HA HA in 5 years!). I watch resales even though it won't be a while till I buy. I own at AKV now but would also like to own at BCV. Should I try to stick with an August use year with that too? My vacationing habits are very likely to shift as the kids finish school, and I vacation with just DH. (Looking at 5 years down the road). We would probably enjoy anytime of year, but off peak would be better. September - October sound inviting! Then will probably switch back to August vacations again when/if grandchildren ever enter the picture (10 - 15 years down the road!)

Thanks for all the great input!

[TW1]

So to clarify my own confusion after reading this thread:
I have an August use year. August is a good time for us to vacation. SO August is a good use year for me to have in case I may need to cancel some future trip?

ALSO: NOT that I can afford it right now, but I have been eyeing adding on when my current contract is paid for (HA HA in 5 years!). I watch resales even though it won't be a while till I buy. I own at AKV now but would also like to own at BCV. Should I try to stick with an August use year with that too? My vacationing habits are very likely to shift as the kids finish school, and I vacation with just DH. (Looking at 5 years down the road). We would probably enjoy anytime of year, but off peak would be better. September - October sound inviting! Then will probably switch back to August vacations again when/if grandchildren ever enter the picture (10 - 15 years down the road!)

Thanks for all the great input!


Clear as mud isn't it?

Yes, you seemed to grasp what Tony is talking about, in terms of UY cycles and chances to reschedule cancelled reservations.

Like you, I'm thinking about an add-on and also thought about the importance of keeping my UY the same. What I've decided is that I won't let a less than desirable UY keep me away from a great deal. So, if I see a contract that interests me that is up for resale, I won't let the UY keep me away from making a bid. And, my vacation cycles are likely to change as well. Like you, there will soon be a time when the DW are travelling alone and the fall would be our desired time. So another March contract may not be what I really need down the road.

Ultimately, with planning, the UY can become less of a factor.

[tinker_me_happy]

Clear as mud isn't it?

:laughing::laughing: Hopefully the mud becomes less murky as I get through my first couple of years!

[TrvlPrincess]

I talked to my new guide today and she told me that December UY is perfect for me. So I am happy! :thumbsup:

[rlcarmichael]

I have 5 UYs now.....

Perhaps that explains some things.......

:idea:

-Tony


Remember you said it, not me.

:holymoly: 5 UY?!?!?! I have 5 but all same, and I really plan on keeping it that way.

Caskbill.com has a good prgram that you can track points that you should check out. DVC-Tracker. His DVC-planner is also good.