Another UY Question

[lovinlilo]

Okay, I've been talking to a wonderful sales guy (thanks SenecaBeach) about our (upcoming) purchase of DVC. I asked him briefly about UY and told him that we usually vacation in May or late-Sept/Oct. I did tell him that in the next few years (my daughter is soon to be 3) it will be important that she attend MVMCP and MNSSHP once or twice as well - but it shouldn't be a long term deal breaker. He suggested December as my UY.

Does that sound right to you guys? He said something about storing points, etc. but I really didn't get it. Since he is sending me a detailed package I didn't question further assuming its in the literature.

Anyway, I've read where a lot of you enjoy May, Oct travel as well and a good number of you folks have August UY. So whats the deal?

[PoohsPal]

IMO, May and October Travel dates makes UY almost pointless. Do they have May UYs? If so, I'd go for that. It almost doesn't matter, though.

UY is really only important if you're worried about having to cancel a trip. Then, you want to still be in the first 6 months of your UY, so you can bank 100% of your points.

The worst time to have your UY is when vacation would fall in the last part of your UY when you cannot bank any points.


It sounds like Oct and Dec are really going to be you must vacation times, though, so I'd go with an Oct UY. If you plan well and don't have to cancel trips, though, you could deal with any UY.

[dianeschlicht]

I wouldn't stress about use year at this point. Your vacation habits will change greatly over the course of ownership, and the times you have to cancel a trip in the last 30 days will be few and far between. We have owned for 9 years, and never had to cancel a trip last minute yet. I almost had to when I had a grandparent near death, but those kinds of things don't happen that often.

[jaysue]

If you have to pick one, December is not the best one for your pattern - March/April/May would work best - as the other posters noted though your pattern is sufficiently spread out to make the UY not so important (but I would avoid December)

We have December since we almost always vacation in Dec/Jan and Mar (sometimes May but probably not forward)

Cheers
jaysue

[TW1]

I agree with Jaysue I'd rpefer to begin my use year when I begin my annual vacation cycle, thus hoping to use all the points I need in any year in the first 6 months of my UY so I can fully bank any unused points.

I like to go away during the kids spring break (next week) and in August. My use year is March and the six month banking deadline is August 31. Thus when I have finished my usual travels for the year I will still be banking within the six month window.

That said, it is not a deal breaker. All members, regardless of vacation cycles and use years, will still be booking 7-11 months in advance and except for the unforseen emergency, should usually have plenty of time to bank with good planning.

[dianeschlicht]

I think December use years are a bit confusing for point tracking as well.

[jaysue]

I think December use years are a bit confusing for point tracking as well.

Agreed - it took us a while to get our heads fully around the keeping of the records and tracking of same (we just became fully comfortable in our 3rd year of membership - :crazy: )

Cheers
jaysue

[jaysue]

I agree with Jaysue I'd rpefer to begin my use year when I begin my annual vacation cycle, thus hoping to use all the points I need in any year in the first 6 months of my UY so I can fully bank any unused points.

I like to go away during the kids spring break (next week) and in August. My use year is March and the six month banking deadline is August 31. Thus when I have finished my usual travels for the year I will still be banking within the six month window.

That said, it is not a deal breaker. All members, regardless of vacation cycles and use years, will still be booking 7-11 months in advance and except for the unforseen emergency, should usually have plenty of time to bank with good planning.

Thanks for the expanded explanation - we too have in essence "finished" our vacations before the 6 month window is finished thus allowing us full flex on banking - and funny enough I have been banking and borrowing quite a bit especially owning across 3 different resorts

Now if I had 2 different UY's I would have to consider some tranqulizers

Cheers
jaysue