DVC Basics: Understanding DVC Use Years, Banking, and Borrowing Points!

In this episode, we dive deeper into our DVC Basics series with a comprehensive discussion about understanding DVC use years, banking, and borrowing points. This can often be a complex topic for even the most seasoned DVC members, but fear not - we're here to simplify it!
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[@samuelevaldata7668]

I'm so excited we just bought our first dvc contract via dvc resale market! 150 points at saratoga springs! Just waiting for rofr....

[@williammcgovern8745]

Use year does matter. If you travel to Florida in January, a February use year is very problematic. You virtually can’t cancel a January vacation without adverse consequences.

[@aaa5442]

Please clarify. We only go to Disney on Jan and thinking of buy DVC. Please give me an example how buying Feb contract becomes problematic

[@YamKriegs]

⁠​⁠@@aaa5442January is the last month for Feb UY owners. So if you always travel in January, and you have a trip booked and say you end up having to cancel a few months before, you will have likely already missed your banking deadline (Sept. 30) and now those points expire Jan. 31st so not a lot of time to use them. If you always travel in January, you want a December UY. That way January is only the second month in your use year, if you have to cancel a few months before, you didn’t miss the banking deadline of of July 31 and even if you do, you would have until Nov. 30th to use points canceled from Jan that year. For us or anyone who doesn’t always travel at the same time, UY doesn’t really matter too much. We travel different months of the year and don’t always stick to the same travel times each year.

[@frankcarney4882]

And what I learned about UY is you should not have 2 contracts with different UYs at the same resort 😮

[@jeaninetytran884]

We were also able to get our choice of use year when we purchased direct in 2020. They offered an October use year and we asked for December. They changed it without hesitation.

[@rolfe195]

I remember Quisp and Quake cereals. We got them a couple times as a treat 😊

[@lauramisitano4780]

The only time use year sometimes matters is if buying a second contract for ease of banking deadlines etc…

[@Amy-yh8kf]

That's not true....I signed up with Disney direct in 2017 and specified that I wanted to go during the summers and my use year is June! They specifically told me that June would be a good use year for my preference! I guess my guide was excellent because she explained everything to me and showed me how to book online & how far out to book home & non-home resorts. Dana @ Disney DVC went above & beyond!

[@shannonchampion6690]

First of all, I will say that I am a mid 70’s baby and I have no idea what those cereals are 😂 Second, great show content! I learn something new every time I watch an episode and I appreciate that! And third, please keep this whole panel on your show for every episode because y’all keep me laughing! I always enjoy it so much!

[@frankcarney4882]

Excuse me team, but our first direct contract at AK the CM asked us what UY we wanted so we had a choice, we now have 2 direct and 2 resale.

[@waynemartin6065]

We also had a choice of UY when buying direct.

[@stevecarkeet]

I specified the UY I wanted for all four of my direct contracts and Gib made it happen.

[@SniperSteve1]

Same here, just bought a new direct contract and they gave me a Aug use year to match my other contracts, it's currently April.

[@sentwistle4325]

Considering buying DVC and this video was very helpful!

[@deesea2025]

When we bought, we specifically wanted December at OKW. O wanted to be sure my 11 month window was always December when we travel. And it worked for our February trip every year too. When we added on we specifically looked for a December contract to do so.

[@terrys4179]

Good show guys! Amy and Derek both gave informative information. We have been members since 2005 and initially purchased a March use year for SSR and I made sure any add on contracts had a March use year. Then we decided to buy a Poly resale and I didn't think a different use year would matter so we took June. And I've been sorry ever since! I forwarded a link to this vid to a friend of mine who has been considering buying DVC because I think the way the use year, banking, and borrowing were explained they will find it helpful.

[@IndyAmi]

Yes Derek! I LOVED Quisp! 😄

[@zanekesey]

Wonderful Next do booking tips.

[@allisongonzalez5551]

We purchased direct back in January at Riviera and I told our rep that I wanted a different use year than what they were pushing and I got what I wanted!

[@derekbutler5216]

Thank you for this explanation!

[@jenniferrundle6870]

l'm happy to have found your channel... It's really nice to hear other people talking about their love of the DVC resorts. I'm not an owner yet, hoping to buy in early 2024... But I have stayed at many of the resorts by renting points from other owners and just love 99% of them ❤ (Won't spark the debate on which ones I could do without 😂)

[@alandenniston8209]

Thanks, we are not DVC users, but watch this show to learn and this helped out so much. Thanks Paul & Amy.

[@theresaholmes2137]

I purchased my first DVC contract in 2007 and was asked lots of questions about my travels then assigned a use year. I have a march use year which was great at that time. my travels have changed since then and I wish I could change my use year 😂

[@andreaboyette8801]

was given Dec. use yr when we bought in 2013. Didnt understand use year but it worked out perfectly be we vacation in Dec. or Feb. every time. We aren't screwed if we have to cancel for any reason.

[@terripanter8301]

I’m so glad you guys are doing this since things have changed so much for direct and resale.

[@lauramisitano4780]

It is scary how much I learned when we went for our tour at Hilton Head in 2003.

[@kengauvin8761]

Recently purchased direct and was asked if we wanted to match our resale contract use year!

[@danmcg1123]

I made the mistake of picking my use year the month we planned to go on vacation each year. It really limits us now that we sometimes need to go the month before. We have August for the late summer point chart . Now sometimes our trip needs to start in July so we can take advantage of annual passes or because when school starts up again.

[@sandym4875]

Derek explained it really well. It's complicated but the questions that were asked helps a lot. Thanks for explaining use year!

[@zanekesey]

THANK YOU!

[@gillianessien7417]

I love this team. Derek did a great job explaining use year then Amy, Panda, and Jeff brought back the humour with their Quisp cereal research lol

[@tamiller84]

Jeff's new handle should be: Jeff "The Captain" Haslam", because he always has a cap on.

[@hukalua]

Another great show. TY! New DVC member here with Villas at Disneyland being my home resort. I discussed when we liked to travel with the rep (we already had booked some cash stays at the villas prior to DVC purchase) and he offered me a September use year. Honey Nut Cheerios guy here

[@tomhenderson434]

One minor inconvenience of use years that I have bumped up against is when your planned stay spans two use years. For example, a stay that starts the last week of November and runs through the first week of December, when your contract has a December use year. Yes, you can wait to make the December portion of the trip on a separate reservation, but if you want to make it all at once you must call member services to make the reservation.

[@sheilabakken]

When I bought direct, I let my sales guy know that I run marathon weekend every year in Jan. He then recommended me to have a June Use Year and I agreed. So I guess it all depends on your situation. June is perfect for me because I do all the Disney races and the last race month for the season is in April. So I’m able to book all my rooms for race season with no issues. Then if I have extra points that need banking, I usually do it by Jan 25th. Now for my Disneyland Hotel points, I’ve already banked those because like Paul and Amy, I only use those points for Disneyland.

[@Icharis]

I was able to negotiate yes year when I bought direct… I think use year is important

[@Egg_663]

This past April, we did get a choice of use year for VGF. Maybe our DVC guide went off script... Edit: seems like other commentors have also had a choice of use year. Maybe this is a new thing since you have worked for DVC.

[@jamescolvin4463]

Love the conversation on this topic, especially from this group! New DVC owner (RR) and constantly working on increasing my Disney knowledge. We purchased direct and are now looking for resale points at another resort, (GF or CC) so this is great. Strategizing whether to buy a resale contract with convenience in mind or getting the best deal. Convenience within our current use year, February, or opening up all use years to have the most options available. Having a completely different DVC account seems complicated. I think this is the calculus portion of the discussion or maybe I'm overthinking it. Kinesthetic learner as well, so maybe that's why this is such a difficult decision for me. :-)

[@suzelle8519]

Could yall please do an episode with the highlights of each DVC resort? We were trying to introduce it to a friend and couldn’t find any videos that did a decent job of just a brief highlight with limited photos and all the resorts on them.

[@nancysisock2225]

Derek...Quisp was my favorite too!!! LOL

[@cyclechickmary]

Did Jeff originate the numbered lists on trip reports? Maybe he could be "Top 10"?

[@michellespear1761]

I was asked what use year I wanted when I bought direct. I think if you go in being knowledgeable about what use year is some of the guides ask. I actually had a reaale for April and told them I wanted a different use year because we often travel in March and April and have traveled crossing use year and that is a bit of a pain. So we chose February for our direct contract to hopefully avoid reservations crossing use year often.

[@JJM-nt7zs]

When borrowing - 2 questions - 1) do you have to have to points, or at least one set, when you book? For instance, December 2023 looking to book for November 2024 using April 2024 usage year points plus borrowed April 2025 points. Would I need to wait until I get my 2024 points to use 2025 or can I borrow 2 years out? 2) do you have to elect to borrow when you book or wait until the actual stay? Same example, do I need to make the election when booking or can I wait until right before the November stay to borrow in case something changes and I need to cancel?

[@terrycroyle7656]

I'm confused about multiple contracts and points, I think a show on how to finagle different contracts all in same use year

[@chrispy65]

Quisp is Cap'n Crunch that doesn't tear up the roof of your mouth.

[@tpg5974]

Ohhhhhh, the problems of DVC I wish I had!!!

[@brandibuckley171]

I feel like once I finally got it, I find out I don't hahaha, thankfully we have always been able to use all our points since we tend to be a borrower.... maybe we need more points? 😂

[@Rutherford342]

So question I am sure you have answered. If I buy let’s say 2 different contracts for AKL can I combine them on the same trip. If they are a 100 point and a 200 point can I use them as a 300 point room use or is it 2 separate reservation.

[@richferringtondreamvacatio6443]

Handle for Jeff Haslam Hasss the Spaass

[@DennisOBrien1]

New nickname: “Mr. I only eat chinken fingers Jeff”

[@tonydouglas863]

If I don't use my DVC membership for let's say 3 years and I bank the points ech year, do they just add up or do I have a year to lose them before I lose them ? Or do they just keep adding up for future use ?

[@mise7372]

I remember Quisp!. maybe it will come back, as every Halloween Count Chocula, Frankenberry, BOoberry do.

[@marka5361]

A correction flag should be added to this video at the 8:10 mark. When you buy DVC points direct from Disney you DO get to pick your use year. Perhaps Derek was just mis-speaking, and meant something different, but this is a very important misstatement that should have a correction issued.

[@dee_mcgee11]

25pt Club unite!

[@ScottJR7302]

Slightly incorrect info on use year buying direct. I just purchased VGF, and I chose which use year I wanted. They asked me which month I want, and it was never forced on me.

[@vaq130]

Hello quick question. So we are looking to buy a dvc Villas California. Last day to bank will be January 31. Does that mean that I will have 300 points in June? if we bank in January 31 (we are thinking 150 points). If that is the case can I still use some of those points for a 3 day vacation in March? (let say we book that on February and then our big family vacation in August-November? thanks in advance

[@sandpiper8991]

Note to potential direct buyers: we were able to select the use year we wanted (purchase date August 2023) because we mentioned we had a family member who owned DVC already and the CM said even though they were selling February UY’s, if we wanted to match the family members UY (October) we could, we just had to send an email to the CM stating why we wanted the specific month for the record. I’m given to understand that’s not always possible but it may be worthwhile to check that out if you are looking into specific times of travel or want to match up with family/friends who you may travel with.

[@gregjankowski2115]

Bad Cereal killer lol

[@steveseattle140]

How big is Jeff's house

[@Icharis]

Little skinny panda

[@h0mersapien]

DEREK IS CORRECT - QUISP IS THE BEST.

[@frankcarney4882]

Jazzy Jeff, Jiffy Jeff Jaunty Jeff

[@elplata7224]

The question for the millennia, lol.