In this FAQ episode, we're discussing Multiple DVC Use Years. When do they make sense? DVC Direct guides are trained to talk you out of multiple use years. However, there are a few times when having multiple use years may be the right decision. Episode 268
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When does multiple Use Years Make Sense?
First off, let’s discuss the pros:
- Multiple Use Years Requires Multiple Member Numbers
- Waitlists – You get two waitlists per member number. So, having two Use Years and multiple member numbers doubles your number of waitlists.
- Moonlight Magic Events are limited by member number. Typically, DVC will have two or three moonlight events at a park each year. Registration will open for all three events at the same time. If you get into the first Moonlight event with one member number, having a second member number with direct benefits will allow you to book a later event during the same registration window.
- You Can Use Anatomy of a Use Year in Your Favor
- Every Use Year is 12 months long. You have 12 months to use your points.
- At the end of the 12 months, unused points will expire, and they will die a horrible death without benefitting their owner.
- You can only bank points during the first eight months.
- Regarding flexibility, months 9, 10, 11, and 12 are the danger zone.
- Reservations in the 9th through 12th month can be canceled and banked IF:
- You cancel them 31 days before check-in to avoid the holding account and
- You bank button within the first eight months.
Practical Example: Every January, runDisney hosts an event in Walt Disney World, and it’s recently returned to Disneyland. I have a February Use Year. This is a horrible Use Year for the runDisney Marathon events held in January. It’s the 12th month of my Use Year. While using my points in the 12th month is an available option, it’s not ideal. If anything happens where I need to cancel, I will only have 2-3 weeks to use my points before they expire. Finding an open room during the last two or three weeks will be almost impossible – especially given I had an emergency that forced me to cancel my vacation.
When Does Multiple Use Years Make Sense?
- When you come to Disney multiple times a year and always want to optimize for flexibility if you need to cancel a vacation.
- When you come to Disney multiple times a year and you don't need to combine points very often. Combining points for a single reservation is more difficult with multiple use years – you cannot do this without calling DVC member services. However, if you’re coming multiple times, you have multiple reservations.
- When you find an incredibly great deal on the resale market, and the deal is so good, you’re willing to deal with the hassle of occasionally calling member services to combine points.
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