\nThe Use Year Decision Most Buyers Overlook
\n\nThe Martinez Family and the Points That Kept Slipping Away
\nThe Martinez family bought a 150-point contract at Saratoga Springs with a December use year. They travel every summer in July. Made sense at the time because they bought in December and the points were right there, ready to use.
\nWhat they did not realize was this: their points reload every December 1. They travel in July. By the time July arrives, they are already 7 months into their use year. If they want to bank any leftover points, the banking deadline closes on July 31, the exact month they are traveling. Miss it by a week and those points expire at the end of November.
\nEvery year they were cutting it close. Some years they lost points entirely. The problem was not how many points they bought. It was when those points loaded relative to when they needed to use them.
\nHow Use Years Work
\n\nEvery DVC contract has a use year, which is the month your annual point allocation reloads. Valid use year months are February, March, April, June, August, September, October, and December. February and September are the two most common on the resale market. When you buy a resale contract, you get the use year that came with it.
\n\nYour points are live for 12 months from that start date. Unused points can be banked into the following year, but only before a deadline that falls exactly 8 months into your use year. After that, unbanked points expire at the end of your use year with no recovery option.
\n\nThe right use year puts your points in front of you when you need them, with the banking deadline safely behind your travel window. The wrong use year puts you racing a deadline while you are packing for Disney.
\n\nMatching Use Year to Travel Month
\n\n| If You Travel In | Best Use Year | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| June, July, August | February or March | Points load 4-5 months before your trip. Banking deadline lands well after you return. |
| November, December | June or August | Points load 5-6 months ahead of peak holiday travel. |
| February, March (spring break) | August or October | Points fresh for spring travel, banking deadline falls in spring before the trip. |
| September, October (Food and Wine) | March or April | Points load 5-6 months before fall festival season. |
Why This Matters When Buying Resale
\n\nOn the resale market, contracts come with whatever use year the original buyer chose. You do not get to pick a new one. Use year does not affect the price of the contract, but it absolutely affects how well the contract works for your family.
\n\nWhen you are evaluating resale contracts, check the use year against when you actually travel before you make an offer. Two otherwise identical contracts at the same resort and price point can deliver distinctly different ownership experiences depending on whether the use year aligns with your schedule.
\n\nOur team at DVC Sales can help you find contracts with the right use year for your travel pattern. Browse current listings and filter by resort, or reach out and we will help you find the right match.
