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I need advice on structuring our DVC portfolio for peak holiday travel. My family of four (including two young kids) prefers 1 Bedroom Villas. We sold a large Saratoga contract last year because relying on the 7 month window to switch resorts during Thanksgiving and Winter Break proved nearly impossible, and we didn't want to get stuck staying at Saratoga. We like Saratoga but not enough to go every trip and we had a June use year.
Before we sold we bought a 25 point direct Polynesian contract with a June Use Year for pre-cruise night stays and to try resorts with restrictions. We then bought a 90 point resale BLT contract with a February Use Year. Because we need to buy more points to cover our full holiday stays in 1 Bedrooms (4-6 nights), we are debating whether to sell the BLT contract.
A February Use Year leaves us vulnerable to losing points if we ever have to cancel a November or December trip close to check-in but I’m not sure if it’s really a big deal. I didn’t think it was when we bought the contract but I think about it every now and then.
Should we keep it for its 11-month booking priority near MK and simply add points elsewhere and maybe in another use year?
what are your goals at Christmas/Holiday time? is it simply to be on property? On the monorail? In caertain resorts? when we bought the holidays were important to me, so i looked at the resorts that were more decoratedor more heavily thrmed at Christmas. we originally tried to buy our first cobtract resale at AKL, but ROFR took it. I see that as a blessing as we were able to get CCV while it was still early in its active sales. the Lodge clearly is ideal at Christmas/holiday for someone who wants that feeling. Additionally, I had determined by that point that having a contract at a huge resort (AKL/SS/OKW) was not a benefit, but having one at a smaller property was because i was always lijely to get what i wanted at 7 months at the larger properties but not at the smaller ones. That made my decision easier. so whats most important to you, figure that out and plan accordingly.
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We bought BLT direct in 2009 with a Feb UY, and, unlike you, we never really worried about how our Oct-Jan trip put us at risk...until this year. We took a Jan trip this year (end of the month) and we both have 80-year old mothers. We realized we dodged a bullet by being able to take the trip. We would've had no backup plan if we had had to cancel.
So when we bought a resale contract, we purposefully looked for one about 6 months off and got a August UY. I would've preferred October, because that would make Oct-May "safe," but August is good enough too.
That being said, you can also ask yourself if you're going to buy more points (in that case hold what you've got...and buy the next contract with a different UY). If you're set, then maybe? But there are costs associated with buying and selling, and BLT is a good value right now.
Member since 2009. BLT 🚝 RIV 🚡 VGF 🫖