Your DVC use year can cost you points: which one fits how you travel?
Buying DVC? The use year you pick decides whether a canceled trip's points can still be banked. Here's the rule, a real example, and all 8 use years ranked for three kinds of travelers.
See it on Instagram@dvccompanion · the original 9-slide carousel→The short version
- Summer trips: a June use year.
- Fall trips: a September use year.
- Christmas and spring break: a December use year.
The rule: every use year has a banking deadline
The banking deadline is the last day of month 8 of your use year (month 1 is the month your points arrive). After that, this year's points can't move to next year. Cancel a stay 31 or more days out and the points go back to the use year the stay falls in.
- Trips in months 1–6: cancel 31+ days out and the points come back with months to spare. Bank them.
- Trips in months 7–9: still bankable if you cancel 31+ days out, but the deadline is close. Bank right after canceling.
- Trips in months 10–12: the points come back after the deadline. No banking: use them before the use year ends.
From Disney's booking terms.
Same trip, two use years
A Food & Wine trip on Oct 10, 2026. Plans change and you cancel in September.
- December use year: stuck. Banking closed Jul 31, so the points come back unbankable. Use them on a stay by Nov 30.
- September use year: safe. Cancel by Sep 9 and bank them. Now they're good through Aug 31, 2028.
The summer family: pick June
For trips in June and July: February through June keep both trips well clear of the deadline. December works, but both trips are close to its deadline. October banks 1 of 2. September and August lose both.
Fall regulars: pick September
For trips in September, October and November: September, August and June keep all three bankable, followed by April and March (with trips near the deadline). October and February bank 2 of 3. The popular December use year is the worst fit here: all three trips fall after its July 31 deadline.
Holidays and spring break: pick December
For trips in December and March: December and October keep both trips well clear. September and August work, with one trip close to the deadline. March, February, June and April each lose one.
Pick a use year that starts a little before you travel
Summer trips: June. Fall trips: September. Christmas and spring break: December.
Already own? Matching your current use year lets both contracts' points go on one reservation. Weigh that too.
Suggest a use year: tap your months, it ranks all 8
The Buying Guide's Suggest a use year tool does this for your own travel months. Sign in and your saved trips fill in the months.
Your turn: What use year do you have, and does it fit how you travel? Tell us in the comments on Instagram.
Based on Disney's booking terms: cancellations 31 or more days out return points to the stay's use year, and banking closes at the end of month 8. Always check your own contract.
