While Members do their best to pick the right amount of DVC vacation points for their trips, things can change. There are variables out of our control like annual holidays and spring break seasons. These alter point charts each year and may adjust how many points are needed to visit when you like to vacation. Then, there are other life things that adjust like when you can visit or where you want to stay. So how can you maximize your membership to make sure you use every DVC point? Read on for our tips to leave no point left behind!

Membership Maximizing: How to Use All Your DVC Points Every Year

Roughly plan more than one year of DVC point usage if possible

If you're flexible on your dates this year, sometimes it can help to take a look at the following year's point chart. Even for those who like to plan far ahead, it's possible. Point charts come out over a year in advance. These may reveal that a simple date change this year can help you spend your points better next year.

If you have many points and plan multiple trips annually, this can be super helpful with banking and borrowing too. Planning over a few use years can help you use points to book an extra night where it makes sense.

One time use points can come to the rescue

As needs change, the amount of points you need may be different than you anticipated. Especially if there is something unique altering your plans one year. Here's where one time use points come in. These are a special tool DVC offers and they're exactly what they sound like. These are points you can purchase for an additional cost to use just one time. This is great if you need just a few points to complete your vacation.

One time use points cost $20 per point. They can not be cancelled or refunded but you can rebook and use them before the end of your use year. Contact Member Services to purchase one time use points. Then you can book online or with Member Services if you prefer.

If you are eligible to take advantage of the Membership Magic Beyond benefits package, there is a special one time use points offer for you. Disneys says you can, "Get one bonus One-Time-Use Point for each One-Time-Use Point purchased! Members can purchase up to 12 Points for a total of 24 One-Time-Use Points in a Benefit Season."

Plan far ahead of your banking deadline

The last thing you want to happen is for points to disappear. That can happen if you don't use or bank them in time. This is especially important if you've banked or borrowed points and have extra to use. When plans are in limbo, you may want to act ahead so you don't lose track of time and cut it close with your banking deadline. Here is the complete list of different use years and the last day to bank points for each.

Use YearLast Day to Bank PointsFebruarySeptember 30MarchOctober 31AprilNovember 30JuneJanuary 31AugustMarch 31SeptemberApril 30OctoberMay 31DecemberJuly 31

Remember you can rent DVC points to use your Membership most efficiently

Renting DVC points can be a lifesaver if you're not able to use every DVC point. Someone may need just the amount of points you have to book their perfect vacation this year. It's a win, win when points don't go to waste and you don't lose all of what you purchased.

It can also be a helpful option if you need more points but just for one vacation or sporadically. You can always add on another contract. It's easy to combine points from multiple contracts and use them if you have the same use year. However, if it's just a special occasion, you may not want to purchase another contract. Renting points for an additional trip or to upgrade and stay longer or in a bigger villa is a helpful option. Compared to one time use points, this may be more cost effective or the best option simply because you can use more points this way.

Consider how your vacation needs have changed

Many Members purchase their contracts with certain intentions that match where they are currently in life. As time goes on, change happens naturally. You may not even realize you've outgrown a contract as you're struggling to use every DVC point without wasting any. For example, maybe the time of year you used to vacation only called for the number of points you own. If you decide to visit during a different time of year, or stay at a different property, your point value may be holding you back. Recognizing your vacation needs and wants change over time can help you be realistic about the number of points you need to book what's right for you. Resale gives you the option to add on or sell your DVC contract if you need to.

DVC Resale Experts Can Help

DVC Resale Experts is a licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC. Whether you’re adding on points, buying or selling Disney Vacation Club, the Experts can help you find the right price to place a bid with or list your contract for. Our independent, licensed real estate agents are former Disney Vacation Club Guides. They have decades of pixie dusted experience selling DVC and delight in providing excellent service to their clients. Wondering what the right number of points is for you and your vacation needs? The Experts have seen it all and are happy to answer your questions throughout the process.

See our DVC Resale Listings for a look at real time availability and pricing.

Get in touch for a complimentary valuation of your specific contract to sell DVC: What's your contract worth?