Can you protect points for trips booked after the banking deadline?

[MicheyMouse]

For example, you have a December use year and book a September trip. If the trip falls through, are the points likely lost or are there reasonable ways too protect them?

 

[cruisehopeful]

You will lose them if you can't use them by the end of the year. You can rent out your reservation and at least get some $.

 

[AstroBlasters]

For example, you have a December use year and book a September trip. If the trip falls through, are the points likely lost or are there reasonable ways too protect them?

They offer insurance, but it just covers the dues.

 

[atthebeachclub]

If it’s in a studio or something very rentable, you can list it as a confirmed reservation and rent it out. But you can’t bank those points if you are past your banking deadline.

 

[Sandisw]

If you have to cancel a trip after its banking deadline, those points are now stuck and must be used by the end of the UY. If you cancel 31 days or less from check in, those points are put into holding status and must be used by the end of the UY and can only be used to book reservations 60 days or less from check in.

As mentioned, you can purchase the DVC insurance which will reimburse you for the dues, or you can rent out your points, either as a confirmed reservation for what you have, or canel and offer the points to book on demand reservations.

Now, DVC does have a hurricane policy in place so if a trip is impacted by that, they will work with an owner to return borrowed points, and bank beyond the banking deadline. They can not do anything for points that have already been banked, as points can not be banked "twice".

 

[Fangorn]

One other possible option to explore, depending on the number of points involved.
If you purchase MMB, one of the benefits is the ability to purchase an annual pass with points. In your scenario, if you had to cancel the trip after the banking deadline, or if you'd borrowed points to make that booking and more those points are stuck in the current use year, you could use those points to purchase a new AP for 75 points. You'd be able to use those points, including the borrowed ones. Even holding points can be used for that purchase.

We had this situation. Had a trip to VDH planned in May with another family. Had a 2BR booked for 3 nights. 147 points. I had borrowed 90 some points (we own at VDH) to make this happen. Fast forward to March of this year, and we all realized that for various reasons, it was best we cancel the trip. That left me with those 147 points that I was going to have to rent out on short notice. The better option for us was to use those points, add 3 more to them and purchase two APs to use for our 10 day December trip. We have 2 more trips planned in 2026, so this was something of a no brainer. Didn't lose any points, didn't have to go through the hassle of trying to rent them out, and didn't have the cash outlay of buying the APs.

Steve

 

[Sandisw]

One other possible option to explore, depending on the number of points involved.
If you purchase MMB, one of the benefits is the ability to purchase an annual pass with points. In your scenario, if you had to cancel the trip after the banking deadline, or if you'd borrowed points to make that booking and more those points are stuck in the current use year, you could use those points to purchase a new AP for 75 points. You'd be able to use those points, including the borrowed ones. Even holding points can be used for that purchase.

We had this situation. Had a trip to VDH planned in May with another family. Had a 2BR booked for 3 nights. 147 points. I had borrowed 90 some points (we own at VDH) to make this happen. Fast forward to March of this year, and we all realized that for various reasons, it was best we cancel the trip. That left me with those 147 points that I was going to have to rent out on short notice. The better option for us was to use those points, add 3 more to them and purchase two APs to use for our 10 day December trip. We have 2 more trips planned in 2026, so this was something of a no brainer. Didn't lose any points, didn't have to go through the hassle of trying to rent them out, and didn't have the cash outlay of buying the APs.

Steve

This only works with direct or grandfathered resale points.

Resale points bought since 2016 are not eligible to be used for the AP.