Buying one time use points question

[LaurenT]

I’m waitlisted and stalking for ANY studio for just the night of May 17th.
(I scored an 11 a11:30 GotG preview, but had to change my flight to late night on the 17th since my flight on the 18th wouldn’t have gotten me to the park in time)
I am out of points and only have 15 points to borrow before hitting that 50% threshold. So I figured I would buy 4 one time use points which would give me enough for almost any studio that pops up.
If I wind up not needing them, can they be banked, or do I just lose them?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You lose them.

You also cannot buy a OTU point until making a booking and they won't work well for a wait-list or stalk. You have to call to buy them.

I am going to batsignal @Sandisw for her tips on a workaround.

 

[LaurenT]

You lose them.

You also cannot buy a OTU point until making a booking and they won't work well for a wait-list or stalk. You have to call to buy them.

I am going to batsignal @Sandisw for her tips on a workaround.

Bummer
The blurb I read said that you can call to buy up to 24 points and then they’ll be available for you to book online. So that stinks - I was just hoping I could bank them if I wound up not finding a room and having to just book a regular hotel room

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Bummer
The blurb I read said that you can call to buy up to 24 points and then they’ll be available for you to book online. So that stinks - I was just hoping I could bank them if I wound up not finding a room and having to just book a regular hotel room

You can't just buy them. You have to be buying them to make a booking at that moment. There's a workaround where if you cancel that booking they will be there for a waitlist or online booking, but they won't let you just buy to hold.

And they're not bankable, ever.

 

[LaurenT]

Plan B! I booked a night at Caribbean Beach as a back up … that way I can leave my bags with bell services to transfer in the morning and hop the skyliner to Epcot - maybe walk on to Remy.
Then, if a 15 point room opens up I can take it and I have until May 12 to cancel the CB room.

 

[CarolMN]

You would have to "gamble" the cost of 4 OTUP points if you want to use them for a possible waitlist .

Call MS & make a reservation that uses the number of points (less the 4 OTUP) you think you will need for the studio waitlist. MS will arrange the OTUP purchase.

Then cancel that reservation after you hang up. The OTUP and borrowed points used for the dummy reservation will be returned to your account & available should your waitlist work.

If it doesn't work, the OTU and the borrowed points will expire at the end of your use year unless you find a way to use them before that. Neither of those can be bankd or transferred.

Good luck!

P.S. I like your Plan B better than gambling the 11 borrowed points and the cost of 4 OTUP. YMMV.

 

[Sandisw]

Just want to add about a reservation, make sure the fake night you buy them for is in the same UY of this trip.

OTU point expire at the end of the UY of the trip you bought them for.

But, if your only trip in the current UY is the May trip, then this may not work because if you modify that trip within 31 days, any freed up points will become holding points.

So, you are want to get this done ASAP, then call today, book something, cancel today and then have MS modify your May night before you hit that 31 day mark to put them into that trip and free up your own points.

This way, you do end up with something that can be banked..assuming you are still in the banking window..it’s just not the OTU points.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You two explain it much more better than I do.