Can you "buy" one time use points to get you past the 50% borrow cap?

[DSLRuser]

MY current use year + 50% of next year has me at 189 points. Trip I want is 202 points.

Can I buy 13 one time use points to add to my 189?

 

[CarolMN]

Yes, if you are booking after the 7 month window opens. But first try asking for an exception to the borrowing rule since you don't need a lot of points and have them available. Several posters have reported getting some pixie dust in similar situations. Good luck.

 

[Marionnette]

MY current use year + 50% of next year has me at 189 points. Trip I want is 202 points.

Can I buy 13 one time use points to add to my 189?

You can...at 7 months. OTUPs cannot b used for hoe resort bookings between 11 - 7 months.

 

[DSLRuser]

Thanks all

I assume I have to do this on the phone? Can I book via the web page....putting me over......then call to sort it out? Dont want to miss my rest because I am on the phone for 3 hours.

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks all

I assume I have to do this on the phone? Can I book via the web page....putting me over......then call to sort it out? Dont want to miss my rest because I am on the phone for 3 hours.

You have to call in order to purchase OTUPs and you have to make a reservation using them during that phone call.

I don't know of the website will even allow you to borrow more than 50% of next year's points but it does warn that your reservation will be canceled if you do.

I recommend booking what you can with the points you have then calling MS to buy the OTUPs. The CM can modify the reservation to add the additional night(s) using those OTUPs.

 

[redboat45]

Yep I had to buy 1 OTU point for my June reservation (eyeroll).

 

[thanxfornoticin]

The web site will definitely not allow anyone to borrow more than 50% at this time. The site actually limits the points - you'll see what's available.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks all

I assume I have to do this on the phone? Can I book via the web page....putting me over......then call to sort it out? Dont want to miss my rest because I am on the phone for 3 hours.

If it were me, I would not book with over borrowing as it could end up canceled.

I’d book what I could, then call to see an exception.

I just wanted one to go over my SSR but was denied because I did have points from RIV to borrow and stay below.

I think if both had been maxed out I would have had better luck.

 

[chicagodisfan]

I just completed a survey about the DVC website when I was on a week ago or so that asked if I knew that I could now book one time use points on the website. I didn’t know and so I answered that way. I didn’t need to for the reservations I was making so I didn’t go search it out but I was wondering if that meant it was now possible to do so. I might need that for our March reservations next year so it would be great if there was a way to do that on the website and not lose a high demand reservation at 7 months.

 

[Sandisw]

I just completed a survey about the DVC website when I was on a week ago or so that asked if I knew that I could now book one time use points on the website. I didn’t know and so I answered that way. I didn’t need to for the reservations I was making so I didn’t go search it out but I was wondering if that meant it was now possible to do so. I might need that for our March reservations next year so it would be great if there was a way to do that on the website and not lose a high demand reservation at 7 months.

I think they were referring to the change that once you call to buy them, you can modify trips online.

If you cancel and need to book again, you can do that online.

But it still requires a call to purchase them.

 

[kes601]

If you have fear of the room disappearing while you call and wait to speak to somebody, go ahead and start the booking process for the single night. When you get to the first step (the one wear it asks you which contract to use) the room should in theory be removed from inventory. Stay on this page until you speak to MS. They will tell you when they are in the spot to modify your existing reservation and will instruct you to release the room. It is not 100% guaranteed they will be able to get it, but since the room will have just returned to inventory it is likely they'll be able to.

We did this earlier in the week because I had to buy 1 stinking OTU (our fault for banking early) to extend our trip by one night on the beginning side. We are only 40 days out so I knew it was likely the only room available. When I released the room the CM saw it and we continued the booking process over the phone.

 

[Sandisw]

If you have fear of the room disappearing while you call and wait to speak to somebody, go ahead and start the booking process for the single night. When you get to the first step (the one wear it asks you which contract to use) the room should in theory be removed from inventory. Stay on this page until you speak to MS. They will tell you when they are in the spot to modify your existing reservation and will instruct you to release the room. It is not 100% guaranteed they will be able to get it, but since the room will have just returned to inventory it is likely they'll be able to.

We did this earlier in the week because I had to buy 1 stinking OTU (our fault for banking early) to extend our trip by one night on the beginning side. We are only 40 days out so I knew it was likely the only room available. When I released the room the CM saw it and we continued the booking process over the phone.

Just FYI, I had a room that got stuck in cyber space for about 15 minutes so that is something to be aware of.

 

[kes601]

Just FYI, I had a room that got stuck in cyber space for about 15 minutes so that is something to be aware of.

Good point. We had that happen the night before when my wife and I were shifting the reservation by a day (assuming the first night would be harder to get than getting the last night back...the one I ultimately called about).

 

[AaronEuth]

If you have fear of the room disappearing while you call and wait to speak to somebody, go ahead and start the booking process for the single night. When you get to the first step (the one wear it asks you which contract to use) the room should in theory be removed from inventory. Stay on this page until you speak to MS. They will tell you when they are in the spot to modify your existing reservation and will instruct you to release the room. It is not 100% guaranteed they will be able to get it, but since the room will have just returned to inventory it is likely they'll be able to.

We did this earlier in the week because I had to buy 1 stinking OTU (our fault for banking early) to extend our trip by one night on the beginning side. We are only 40 days out so I knew it was likely the only room available. When I released the room the CM saw it and we continued the booking process over the phone.

An alternative is to find a completely unrelated hotel room stay ahead of the 7 month window, that costs the required amount of points. Call and purchase OTU and book that room. Then cancel that reservation. Now you have OTU points visible and loaded on your account, ready for use at seven months. You can also do this to borrow, if that particular bug is a concern.

However, once you do it, you are committed to using the borrowed and OTU points in that use year. There is no going back. So be confident that you will at least use those points in some fashion.

 

[chicagodisfan]

I think they were referring to the change that once you call to buy them, you can modify trips online.

If you cancel and need to book again, you can do that online.

But it still requires a call to purchase them.

Ah, that makes sense. Thank you!

 

[han22735]

I would absolutely call and ask nicely for an exception to borrow more rather than buy the OTUP.

 

[Darklord77]

The web site will definitely not allow anyone to borrow more than 50% at this time. The site actually limits the points - you'll see what's available.

Have you personally tried this? The website let me and I did book with going over the 50% two weeks ago. My reservation has not been cancelled and it has been 9 or 10 business days since I made it.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Have you personally tried this? The website let me and I did book with going over the 50% two weeks ago. My reservation has not been cancelled and it has been 9 or 10 business days since I made it.

So, as an example, you have 150 points next year. The site will show you have access to 75 for borrowing. But you could somehow enter more than the 75 and it let you do it? I tried it once several months back and it wouldn't allow me to move forward with more than the '75'. It made sense to me at the time (I didn't notice the upper limit for borrowing until it didn't allow it). Not sure I'd feel comfortable doing something like that through the web site at this time of restrictions.

 

[Darklord77]

So, as an example, you have 150 points next year. The site will show you have access to 75 for borrowing. But you could somehow enter more than the 75 and it let you do it? I tried it once several months back and it wouldn't allow me to move forward with more than the '75'. It made sense to me at the time (I didn't notice the upper limit for borrowing until it didn't allow it). Not sure I'd feel comfortable doing something like that through the web site at this time of restrictions.

I might have been incorrect about it allowing me to borrow more than 50%. I have two contracts and there were other moving parts (a waitlist that came through recently in my actual use year). After doing a deep dive into my points summary on the website it looks like DVC adjusted points from use years, which put my remaining point balance under the 50% threshold before I made the recent reservation.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I might have been incorrect about it allowing me to borrow more than 50%. I have two contracts and there were other moving parts (a waitlist that came through recently in my actual use year). After doing a deep dive into my points summary on the website it looks like DVC adjusted points from use years, which put my remaining point balance under the 50% threshold before I made the recent reservation.

Sometimes it seems we need a Masters Degree in handling DVC points! It's probably a PhD at times, with multiple UY contracts, especially with the restrictions put in place with the pandemic!