Do one time use points have any resort restrictions? How to modify the OTU reservation?

[dsny105]

We plan to purchase Membership Magic and also purchase one-time use points when the 7-month window opens to complete a reservation at BLT. Have never purchased one time use points before.
We'd like to modify the BLT reservation to Riviera if availability opens up. Our BLT points are direct (we have other contracts in the same membership with resale restrictions). Am I correct in thinking we would be able to move the OTU points to a Riviera reservation? Are they linked to one of our direct contracts?

Would I be able to do this modification online if I see the room become available, or would it take a call to Member Services?

Also, since we'll need more than 24 points for the reservation, we'll also have to borrow some, though I'd like it to be as few as possible. Will they make me borrow all the points I need since I could do so, or can I just supplement the OTU points with borrowed points?

Thanks!

 

[Sandisw]

Because they are direct points, they are not restricted.

You can combine with your other direct points for RIv and they will work online since you’d be booking 7 months or less.

They do not require you to borrow or use all you have. You can buy the full amount!

 

[dsny105]

Because they are direct points, they are not restricted.

You can combine with your other direct points for RIv and they will work online since you’d be booking 7 months or less.

They do not require you to borrow or use all you have. You can buy the full amount!

Wonderful! Thank you!

 

[lovin'fl]

Initially buying them, you have to call in to MS to buy and book with them.

 

[DanCali]

We plan to purchase Membership Magic and also purchase one-time use points when the 7-month window opens to complete a reservation at BLT. Have never purchased one time use points before.
We'd like to modify the BLT reservation to Riviera if availability opens up. Our BLT points are direct (we have other contracts in the same membership with resale restrictions). Am I correct in thinking we would be able to move the OTU points to a Riviera reservation? Are they linked to one of our direct contracts?

Would I be able to do this modification online if I see the room become available, or would it take a call to Member Services?

Also, since we'll need more than 24 points for the reservation, we'll also have to borrow some, though I'd like it to be as few as possible. Will they make me borrow all the points I need since I could do so, or can I just supplement the OTU points with borrowed points?

Thanks!

Once you but the points, they can be used online to modify, and they are usable at any resort.

If you cancel a reservation, you will see them as another contract when you try to book again.

They are attached to some random contract, which may or may not be your home resort - in my case one is 12 AKV points and the other is 12 SSR points. This took me off guard at first because now I see always SSR as a default home resort when I go to book even if those OTU points are tied up in a reservation

 

[eticketplease]

You probably want to look at purchasing them before 7 months of your trip as they can only be purchased through MS 1 hour after online booking has started.

I use David’s calculator and look for one day near the start of my use year that is exactly 24 points (or a little more if I have some points) that most likely would be available such as preferred RIV studio, CFW cabin, PVB studio, VGF resort studio. After finding that day I call at 7 months from that day and purchase the OTUP for that reservation.

Afterwards I cancel it and as @DanCali mentioned it 2 12 point contracts will appear in your dashboard to select when booking at 8 am at 7 months along with your BLT direct points and other resale if you instead want to try for PIT instead of RIV.

Even though the contracts show in your dashboard they DO NOT give you the 7-11 month booking advantage and can still only be used at the 7 month window.

 

[dsny105]

Once you but the points, they can be used online to modify, and they are usable at any resort.

If you cancel a reservation, you will see them as another contract when you try to book again.

They are attached to some random contract, which may or may not be your home resort - in my case one is 12 AKV points and the other is 12 SSR points. This took me off guard at first because now I see always SSR as a default home resort when I go to book even if those OTU points are tied up in a reservation



View attachment 950762

Thanks! Very helpful!

 

[dsny105]

You probably want to look at purchasing them before 7 months of your trip as they can only be purchased through MS 1 hour after online booking has started.

I use David’s calculator and look for one day near the start of my use year that is exactly 24 points (or a little more if I have some points) that most likely would be available such as preferred RIV studio, CFW cabin, PVB studio, VGF resort studio. After finding that day I call at 7 months from that day and purchase the OTUP for that reservation.

Afterwards I cancel it and as @DanCali mentioned it 2 12 point contracts will appear in your dashboard to select when booking at 8 am at 7 months along with your BLT direct points and other resale if you instead want to try for PIT instead of RIV.

Even though the contracts show in your dashboard they DO NOT give you the 7-11 month booking advantage and can still only be used at the 7 month window.

Sounds good! I'll plan on doing this.

 

[Sandisw]

Sounds good! I'll plan on doing this.

Just to add, make sure that when you choose that random dare to purchase, it is at least 31 days into the future and it’s in the same UY that the trip is you want.

For example, let’s say you are going in Oct 2025 with an Aug UY…

In order for OTU points to be good then, you have to choose that random night for check in August 1st or beyond.

If not, they’d expire end of July 31st, 2025.

 

[dsny105]

Just to add, make sure that when you choose that random dare to purchase, it is at least 31 days into the future and it’s in the same UY that the trip is you want.

For example, let’s say you are going in Oct 2025 with an Aug UY…

In order for OTU points to be good then, you have to choose that random night for check in August 1st or beyond.

If not, they’d expire end of July 31st, 2025.

Perfect example, as we have an August use year. I'll be sure to choose a date after 8/1/25. Thanks again!

 

[eticketplease]

Perfect example, as we have an August use year. I'll be sure to choose a date after 8/1/25. Thanks again!

So you can do that now.

Plenty of SSR 1 Bed Preferred rooms that are 24 points exactly in September 2025.

I'm pretty sure MS can enroll you in MMB first if not already enrolled to get the BOGO OTUP. (Wow DVC/DVC has too many acronyms!!)

After you buy then as mentioned just cancel it and it will appear on your dashboard to combine with other reservations at the 7 month mark.
Just remember OTUP must be used at the end of your use year as @Sandisw pointed out so that would mean that the reservation would need to take place during 8/1/25-7/31/26.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you cancel a reservation, you will see them as another contract when you try to book again.

I just did exactly this. It was easy, and the call only took about ten minutes, followed by cancelling the dummy SSR reservation and re-booking an existing 7-month trip to free up some bankable points.

It's a surprisingly good deal---to the point that I suspect that it will not exist in this form/price point next year. Part of me wonders if this is a way for DVCMC to shed some points used for Disney Collection reservations in the face of reduced travel demand. Better to get something than nothing.

 

[DanCali]

It's a surprisingly good deal---to the point that I suspect that it will not exist in this form/price point next year. Part of me wonders if this is a way for DVCMC to shed some points used for Disney Collection reservations in the face of reduced travel demand. Better to get something than nothing.

Maybe, but I also suspect that for each person taking advantage of this deal you have more than one other person paying the MMB fee and not reaping much benefit beyond intangible (but pretty costless to DVC) benefits like priority lounge access. Those "pure profit" $99 fees could would more than cover the lost (expected) opportunity cost of those points. I added "expected" because, like you said, there may be some probability those points become worthless.

 

[Brian Noble]

All I know is that every time I find myself saying: "Wow, this is a good value!" at Walt Disney World, it is either discontinued or made significantly more expensive, and fast.

 

[mickeymom629]

You probably want to look at purchasing them before 7 months of your trip as they can only be purchased through MS 1 hour after online booking has started.

I use David’s calculator and look for one day near the start of my use year that is exactly 24 points (or a little more if I have some points) that most likely would be available such as preferred RIV studio, CFW cabin, PVB studio, VGF resort studio. After finding that day I call at 7 months from that day and purchase the OTUP for that reservation.

Afterwards I cancel it and as @DanCali mentioned it 2 12 point contracts will appear in your dashboard to select when booking at 8 am at 7 months along with your BLT direct points and other resale if you instead want to try for PIT instead of RIV.

Even though the contracts show in your dashboard they DO NOT give you the 7-11 month booking advantage and can still only be used at the 7 month window.

Are you saying that MS allows you to buy 24 OTU pts and use them alone (w/o any of your own points) to book?

Another, off topic question, do I need to call MS to use transferred points? While I don't see the points in my account, I do see the resort they were from as 'home resort' when I go to plan a vacation.

 

[eticketplease]

Are you saying that MS allows you to buy 24 OTU pts and use them alone (w/o any of your own points) to book?

Yes!!

I do this on a regular basis.

7 months from the start of my use year I call in and ask to book a room that is exactly 24 points for the first of my use year and and state I want to do so by purchasing OTUP.

After getting it in done I log in to the dashboard and cancel the reservation.

I now have 24 more points for the 7 month window

The points will not show in your dashboard but when you go to book you will need to select the contact that the OTUP came from along with your contacts.

With the BOGO OTUP they have switched things up a tad it seems.

In my personal experience and reported by others you will actually have 2 12 point OTUP contracts to select when booking as opposed to the normal 1 of 24 points.

 

[eticketplease]

Another, off topic question, do I need to call MS to use transferred points? While I don't see the points in my account, I do see the resort they were from as 'home resort' when I go to plan a vacation.

Sorry all of my contacts are in the same use year and I have never transferred points in.

Hopefully someone else can chime in here

 

[Mathmagicland]

Just to add, make sure that when you choose that random dare to purchase, it is at least 31 days into the future and it’s in the same UY that the trip is you want.

For example, let’s say you are going in Oct 2025 with an Aug UY…

In order for OTU points to be good then, you have to choose that random night for check in August 1st or beyond.

If not, they’d expire end of July 31st, 2025.

I am a bit confused. MMB year ends in December. If I get OTU points in April to use after Aug1 for during an AugUY, could those points be used in January 2026 for a booking within the 7-month window? So after the expiration of the MMB year? I was thinking OTU points expired at end of MMB year. I realize I couldn’t book a January 7-month until June. Here’s what I am wondering -

Get OTU points in April for random September booking.
Cancel the September booking to save the OTU for another time
Could I book in June for January, within 7-month window, using the OTU points?

 

[Sandisw]

I am a bit confused. MMB year ends in December. If I get OTU points in April to use after Aug1 for during an AugUY, could those points be used in January 2026 for a booking within the 7-month window? So after the expiration of the MMB year? I was thinking OTU points expired at end of MMB year. I realize I couldn’t book a January 7-month until June. Here’s what I am wondering -

Get OTU points in April for random September booking.
Cancel the September booking to save the OTU for another time
Could I book in June for January, within 7-month window, using the OTU points?

You simply have to purchase them on 2025 to get BOGO free. They would then follow the same rules as always,

So, if you book for a trip in June for January, you get the BOGO free. If you cancel that trip, those points will expire at end of your UY, which is July 31sr, 2026

It can get confusing because the MMB is calendar year vs OTU points which are per UY.

 

[Mathmagicland]

You simply have to purchase them on 2025 to get BOGO free. They would then follow the same rules as always,

So, if you book for a trip in June for January, you get the BOGO free. If you cancel that trip, those points will expire at end of your UY, which is July 31sr, 2026

It can get confusing because the MMB is calendar year vs OTU points which are per UY.

Thank you for clarifying !

Seems this might allow stacking of OTU points every other year? Presuming they offer this again in 2026, get 24 more in January and then use the 48 to book something in the first half of 2026? Possibly risky if no bookings open to use all of those points before the 2025 ones expired.