Help with OTU points, MMB, and switching part of a reservation at 7 months

[magickingdomprincess]

I currently have 5 nights booked in June at BCV (our home resort) and I was originally going to add the 6th night (Sun) after buying OTU points at the 7 month mark but that night is no longer available. So, I think I want to switch our last 1-2 nights (Fri-Sat) plus add the Sun night to either BLT or Poly, depending on what's available in Nov at the 7 month mark. I figure if we have to do a split stay I'd like to at least have 2-3 nights at the new resort. Depending on which resort, we would need between 18-23 OTU points for 3 nights. Is my thinking correct that it would be cheaper to buy the 2025 MMB in Nov to get the BOGO price for those OTU points? Since I have a Feb UY and our trip is in our 2026 UY, I wouldn't really be able to use the other 2025 MBB benefits, correct? Also, I don't have 150 direct points but bought resale a long time ago and am grandfathered in for other benefits, so I should be eligible to purchase MMB, is that right?

As a separate but related question, what's the best way to go about the change logistically? I don't want to lose my nights I have booked for BCV, but would need the points from dropping the last 1-2 nights to have enough to book at the new resort. Any advice would be very much appreciated!

 

[Sandisw]

MMB benefits are for the calendar year so UY doesn’t matter.

If you want to buy OTU points in November 2025 and get the BOGO price, then you need to purchase it for 2025.

The rules for OTU are the same, so all that matters is you are buying them 7 months or less, which you would be.

You would still have access to any other benefit from MMB until end of December.

To have the benefits for 2026, you have to buy it for 2026…but then wouldn’t be able to buy the OTU points at the BOGO price for the June trip until January 1st, 2026 when the 2026 MMB benefits kick in.

In terms of making it work? You have to cancel first if you need those points.

Since you have to call MS to buy, they can at least tell you how many rooms they see at the resort you want to change to before you drop the BCV nights.

 

[toesmom]

I think the other thing to confirm is that you can only buy the OTU points in one transaction. You can’t buy 15 at one time and two weeks later try to buy another 5. My understanding is that this is a single purchase transaction.

 

[eticketplease]

I think the other thing to confirm is that you can only buy the OTU points in one transaction. You can’t buy 15 at one time and two weeks later try to buy another 5. My understanding is that this is a single purchase transaction.

I believe I read that @Sandisw confirmed you could still do multiple transactions as it is the same rules when purchasing OTUP they just show up in your account directly now as two different contracts

 

[WinterSolider]

I currently have 5 nights booked in June at BCV (our home resort) and I was originally going to add the 6th night (Sun) after buying OTU points at the 7 month mark but that night is no longer available. So, I think I want to switch our last 1-2 nights (Fri-Sat) plus add the Sun night to either BLT or Poly, depending on what's available in Nov at the 7 month mark. I figure if we have to do a split stay I'd like to at least have 2-3 nights at the new resort. Depending on which resort, we would need between 18-23 OTU points for 3 nights. Is my thinking correct that it would be cheaper to buy the 2025 MMB in Nov to get the BOGO price for those OTU points? Since I have a Feb UY and our trip is in our 2026 UY, I wouldn't really be able to use the other 2025 MBB benefits, correct? Also, I don't have 150 direct points but bought resale a long time ago and am grandfathered in for other benefits, so I should be eligible to purchase MMB, is that right?

As a separate but related question, what's the best way to go about the change logistically? I don't want to lose my nights I have booked for BCV, but would need the points from dropping the last 1-2 nights to have enough to book at the new resort. Any advice would be very much appreciated!

Just go buy 24 OTUP using your 2025 MMB benefit now for a fake trip in May. Then immediately cancel the reservation. Poof now you magically have 24 extra points in your account in your February 2026 use year that you can do with what you want. You don't need to call member services again and you don't have to guess exactly how many points you'll need.

When you make or change a reservation, use up all of your OTUP first and then you'll have a handful of extra normal points to bank to next year since you might not have needed exactly 24.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Just go buy 24 OTUP using your 2025 MMB benefit now for a fake trip in May. Then immediately cancel the reservation. Poof now you magically have 24 extra points in your account in your February 2026 use year that you can do with what you want. You don't need to call member services again and you don't have to guess exactly how many points you'll need.

When you make or change a reservation, use up all of your OTUP first and then you'll have a handful of extra normal points to bank to next year since you might not have needed exactly 24.

Do OTU points show in our dashboard to use? I am in a similar situation as original poster, want to do MMB 2026 and get the OTU for a potential Sept/Oct 2026 trip booking at 7 mth mark, but I just want it all settled so I can book at 8a that day 7 mth opens up.

 

[eticketplease]

Do OTU points show in our dashboard to use? I am in a similar situation as original poster, want to do MMB 2026 and get the OTU for a potential Sept/Oct 2026 trip booking at 7 mth mark, but I just want it all settled so I can book at 8a that day 7 mth opens up.

I'm not sure if they show up directly in the Vacation Points box on the left of the dashboard since I have used all of mine.
However they did make a change recently (maybe 6 months ago) that if you click on "Manage Vacation points" in that same box you will then see all of the contracts including OTUP and transferred contracts.

If you do what @WinterSolider said call and book a fake reservation consisting of 24 OTUP for the use year you want to use the OTUP.
Sep 7 month booking opens in February so if you have a February use year this is perfect as long as it's not Sep 1 when you actually want to travel.
Call Feb 1 and ask to them to make a reservation for you using OTUP for BLT - 1 BR Resort view, VGF - Resort Studio Theme Park view, PVB - Studio Theme Park or SSR - 1 BR Preferred as these are exactly 24 points.

After the points have been purchased (hopefully you will be able to use MMB to cut your costs from $480 to $339 ($99 MB + $240 BOGO OTUP)) and you have hung up you will login to your dashboard and cancel the reservation that was just made.

Now when you go to book a reservation at 7 months at 8 am make sure to select the OTUP contract(s) (If using MB they have been splitting them up) along with whatever other contracts you wish to use to book the room.

Edit to add if you had a Feb use year you could call in as early as July 1 to do this but you will need to find something that is 24 points (PVB Preferred view Studio Longhouse or Tower, PVB Premium View Studio, VDH Garden Room Studio, HHI 2 Bedroom or just combine with some of your points if you have to go over since you will be cancelling anyways.

If you do it on July 1 for a Feb use year then you have your entire use year to use those OTUP which you can not bank.

 

[WinterSolider]

Do OTU points show in our dashboard to use? I am in a similar situation as original poster, want to do MMB 2026 and get the OTU for a potential Sept/Oct 2026 trip booking at 7 mth mark, but I just want it all settled so I can book at 8a that day 7 mth opens up.

It doesn't show up on the Dashboard screen itself but it shows up when you go to book a reservation. In this screenshot, you can see my two real contracts at Old Key West and Aulani. The contract that says Grand Cal is my OTUP (which I've already used which is why it shows 0). I don't actually own at Grand Cal. This is in the booking screen after you've searched for your resort and dates.

 

[atthebeachclub]

When buying OTU points with MMB, does the reservation have to be in the calendar year for MMB? I'm trying to determine when I can purchase.

 

[eticketplease]

When buying OTU points with MMB, does the reservation have to be in the calendar year for MMB? I'm trying to determine when I can purchase.

No I purchased in December and then bought later in 2025

 

[WinterSolider]

When buying OTU points with MMB, does the reservation have to be in the calendar year for MMB? I'm trying to determine when I can purchase.

You have to make the purchase (i.e. conduct the actual transaction) in the year of your membership. Use Year doesn't matter and reservation date doesn't matter.

In October 2025 I purchased December 2025 UY points for a February 2026 trip using my 2025 MMB.

 

[Sandisw]

I believe I read that @Sandisw confirmed you could still do multiple transactions as it is the same rules when purchasing OTUP they just show up in your account directly now as two different contracts

This is correct. Originally it was but that changed pretty quickly.

Now, you can buy them as many times as you need until you reach the maximum of 24 per UY.

 

[eticketplease]

You have to make the purchase (i.e. conduct the actual transaction) in the year of your membership. Use Year doesn't matter and reservation date doesn't matter.

In October 2025 I purchased December 2025 UY points for a February 2026 trip using my 2025 MMB.

This is not quite correct.

I purchased MMB in December 2024 when it first went on sale.

I then bought OTUP later on in 2025 but was not still in the use year that I wanted to buy them for.

The date I purchased them was at the 7 month mark for the first day of my use year.

Those points were then able to be used for the entire length of my use year if I cancelled the reservation that I purchased them for.

Use year certainly matters as you want the OTUP to be for when you are actually taking the trip as these OTUP are use or lose it.

 

[Sandisw]

This is not quite correct.

I purchased MMB in December 2024 when it first went on sale.

I then bought OTUP later on in 2025 but was not still in the use year that I wanted to buy them for.

The date I purchased them was at the 7 month mark for the first day of my use year.

Those points were then able to be used for the entire length of my use year if I cancelled the reservation that I purchased them for.

Use year certainly matters as you want the OTUP to be for when you are actually taking the trip as these OTUP are use or lose it.

But the reason you got the price you got was because you bought them in 2025 under your 2025 MMB benefit.

Rules for OTU points didn’t change with this program…they are always valid for the entire UY of trip…

It didn’t matter what UY your trip was taking place to get the BOGO price…you bought them in 2025 for a trip that quailed for OTU points…meaning 7 months or less from the date of purchase.

Basically, date of purchase determines the price, nothing more.

If you have 2025 MMB, you are entitled to get the BOGO price for one set of them by purchasing in 2025.

Same for 2026…one set bought in 2026 for the BOGO price, following the rules of OTU points.

 

[eticketplease]

But the reason you got the price you got was because you bought them in 2025 under your 2025 MMB benefit.

I didn't realize @WinterSolider and you are referring to MMB as a membership. The website does not describe MMB as a membership but as a benefits package for your DVC Membership. While the benefit package starts in January and ends in December your DVC Membership does not.

The point that was stated was it had to be in the year of the membership which is not true.
It is true that in order to receive the savings of the BOGO use points that those points must be purchased during the period of time that you have paid for the MMB add on.

Rules for OTU points didn’t change with this program…they are always valid for the entire UY of trip…

I never said anything differently. I only stated by purchasing them on the first day of my use year that they would be valid for my entire use year if I cancelled that first day.
They are not valid in for the full year in @WinterSolider previous example of purchasing them in October for a February trip and having a Dec use year. With that example and cancelling the February trip OTUP would only be good for roughly 9 months. Now there wasn't much detail in the example but it is possible that they bought in October for December 1 and as long as they weren't buying on Halloween the points wouldn't go into holding when they cancelled the trip in order to make the February booking.

Basically, date of purchase determines the price, nothing more.

Perhaps the date of purchase for MMB may not matter that much (it still matters if you have earlier trips and would miss out on early lounge access and such) the date of purchase certainly matters when buying OTUP.
If I have a December use year and have already purchased MMB and want to use OTUP for a trip in July 2026 I can not buy OTUP in February 2025 for this to work.
Yes I would receive the BOGO OTUP however those points would go to my December 2024 Use Year and would expire on November 30, 2025.
In order for this scenario to work and take advantage of the discount the earliest I could purchase the OTUP would be May 1st 2025 for a fake reservation of December 1, 2025 ensuring that the OTUP were in the proper use year.

If you have 2025 MMB, you are entitled to get the BOGO price for one set of them by purchasing in 2025.

Same for 2026…one set bought in 2026 for the BOGO price, following the rules of OTU points.

This is correct for the most part although you have already stated that you can purchase multiple sets.
You can purchase MMB at any time (I purchased in 2024) and once that MMB Benefit Period is active (1/12/25 for the first year) until the end of that said period (12/31/25) you are then able to purchase up 12 OTUP and will be given an additional OTUP for free which maxes out at the DVC limit of 24 OTUP acquired per use year. Again it does matter when you purchase the OTUP as to which use year they will be useable in.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Piggybacking this thread because it's too similar to make a new thread. As much as I have read about OTUP and MMB, I'm still massively unsure about how to execute a purchase. I'd appreciate it if anyone can answer these questions as if I am completely clueless about how to use it.

I'll be purchasing MMB for 2026. My use year is June. I have approximately 300 points available for 2026.

If I want to book an August 2026 reservation, when I go to book it in January, do I need to use up all my 300 points in order to buy OTUP? Can I call and ask for the maximum OTUP and only use 200 of my current points?

Assuming it's a fake booking that I'll cancel in order to get the OTUP, will those points expire at the end of my 2026 use year?

I just don't understand how people are buying the points and having them in their accounts for future stuff.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

It doesn't show up on the Dashboard screen itself but it shows up when you go to book a reservation. In this screenshot, you can see my two real contracts at Old Key West and Aulani. The contract that says Grand Cal is my OTUP (which I've already used which is why it shows 0). I don't actually own at Grand Cal. This is in the booking screen after you've searched for your resort and dates.

View attachment 1020971

Ahh okay, thanks. It's like how transferred points used to appear as well. Will definitely be doing this. Love the BOGO OTU to preserve points.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

You have to make the purchase (i.e. conduct the actual transaction) in the year of your membership. Use Year doesn't matter and reservation date doesn't matter.

In October 2025 I purchased December 2025 UY points for a February 2026 trip using my 2025 MMB.

Okay here is where I am a little confused: I bought MMB in 2025 and asked that they apply these OTU points to my March 2026 reservation. My UY is March, therefore the OTU went towards a 2026 UY reservation, but it was my 2025 MMB. Does that mean I can't get anymore for 2026 even if I get a 2026 MMB? I'm glad some people are experienced and understand this

 

[eticketplease]

Okay here is where I am a little confused: I bought MMB in 2025 and asked that they apply these OTU points to my March 2026 reservation. My UY is March, therefore the OTU went towards a 2026 UY reservation, but it was my 2025 MMB. Does that mean I can't get anymore for 2026 even if I get a 2026 MMB? I'm glad some people are experienced and understand this

Yes that is correct since you can only acquire 24 OTUP per membership. If you had a different use year or another contract that was titled differently then you could buy another 24 for that membership.

However that is not the case for you most likely and you just have one membership.

What you will be able to do is after buying MMB for 2026 is purchase the OTUP for March 2027 as early as August 1st you can call to buy the OTUP to reserve a fake reservation for March 1, 2027

 

[eticketplease]

Piggybacking this thread because it's too similar to make a new thread. As much as I have read about OTUP and MMB, I'm still massively unsure about how to execute a purchase. I'd appreciate it if anyone can answer these questions as if I am completely clueless about how to use it.

I'll be purchasing MMB for 2026. My use year is June. I have approximately 300 points available for 2026.

If I want to book an August 2026 reservation, when I go to book it in January, do I need to use up all my 300 points in order to buy OTUP? Can I call and ask for the maximum OTUP and only use 200 of my current points?

Assuming it's a fake booking that I'll cancel in order to get the OTUP, will those points expire at the end of my 2026 use year?

I just don't understand how people are buying the points and having them in their accounts for future stuff.

You do not need to use any of your points to buy the OTUP and make the reservation. You certainly can combine your points when you buy the OTUP but please remember that it is for a reservation 7 months out. While OTUP are not restricted you wouldn’t be able to combine them with O14 restricted resale points to book @ RIV, VDH or CFW and likewise you wouldn’t be able to combine the OTUP with restricted RIV, VDH or CFW points to stay at the O14 resorts.

Since August is 7 months from January you might be able to do it on Jan 1 if MS is open. If it is later in August I would buy the OTUP as early in January as possible and then cancel so that the points are available for your use at 8 am EST to book it.