Is there a consensus about buying the “one time use” points?

[bobbiwoz]

Is it a good idea? Are they $16 now, so $384 for the 24 points? (Or $17, $408)?

We have the points, with borrowing, but after all the other borrowing we have done, it would leave us with less than 1/3 of our 2019 points, but of course, there is borrowing from 2020 to consider.

I do not get a feel from this board either way, are they good to use? Or is borrowing better?

We will have 7 adults in Aulani OVGV, we pay 5 nights, another Member pays with points 2 nights, ( she is going alone, so we figure “equal” would be staying only 6 nights, so we will spring for the extra night). The other 4 people split costs of rental van for week, and common food. We have gone twice before, we have always paid for accommodations, and others split costs, this arrangement has always “worked” for us.

The one time use points just came into my mind. Because they really cost us out of pocket money now, I do not think that’s a good way to go.

DH Insists on the GV, that’s fine, they look amazing. Some of our group are approaching 80 years! DH and I are celebrating 50 years this year. We have a lot to celebrate!

Bobbi

 

[bumbershoot]

I do not get a feel from this board either way, are they good to use? Or is borrowing better?

Doesn’t matter how we feel for our own trips. Only matters how you feel for your trips and what works for your future trips.

We used them once when our points were all used up and I wanted to change something. Worked out. I haven’t done it since because we haven’t needed to.

 

[DenLo]

We usually have plans for our future points and will purchase a few OTU to prevent dangling points from going to waste. However we have never purchased more than 8 points and that was to add a night to our Aulani reservation. I would think that if you need the One Time Use points every year it is time to add on.

 

[bwvBound]

I lean towards favoring one-time-use-points (OTUP) and will buy them to complete a reservation if/when appropriate. We generally live in a banking position and have an established pattern of splurging once every few years (like our Copper Creek Cabin stay this year) where we use up all our current + banked points all at once.

The way I figure, many reservations can't use OTUP ... so why not take advantage of them when you can?

FWIW, I've been managing my other points-based timeshare in a similar fashion for many years. I will always book on cash, if the reservation allows, and hoard my points for the "tough to get" reservations that can only be booked on qualified points. That seems to spare me from having to rent points, at unknown rates, at 'crunch time' when I'm stressing over snagging an important reservation.

Our poll on similar topic, run recently (Sept 2017), shows that almost half responding (45%) are not using OTUP. Then again, at least 14 said they use them quite regularly -- some across multiple memberships!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks. I can do it without the one time use points, and that’s what I have decided to do. Borrow 550, use 60 2018.


I have 7 VGF points in 2018 UY. I have March UY. I do not think I can bank them now, before March. Is that correct? I do not want to use those points for Aulani.

Thank you.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks. I can do it without the one time use points, and that’s what I have decided to do. Borrow 550, use 60 2018.


I have 7 VGF points in 2018 UY. I have March UY. I do not think I can bank them now, before March. Is that correct? I do not want to use those points for Aulani.

Thank you.

I generally say borrow before buying anything more.

You do have to wait for your March UY to start before you can bank the 2018 points into 2019. You'd be able to skip using that contract should you wish when you make the Aulani reservation.

 

[FindingTheMouse]

My personal thoughts on this are same as one of the posters above. If you get to a point of needing to purchase OTU points frequently it's time to add on. I haven't used OTU points yet as I am new to DVC, but I would do it for a small amount of points. I think if I needed the full 24 I'd see what other options I had.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I generally say borrow before buying anything more.

You do have to wait for your March UY to start before you can bank the 2018 points into 2019. You'd be able to skip using that contract should you wish when you make the Aulani reservation.

Ok, I will not use those 7 VGF for Aulani, and bank them into 2019 in March.

Thank you everyone. I am so happy to have this decided, and I have earmarked which points will be borrowed.

 

[kristenrice]

I am tossing the same idea around for this year as I am coming up on my 7-month window. I have my plans for next year's trip which involves extended family. I have already committed 167 of my AKV points to that trip. I own 100 and I had 55 banked points from 2017 left over. In 2020, we are planning to use our HHI points to go to HHI for spring break and do not really have a trip to WDW planned...yet....but that could change. So right now, as I near our 7-month window for this year's October trip, and I am looking at what is available to try and switch our reservation. I have 88 points that I want to use up...55 banked and 33 current which will leave me with the 67 I need to bank for next year's trip. I have been looking at options that will cost me 93-98 points though. In my mind, I would rather spend the money NOW to buy the OTU points rather than use the points I have and end up borrowing next year. Here's my reasoning...*IF* we do decide to go to WDW in 2020, it will most likely be another October trip AND we will want to take advantage of the new, lower cost of the value 1BR. As of 2019, the value 1BR is EXACTLY 100 points for the 5 nights that we typically travel. If I were to use ANY of those points now, I would not be able to book that trip in 2020. I will need those points at the 11-month window to secure that reservation for sure. I have the money available now and I budgeted for it so it's not a huge deal-breaker. In fact, I earned the money from Swagbucks (FREE!) so it isn't really even money out of my pocket.

 

[MooseBucks]

I generally say borrow before buying anything more.

You do have to wait for your March UY to start before you can bank the 2018 points into 2019. You'd be able to skip using that contract should you wish when you make the Aulani reservation.

Agreed. I would borrow before buying. Make sure you know what your plans are over the next few years and that can help answer the borrow/buy question.