Membership Magic Beyond

[Sandisw]

80 for a renewal seems like actually a pretty good rate…. I fully acknowledge there are better uses of points, but particularly for those who have large number of points, that could not be too bad…

For a family of four to buy 320 points just to renew passes, that I question… But for folks who are maybe now empty nesters, and don’t need as many points as they did before, it could be a great use!

But it’s not like an entire family has to use points. Buy one with points and pay the rest…can still save you money.

it’s a unique offer and will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[MISCdisney21]

Because…OTU points are ONLY GOOD for 7month NEW ressies - you can’t use them to ‘replace’ points from your original booking…but if those limitations work for you - then yup - it’s a good deal!

I get that, I’m using sap from Saratoga at 7 months anyway so could work for me.

Im not one trying to get hard bookings at beach or all value rooms, etc. Again depends on your situation but I see value in those bogo OTU points,

 

[New Mouse]

So where's the value in this?

OTUP are $14 after all is said and done. The lounge access is relatively worthless and a pathetic add on their part. The annual pass for points is absurdly priced. Memory maker? I guess, but most people use their phones for photos now.

 

[Cfabar1]

Now, can you use those OTUP to purchase the annual pass?

 

[RachaelA]

We're AP holders with Memory Maker, never use OTU points, and never use the lounges, but I already know were spending $99 so my wife can meet special characters,

We use the Epcot lounge but other than that we are just like you guys. I’ll make my family go out of the way for characters

 

[BrianLa]

Nope, you definitely don’t need to be out of points. But you do have to call in to MS and have a date in mind to book within the 7mo window. Usually, I book a throw away night somewhere with at least that many points and then cancel after they book it for the real reason I need it.

Thanks. Once you cancel those points, are they available just as your normal points are available or do you need to call MS to use the OTUP?

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

Thanks. Once you cancel those points, are they available just as your normal points are available or do you need to call MS to use the OTUP?

Both times I purchased and canceled I was able to use them as normal, aside from banking and borrowing of course (and both times I got VGC points, so it comes up as one of my home resorts which is funny and has me feeling very fancy when I look at my dashboard) but I feel like some have said they couldn’t see it in their dashboards?…maybe that only happens with transferred points so I could be confusing those things.

 

[PrincessKL]

I guess I was trying to explain for others that you can buy OTU points, cancel that night, and potentially use for the same nights you booked by being strategic in watching for 7 month availability and allow you to free up your own points as would now have them in your account.

In this situation, is it because the night at the beginning or the end of your trip is not available initially at 7-months, so you have to buy OTU points for a “fake” night? Or is it because you cannot buy OTU points for the night that you already booked?

Let’s say I have 5 nights booked and it is within 7 months window. Now I want to change the first two nights of my 5 nights trip to AKV or SSR using OTU points and the room is available, can I call MS to buy OTU points and book these two nights, then drop the 5 nights I booked earlier to 3 nights?

After you cancel the “fake” night, what do you do with the OTU points if the night you really want never open up? I guess you have to just book another trip or rent them out before the points expire?

Is it possible to make a waitlist for the room I need and then if the waitlist goes through it will take these OTU points first?

 

[Helaman]

As a fellow UK DVC-er, I’m not sure I get the benefits for us.

The UK park tickets are cheaper even with the discounts offered here.

And we have a sorcerer AP anyway. I guess the MM add on is alright, but you get that for free with UK tickets and we just add it on to one of our APs anyway.

We non US residents are excluded from the offer anyway.

 

[Skicks35]

You also can’t use it on the weekend, so adding days to it seems counterproductive.

True, but if we get eight days to use the five, you could theoretically skip Sat/Sun anyway if you start on any day other than Monday, right?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Correct

Purchase of Walt Disney World® Resort Five-Day Date-Based Weekday Theme Park Ticket Plus One Water Park Visit: From time to time, Members enrolled in the Optional Benefit Program are granted the ability to purchase up to eight (8), five (5)-day, date-based, weekday tickets (“WDW Tickets”). Each WDW Ticket allows access to one (1) WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort theme park per day (for a total of five (5) theme park visits) Monday through Friday only and provides one (1)-day admission to either Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park OR Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park (whichever is open).

One park per day…. that’s going to be a hard no from me….

 

[Cyberc1978]

I sent an email to DVC, so we'll see what they say. Not holding out much hope though. I have purchased add-on points direct by phone from Canada so not sure what is the reason in this case.

It says U.S. citizens (or residents, can't recall off-hand), so not sure. I'll see what they say as I inquired by email.

It’ll be interesting to see how they respond. They may be limited in what they could say though. International people figured out how to get around the pre-purchase LL but Disney stayed tight lipped there, sticking to the word of law and not giving advice or explanation why is wouldn’t be as big a deal as it first seemed. Maybe that too would be breaking the law.

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/international-guests-advance-booking-lightning-lanes-disney-world/

“It’s our understanding that this relates to regulatory issues and laws outside of the United States (particularly in Europe), and it’s easier for Walt Disney World to ‘opt out’ of those by not offering the app than it is complying with a variety of local laws. That may annoy you, but Disney isn’t the only American company weighing whether it’s worth having a presence in certain foreign markets due to these added costs of doing business.

In any case, it also makes sense for Walt Disney World to make this “rule” as easy as possible to side-step, with an easy solution and wink-and-nod type attitude towards guests who break the “rule” (air quotes all around). All Disney is going for is ostensible regulatory compliance–they couldn’t care less what guests do (to the contrary, they want people spending as much money as possible), so long as Disney doesn’t draw undo legal scrutiny in international markets.”

Anyone knows what a U.S resident is, seen from Disneys perspective?

I mean if all it takes is an ITIN, then many foreign DVC'ers have that already. You get that when you buy DVC from another foreigner or sell one of your contracts.

When searching online the legal explanation I get:

United States resident​

(A)The term “United States resident” means— (i)any individual who— (I)is a United States citizen or a resident alien and does not have a tax home (as defined in) in a foreign country, or (II)is a nonresident alien and has a tax home (as so defined) in the United States, and (ii)any corporation, trust, or estate which is a United States person (as defined in).

Since I don't live in the U.S but have an ITIN and paid tax in the U.S do I fall under the category II, a nonresident alien and has a tax home (as so defined) in the United States ?

 

[Cfabar1]

One park per day…. that’s going to be a hard no from me….

I may be in the minority but I hate park hopping... wouldn't affect me...

I'll be curious to see what the savings are compared to annual passes... and what the limitations are.... (i.e. can you purchase 8, then your spouse purchase 8; how long do unused days last, etc.)

 

[nalababybear]

One park per day…. that’s going to be a hard no from me….

• per the 2025 Benefit Season.
• WDW Tickets are eligible to add the Park Hopper option for an additional fee

 

[nalababybear]

• DLR Tickets require the Member to choose the dates of visit at the time of purchase in order to make park reservations for such dates. Park reservations are subject to availability. DLR Tickets are valid for use on weekdays beginning on January 12, 2025, subject to park reservations, and expire thirteen (13) days after first use or on December 31, 2025, whichever occurs first.

Bummer 13 day restriction so not like the socal promotion to use over 4months.

Has hopper add in option too

This can be good if used over blackout times on magic keys .

 

[klcts]

Disney missed the boat on this one. Should have been some kind of tier system for families that have bought more direct points. We shouldn't have to pay extra for any of these benefits. Again, Disney is not taking care of their primary fan base. Just my opinion!!!

 

[tx911]

Disney missed the boat on this one. Should have been some kind of tier system for families that have bought more direct points. We shouldn't have to pay extra for any of these benefits. Again, Disney is not taking care of their primary fan base. Just my opinion!!!

Which would you rather, if the choice were offer the benefits for $99 or don't offer at all?

 

[klcts]

Which would you rather, if the choice were offer the benefits for $99 or don't offer at all?

Don't offer at all. I believe it's only the tip of the iceberg. Only time will tell.

 

[tx911]

Don't offer at all. I believe it's only the tip of the iceberg. Only time will tell.

I think there are a lot of people that object to the mere existence of these types of programs. Same with the Premier Pass.

The only part I object to in principle is the priority access to the lounges. I think all members deserve equal access to the lounges on a first come first served basis.

The rest I don't mind if some folks feel it's worth the money and others don't.

But I do share your concern that the price is only going to increase from here

 

[lowlight]

Which would you rather, if the choice were offer the benefits for $99 or don't offer at all?

Don’t offer at all. One thing being part of a union all my life has taught me is that people will always vote against their own self interests when you offer something shiny that seems valuable. A $500 uniform stipend coupled with a $5000 loss in benefits in perpetuity? People will take that deal all day long. OMG shiny OTU points and a tiered membership benefit of lounge access? Sign me right up.