Need help with OTU scenario...

[minster22]

I am booking BWV room for 5/1/2022 using a few leftover 2021 points, all my 2022 points and borrowing 50% from 2 contracts in 2023. I would like to add one more night using OTU points. I know I cannot use OTU points to add to an 11 month booking. I plan to book a dummy room for the needed 15 points and then cancel and have them returned to my account and then add to my original booking. When should I book the additional room to be able to use the additional points? This is more than a little confusing for me and not sure if it will work. It will be a 1 bedroom , knowing a studio would be gone in all likelihood at BWV.

 

[Sandisw]

You just want to be sure that the night is within the same UY as the trip and that when you go to do it it is at least 31 days or more out.

Since you can’t use them until the 7 month window anyway, there is no need to buy much before you need them.

The 7 month window for May 2022 opens in October, so you have time. Just call about a week before you want to book with them.

This way, they will be in your account to use when the 7 month window opens up and you can book online.

 

[minster22]

Thank you Sandi....I think I have got it. Call after Oct 1 (7 month window) book a room for 2022 , then cancel the separate reservation, the points will go into my account and then I can add the night I am wanting. And I can do everything online after the initial call to Member Services to buy the OTU points. I thank you for your kind expertise !!

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you Sandi....I think I have got it. Call after Oct 1 (7 month window) book a room for 2022 , then cancel the separate reservation, the points will go into my account and then I can add the night I am wanting. And I can do everything online after the initial call to Member Services to buy the OTU points. I thank you for your kind expertise !!

That is it. Just be sure that the night you chose that will be canceled is at least 31 days out from when you call or you end up with holding.

Once you cancel, you will see the OTU points in a temporary contract for whatever resort those points are really from. When you add the night, you just want to be sure that contract is checked along with your own.

 

[minster22]

My plan is to book a one night stay BWV for a night in early Jan 2022 which will put me in the 2022 use year. I plan to do this right at my 7 month mark for my May stay and then cancel pretty quickly to add my night at BWV for May 2022. I very much appreciate your explanation of these DVC intricacies!

 

[Sandisw]

My plan is to book a one night stay BWV for a night in early Jan 2022 which will put me in the 2022 use year. I plan to do this right at my 7 month mark for my May stay and then cancel pretty quickly to add my night at BWV for May 2022. I very much appreciate your explanation of these DVC intricacies!

What is your UY? It is not the calendar year, but the UY of the trip you want the OTU points to be part of.

January 2022 is not part of any 2022 UY so I don’t think that is when you want your dummy night booked to be canceled.

For example, if you have an April UY, then the OTU points have to come from a date April 1st and beyond, If you have a Feb UY, then it would have to be from Feb 1st and beyond.

 

[minster22]

My Use Year is March, I am using 13 pts from 2021, 150 pts from 2022 and borrowing 37 each from 2 2023 contracts.

 

[Sandisw]

My Use Year is March, I am using 13 pts from 2021, 150 pts from 2022 and borrowing 37 each from 2 2023 contracts.

Then whatever night you choose for the OTU points needs to be in your March 2022 UY, since that is when the May trip will happen.

So, as long as you pick a night March 1st and beyond, you will be all set.

 

[minster22]

OK, got it. Thank you so very much, would not have figured this out on my own!

 

[gisele2]

Do we have to book a room in ordre to have the OTU ? Or , can we purchase some to use when ready to swap at 7 months ? I plan to change a BC reservation to BLT at 7 months, but because of the 50% borrowing rule I will need 5 points ...

 

[Sandisw]

Do we have to book a room in ordre to have the OTU ? Or , can we purchase some to use when ready to swap at 7 months ? I plan to change a BC reservation to BLT at 7 months, but because of the 50% borrowing rule I will need 5 points ...

They can only be purchased when actually booking a reservation. So, if you want them to be available online ahead of time, you must call, book a night and then cancel it.

Just be sure it’s in the same UY of the trip, and that it’s at least 31 days out in the future to avoid holding.

 

[gisele2]

Thank you Sandisw. So if my seven month window opens october first,and my UY is September, I need to book a room with OTU after September first with OTU by calling MS and then cancel it more than 31 days in advance . Did I get it right ?

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you Sandisw. So if my seven month window opens october first,and my UY is September, I need to book a room with OTU after September first with OTU by calling MS and then cancel it more than 31 days in advance . Did I get it right ?

If your trip is in your Sept 2022 UY that you want the points for, then yes. You could call today to book a room Sept 1st through December 19th buy the points for that night, then cancel since we have passed the 7 month window for Those dates.

Those points will now be ready for your real 7 month booking!

 

[gisele2]

Thank you

 

[minster22]

Sandisw...I am sorry to bring this up yet again but I just had an aha moment...I think. I know I cannot buy OTU points until the 7 month mark, which I need to be 3/1/2022 or after to be in my use year. Am I correct that I can do this any day after 9/1/2021 since I will be cancelling the room I book and then once the points are back in my account I can modify my May1, 2022 trip to add the one more night. I do not have to wait to 7 months before the actual trip correct? Although I am adding only one night, hoping to have availability so sooner is better.

 

[Sandisw]

Sandisw...I am sorry to bring this up yet again but I just had an aha moment...I think. I know I cannot buy OTU points until the 7 month mark, which I need to be 3/1/2022 or after to be in my use year. Am I correct that I can do this any day after 9/1/2021 since I will be cancelling the room I book and then once the points are back in my account I can modify my May1, 2022 trip to add the one more night. I do not have to wait to 7 months before the actual trip correct? Although I am adding only one night, hoping to have availability so sooner is better.

Since your May trip is in your March 2022 UY, you want your dummy night to be March 1st and later with the OtU points.

So as soon as you get to August, you can book a night for March 1st and beyond..that will be 7 months...and buy points... then cancel and be all set to go!!

 

[minster22]

Not enough words to thank you.... you are a DVC treasure of information !!

 

[minster22]

Since your May trip is in your March 2022 UY, you want your dummy night to be March 1st and later with the OtU points.

So as soon as you get to August, you can book a night for March 1st and beyond..that will be 7 months...and buy points... then cancel and be all set to go!!

I have followed your excellent advice and got my night booked for 3/2 2022 this am (only waited about 5 minutes for Member Services!). Should I wait any amount of time before the next step of cancelling and then using those points to modify my existing reservation? Can you tell I am anxious to complete this??!! Or can I just get right to it today?? Thank you....

 

[Sandisw]

I have followed your excellent advice and got my night booked for 3/2 2022 this am (only waited about 5 minutes for Member Services!). Should I wait any amount of time before the next step of cancelling and then using those points to modify my existing reservation? Can you tell I am anxious to complete this??!! Or can I just get right to it today?? Thank you....

Now that you have the OTU points, you can cancel it and then modify your existing to use them!

 

[minster22]

I just tried to modify my existing reservation. The points are showing as available to use but when I go to book the new reservation they are not there to use. Maybe have to call Member Services tomorrow.