one time usage points--must I call MS?

[Sandisw]

Thanks! So if you cancel outside of 31 days then the only restriction is they're basically points without a home resort, so you can only ever use them at the 7 month window?

When you buy them during a booking, you will see a temporary contract added to your account for whatever resort the points came from. .

But you can only use them for trips 7 months or less from check in, no matter what you see for them.

Again, they are only good until the end of the IY of time trip. For example, if I bought them right now for my July trip using my Dec UY, and had to cancel that, I’d have to use them by November 30th.

 

[TikiRob]

If I already have a trip booked, can I buy points to apply to that trip and free up other points for a trip later? I don't want to buy them for the later trip, because I may not go and I'd like to be able to bank those later.

 

[Sandisw]

If I already have a trip booked, can I buy points to apply to that trip and free up other points for a trip later? I don't want to buy them for the later trip, because I may not go and I'd like to be able to bank those later.

What you normally have to do is book a random room for a night that is close to what you want, cancel and then have them applied.

CMs can do it all in one call. Of course this assumes the trip you have was booked 7 months or less. You can not use them to replace points from a trip booked during home resort period.

 

[TikiRob]

What you normally have to do is book a random room for a night that is close to what you want, cancel and then have them applied.

CMs can do it all in one call. Of course this assumes the trip you have was booked 7 months or less. You can not use them to replace points from a trip booked during home resort period.

Our trip is next month! I'll see if MS can do this for me. Thanks, yet again, for your help @Sandisw !

 

[TikiRob]

What you normally have to do is book a random room for a night that is close to what you want, cancel and then have them applied.

CMs can do it all in one call. Of course this assumes the trip you have was booked 7 months or less. You can not use them to replace points from a trip booked during home resort period.

Called MS and they said they couldn’t apply to an existing. Has to be a new reservation.

 

[Sandisw]

Called MS and they said they couldn’t apply to an existing. Has to be a new reservation.

Yes, that is true. You book a random night at least 31 days out for a similar number of points.

Once it is booked, you then have the CM cancel it and ask they reallocate them into what you have booked.

I simply meant many CMs will do it in the same call now. Allow you to book something, knowing you will cancel it and then apply to the other vs calling them back

 

[DL1WDW2]

Yes, that is true. You book a random night at least 31 days out for a similar number of points.

Once it is booked, you then have the CM cancel it and ask they reallocate them into what you have booked.

I simply meant many CMs will do it in the same call now. Allow you to book something, knowing you will cancel it and then apply to the other vs calling them back

But only at 7 month booking window?

 

[Sandisw]

But only at 7 month booking window?

Correct. You can not use them in any reservation that was booked during a home resort period.

 

[TikiRob]

Yes, that is true. You book a random night at least 31 days out for a similar number of points.

Once it is booked, you then have the CM cancel it and ask they reallocate them into what you have booked.

I simply meant many CMs will do it in the same call now. Allow you to book something, knowing you will cancel it and then apply to the other vs calling them back

sorry to be a pill, but I need to ask them to book me another resort with OTU points and then cancel and they can reallocate?

 

[fumanchu2488]

sorry to be a pill, but I need to ask them to book me another resort with OTU points and then cancel and they can reallocate?

Think of the points as they can only be used at 7 months or less.

If you have a reservation you booked more than 7 months out you cannot use them or swap them into that reservation. If you wanted to use them you would need to modify your existing 11 month reservation to get rid of a night then use your OTU points instead. However, you run the risk of losing the reservation. You can call MS to see but I have tried 3 times for various reasons this year and they never could swap points for me as they have to cancel on their end. Once they cancel it may be automatically filled through WL or other means. If the room pops back up within 7 month window your good.

I think what Sandi is saying is that one easy way to do it is to find any open room to get the points on your dashboard. One quirk is that you cannot just buy 24 points and stalk availability. They will only give you the number of points the room requires. I just did this but luckily had 2 more points I could borrow. In my case the only room that popped up was a SSR studio for 15 points. My 2 extra points from 2021 that I could borrow meant I could get a room up to 17 points. The thing that makes it a pain is every time you need more points you need to call MS which is a multi hour process these days and the room could be booked. So for me I got the SSR and then waitlisted CCV and BCV. CCV came in.

So, once you get the points you control them and will not need to call them again. You will need to call to add more points and it needs to be linked to an available room. You will need to call to see if they will “swap” points for an existing reservation.

 

[Sandisw]

sorry to be a pill, but I need to ask them to book me another resort with OTU points and then cancel and they can reallocate?

Yes. You can only buy OTU points when booking a new reservation.

My suggestion is the work around to buy them to replace your own points you want to free up from a different trip you made 7 months or less.

So, to get them in your account, you have to book something and then cancel it. It’s the same thing people have to do if they need them for a waitlist.

The important thing is to make sure to pick something more than 31 days out so when you cancel those OTU points don’t go into holding status.

 

[KSR0330]

I have an OKW reservation booked at 11 mo and want to change it to a BLT reservation to be booked at 7 mo. I'll need to buy some points for the BLT reservation. I'm worried that if I have to call, it can't be until 9am (plus the hold time) and I won't have the best chance of getting BLT like I would at 7am. Is there any way around this?

Edited to add that at BLT I'm looking for a 2 br and studio, preferably with lake view for mid January

 

[Marionnette]

I have an OKW reservation booked at 11 mo and want to change it to a BLT reservation to be booked at 7 mo. I'll need to buy some points for the BLT reservation. I'm worried that if I have to call, it can't be until 9am (plus the hold time) and I won't have the best chance of getting BLT like I would at 7am. Is there any way around this?

Book what you can online at 8 AM and then call at 9 AM to buy the OTUPs and book the rest.

Otherwise, do the work around that @Sandisw outlined in PPs.

 

[TikiRob]

Yes. You can only buy OTU points when booking a new reservation.

My suggestion is the work around to buy them to replace your own points you want to free up from a different trip you made 7 months or less.

So, to get them in your account, you have to book something and then cancel it. It’s the same thing people have to do if they need them for a waitlist.

The important thing is to make sure to pick something more than 31 days out so when you cancel those OTU points don’t go into holding status.

I called and picked up a "burner" reservation a few months out that I canceled tonight. I could actually do a "modification" myself online to my upcoming vacation and choose to pull from the new OTU points first! It was very easy to do and I saved an additional call to MS. I expect this is what it looks like for people with multiple contracts.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

This thread has been very helpful. Answered my questions, as I hung up with MS due to the 67 minute wait time. With Disney booming right now, employ more CMs to this job.