One time use point’s question

[vicarrieous]

I wasn’t allowed to use OTUP for my Welcome Home booking (used 453 but I only have 450). They made me borrow 3 points from 2025 to make my booking. YMMV.

Were you more than 7 months out?

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Were you more than 7 months out?

No I bought in October and this was a January trip. They said I didn't have access to OTUP yet.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

I would call and ask. You may get a CM that lets you do this.

 

[Sandisw]

Sorry to bump an old thread but I had a question surrounding similar situations.

I have a new 150 direct contract at Poly, Oct UY. We're thinking about our first DVC trip in May '25, just a quick 3-night stay at Poly. However, we have much bigger plans for our points in our Oct 2025 UY, as we want to do at least 4-nights at Poly in March 2026 and 6-nights at Aulani in May 2026, which will likely require a good amount of banking and borrowing.

Right now, our 3-night studio Poly stay in May would be 57 points. There is no DVC availability, but my idea was I could use my "Welcome Home" booking and see if they could pull from cash inventory. My idea was I could ask them to purchase 24 OTU points, so then I am only using 33 of my 2024 UY points. This lets me bank 117 into my 2025 UY and gives me a lot more flexibility for the two trips we have planned in 2025. Which would be incredibly helpful considering we'll have no idea what room type we'll get at Aulani.

Is this allowed? Will they say "no" because I have plenty of points to cover it? Will it not work because it's a "Welcome Home" booking?

What I have read is that the welcome home booking they are now allowing current owners to have has to be booked with the new points.

So, that would prevent you from being eligible for the OTU points for that specific booking.

It never hurts to ask.

 

[ryant55]

good morning all. I recently purchased BLT resale and booked our first trip for an extended halloween trip. I have a question about using OTU points. at the 7 month mark I call and purchase 24 points to add day to my reservation. After that reservation is done can I then cancel the OTU day and another day. Then rebook 1 day with OTU points and then bank 24 points for next year? Is there a risk that i wont be able to rebook that day. ? Thank you for any help

 

[Sandisw]

good morning all. I recently purchased BLT resale and booked our first trip for an extended halloween trip. I have a question about using OTU points. at the 7 month mark I call and purchase 24 points to add day to my reservation. After that reservation is done can I then cancel the OTU day and another day. Then rebook 1 day with OTU points and then bank 24 points for next year? Is there a risk that i wont be able to rebook that day. ? Thank you for any help

Canceling a day you booked at 11 months to try and snag it at 7 months, if nothing is available still is definitely risky.

I have done it and been both successful and unsuccessful. If the last night of your current trip is still available, then just have them book that to start (meaning you are double booked) and then cancel your home resort one after you secure it with the OTU points.

 

[ryant55]

Canceling a day you booked at 11 months to try and snag it at 7 months, if nothing is available still is definitely risky.

I have done it and been both successful and unsuccessful. If the last night of your current trip is still available, then just have them book that to start (meaning you are double booked) and then cancel your home resort one after you secure it with the OTU points.

Thank you for the tip. Looks like I’ll try and double book when 7 month window opens.

 

[FBandA]

What is the cost per point for OTU? I only need 4 points.

 

[eticketplease]

What is the cost per point for OTU? I only need 4 points.

$20 a point right now

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Can someone confirm for me that we are able to buy OTUP and modify reservations with them online (after the initial reservation to purchase them) without having to make a call? I’m trying to determine this as I have a very tricky booking situation and want be able to modify my reservation while I’m on a cruise to get to my actual dates. My plan (if this will work) is to call and buy the 24 OTUP and make a reservation for the property I want to stay in and walk it forward a few days (I know walking stinks, but I’ll be at sea and don’t want to rely on having to call DVC member services). Will I be able to change the start date and end dates while I’m on my cruise without calling? The last time I saw someone on these boards say you couldn’t was back in 2019.

 

[eticketplease]

Can someone confirm for me that we are able to buy OTUP and modify reservations with them online (after the initial reservation to purchase them) without having to make a call? I’m trying to determine this as I have a very tricky booking situation and want be able to modify my reservation while I’m on a cruise to get to my actual dates. My plan (if this will work) is to call and buy the 24 OTUP and make a reservation for the property I want to stay in and walk it forward a few days (I know walking stinks, but I’ll be at sea and don’t want to rely on having to call DVC member services). Will I be able to change the start date and end dates while I’m on my cruise without calling? The last time I saw someone on these boards say you couldn’t was back in 2019.

Yes as long as the walking is started at 7 months and not between 7-11 month period.

Modifying the dates is not the issue but some people forget to select the OTUP contract(s) when making the reservation.

I always designate those as the first ones to use and then select my other contracts I wish to use so that it will grab the banked points (haha who are we kidding) and borrow points (always happening) first.

While it doesn’t matter the order for banked and borrowed I always put them in order based on least desirable for me to OK to part with to if I really have to use these points to make the ressie work. And again those are all after the OTUP contracts.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

Interesting call today with DVC. Wanted to buy my OTUP to add a day to a reservation. At first the CM said I had to use the points I had left that year and this could only buy the number of OTUP for that reservation. I replied that I wanted the whole 24 points for the reservation as I was MMB. They put me in hold and checked and then came back on and said I could do that. So, all worked out, but surprised that at this point they are still not correct in their initial responses.

 

[eticketplease]

Interesting call today with DVC. Wanted to buy my OTUP to add a day to a reservation. At first the CM said I had to use the points I had left that year and this could only buy the number of OTUP for that reservation. I replied that I wanted the whole 24 points for the reservation as I was MMB. They put me in hold and checked and then came back on and said I could do that. So, all worked out, but surprised that at this point they are still not correct in their initial responses.

The CM might be just following the old rules where you basically had to be out of points to buy them to complete a reservation. Although MMB went live 3 months ago so yes it is surprising they don’t know that is possible now and even before MMB was ruled out.

 

[dealz2012]

I have a 4 night and 3 night reservation @ my home resort. I am looking to rebook the 3 night reservation at the 7 month window but need more points for desired room type. Would rather use OTUP instead of borrowing but also want the points available to jump on a reservation right at 7 month mark.

Reading through this thread, if the first night of the 4 night reservation is available with correct room type, should I have a CM book a new 1 night reservation using OTUP and then modify the 4 nights to 3 nights, returning the points i want?

Thanks all!

 

[Sandisw]

I have a 4 night and 3 night reservation @ my home resort. I am looking to rebook the 3 night reservation at the 7 month window but need more points for desired room type. Would rather use OTUP instead of borrowing but also want the points available to jump on a reservation right at 7 month mark.

Reading through this thread, if the first night of the 4 night reservation is available with correct room type, should I have a CM book a new 1 night reservation using OTUP and then modify the 4 nights to 3 nights, returning the points i want?

Thanks all!

Yes, you can definitely do it that way!! Or, you could make a fake night and buy OTU points (in the UY of the trip, but more than 31 days out from when you buy), cancel it and then they would be sitting in your account ready to use at 7 months!

This way, you don't lose the hour having to call....the drawback is that if you can't switch your last three nights from your home resort, then you have OTU points that you may not be able to use....you'd need to stalk and use waitlist to try and replace a home resort night (like mentioned above).

 

[dealz2012]

Yes, you can definitely do it that way!! Or, you could make a fake night and buy OTU points (in the UY of the trip, but more than 31 days out from when you buy), cancel it and then they would be sitting in your account ready to use at 7 months!

This way, you don't lose the hour having to call....the drawback is that if you can't switch your last three nights from your home resort, then you have OTU points that you may not be able to use....you'd need to stalk and use waitlist to try and replace a home resort night (like mentioned above).

Appreciate the response!

Goal was to have some booking flexibility at the 7 month mark without needing to tap 2026 use year as we intend to do a 2027 YOLO trip with 3 years worth. I can def understand why people add on multiple times/ contracts

Willing to have the points stranded risk given that.