Onetime use points

[disneyland fan]

Can someone explain how to purchase onetime use points? If I try to make a reservation online and find that I’m a few points short, can I purchase the extra points at that time? Or do I have to call and risk losing the availability? If I complete the reservation by borrowing from the next year, can I later purchase the points and return the borrowed points?

 

[TCRAIG]

yes, you have to call and yes you can definitely lose the reservation while you wait and no, unless you get a one in a million CM, you can’t replace borrowed with OTUP after the ressie is made…they were more lenient last year with ‘un-borrowing’ but have been playing by the rules lately and go out of their way to let you know borrowing is a final transaction.

 

[disneyland fan]

Can you buy OTUP at any time, or can you only buy them when trying to make a reservation?

 

[Marionnette]

Can you buy OTUP at any time, or can you only buy them when trying to make a reservation?

They can only be purchased when making a reservation 7 months or less in advance of arrival.

 

[Sandisw]

Borrowing is a final transaction, so points would not be returned if you did that to hold the reservation. What some people will do is make a fake reservation ahead of time during the UY of the trip by calling and paying for the OTU points they may need.

Then they cancel that...at least 31 days in advance so you don't end up with holding...and then have them in their account to use. The only drawback to this approach is that you end up buying points that you may not need. But, they can always be used for trips 7 months or less, so they could then free up your own points that are still available to be banked.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Another idea to keep from losing a reservation is to make the reservation for as many nights as possible, then call to add the last night which requires the OTUPs.

 

[DebLovesPooh]

Another idea to keep from losing a reservation is to make the reservation for as many nights as possible, then call to add the last night which requires the OTUPs.

I am trying to get a hard to book ressie that I have the points for. However, I want to use OTU for that trip so I have more points to bank for our next trip. So, do you think it’s better to:

1: Book all three nights with my current use year points at 8am and then call at 9am to buy OTU and modify with those new points; or

2: Book the first two nights and call at 9am to buy OTU and add the third night?

Thanks for the advice!

Deb

 

[Marionnette]

I am trying to get a hard to book ressie that I have the points for. However, I want to use OTU for that trip so I have more points to bank for our next trip. So, do you think it’s better to:

1: Book all three nights with my current use year points at 8am and then call at 9am to buy OTU and modify with those new points; or

2: Book the first two nights and call at 9am to buy OTU and add the third night?

Thanks for the advice!

Deb

I would do as @Sandisw often recommends. Call MS and make a ghost reservation that will require the purchase of the exact number of OTUPs that you will need later. Make sure that the ghost reservation falls within the UY of the reservation that you really want.

Cancel the ghost reservation. The OTUPs will go into your DVC account.

When it comes time to book the real reservation, the system will use the OTUPs before it touches your current allotment of points.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

I am trying to get a hard to book ressie that I have the points for. However, I want to use OTU for that trip so I have more points to bank for our next trip. So, do you think it’s better to:

1: Book all three nights with my current use year points at 8am and then call at 9am to buy OTU and modify with those new points; or

2: Book the first two nights and call at 9am to buy OTU and add the third night?

Thanks for the advice!

Deb

I would do #2. I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure they won’t do #1 for you bc you didn’t *need* the points… and they only sell OTUPs when you *need* more points to finalize a specific booking.

 

[Sandisw]

I would do #2. I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure they won’t do #1 for you bc you didn’t *need* the points… and they only sell OTUPs when you *need* more points to finalize a specific booking.

Actually this is no longer true. You can buy OTU for any reservation being booked 7 months or less regardless of whether or not you have other points.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Actually this is no longer true. You can buy OTU for any reservation being booked 7 months or less regardless of whether or not you have other points.

That’s good news! Thanks, sandisw

 

[Thumper99]

Do you always have to call member services to buy OTUP? And only allowed at 7 month from travel right?
For instance we own at BLT and can make reservation at 11 months. But want to try to move to Poly at 7 months and already know we would be short 5 points. Can I buy the 5 OTUP now on a BLT reservation and then modify at 7 months to Poly allowing me to have the 5 OTUP? Or do I have to cancel the whole BLT reservation before I can get the OTUP in my account?

 

[Sandisw]

Do you always have to call member services to buy OTUP? And only allowed at 7 month from travel right?
For instance we own at BLT and can make reservation at 11 months. But want to try to move to Poly at 7 months and already know we would be short 5 points. Can I buy the 5 OTUP now on a BLT reservation and then modify at 7 months to Poly allowing me to have the 5 OTUP? Or do I have to cancel the whole BLT reservation before I can get the OTUP in my account?

You have to call. You can’t use them for the BLT trip since it was made during home resort booking window.

But, when you call, MS will modify the trip to Poly and allow you to buy OTU points then to finish the trip.

 

[Thumper99]

Thanks sandisw! Ok so then I’m clueless on how to do a “ghost booking” as someone mentioned above? What is that process?

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks sandisw! Ok so then I’m clueless on how to do a “ghost booking” as someone mentioned above? What is that process?

What you do is pick a date to book that is in the same UY as your trip that is close to what you want.

Then you call, buy the OTU points, and book the night.

Once booked, you cancel it and have the OTU points in your account so that when you modify to change the trip right at 7 months, those are there to use.

 

[Thumper99]

Ok but I’m confused because I can’t buy OTUP prior to 7 months travel. So would I book a trip that IS within seven months that would essentially cause me to buy OTUP of the same exact amount I know Ill need when my preferred dates/resort comes up? Is the night that MS books on OTUP a separate reservation number? Because you said once I call MS and book extra night buying OTUP THEN I cancel “it”. Is that the one time points night or the whole reservation?
Sorry if Im being dense

 

[Sandisw]

Ok but I’m confused because I can’t buy OTUP prior to 7 months travel. So would I book a trip that IS within seven months that would essentially cause me to buy OTUP of the same exact amount I know Ill need when my preferred dates/resort comes up? Is the night that MS books on OTUP a separate reservation number? Because you said once I call MS and book extra night buying OTUP THEN I cancel “it”. Is that the one time points night or the whole reservation?
Sorry if Im being dense

Yes but you have to book a one night stay to get the OTU points so it could require more than you need.

Here is an example. Say I have a trip booked for January 2023 in my Aug 2022 UY.

I want OTU points to add to this trip. I can book any night 7 months from today because that night would also be in my Aug 2022 UY.

So, I call MS, book a night in Aug and buy. Then, I go in and cancel that night. The OTU points are now in my online account to use so when I modify that January trip at 7 months, I can do it online at 8 am vs waiting until 9 am to call.

 

[DebLovesPooh]

I’m hoping for a 1-BR at the Grand Californian and I’m worried about buying OTU for a ressie I won’t be able to get. So, instead of buying them in advance, I’m going to hold off until I know I can get it. So would you recommend reserving the three nights on my points and then calling in to modify with OTU or reserve the first two nights and then calling in modify with OTU? Is there a difference?

 

[Sandisw]

I’m hoping for a 1-BR at the Grand Californian and I’m worried about buying OTU for a ressie I won’t be able to get. So, instead of buying them in advance, I’m going to hold off until I know I can get it. So would you recommend reserving the three nights on my points and then calling in to modify with OTU or reserve the first two nights and then calling in modify with OTU? Is there a difference?

Given that resort, I’d book as many as you can with your own points and then call to add on with OTU ar the 7 month mark.

 

[DebLovesPooh]

Given that resort, I’d book as many as you can with your own points and then call to add on with OTU ar the 7 month mark.

Sounds good. I wasn’t sure if they would let me modify to replace my own points with ODU, but that would be ideal. Thank you!