Only bought 17 one time use points this year; can I buy more?

[thisismyusername]

We decided to change our summer reservation from GFV to the Poly, and our dates slightly changed with one fewer weekday day and one more weekend day, so I need 4 more points to make up the difference. I already bought 17 of my one-time use points for the GFV reservation; would they be kind enough to let me buy 4 more, or am I going to have to resort to borrowing them from '16?

 

[erionm]

You can only purchase OTU Points once per UY.

 

[rapunzels]

Only been a DVC owner for a couple year so I am still learning... What are OTU points??? How are you able to use them, get them and cost???

 

[erionm]

Only been a DVC owner for a couple year so I am still learning... What are OTU points??? How are you able to use them, get them and cost???

From the Member website under: Vacation Planning > How to Book > Need More Points? (click 'Read More') > Obtain One-Time Use Vacation Points:

As a Disney Vacation Club Member, occasionally you may find yourself in need of just few extra vacation points in order to book that perfect dream vacation. Previously, this required borrowing vacation points from a future use year, but very recently a new alternative was introduced. They're called "one-time-use" vacation points and are available for a fee of $15 ($13.33 plus $1.67 tax) per vacation point. Availability of one-time-use vacation points may be limited or suspended from time to time, and the fee is subject to change.
Details:

• One-time-use vacation points are vacation points available for Disney Vacation Club Members to use as an alternative to borrowing vacation points from the following use year's allotment.
• You can obtain a maximum of 24 one-time-use vacation points once per use year per membership.
• A maximum of 24 one-time-use vacation points are processed in a single transaction, not multiple transactions.
• The fee for one-time-use vacation points is $15 (including tax) per vacation point, and is subject to change.
• One-time-use vacation points expire according to the use year of the reservation booked and are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be banked or borrowed.
• One-time-use vacation points are not available for waitlist reservations.
• One-time-use vacation points cannot be applied retroactively to existing reservations.
• One-time-use vacation points are only available for Members whose contract is closed and in good standing.
• One-time-use vacation points are available only for Disney Vacation Club Resorts, Disney Collection*, and World Collection reservations.

* Available when you purchase directly from Disney.​

• One-time-use vacation points used for Disney Vacation Club resort reservations can only be used up to 7 months prior to arrival.
• One-time-use vacation points for Disney Collection and World Collection reservations can be used according to the booking guidelines for each individual collection.

 

[Song of the South]

Yes!!! You can buy MORE one time points up to the max number.
In January we decided to extend our trip by a night and during the gymnastics to make it happen the member services CM stated there had recently been a policy change.
You can now buy OTU points over more than one occasion during a use year.

SotS

 

[ebowen]

Do these one-time-use points post to your account right away? If I book over the phone, can I add the points on right then?

 

[LisaS]

Do these one-time-use points post to your account right away? If I book over the phone, can I add the points on right then?

Yes. You must call MS to book your reservation if you need to purchase OTU points. It takes a bit of time to complete the transaction because MS cannot handle the credit card billing. They have to transfer you to someone else to do that. Once you have paid for the points, you will end up back on the phone with your MS CM and he/she will complete your reservation.

 

[cmrdgrs]

SotS - thank you for sharing the change to the OTU points. I have never been in the position of needing them, but it is always good to keep up on the policies

 

[ebowen]

Yes. You must call MS to book your reservation if you need to purchase OTU points. It takes a bit of time to complete the transaction because MS cannot handle the credit card billing. They have to transfer you to someone else to do that. Once you have paid for the points, you will end up back on the phone with your MS CM and he/she will complete your reservation.

Thanks. Since I know how many I need, is there any benefit (or even an option) to purchasing now and then booking when my window is available over the weekend?

 

[cmrdgrs]

Thanks. Since I know how many I need, is there any benefit (or even an option) to purchasing now and then booking when my window is available over the weekend?

I do not believe this is possible. I'm pretty sure you can only buy the points at the time you are making the reservation from MS.

 

[thisismyusername]

Yes!!! You can buy MORE one time points up to the max number.
In January we decided to extend our trip by a night and during the gymnastics to make it happen the member services CM stated there had recently been a policy change.
You can now buy OTU points over more than one occasion during a use year.

SotS

That is awesome to hear! Even though I only need 4 and it wasn't that big of a deal to borrow from '16, it's so nice to leave the entire allotment of '16 points alone!

 

[Dean]

Yes!!! You can buy MORE one time points up to the max number.
In January we decided to extend our trip by a night and during the gymnastics to make it happen the member services CM stated there had recently been a policy change.
You can now buy OTU points over more than one occasion during a use year.

SotS

That's possible and they certainly have the right to change the rules at any time. But it's just as possible, if not more likely, that the CM was not correct and allowed this option when not supposed to. My point is that others will likely get different advice and be prevented from purchasing a second time either way.

 

[kt_mom]

Has it always just been 25 points per year or were you able to buy more in the past? I had this discussion with someone the other day who said their hairdresser told them they had bought more than that. I told them that no the limit was 25 per year but they said that maybe since this was in the past that the rule had changed since then.

 

[erionm]

Has it always just been 25 points per year or were you able to buy more in the past? I had this discussion with someone the other day who said their hairdresser told them they had bought more than that. I told them that no the limit was 25 per year but they said that maybe since this was in the past that the rule had changed since then.

OTU Points have been limited to 24 per UY since they first started offering them.

 

[kt_mom]

Thanks, thats what I thought but this person seemed to think maybe i didn't know becuase we've only owned for a few years now. They were hoping I could just buy some one time extra points for them for a trip and didn't believe me when I said I couldn't.

 

[thisismyusername]

That's possible and they certainly have the right to change the rules at any time. But it's just as possible, if not more likely, that the CM was not correct and allowed this option when not supposed to. My point is that others will likely get different advice and be prevented from purchasing a second time either way.

I'll update on the 25th.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks, thats what I thought but this person seemed to think maybe i didn't know becuase we've only owned for a few years now. They were hoping I could just buy some one time extra points for them for a trip and didn't believe me when I said I couldn't.

Well they've only been offering this option in any form since 2010. I wonder if they are thinking of something else?

 

[JamesA1]

That's possible and they certainly have the right to change the rules at any time. But it's just as possible, if not more likely, that the CM was not correct and allowed this option when not supposed to. My point is that others will likely get different advice and be prevented from purchasing a second time either way.

This might actually be correct however the member site does not indicate that. In the past when I have purchased a few OTU points I was asked if I had purchased any in my current UY. Last month I purchased a few and they did not ask the question. Could be they have additional controls in place to indicate that you have purchased OTU points.

New this time was during the call I was not connected to account to purchase the points. She took payment and completed the reservation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The smallest DVC contract you can purchase is 25 points. That's probably why they only offer up to 24 points per UY.

 

[2binak]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm hoping those of you who have bought extra points can answer this - We'll need just a few extra points for our trip this year and we may want to switch resorts. I know I have wait until the 7 month mark to buy the points & switch resorts. How long does it usually take to complete buying the points? Thanks!