OTU pts now $19 - this influenced our add-on plans

[Perdita&Pongo]

Just an FYI that DVC increased the price (yesterday?) of One Time Use points to $19 each. I found this out today when I talked to our guide about adding on.

For our vacay plans for next year I was figuring in OTU pts, but now with *another* OTU price increase (was increased from $15 to $17 earlier this year?), we have scrapped the OTU plan and increased the number of add-on points we are going to purchase (direct).

I am posting this here on the Purchase board since it may also have an effect on others' decisions for purchase/add-on.

 

[disneynutz]

So Disney increasing OTU prices is resulting in additional direct sales. Pretty smart Mouse.

Bill

 

[CarolMN]

And may increase the competition at the 7 month window, since those "former" users of OTU points no longer have to call MS.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

So Disney increasing OTU prices is resulting in additional direct sales. Pretty smart Mouse.

Bill

And may increase the competition at the 7 month window, since those "former" users of OTU points no longer have to call MS.

Interesting takes on the OTU increase!

 

[Bing Showei]

Using an, at most, $48 differential to justify thousands of dollars of points seems like a bit of leap.

Going from spending $456 to, at minimum, close to $4,000 suggests there may have already been an itch that needed some scratching.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Using an, at most, $48 differential to justify thousands of dollars of points seems like a bit of leap.

Going from spending $456 to, at minimum, close to $4,000 suggests there may have already been an itch that needed some scratching.

Not sure if this was directed at me, but I see where you came up with this. We have owned 150pts at BWV for 18 years and never before considered an add-on, so no itch here. Lemme give you the bigger picture in our case.

June 2019 - Our daughter's Sweet 16 trip at BLT went from 5 to 6 peeps. So our rez needs to be in 2 studios or a 2 bedroom. I want laundry and 3 bathrooms, so 2 bedroom it is. Looking at current points numbers with borrowing & banking, we realized we are way short (also looking at what points we'd have (borrow/OTU) for a 2020 trip). For June 2019, we planned on using the 24 OTU pts at $15 per and then a transfer of 100points = ~$2,000. Showed DH difficulties in finding a transfer on Rent/Trade board and also increase of OTU price to $19. He said "Why don't we just buy more points?". We ran the numbers on a direct purchase of 65pts at SSR and decided that works better for us in the long run.

I hope this helps you understand the thinking that went into our add-on decision, and hence my original post.

 

[Bing Showei]

Not sure if this was directed at me, but I see where you came up with this. We have owned 150pts at BWV for 18 years and never before considered an add-on, so no itch here. Lemme give you the bigger picture in our case.

June 2019 - Our daughter's Sweet 16 trip at BLT went from 5 to 6 peeps. So our rez needs to be in 2 studios or a 2 bedroom. I want laundry and 3 bathrooms, so 2 bedroom it is. Looking at current points numbers with borrowing & banking, we realized we are way short (also looking at what points we'd have (borrow/OTU) for a 2020 trip). For June 2019, we planned on using the 24 OTU pts at $15 per and then a transfer of 100points = ~$2,000. Showed DH difficulties in finding a transfer on Rent/Trade board and also increase of OTU price to $19. He said "Why don't we just buy more points?". We ran the numbers on a direct purchase of 65pts at SSR and decided that works better for us in the long run.

I hope this helps you understand the thinking that went into our add-on decision, and hence my original post.

No, what you did makes total sense, but what you’re describing is an issue with long term usage and a pattern of point-deficit spending; not a direct issue with a $48 change in price.

When you factor in challenges of transferring the needed points, needing to borrow 67% of 2020 points for a 2019 trip, and then dealing with a point deficit of for your 2020 trip, the equation becomes muddled. That $48 OTU change is not the issue.

Veering off topic for a minute, why would you buy at SSR? If you book at 7-months, those points together at BWV is going to push your points out of the standard view rooms which will even further impact your point-deficit situation. If you do book 11-months with your 150, it will be a constant challenge for you to add on to your stay at 7-months.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

No, what you did makes total sense, but what you’re describing is an issue with long term usage and a pattern of point-deficit spending; not a direct issue with a $48 change in price.

When you factor in challenges of transferring the needed points, needing to borrow 67% of 2020 points for a 2019 trip, and then dealing with a point deficit of for your 2020 trip, the equation becomes muddled. That $48 OTU change is not the issue.

Veering off topic for a minute, why would you buy at SSR? If you book at 7-months, those points together at BWV is going to push your points out of the standard view rooms which will even further impact your point-deficit situation. If you do book 11-months with your 150, it will be a constant challenge for you to add on to your stay at 7-months.

Re-read the title of my thread. The additional $48/year for OTU was what pushed us out of our comfort zone of spending $456 per year for OTU (so $912 for just 2019 & 2020). That plus the prospect of spending $$ on a one time transfer made us realize we should just add on. The OTU issue was definitely a contributing factor for our addon decision.

As to the decision to add on at SSR, we never book at 11 months, nor do we book standard so those issues do not factor in. But you've caused me to want to go back and dope out the numbers of $20 more per point vs 12 years less of MFs if we addon at BWV instead, so thank you for that! We set a spend limit of $10K for the addon, but we could do 60 BWV pts and still meet our goals $$ & pt -wise. Of course point/UY availability will factor in. Off to call Donny again!