Waitlist and One-Time Use Points

[BeBopaSaurus]

I’m new to all of this. I have two days booked on points in November, but I’d like to add another day, (my current UY points balance is 0). I would prefer to buy one time use points instead of borrow for next year. If I make a waitlist request, would this even be an option? Or do I need to buy the one time use points first?
Also, how does cancelling a reservation work if it was booked with one time use points? If it’s cancelled more than 31 days in advance do you get the points or the money back?
Thank you!!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If I make a waitlist request, would this even be an option

Waitlist won't call you to see if you want OTU points, no.

Or do I need to buy the one time use points first?

You can only buy OTU points at the time you are making a booking. You can't buy them to just hold in account. Some people make a mock booking to buy the points, then cancel it to have the points. They cannot be used in home resort (only after 7 months) and expire at the end of your contract year. No bank/borrow.

Also, how does cancelling a reservation work if it was booked with one time use points? If it’s cancelled more than 31 days in advance do you get the points or the money back?

See above. Points expire at end of contract year of your main contract. No refunds. They are also subject to holding.

 

[Sandisw]

Just make sure if you decide to do the mock day, you pick a date at least 31 days from now so when you cancel it to have the OTU points sitting there, they don’t become holding points.

The only drawback of this method is that you are stuck with them if waitlist doesn’t come through.

Now, if those other two days were made 7 months or less, then you can modify what you have, have it pick up the OTU points, and free up your own points for the waitlist. This way, you can still bank them if the night doesn’t happen.

 

[BeBopaSaurus]

Waitlist won't call you to see if you want OTU points, no.


You can only buy OTU points at the time you are making a booking. You can't buy them to just hold in account. Some people make a mock booking to buy the points, then cancel it to have the points. They cannot be used in home resort (only after 7 months) and expire at the end of your contract year. No bank/borrow.



See above. Points expire at end of contract year of your main contract. No refunds. They are also subject to holding.

Thank you! This is very useful information!

 

[BeBopaSaurus]

Just make sure if you decide to do the mock day, you pick a date at least 31 days from now so when you cancel it to have the OTU points sitting there, they don’t become holding points.

The only drawback of this method is that you are stuck with them if waitlist doesn’t come through.

Now, if those other two days were made 7 months or less, then you can modify what you have, have it pick up the OTU points, and free up your own points for the waitlist. This way, you can still bank them if the night doesn’t happen.

Ok! This is all still very confusing, but I think I understand. I think what it comes down to is I just need more points!

 

[Sandisw]

Ok! This is all still very confusing, but I think I understand. I think what it comes down to is I just need more points!

That is so true! Let me give you an example to see if it helps. Go online and look for a day that is available for about the same number of OTU points you need...remember, you can only buy 24.

Make sure that date is in the same UY of your November trip...but no earlier than a June date. Call MS and book it by buying OTU points. Once booked, go back online and cancel it. The OTU points will now be there ready to be used for the waitlist.

 

[BeBopaSaurus]

That is so true! Let me give you an example to see if it helps. Go online and look for a day that is available for about the same number of OTU points you need...remember, you can only buy 24.

Make sure that date is in the same UY of your November trip...but no earlier than a June date. Call MS and book it by buying OTU points. Once booked, go back online and cancel it. The OTU points will now be there ready to be used for the waitlist.

That makes sense! But once I have the OTU points sitting in my account waiting for the waitlist, is there a way to shuffle and apply those points to be picked up by my existing booking so that the points sitting and waiting for the waitlist are regular points that can be banked if the waitlist doesn’t come through? Aside from cancelling and rebooking?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

That makes sense! But once I have the OTU points sitting in my account waiting for the waitlist, is there a way to shuffle and apply those points to be picked up by my existing booking so that the points sitting and waiting for the waitlist are regular points that can be banked if the waitlist doesn’t come through? Aside from cancelling and rebooking?

Since you have to call MS to buy the OTU points, just do that shuffle when you buy and skip the mock booking.

 

[Sandisw]

That makes sense! But once I have the OTU points sitting in my account waiting for the waitlist, is there a way to shuffle and apply those points to be picked up by my existing booking so that the points sitting and waiting for the waitlist are regular points that can be banked if the waitlist doesn’t come through? Aside from cancelling and rebooking?

Yes. You go into what you have and modify it. You don’t change a thing and keep going. When it asks you to choose the contracts, be sure to choose the contract that holds the OTU points to be first and your other contracts second.

Then just continue and book again. The system will take the OTU points and free up current UY points.

The only way it won’t is if the November days are booked with only banked points. Those must be used before OTU.

If you had trouble with this step, you can call Ms back and ask them to reallocate for you.

 

[BeBopaSaurus]

Yes. You go into what you have and modify it. You don’t change a thing and keep going. When it asks you to choose the contracts, be sure to choose the contract that holds the OTU points to be first and your other contracts second.

Then just continue and book again. The system will take the OTU points and free up current UY points.

The only way it won’t is if the November days are booked with only banked points. Those must be used before OTU.

If you had trouble with this step, you can call Ms back and ask them to reallocate for you.

Ooohhh tricky! I never would have guessed! Alright I guess I need to make a booking with the right number of OTU points then. As long as I can bank my regular points if the waitlist doesn’t come through then I don’t feel like it’s such a huge risk. Thank you!

 

[DL1WDW2]

Kinda confusing I guess that explains why we can’t just buy them online without the phone call to member services.
Good luck with waitlist!