OTU points and paid membership program

[Lumee23]

Hi Everyone, jumping in here as well since my question is similar. Sorry if this has been asked already with all the MMB questions. I am confused what my best options are for my situation.

We are a Riviera September UY, only one membership that my husband and I are both on. I purchased the MMB. We are taking a cruise this March and I want to book a one night post cruise stay using OTU points. We are also taking a big Aulani trip this September that I intended to buy 24 OTU points to offset some of the points we have to borrow from our 2026 UY. Both will be booked within the 7mo window and one trip is in 2024 UY and the other is 2025 UY. My questions are:

1. Can I buy two sets of BOGO OTU - One on Jan 12th for my March booking and one in Feb when my 7mo window opens for Aulani since they are for trips in different use years?
2. If not, can I buy one set of BOGO OTU in Jan and still buy the full price 24 OTU in Feb when I book my Aulani trip?

Thanks!

 

[TinkB278]

So we can’t buy BOGO points until 1/12? Really stinks for making reservations this year….

 

[byurick]

So we can’t buy BOGO points until 1/12? Really stinks for making reservations this year….

Same here, I need to buy some points to extend a trip by a day and theres a good chance I will lose out on the room if I wait any more. Crossing fingers it will stay available a few more days.

 

[eticketplease]

Hi Everyone, jumping in here as well since my question is similar. Sorry if this has been asked already with all the MMB questions. I am confused what my best options are for my situation.

We are a Riviera September UY, only one membership that my husband and I are both on. I purchased the MMB. We are taking a cruise this March and I want to book a one night post cruise stay using OTU points. We are also taking a big Aulani trip this September that I intended to buy 24 OTU points to offset some of the points we have to borrow from our 2026 UY. Both will be booked within the 7mo window and one trip is in 2024 UY and the other is 2025 UY. My questions are:

1. Can I buy two sets of BOGO OTU - One on Jan 12th for my March booking and one in Feb when my 7mo window opens for Aulani since they are for trips in different use years?
2. If not, can I buy one set of BOGO OTU in Jan and still buy the full price 24 OTU in Feb when I book my Aulani trip?

Thanks!

1. No YOU may not do this. However @Sandisw has stated that you may purchase for 2024 and your DH can then also purchase MMB and then he can purchase for 2025
2. Yes you can certainly pay Full Price for One and then the BOGO since one would be for Sep 2024 (March Trip) and Sep 2025 (Sep Trip)

 

[Avery&Todd]

1. No YOU may not do this. However @Sandisw has stated that you may purchase for 2024 and your DH can then also purchase MMB and then he can purchase for 2025
2. Yes you can certainly pay Full Price for One and then the BOGO since one would be for Sep 2024 (March Trip) and Sep 2025 (Sep Trip)

OK - so if I apply your answer here to my earlier question about DH and I both buying the 24 pts, then could I go ahead and buy the 24 pts now (which is during my Sept UY 2024 year) and apply those points to our March 2025 trip that was booked at our non-home resort @ BCV (Home is at CCV)?

and then my DH could also sign up for MMB and then he could buy 24 pts for our Sept 15th trip which would be under our Sept UY 2025 year???

 

[eticketplease]

OK - so if I apply your answer here to my earlier question about DH and I both buying the 24 pts, then could I go ahead and buy the 24 pts now (which is during my Sept UY 2024 year) and apply those points to our March 2025 trip that was booked at our non-home resort @ BCV (Home is at CCV)?

and then my DH could also sign up for MMB and then he could buy 24 pts for our Sept 15th trip which would be under our Sept UY 2025 year???

Yes if I understood correctly from what @Sandisw had stated earlier.

 

[heynowirv]

If you buy it, you are entitled to BOGO free for the maximum you can buy. Pay 12 and get 12 free.

Since you have more than one membership, your husband can also buy it and once he does, he will unlock that benefit for himself but his would need to be on a different membership since the maximum of 24 per UY doesn’t matter

Now, I believe that owners who have just one membership might be able to capitalize for 2025, if their UY is earlier in the year.

For example, someone with a Feb UY joins, and buys them for a trip in the Feb 2025 UY.

The other owner buys into the program and buys their entitlement for a trip in the Feb 2026 UY.

As long as you are purchasing them in 2025 when you are part of the program, the trip can take place in calendar year 2026.

Because this benefit is per person, and the enrolled member needs to be present for things like the extra lounge hours, character greets, and priority lounge waitlist, there is a valid reason why more than one person in a household would buy since some do travel without the other.

Sandi did I hear you correctly?Each name on the same membership can buy the BOGO OTUP ? And we can each sign up for the MMB? Even though it's the same membership# ?

 

[Sandisw]

Sandi did I hear you correctly?Each name on the same membership can buy the BOGO OTUP ? And we can each sign up for the MMB? Even though it's the same membership# ?

Everyone on the membership can purchase and each is entitled to then get BOGO OTUP. The reason two might do it is more for the lounge access when people don't travel together.

However, just to be sure I was clear, two owners being part of it doesn't allow one to get more than the total of 24 in a specific UY.....but, if two owners buy, and each then accesses the benefit for a trip that take place in two different UYs, then can benefit if they don't want to be part of this program more than for just 2025.

Here is another example to make it clearer, because I don't want people confused.

You have a February UY.....you want to book a trip in both your 2025 UY and your 2026 UY that you know will have dates with a 7 month booking.

When you buy MMB for 2025....as long as you purchase the points during 2025, they can be used for a trip that takes place in 2026 because the normal rules for booking with OTU points has not changed.

So, owner A buys OTU points using BOGO free deal for a trip that will happen this summer, in August...that trip is in the 2025 UY, and those OTU become the maximum an owner can get for their Feb 2025 UY.

Owner B, joins, but waits to buy their BOGO free deal for a trip that takes place in the February 2026 UY......say they call in September to book a trip in March 2026....theyd be able to get the points.

Now, because one has bought them for the 2025 and 2026 UY, the next UY of travel an owner would be allowed to buy any OTU points would be for travel in their 2027 UY....so, if someone isn't going to buy MMB in 2026, then it can work.

If someone plans to buy every year, then there is not a huge benefit to it, other than getting them sooner rather than later.

I hope this helps????

 

[heynowirv]

Everyone on the membership can purchase and each is entitled to then get BOGO OTUP. The reason two might do it is more for the lounge access when people don't travel together.

However, just to be sure I was clear, two owners being part of it doesn't allow one to get more than the total of 24 in a specific UY.....but, if two owners buy, and each then accesses the benefit for a trip that take place in two different UYs, then can benefit if they don't want to be part of this program more than for just 2025.

Here is another example to make it clearer, because I don't want people confused.

You have a February UY.....you want to book a trip in both your 2025 UY and your 2026 UY that you know will have dates with a 7 month booking.

When you buy MMB for 2025....as long as you purchase the points during 2025, they can be used for a trip that takes place in 2026 because the normal rules for booking with OTU points has not changed.

So, owner A buys OTU points using BOGO free deal for a trip that will happen this summer, in August...that trip is in the 2025 UY, and those OTU become the maximum an owner can get for their Feb 2025 UY.

Owner B, joins, but waits to buy their BOGO free deal for a trip that takes place in the February 2026 UY......say they call in September to book a trip in March 2026....theyd be able to get the points.

Now, because one has bought them for the 2025 and 2026 UY, the next UY of travel an owner would be allowed to buy any OTU points would be for travel in their 2027 UY....so, if someone isn't going to buy MMB in 2026, then it can work.

If someone plans to buy every year, then there is not a huge benefit to it, other than getting them sooner rather than later.

I hope this helps????

It does, we have an August UY ,with a trip this April .Under your example , I can use these points in April and my wife could buy for a trip that takes place after July 31.

 

[riamac]

Yes as they will show up as another contract possibly with a different home resort.

Right now it appears that I have a Grand Cal contract but that is my OTUP.

Even though it may show a different resort it still does not give you the 11 month advantage as they can only be used at 7 months.

You will have to click that contract when making your reservation to be able to use the OTUP

Perfect! Thanks so much for help, all!

 

[Avery&Todd]

Everyone on the membership can purchase and each is entitled to then get BOGO OTUP. The reason two might do it is more for the lounge access when people don't travel together.

However, just to be sure I was clear, two owners being part of it doesn't allow one to get more than the total of 24 in a specific UY.....but, if two owners buy, and each then accesses the benefit for a trip that take place in two different UYs, then can benefit if they don't want to be part of this program more than for just 2025.

Here is another example to make it clearer, because I don't want people confused.

You have a February UY.....you want to book a trip in both your 2025 UY and your 2026 UY that you know will have dates with a 7 month booking.

When you buy MMB for 2025....as long as you purchase the points during 2025, they can be used for a trip that takes place in 2026 because the normal rules for booking with OTU points has not changed.

So, owner A buys OTU points using BOGO free deal for a trip that will happen this summer, in August...that trip is in the 2025 UY, and those OTU become the maximum an owner can get for their Feb 2025 UY.

Owner B, joins, but waits to buy their BOGO free deal for a trip that takes place in the February 2026 UY......say they call in September to book a trip in March 2026....theyd be able to get the points.

Now, because one has bought them for the 2025 and 2026 UY, the next UY of travel an owner would be allowed to buy any OTU points would be for travel in their 2027 UY....so, if someone isn't going to buy MMB in 2026, then it can work.

If someone plans to buy every year, then there is not a huge benefit to it, other than getting them sooner rather than later.

I hope this helps????

Ok @Sandisw - is there any trickiness when it comes to using borrowed points?

For example, we have a Sept UY - and for our March 2025 trip I borrowed 148 pts from our 2025 point bucket thereby leaving us 102 in our 2025 bucket.

I booked the March 2025 trip not at our home resort within the 7 month mark with those borrowed 2025 points. Can I call MS after Jan 12th to buy 24 BOGO pts to swap out points used for that trip? And if that's a YES, that means that the swapped out points would still be considered 2024 points, right? and I'd be required to use them between now and Aug 31, 2025 and they cannot be banked, right?

OR can I just call MS and buy 24 BOGO that are not connected to a reservation? I feel that answer is going to be a NO but it would be awesome if it could! Wait - isn't that what @eticketplease mentioned - that I could book a trip costing 24 pts and then cancel that trip, thereby putting the 24 BOGO pts in my account to use? If I did that now, they'd be 2024 points and if I did it after Sept. 1st they'd be 2025 pts - right? since I have a Sept UY?

AND....For our Sept 2025 trip, I'm I have the remaining 102 pts from our 2025 point bucket but we've already established that If my DH signs up for MMB then he would be able to buy and use 24 BOGO pts and even though that trip will only require 105 pts, I can use the 24 BOGO pts and then only use 81 of my 2025 pts, BUT I have to wait until Feb. 15th which puts me at the 7 month booking window.

Oh my - when does this get easier to understand???? or perhaps I'm just over complicating things??

 

[eticketplease]

I booked the March 2025 trip not at our home resort within the 7 month mark with those borrowed 2025 points. Can I call MS after Jan 12th to buy 24 BOGO pts to swap out points used for that trip? And if that's a YES, that means that the swapped out points would still be considered 2024 points, right? and I'd be required to use them between now and Aug 31, 2025 and they cannot be banked, right?

Yes they are stuck in the 2024 use year. Did you use any 2024 Points to make the reservation? If so if you buy the OTUP you can then bank those to 2025.

 

[Avery&Todd]

Yes they are stuck in the 2024 use year. Did you use any 2024 Points to make the reservation? If so if you buy the OTUP you can then bank those to 2025.

Nope - I only used borrowed 2025 pts for the March 2025 trip - does that mean I still can't buy 24 BOGO pts? OR I can buy the 24 BOGO pts and swap out some of the borrowed pts but then I would still need to use those newly released, but still borrowed pts by Aug 30, 2024 before my Sept UY starts?

 

[Sandisw]

Ok @Sandisw - is there any trickiness when it comes to using borrowed points?

For example, we have a Sept UY - and for our March 2025 trip I borrowed 148 pts from our 2025 point bucket thereby leaving us 102 in our 2025 bucket.

I booked the March 2025 trip not at our home resort within the 7 month mark with those borrowed 2025 points. Can I call MS after Jan 12th to buy 24 BOGO pts to swap out points used for that trip? And if that's a YES, that means that the swapped out points would still be considered 2024 points, right? and I'd be required to use them between now and Aug 31, 2025 and they cannot be banked, right?

OR can I just call MS and buy 24 BOGO that are not connected to a reservation? I feel that answer is going to be a NO but it would be awesome if it could! Wait - isn't that what @eticketplease mentioned - that I could book a trip costing 24 pts and then cancel that trip, thereby putting the 24 BOGO pts in my account to use? If I did that now, they'd be 2024 points and if I did it after Sept. 1st they'd be 2025 pts - right? since I have a Sept UY?

AND....For our Sept 2025 trip, I'm I have the remaining 102 pts from our 2025 point bucket but we've already established that If my DH signs up for MMB then he would be able to buy and use 24 BOGO pts and even though that trip will only require 105 pts, I can use the 24 BOGO pts and then only use 81 of my 2025 pts, BUT I have to wait until Feb. 15th which puts me at the 7 month booking window.

Oh my - when does this get easier to understand???? or perhaps I'm just over complicating things??

Since OTU points expire at the end of your UY, always just think about them as just from whatever UY the trips in which you bought them for is in.

If you buy them now to book a night. they would expire August 31st since you’d be booking for a night in your Sept 2024 UY as you can only buy for trips 7 months or less


You mention borrowing 148 March 2025 trip. Since all of them are tborrowed points they can’t be returned and must be used by Aug 31st, 2025.

So, there really is no benefit to you to buy now if don’t plan to go back before September. Because you’d be swapping out points that expire, the borrowed ones.

Basically there is no benefit to you to get OTU points in your 2024 UY if the only trip is your March one with all borrowed points.

To have OTU points to be used in your September 2025 UY, you have to choose a trip date September 1st abs beyond.

And you can do that as early as February 1st for a check in of Sept 1st.

Think of it this way… when is the trip…what date is 7 months prior… that’s when you can call to book and buy the points.

 

[Avery&Todd]

Since OTU points expire at the end of your UY, always just think about them as just from whatever UY the trips in which you bought them for is in.

If you buy them now to book a night. they would expire August 31st since you’d be booking for a night in your Sept 2024 UY as you can only buy for trips 7 months or less


You mention borrowing 148 March 2025 trip. Are those the only points you used? If so, those borrowed points can’t be returned and must be used by Aug 31st, 2025.

So, there really is no benefit to you to buy now if don’t plan to go back before September. Because you’d be swapping out points that expire, the borrowed ones.

To have OTU points to be used in your September 2025 UY, you have to choose a trip date September 1st abs beyond.

And you can do that as early as February 1st for a check in of Sept 1st.

Think of it this way… when is the trip…what date is 7 months prior… that’s when you can call to book and buy the points.

Yes for the March 2025 trip, I borrowed 148 pts from my 2025 UY bucket - those are all the points used for that trip.

I could be talked into another trip before Aug 31, 2025 since my birthday is that month - and who doesn't love a birthday trip to Disney??!! BUT - I would need to be 100% sure that I'm going since as you said, those pts would have to be used by Aug 31st.

thank you @Sandisw and @eticketplease for all your answers to my numerous questions!!!

 

[eticketplease]

Nope - I only used borrowed 2025 pts for the March 2025 trip - does that mean I still can't buy 24 BOGO pts? OR I can buy the 24 BOGO pts and swap out some of the borrowed pts but then I would still need to use those newly released, but still borrowed pts by Aug 30, 2024 before my Sept UY starts?

Yes you can still buy them but there really isn't a point to buy them in your 2024 use year since borrowed points have to be used by 8/31/25 and your OTUP for 2024 would expire then as well.

You said you had an Aulani trip booked for the start of your use year for Sep 2025. You can buy the OTUP 7 months out (Feb) and then use them for that trip to take advantage of the BOGO OTUP for your 2025 points.