One Time Use Points: What If I Need More DVC Points?

It can be tricky to know how many DVC points is the right amount for you. Even if you buy a contract with what seems like the right amount, visiting at a different time of year, or with more people in your party, can change the amount of points you need for an individual trip. What if I need more DVC points to book the trip I want? Disney Vacation Club knows that the way you spend your vacation points can work out differently each trip. Banking and borrowing can be helpful vacation planning tools. This means spending more points than you are annually allotted by using the year prior or the next year’s points. There’s even more flexibility than this available to Members. One time use points aren’t talked about as much but can be a helpful tool for Disney Vacation Club Members.

What if I need more DVC points for one trip? One Time Use Points to the rescue

One-Time-Use points, or OTU, is a feature of DVC that allows Members to purchase extras points for one stay. You can purchase up to 24 additional vacation points during each use year. DVC resale owners are able to use one time use points as well. You buy one time use points when you’re ready to book a certain stay but need additional points to complete it. An example might be, you have 100 points but need 113 to stay at Disney’s Old Key West Resort during the busy spring break season in 2024. You can use your 100 points and buy an additional 13 to have enough points for this particular stay. This can be really helpful in certain situations, especially when you’re trying to fit in an extra day or stay in a bigger villa.

How much are One Time Use points?

There is a fee for one time use points. The price of one time use points went up in early 2023. Previously they were $19 per point. Now one time use vacation points are $22. This price includes taxes. The break down is $19.56 per one time use point plus $1.27 tax (6.5%) and $1.17 resort tax (6%).

Are One Time Use points a good value?

Yes and no. If it’s just a few points here and there, making your vacation puzzle pieces fit, it can work out. If you find yourself needing lots of one time use points each year, it might be smarter to purchase some additional points or a bigger contract overall. If you do the math $22 per point for the maximum of 24 points is $528. Doing that every year for 20 years would cost $10,560. The real cost would probably be more as the cost of one time use points will likely rise again at some point. In early 2023, a 50 point contract at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows sold for $8250. That’s more than double the number of one time use points a Member can use in a year. At the time, that contract had 43 years left on it. Granted there are additional annual dues to pay that would come with that. When you’re weighing the best value, though, buying additional points wins.

How to use One Time Use points

To purchase one time use vacation points, Disney Vacation Club says to contact Member Services at (800) 800-9800 or (407) 566-3800. One Time Use points are something you buy for a particular stay. Disney Vacation Club says, “The purchase just needs to occur at the time you’re making the reservation that requires them.” It’s helpful to be sure you need them and that your trip is happening for sure. This is because Members can not cancel or receive a refund for one time use points. Members also can not transfer, bank or borrow one time use points. It is possible to use your purchased one time use points for another trip if you need to cancel. Just know that they will expire at the end of your use year. You are able to use one time use points at your home resort or other resorts. Know that booking has to be done within the seven month window though. You’re not able to use one time use points with your home resort eleven month out booking advantage. See DVC’s website for more information on using one time use points.

What if I need more DVC points than I originally bought? Let’s talk about adding on points.

If you need more Disney Vacation Club points than you originally purchased, you have a few options. Anyone can add on points. What this really means is purchasing an additional contract. This can be done through Disney Vacation Club directly or by buying a resale DVC contract. With resale, you will have more transparency when shopping. DVC resale listings are right online for you to look at. Disney Vacation Club doesn’t have an online marketplace for you to see prices and contracts for sale. Prices for the resorts Disney is actively selling are showcased but no others.

Plan with Disney Vacation Club Point Charts

Disney Vacation Club point charts are the road maps to your dream vacations. Referring to a point chart can help you plan out how you’ll spend your points and if you need more to book specific stays. Let’s take a look at some hypothetical vacations. Everyone loves pricing out trips, right? I find it fun. First, consider these details that will affect the amount of points you spend to book a DVC villa:

the time of year you visit
the days of the week you stay
the resort hotel you choose
the type of villa you book
the view from your villa

The most extravagant of trips is a three bedroom grand villa at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa during Christmas week. At 1439 vacation points for this particular stay in 2023 and 2024, one time use points probably aren’t going to help you much. If you have that many points or plan to bank or borrow to go all out, maybe one time use points will be the help you need if you’re just close enough. On the contrary, one time use points could really come in handy for someone with a smaller contract. A very economic stay is a deluxe studio at Disney’s Old Key West Resort in September for 71 points weekly. If you have just a 50 point contract but decide for one year to vacation a bit longer, those 24 one time use points can change the game for you.

Getting the best price on DVC

To get a Disney Vacation Club contract at the best possible rate and stretch your dollars, consider resale. Resale Disney Vacation Club contracts are those sold by Members. When a DVC Member no longer wants their contract, they can sell it. These contracts are usually priced much lower than what people pay when buying from Disney. In early 2023, DVC resale prices were quite low. Like any market, there are different variables that affect the price of the Disney timeshare. Prices go up and down depending on many different things like demand and consumer confidence in the economy. When Disney Vacation Club direct prices go up, we often see resale prices rise. Still there is an ebb and flow like we see with the housing market. In April of 2023, a 200 point Bay Lake Tower contract sold for $145 per point for a total of $29,000. At the time, Disney Vacation Club was selling this resort for $275 per point. The savings on a 200 point contract at this rate is $26,000! That’s pretty amazing, especially considering how far 200 points goes. Annual dues are the same price whether you buy resale or direct. However, the initial price difference in contracts is hard to get over. Resale is worth looking into whether you’re becoming a Member or adding on points. It’s good to know up front that DVC resale doesn’t come with all of the perks buying direct does. The real draw of the Disney timeshare is booking amazing stays at deluxe resort hotels. Resale DVC booking works the same and includes the eleven month home resort booking advantage, free parking and the rest of the regular deluxe perks like additional park hours when offered.

DVC Resale Experts Can Help

DVC Resale Experts is a licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC. Whether you’re adding on points, buying or selling Disney Vacation Club, the Experts can help you find the right price to place a bid with or list your contract for. Our independent, licensed real estate agents are former Disney Vacation Club Guides. They have decades of pixie dusted experience selling DVC and take pride in providing excellent service to their clients. The Experts have seen it all and are happy to answer your questions throughout the process. DVC resale prices can pleasantly surprise potential members. See our resale DVC listings for a look at real time availability and pricing. If you don’t see the contract you’re wishing for, join the DVC Resale Experts Buyer Wish List to be contacted when one magically appears on the market. Ready to sell DVC? Get in touch for a complimentary valuation of your specific contract today.

Sparkly Nicole

Nicole is a native Floridian who attended the University of Central Florida and decided to call the land of theme parks home. She’s been sharing magical tips, tricks and Orlando travel and tourism favorites online for over a decade.