2-BR AKV SV vs. 2-BR WL

[hellerjw]

My family and my sister's family have planned a trip together in June, a total of 9 of us (4 adults, 4 kids + 1 toddler). Since I own at AKV we have already booked a 2BR SV for the stay. My sister mentioned wanting to try the Wilderness Lodge since neither of us has ever stayed there. I have a couple questions about making the reservation change:

1) I assume the toddler (1 year old) would not count against us when trying to book a 2BR at WL (which says will accomodate 8), correct?

2) What are the main differences in terms of unit size and sleeping arrangements between a 2BR AKV & a 2BR WL?

3) I can call the beginning of next week to try to move the ressie but am concerned about the availability. What has been your experience with getting a 2BR at WL in the middle of June?

4) Do they put your current reservation "on hold" while they try to reserve the new unit? I just don't want them to release my existing ressie until we know we have gotten the 2BR WL unit.

 

[spiceycat]

1) you are correct any child under 3 (might be 2 these days) doesn't count

2) you won't have the chair/bed in the livingroom. I think the livingroom is slightly smaller. also VWL has dedicated 2-bedroom. So if you can get it - you might get 2 queen beds in the second bedroom instead of a queen and double sleeper sofa.

3) hard to predict. you might have to go on a waiting list. but you won't know until you try.

4)just be sure to explain to them. I have NEVER had a problem with this. although some members have reported a NEW MS canceling their old reservations before making the new one. then the new one got away before they could make it. I think the MS is surpose to be the new one on hold while canceling the old one.

 

[diznyfanatic]

snip...
4)just be sure to explain to them. I have NEVER had a problem with this. although some members have reported a NEW MS canceling their old reservations before making the new one. then the new one got away before they could make it. I think the MS is surpose to be the new one on hold while canceling the old one.

I'm not sure about this spicey.

I was told that the only way they could do this is if you had enough points to cover BOTH reservations until they could go back in and cancel the first reservation.

I was also told that IF you didn't have enough points to cover both ressies, you would have to borrow them and that is a permanent transaction.

If neither of those options works for you, I was told that the first reservation has to be cancelled first, and you could then possibly be in a situation where you've cancelled the first ressie and someone else has snagged the other one before you could book it. You'd then be in a position of being totally shut out for your dates.

Who knows how it is really supposed to work these days?????

 

[gracelrm]

I was told that the only way they could do this is if you had enough points to cover BOTH reservations until they could go back in and cancel the first reservation.


I've never had enough points to cover two vacations at one time and I've made switches at the 7 month mark plenty of times. So, I don't believe it should be a problem. I think I've read of that happening (where there was a problem), but I have to believe that is the exception - not the rule. I usually make reservations at my home resort at the 11 month mark and then switch it at 7 months - and have never had any problem with needing double the number of points.

 

[Shellandscott]

I had a reservation for May 08 at my home resort SSR. I called about a week ahead of time to VWL and asked how that time frame looked. They told me that they showed over a dozen units available at VWL. I waited until the 5th day into my reservation and called to move my reservations for nights 1 thru 4. Then called back at the end of the 10 days and moved the rest of the reservation. My thought was, I did not want to move 1 night at a time, so I did it in blocks. However, you are going in more prime time (June) so you may want to get a feel for how it looks and then make your decision from there.

The way they did the move was 1. Checked availability, several units were available. 2. Cancelled my SSR nights. 3. Booked the new reservation at VWL. The last step included borrowing the additional point difference between the resorts.

I did have a glitch where I had to call back an hour later because the points system was not on line so technically I was with out a reservation for an hour. I cancelled the old ressie but the points were in limbo land and not available to be put toward the new ressie. But they assured me that there were plenty of units available. I called back and finished the ressie. Otherwise as stated above, I would of had to borrow points from a future use year, which would be a permanent transaction. Just get the full picture prior to moving anything.