7 month switch call strategy

[meredy338]

My 7 month mark is tomorrow and I want to switch my first 4 days at BLT 1 BR standard to BWV 1BR standard view.

i know it's going to be hard to go so I was wonderering if there was some sort of strategy or "script" that you use when you place your 9am call?

Do they check availability (BWV) and hold that reservation before they let your current ressie (BLT) go? Also, I don't want to have to borrow points to cover the new ressie until they cancel the old one.

Does this make sense? Any advice would be appreciated as I am very nervous about my first 7 month switch.

 

[disneynutz]

They do not hold inventory, why I don't know, while processing reservations. We have lost our reservations twice while MS tried to process our booking.

There isn't a script, just hope that you get a Advisor that knows what they are doing and that they don't make a mistake.

Bill

 

[meredy338]

So, they don't hold your new reservation until it's processed or they let your old one go?

I just called for a practice run to check availability from today until the 8th. The CM I got was SO slow! I gave her my member # and verified my name and last 4 digits of SSN. Then instead of asking if anything had changed, I had to state my whole address, phone number and email address. I told her what dates I wanted to check for and then she asked what size unit. I told her one bedroom at BWV and she typed away for about 45 seconds. Then she asked AGAIn what size unit!

What's weird is December 3 and 4 are available for standard view but 5th is not. I guess since it's a Saturday.

Anyway....is there a way to make them get through the demographic info verification faster so they can get to checking the inventory? OR does it just depend who you get?

 

[disneynutz]

The questions asked are scripted and supposed to be asked by all. What happened to us both times is that the inventory was available when the Advisor checked, but by the time they canceled our existing, and went to book the new, someone else had taken it.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[meredy338]

So you got your old reservation back still, right?

 

[disneynutz]

So you got your old reservation back still, right?

We did, but only because someone else didn't take it. Once released, it's up for grabs. I have complained to Disney multiple times about the way that they do business and it has fallen on deaf ears. I am convinced that they really don't care about Members after you buy.

I meet with Jim Lewis, the President of DVD/DVC in December and he promised that he would address my issues and get back to me, that was months ago, and still no followup.

 

[meredy338]

bump.

anyone have any tips?

 

[Sandisw]

bump.

anyone have any tips?

Before you have them cancel your old reservation, I would ask what the availability is for your current room as well.

We lost ours last summer in the switch and it took a few days to get it back. Now, this was August and not a busy time as December but it was stressful. I even asked about the availability and was told there were 3 or 4 rooms of the BWV studio I had booked available so I figured getting it back was not going to be a big deal. Well, in 45 seconds, I lost the original reservation, and the new one I was trying to get, BLT. But, before they did anything, they did warn me that they had to cancel and that there was a chance I could lose it. I told them to try anyway.

I wish they had a better system than they do and that if it is there when you call, they can secure it while they cancel the old.

Good luck!!

 

[meredy338]

This is making me more nervous than I already was. That week at BLT has been booked for months! I don't know if it's worth losing a week at my home resort just do to a split stay. I was really excited about trying a new resort (BWV).

 

[stace208]

What if you have a ressie at your home resort, call to check availability at 7 months and they have it. Can you book the new one with points you have in your account but still keep the old one? Then, once the new one is confirmed you can cancel the old one and those points would return to your account, replacing the ones you just used. I know you can book more than one room but wasn't sure if they'd let you do that if they knew you were trying to switch resorts?? Don't see why not, but figured I'd ask...

 

[Chuck S]

What if you have a ressie at your home resort, call to check availability at 7 months and they have it. Can you book the new one with points you have in your account but still keep the old one? Then, once the new one is confirmed you can cancel the old one and those points would return to your account, replacing the ones you just used. I know you can book more than one room but wasn't sure if they'd let you do that if they knew you were trying to switch resorts?? Don't see why not, but figured I'd ask...

Yes. And that would be the best way to do it if you have enough current use year points. But the OP didn't want to borrow points, that would mean that they HAVE to release the original reservation so those points would become available.

 

[MinnieGi]

I'm afraid of losing my original reservation too when I go to make my 7 month switch later this month. I also sooooo wish they could devise a system to "hold" a villa while the switch is being done. It sure seems like it should be doable!!!

 

[toniosmom]

I spoke with a CM this afternoon and checked on availability for any resort, any view, 1BR for Dec 3-10. There were 2 or 3 days in the middle of my stay (which would mean I'd be moving twice....no thank you). I have my first night (Dec 4) booked in a BLT 1BR LV and the rest of the week at AKV 1 BR Sav View. I was hoping to extend my BLT stay a few more days (Dec 5-8), but so far no dice. Mostly the night of Dec 5 is not available in any view and the CM speculated it may be due to a MVMCP scheduled that night.

I have a couple of waitlists going, hoping to get Dec 5-8, but who knows if it will come through. I'm a bit nervous about cancelling my existing reservation and possibly losing it if the new reservation isn't booked fast enough. The process of cancelling the first reservation before booking the second is ridiculous. I'm wondering if I should just let the waitlist do its thing.

 

[kimberh]

I just don't think I would risk losing my reservation at that time of year, but that's me. I would wait list my second choice and hope for the best.

 

[CruznLexi]

I will be in the same place next month. We want to switch from KV to BCVor BWV or VWL for Jan 3-6. But I do not like giving up my ressie to search for another.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Just called for the same time you are looking-I wanted studio or 1br , any view or cat and was told they have nothing. Same with BCV. Only SSR and OKW and a couple sets of 2 nights at WL.

 

[DebbieB]

Just called for the same time you are looking-I wanted studio or 1br , any view or cat and was told they have nothing. Same with BCV. Only SSR and OKW and a couple sets of 2 nights at WL.

That first week of December is very popular at DVC resorts. One time I forgot to call for my 1 bedroom BWV standard view for that week on the exact 11 month mark @ 9:00am, remembered around 2:00pm and was told I got the last one.

 

[meredy338]

I called at 9:00 on the dot and rushed the CM through the obligatory questions. She said she had two rooms available and she would have to hurry because my BLT nights that I let go would be cancelled and would automatically go to a waitlister. She put me on hold for about 3 minutes and came back to tell me it had worked! I was SO nervous. We did "have to settle" for a preferred view but waitlisted for a standard view. We are so point stingy and we haven't even had out first trip "home" yet!

Thanks for all the advice. I don't know if I have the nerves to give up my BLT every year just for a split stay. They should really look into fixing that policy so you don't lose your reservation you've had since 11 months!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm glad it worked for you!

Bobbi

 

[Sandisw]

I called at 9:00 on the dot and rushed the CM through the obligatory questions. She said she had two rooms available and she would have to hurry because my BLT nights that I let go would be cancelled and would automatically go to a waitlister. She put me on hold for about 3 minutes and came back to tell me it had worked! I was SO nervous. We did "have to settle" for a preferred view but waitlisted for a standard view. We are so point stingy and we haven't even had out first trip "home" yet!

Thanks for all the advice. I don't know if I have the nerves to give up my BLT every year just for a split stay. They should really look into fixing that policy so you don't lose your reservation you've had since 11 months!

That is great and I am glad that it worked out for you. I agree with you that something should be done so that if you call and there is a room, it can be temporarily held while they get it booked.