A fixed week question

[jerseyduke]

It is my understanding that if you buy a fixed week, you buy 10% more points than needed.

e.g If the week you want is 300 points, you buy 330, to cover any future adjustments, and for whatever other reasons Disney wants to state.

Anyway, my question is, if that is true, and you get to the 11 month mark, and your week is open, is there some reason you should not cancel you ressie, get your 330 points, and then rebook using 300 points?

 

[SpaceMountain77]

It is my understanding that if you buy a fixed week, you buy 10% more points than needed.

e.g If the week you want is 300 points, you buy 330, to cover any future adjustments, and for whatever other reasons Disney wants to state.

Anyway, my question is, if that is true, and you get to the 11 month mark, and your week is open, is there some reason you should not cancel you ressie, get your 330 points, and then rebook using 300 points?

I have a fixed week and believe I am qualified to answer this question.

(1) It is at least 10% more points. There is slight variation with each week, particularly for those that are on the cusp of different seasons. Decimals are rounded to the nearest whole number, so it may actually be 11%. You would need to contact your guide for the actual number of points.

(2) This past year, my reservation was confirmed at the 12-month mark.

(3) Yes, you are able to opt out of your week and rebook, but you run the risk of losing your week. Currently, one must call member services to opt out, so, in the hour between online booking and the opening of member services one could possibly lose the reservation.

 

[jerseyduke]

SpaceMountain77,

If you have to call member services to opt out, wouldn't they be able to tell you if the week open...and wouldnt your opt out open up that week?

Maybe I am nit picking, the only reason i ask is because IF i buy into poly I think i am going to do a fixed week, but it would be nice to be there the night it opens as well....which means i would need extra points.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Also, if it is a week that is very popular among DVC members, I would not want to take the opt out rebook chance with a lake view studio or 1-bedroom.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

SpaceMountain77,

If you have to call member services to opt out, wouldn't they be able to tell you if the week open...and wouldnt your opt out open up that week?

Maybe I am nit picking, the only reason i ask is because IF i buy into poly I think i am going to do a fixed week, but it would be nice to be there the night it opens as well....which means i would need extra points.

Based on my experiences with member services, the opt out rebook option is a little more complicated. For example, let's say you have a week reserved at BCV and, at the 7-month mark, want to switch to VWL. Member services can hold the VWL room and modify the reservation. With this scenario, there is no risk of losing both BCV and VWL.

When a fixed week owner opts out, member services places you on a brief hold, a manager is contacted, you confirm what your doing and the fixed week points are transferred into your traditional points account. After the points are transferred, the points can be used for booking. It is not a seamless process. It takes time and availability can change as your waiting for the transfer to be completed. Moreover, once your week is released, any member on the phone or online may have an opportunity to book it.

Regarding the Polynesian, if you buy when sales begin, be sure to discuss this with your guide and request that your first reservation be when the resort opens. Perhaps this can be arranged for the first year without the need to opt out.

 

[wdrl]

Anyway, my question is, if that is true, and you get to the 11 month mark, and your week is open, is there some reason you should not cancel you ressie, get your 330 points, and then rebook using 300 points?

Yes, you can certainly do this. It would mean that, in the situation describe, you would have an extra 30 points you can use for another reservation.

However, you have to remember that the switch will only work if the dates are available. As SpaceMountain77 points out, the process of opting out of the Fixed Week and changing to traditional points is something that requires direct contact with Member Services. Thus, it takes a few minutes to actually make the transition from Fixed Week to traditional points.

I think if a Fixed Week owner makes the transition right at the 11 month window he or she will have little difficulty getting what they want. The longer they wait, especially if they are within the 7-month window, the greater the risk that they won't be able to get all the dates and/or accommodations that they want.

Regarding the Polynesian, if you buy when sales begin, be sure to discuss this with your guide and request that your first reservation be when the resort opens. Perhaps this can be arranged for the first year without the need to opt out.

If someone buys Fixed Week #49 and the opening night is within Fixed Week #48 or another Fixed Week, then the FW owner will have to opt out in order to be there on opening night. I would imagine that most Guides would be very helpful in arranging the opt out and helping secure an opening night reservation, especially if it helps them sell a Fixed Week deed that might represent a few hundred points.