A question or two or three...

[connie254]

I own at SSR and want to stay a week at either OKW or BWV for my honeymoon in a 1BR or 2BR. I'm a bit nervous about getting into OKW at the 7 month window. Would it be possible to book at SSR at 11 months, then if I can get OKW, cancel my ressie for SSR at the same time without a penalty?
Do I need to call in every day for a week to make sure I get a room for one night-will they be able to tie those nights together? (That way, if we can't get OKW for a night, I can book at BWV for that night/rest of the week.)
Do they do anything special for a honeymoon stay-granted we will be going with my son and his son-therefore the reason for the larger room.

 

[PamOKW]

What you suggest is exactly how most of us book trips. If you know you are going, book your home resort and then adjust later on.

Depending upon time of year, chances are exccellent that OKW will come through for you. They do, indeed, "link" a reservation that is made day-by-day. Just let MS know what you are doing when you call. You could call the first possible day and get a feel as to availability. Then you can decide whether you need to call every day. As long as you have somewhere to lay your head, you can piece together a stay from the waitlist as well. Just keep track of what you have booked and what you need to cancel to free up points.

No guarantees on what they might or might not do for a special trip --- and what's more special than a family honeymoon? Be sure to mention to MS that's what the trip is for and maybe mention it in passing when you check-in -- you never know what surprises might pop up. But, don't be disappointed if nothing happens. I've been unsuccessful with my special trips, including my parent's 50th anniversary. You should also mention it's your honeymoon if you book any restaurants or dinner shows.

 

[BillPA]

First, CONGRATULATIONS on the up coming WEDDING!!!

Your plan is the correct action and done by many of us. Book SSR at 11 months then call MS at the 7 month point and see what is available. OKW should not be a problem at 7 months, even at busy times, as long as you call right away.

Have a great trip

 

[CarolMN]

Go for the 2 bedroom if you can swing it. That way, you will not have anyone sleeping in the livingroom/kitchen area (which will then be available for anyone who likes to stay up late or go to bed early) AND you will have two bathrooms. FWIW, many of the OKW 1 bedroom units have only 1 door to the bathroom and you have to go through the Master bedroom to get to it.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

 

[DrTomorrow]

This brings up a question (as I finally start to consider staying somewhere other than my SSR "home" ): Let's say I book a week - Sunday night through Saturday night at SSR at 11 months. On the first day I can book at 7 months (which I determined using Bill's DVC Planner :: plug :: ) I'm able to get Sunday night at VWL. Do I need to then cancel the first night of my SSR reservation? Do I need enough points to cover Sunday night at VWL before I cancel Sunday at SSR?

I guess that, while I understand the concept of booking home @ 11 then other @ 7, I'm a bit unclear on the specifics.

Thanks!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
This brings up a question (as I finally start to consider staying somewhere other than my SSR "home" ): Let's say I book a week - Sunday night through Saturday night at SSR at 11 months. On the first day I can book at 7 months (which I determined using Bill's DVC Planner :: plug :: ) I'm able to get Sunday night at VWL. Do I need to then cancel the first night of my SSR reservation? Do I need enough points to cover Sunday night at VWL before I cancel Sunday at SSR?

I guess that, while I understand the concept of booking home @ 11 then other @ 7, I'm a bit unclear on the specifics.

Thanks!

You can do it pretty much any way you choose - providing you have enough points, of course.

Most members probably do not have enough points to hold the "old" reservation until after the "new" one is made. So they see if the first night is available and if it is, MS cancels the first night of the "old" reservation and then uses those points for the first night of the "new" reservation.

In other words, you have to have enough "uncommitted" points in your account to actually reserve a night. If all your points were already used for the "old" reservation, then yes, MS would have to cancel a night befoe reserving at the "7 month" option.

HTH

Best wishes -

 

[PamOKW]

Dr. T, that's why you have to pay close attention to what you are doing and walk through it with MS. MS assumes nothing. You want to avoid them borrowing points that aren't necessary.

 

[connie254]

[On the first day I can book at 7 months (which I determined using Bill's DVC Planner :: plug :: )

Where is this planner?

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by PamOKW
Dr. T, that's why you have to pay close attention to what you are doing and walk through it with MS. MS assumes nothing. You want to avoid them borrowing points that aren't necessary.

It's like the advice they give a lawyer when questioning a witness: "Never ask (MS) a question that you don't already know the answer to." I'm always much more comfortable when I know the responses that MS "should" give....

 

[DrTomorrow]

CarolMN,

Thanks for the answer; that's what I figured, but like I said, I like to know what supposed to happen before I call MS.

As for the DVC Planner, connie, it was written by by CaskBill, a wonderful DIS DVC contributor. I'm doing a search for any of his posts as I type (system is busy today).... Here is a link to his site.

 

[Dean]

There are three basic strategies to changing over at the 7 month window. Assuming one books home reosrt at 11 months out and try to change to another resort at 7 months, these include:

• Booking day by day cancelling what you have to of your original reservation.
• Booking the second option at 7 months and not cancelling the original reservation until you get to the last day.
• Waiting until you can book the entire reservation at 7 months out, using the wait list if need be.

Of course there are in between variations. One criticle point is whether you are using up banked points as booking both at oen time may leave you with banked points you can't use. There are strategies around this as well. Just remember that MS will not simply sub the banked points for current year points. It's not too risky with MS borrowing points without your knowlege as they are actually pretty good about not doing so and making sure you understand about the borrowing limitations.