applying newly added-on points to an existing reservation

[DisneyMSF]

We are thinking about taking advantage of the current incentives and adding on some points. (We had originaly figured we'd add on some more points in a few years - but the current incentive is just too tempting ).

We have an April use year, so we are going to get '07 points (which our guide told us we will immediately be able to bank into '08) plus the developer points. We have an existing reservation for August (using some banked '07 points and some '08 points). After we add on the points, will we be able to "reallocate" the points for our existing reservation such that we use the newly banked '07 points and the developer points (and then whatever '08 points we still need) without cancelling and rebooking our existing reservation. Our guide said that there would be "no problem" doing this, but I'm still concerned about it, so I wanted to find out what others experiences were. Will Member Services definately let us reallocate the points of our existing reservation?

Thanks!!

 

[rodserry]

I'd like to know this too. Thanks.

 

[DisneyMSF]

Is there anybody out there who has experience with this or knows the answer? We're hoping to make our final decision today about the add-on, but I'd love to get some feedback before we make the decision.

Thanks!

 

[Merilyn]

I know they can reallocate points for an already existing reservation. I have done it before. They are very helpful with this. They can also make sure you use banked points first so they won't expire. Do remember thought that you can only bank once so don't bank any points until you have your addon. As I understand it, if you don't addon with the same use year, you will have another member number. Having more than one member number is more difficult to deal with but not impossible. I have all my use years the same.

I just found out there can be a problem if you have 2 member numbers though. We recently added on at OKW. The original contract had my sisters name on it. She passed away and I never took her name off. When we did the addon, they couldn't add it to the original member number because of the name differences. If you have banked points in one member number, they can't be trasferred to the other number. They are permanently attached to the number the were banked into. Thus, you have to make reservations for a few days with one member number and other days with the other. They also can't be reallocated for an existing reservation unless you want to cancel and rebook. Ofcourse, most of the time, that is impossible because you risk not getting what you want. Points that are not banked can be moved from one member number to the other. Just a little additional information for you.

Hope this helped.
Merilyn

 

[CarolMN]

You won't be able to use the developer points for that purpose unless there is still availability for the exact same dates and unit type/size. Developer points can only be used for reservations made 7 months or less from the check out date.

If members were allowed to just "reallocate" with non home resort points (or developer points) when there was a waitlist for any of the dates/rooms, it would be a way to bypass the home resort booking advantage. Not fair to other members who were on the waitlist and willing to use their home resort points to secure the reservation.

For example, let's say that I make a reservation for a BCV studio as soon as the 11 month window opens. You call at 10 months for a BCV studio for the same dates (still in the home resort booking period), but all the studios are booked so you go on the waitlist. I later buy more points and get developer points. At 7 months I call up and ask to substitute developer points for the BCV points I used at the 11 month window (because I want to bank my original points and use them for a BCV reservation during the home resort period next year).

Since those developer points could not have been used to get the original reservation, if MS allows a reallocation now, it''s not fair to you or anyone else on the waitlist. Either I keep the original reservation with the BCV points or I give it up to you, the next person on the waitlist.

If there were no waitlist, using the developer points to free up homne resort points would be not be a problem.

 

[DisneyMSF]

Thanks for the info Merilyn and CarolMN!

CarolMN - Your explanation makes perfect sense. Our existing reseration was booked at the 7 month window (and not at our home resort). Does this make a difference? I think that if we had added on a couple of weeks ago (such that we already had the developer points when I made the reservation), I would have been able to use them since it was in the 7 month window. Unfortunately we're decideding to add-on a couple of weeks too late. It sounds like it will just be dependant on if there is still availibility at the resort as to whether we can use the developer points.

If there is still availability at the resort, and MS says we can apply the developer points, does anyone know if will we have to cancel & rebook for the nights that will use the developer points, or will we be able to keep the existing reservation, and they'll just reallocate the points?

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the info Merilyn and CarolMN!

CarolMN - Your explanation makes perfect sense. Our existing reseration was booked at the 7 month window (and not at our home resort). Does this make a difference? I think that if we had added on a couple of weeks ago (such that we already had the developer points when I made the reservation), I would have been able to use them since it was in the 7 month window. Unfortunately we're decideding to add-on a couple of weeks too late. It sounds like it will just be dependant on if there is still availibility at the resort as to whether we can use the developer points.

If there is still availability at the resort, and MS says we can apply the developer points, does anyone know if will we have to cancel & rebook for the nights that will use the developer points, or will we be able to keep the existing reservation, and they'll just reallocate the points?

System wise they can actually do either as I understand it. Technically it's supposed to be a cancellation and rebooking. There is a chance you could lose part of all of the reservation in the process but they have ways to do it that are much less likely for this to happen that involve having additional points as in your case. The question with the developer points is that they may have to do it "manually" so it may take a few days. Call them but if you get anyoen that doesn't make you very comfortable they know exactly what to do, hang up and call back.