Best strategy to book across use year

[DixieDelights]

I am booking a trip in the spring that will span my use year (end of may to early june). It wouldn't let me do this online. I can call - all that is fine. BUT... I'd really like to move resorts at 7 months out and think I will need to do it at 8AM on the nose since we are over the memorial day holiday. What is the best strategy for doing this when I reach the 7 month mark? Book the may part at 8AM and then call to add on the rest of the week at 9AM when member services open? Never knew this would be an issue.

 

[disneynutz]

Online and call, think about buying a different UY when you do an add-on.

Bill

 

[DixieDelights]

I just added on w/ a different use year but need to use these points for this particular trip. Will plan better in the future.. .never knew this would be an issue. Something to definitely consider when picking use year!

 

[DenLo]

We ran into that problem ourselves when going to Hawaii. We just did cash reservation on another island for the end of the UY and started our Aulani trip with the beginning of the new UY. I expect you could do something similar at WDW.

 

[Dean]

I am booking a trip in the spring that will span my use year (end of may to early june). It wouldn't let me do this online. I can call - all that is fine. BUT... I'd really like to move resorts at 7 months out and think I will need to do it at 8AM on the nose since we are over the memorial day holiday. What is the best strategy for doing this when I reach the 7 month mark? Book the may part at 8AM and then call to add on the rest of the week at 9AM when member services open? Never knew this would be an issue.

I'd book 11 months out 7 days in advance such that the last night is the last night in the UY. Then call and walk the reservation until you have what you want. That way you'll have one reservations and can make the transition at 7 months more easily.

 

[drusba]

You could make two separate reservations online now at home resort, one for the May period, and then a separate one for the June period. Do not have MS link or merge them before 7 months out. Then at 7 months out, if May portion is open for what you want, switch it online and then call at 9 to cancel June ressie and add nights to new May ressie.

I do not know what you will be looking for at 7 month out, but much should be available at WDW for Memorial Day weekend except BWV standard or boardwalk view studios (and 2BRs), AKV value or club level, BLT standard view and possibly theme park view, VGF studios and BCV. All those have a real risk of being gone for Memorial Day weekend well before 7 months out, and thus being able to reserve online at 8 rather than calling to make the change at 9 likely will not make a difference for those.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

You could make two separate reservations online now at home resort, one for the May period, and then a separate one for the June period. Do not have MS link or merge them before 7 months out. Then at 7 months out, if May portion is open for what you want, switch it online and then call at 9 to cancel June ressie and add nights to new May ressie.

I do not know what you will be looking for at 7 month out, but much should be available at WDW for Memorial Day weekend except BWV standard or boardwalk view studios (and 2BRs), AKV value or club level, BLT standard view and possibly theme park view, VGF studios and BCV. All those have a real risk of being gone for Memorial Day weekend well before 7 months out, and thus being able to reserve online at 8 rather than calling to make the change at 9 likely will not make a difference for those.

This sounds like the best strategy to me. book online, at 11 months two separate reservations each one wholly in one use year. At 7 months, for the first reservation, change it online to the one you want for all the days it will let you. Then when MS opens, call them and add on the remaining days over the phone and cancel the separate one.

 

[DixieDelights]

You could make two separate reservations online now at home resort, one for the May period, and then a separate one for the June period. Do not have MS link or merge them before 7 months out. Then at 7 months out, if May portion is open for what you want, switch it online and then call at 9 to cancel June ressie and add nights to new May ressie.

I do not know what you will be looking for at 7 month out, but much should be available at WDW for Memorial Day weekend except BWV standard or boardwalk view studios (and 2BRs), AKV value or club level, BLT standard view and possibly theme park view, VGF studios and BCV. All those have a real risk of being gone for Memorial Day weekend well before 7 months out, and thus being able to reserve online at 8 rather than calling to make the change at 9 likely will not make a difference for those.

This is a GREAT plan!! I'm doing it now! I am hoping for BCV but in a 1br. Maybe that will make my chances a little better? It's one we haven't stayed in yet.

 

[drusba]

BCV studios and 2BRs (lock-offs and dedicateds) had issues this year at 7 months out for time beginning shortly before Memorial Day weekend and into early June but the 1BR was open at 7 months out for that entire time.