Booking at 11 mths & then changing resorts at 7mths

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi, I was just playing around with points, and looking at where I might like to stay on future trips, and whilst I am more than happy to stick with my home resorts it would be nice on occassions to switch out at 7mths.

Obviously different resorts cost different points and I was wondering how in 'real life' the whole thing actually works?? Especially for vacations where you borrow points.

If your home resort costs more points than the one you want to swap to - would you book less nights at 11mths & then keep your fingers crossed you can swap in - I am just thinking that if you would need to borrow points to cover your whole 'back up' trip, but that you wouldn't need to borrow if you get lucky with the swap -do you guys borrow or wait to see at 7mths?

Do you even bother to book your home resort at 11 months, and then just try your luck at 7 months?? (I know this wouldn't be advisable at busy times - but what about in say late aug or oct??)

Finally, for those of you who own at more than one resort - do you ever combine your points and then book a non-home resort at 7mths for a change?? If so, do you book anything at 11mths or again wait and see what happens at 7mth window??

 

[Marshay]

If your home resort costs more points than the one you want to swap to - would you book less nights at 11mths & then keep your fingers crossed you can swap in?

Do you even bother to book your home resort at 11 months, and then just try your luck at 7 months??

Finally, for those of you who own at more than one resort - do you ever combine your points and then book a non-home resort at 7mths for a change?? If so, do you book anything at 11mths or again wait and see what happens at 7mth window??

We typically book one less night than we want at our home resort and then adjust at the 7 month mark -- if we book 7 nights at SSR then that may only get us 6 nights at BCV or 8 nights at OKW or 5 nights at BLT, depending on view.

For our next vacation (July 2010), we are just waiting until the 7 month mark since we are trying to get in a non-home resort with another couple who has separate DVC points ... figured it would be easier to just do at 7 months once we know which resort has room for us both.

We have both AKV and SSR points. We usually book with our SSR points first since we're trying to save our AKV points (now that we added on more), to do the 'every 3 years book a whole week at 11 months).

But we have in the past booked 5 nights at SSR 11 mos and 3 nights at AKV 11 mos ... then combine at 7 mos.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

There are a couple of ways to go with this. One as you mentioned is to book less nights and not borrow and then hope to get all the nights you wish for at 7 months.

If you will still be within your banking period then the other is to book all of the nights that you want including borrowing. Then at 7 months do your switch and at that time make certain they use the borrowed points and return your current UY points. Then you can bank those to use the next year.

A lot depends on your UY and then also on your comfort level at either not having all your nights, or at using borrowed points.

And for the question about multiple resorts I am currently reserved for a split stay next May. At 7 months I will most likely change to larger accomodations and try for one resort. But, in the meantime I have a place to stay that will be fine even if I can't change.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

thank you both - I think it is probably one of those things that is simpler to do in 'real life' than trying to plan hypotheticals in my head - am I right??!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think you're correct. Once you've got a trip in mind you'll know much better how you want to work it. And now you've got a couple of ideas on how you can when that situation comes up.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I think you're correct. Once you've got a trip in mind you'll know much better how you want to work it. And now you've got a couple of ideas on how you can when that situation comes up.

you're right - thank you!!

 

[Sandisw]

I think if you are in a borrowing situation, then it is important to look at the points needed for your home resort compared to where you might want to go.

However, if you are only using current year or banked points, then I would probably book the whole thing at 11 months and worry about it when you swap.

I think it will be easier for you to do things in late August then October based on what I have read about availability. August is not as busy as October.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I think if you are in a borrowing situation, then it is important to look at the points needed for your home resort compared to where you might want to go.

However, if you are only using current year or banked points, then I would probably book the whole thing at 11 months and worry about it when you swap.

I think it will be easier for you to do things in late August then October based on what I have read about availability. August is not as busy as October.

thanks Sandi!!

The reason I was asking, was I am thinking about adding on (not quite yet but in a couple of years when I've saved some more money!!). I know point charts change, but I was looking at 2010 charts to give me an idea, and I was thinking of adding on 100 points at BWV to use in October.

My idea then was to have a vacation twice in a three year period, using my 100 AKV, 100 BLT & the added on 100 BWV points. I would be looking at a trip in late August for 13 nights (6 at BLT & a week at AKV in a 1 bed) & then the following year, 2 weeks in Oct (1 week at BWV & then hopefully - and this is where the fiddling with the points come in!! - a week at Vero Beach - all in a 1 bed). The 3 home resorts are straightforward but it would mean using all the 'leftovers' of the other 3 resorts (inc borrowed pts) to make up a vero beach reservation.

Do you think just waiting to try booking VB at 7 mths in Oct is a risk worth taking, or do I need to book up all the odds and ends at my 'homes' just to make sure I get something??

I had toyed with buying less at BWV (I think I need 75 points) and then some at VB - but I'd need 60 points at VB to do my plan, and then I would still be left with my BLT & AKV leftovers!!

I thought buying at BWV would be the best answer & just fiddle around at 7mths - what do you think??

thanks for all your help!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think you'd be okay just waiting until 7 months although I am not a VB expert. I do think that is a Oct slower time there though. We booked a OVIR room for May at 6 months or so and then I added another OVIR at 3 weeks so I'm also influenced by that experience.

Also, if for some reason VB was booked I think you'd be pretty safe in getting a room at WDW for SSR, OKW or AKV - and probably even some others since you are looking at a 1BR. In your scenario I'd just wait and would only buy VB points if you intended to go there regularly.

 

[gooftroop22]

We're buying at Vero Beach but don't plan to stay there every time.....

What's everyone's experience with making a reservation at 7months? Do you get what you want? We'd only ever get a studio and don't really care what view we get.....

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I think you'd be okay just waiting until 7 months although I am not a VB expert. I do think that is a Oct slower time there though. We booked a OVIR room for May at 6 months or so and then I added another OVIR at 3 weeks so I'm also influenced by that experience.

Also, if for some reason VB was booked I think you'd be pretty safe in getting a room at WDW for SSR, OKW or AKV - and probably even some others since you are looking at a 1BR. In your scenario I'd just wait and would only buy VB points if you intended to go there regularly.

thanks Kathy - I think I will go with the orginal plan then and just keep my fingers crossed for VB at 7mths - besides if I can't get VB, I won't mind as long as I get somewhere that second week - I would be quite happy trying SSR or OKW some time anyway!!

thanks again!!

 

[crisi]

We're buying at Vero Beach but don't plan to stay there every time.....

What's everyone's experience with making a reservation at 7months? Do you get what you want? We'd only ever get a studio and don't really care what view we get.....

Depends on what you want, when you want it, and how attached you are to getting it. And whether you make your reservation at seven months - or procrastinate a bit and call at six.

If you try for the first two weeks of December, you'll find DVC availability at WDW to be limited seven months out. A few years ago, some nights in early December were locked tight before the seven month window even opened - but that seems exceptional.

Generally, smaller resorts book up first. BWV and BCV tend to have limited availability for October due to Food and Wine. December is rough. Studios book up first.

Chances of getting completely frozen out are rare. But you may discover that SSR is a lovely resort when you had hoped to stay at BLT.

 

[Sandisw]

thanks Sandi!!

The reason I was asking, was I am thinking about adding on (not quite yet but in a couple of years when I've saved some more money!!). I know point charts change, but I was looking at 2010 charts to give me an idea, and I was thinking of adding on 100 points at BWV to use in October.

My idea then was to have a vacation twice in a three year period, using my 100 AKV, 100 BLT & the added on 100 BWV points. I would be looking at a trip in late August for 13 nights (6 at BLT & a week at AKV in a 1 bed) & then the following year, 2 weeks in Oct (1 week at BWV & then hopefully - and this is where the fiddling with the points come in!! - a week at Vero Beach - all in a 1 bed). The 3 home resorts are straightforward but it would mean using all the 'leftovers' of the other 3 resorts (inc borrowed pts) to make up a vero beach reservation.

Do you think just waiting to try booking VB at 7 mths in Oct is a risk worth taking, or do I need to book up all the odds and ends at my 'homes' just to make sure I get something??

I had toyed with buying less at BWV (I think I need 75 points) and then some at VB - but I'd need 60 points at VB to do my plan, and then I would still be left with my BLT & AKV leftovers!!

I thought buying at BWV would be the best answer & just fiddle around at 7mths - what do you think??

thanks for all your help!!

Since you are trying for VB, I think waiting might make sense since having a specific back up at WDW is not as crucial. If you can't get VB for the whole week, for some reason, then you can adjust while on the phone with MS based on what is available at WDW. I think you will be able to find something at WDW if VB doesn't pan out the way you want, but I think in October, you have a good chance!

 

[5forDiz]

We're buying at Vero Beach but don't plan to stay there every time.....

What's everyone's experience with making a reservation at 7months? Do you get what you want? We'd only ever get a studio and don't really care what view we get.....

If you intend to stay at WDW more than VB then buy points at one of the WDW DVC resorts. And you'll save $ on MFs as VB's are highest.

Or split the amount of points you plan to purchase between an onsite WDW DVC resort and VB.

If you can't book a DVC resort at WDW at 7 month or < will you be content to vacation at VB? If that would not be a problem then purchase your points at VB.

Do you think just waiting to try booking VB at 7 mths in Oct is a risk worth taking.........

Amy, jmho but I think you'd be okay getting VB for October at 7 months out but I do see on VB's points chart that October is lowest point usage season - - now this can mean that it is quite a popular time among member's to stay at VB. Perhaps post your question re October on the VB Adoration thread and get some input from the true VB experts ? iirc typically, January through early May and July&August are most popular at VB; that being said, we've booked into VB twice during summer months at < than 7 months with no problem. Best wishes on your planning - - wasn't long before that addonitis thing started to take its hold on you !! Don't try to fight it, it's all good ~Laura

 

[amystevekai&bump]

thanks Sandi and Laura for the great advice (as always!!)

Yes the addonitis struck very quickly with me!!- just fortunate for my DH that it waited until I had completed my first contract, as he'd have had a fit if I had tried to increase my initial buy in AGAIN!!! I've already gone from160 to 200pts - 300 would have pushed him over the edge I think!!

But I am starting saving now - so BWV here we come!!

 

[Inkmahm]

Finally, for those of you who own at more than one resort - do you ever combine your points and then book a non-home resort at 7mths for a change?? If so, do you book anything at 11mths or again wait and see what happens at 7mth window??

Nope. I love each of our three home resorts and have them just so we can book at the 11 month mark. We do AKV in spring, BWV in October and VWL in December.

That said, Disney switched me to BCV in October this year (construction at BVW) and I did change our one night at AKV after our cruise to one night at BLT in December. I knew I'd never book a longer trip to BLT so this is our one chance to see the place for a night. I switched to BLT from AKV at less than 7 months when the idea hit me.

 

[Tink6666]

Wow, I must be a bit unusual. I am lucky if I can figure out a vacation 3 months in advance let alone at the 11 month window! We are coming to WDW in 2 weeks and I did not call for reservations until the middle of May and I still get to stay one night at AKV Conceirge and do sunrise safari, then move to SSR for the remainder in a 2 BR. The same for our first trip, I called the week before Thanksgiving and we went to WDW in a 2 BR dedicated for 4 days before Christmas this past year! Maybe this is just a fluke Godd luck to all with your bookings.