Booking at a resort that is not your home resort....Please Help

[loucrew]

Hello everyone. I have been lurking since joining DVC in Feb. of '06. I own at SSR and am planning a big extended family vacation for Feb 07. I have enough points with the bonus to be able to get a 3 BR at OKW for the time period I want, but not enough to get the 3 BR at SSR. I realize I am within my window to book at SSR but not for OKW . My question is basically how do I make sure I can get a 3BR at OKW so I do not disappoint my entire family? Should I book SSR now and transfer within the window or wait. Do I book day by day when my OKW window opens? I know situations like this must have been asked before but I would appreciate the advise of any of the more experienced DVC members so I can make sure that I accomplish this. Thanks in advance.
LOUCREW

 

[bicker]

First, since you own at SSR, you should plan to stay at SSR. I would book what you want, 11 months prior, day-by-day if necessary. (I'm not familiar with how fast SSR fills up.)

Then, at the seven month point, you have a choice. You cannot hold both old and new without taking a risk with some of your points. So I would either make the decision to try to switch or not. Once you try, you're committed, and you might end up with a split stay, half at OKW, and half at SSR, so don't make that decision lightly.

 

[CarolMN]

The only way to make sure you get a GV at OKW is to find a way to book it as close to the 11 month window as possible. Since you do not own at OKW, you would have to find an OKW owner to make the reservation for you or one who is willing to transfer you OKW points.

Some possibilities -

*Find an OKW owner who would "trade" a reservation at SSR for one at OKW.

*Rent your SSR points and use the proceeds to rent OKW points.

*Rent OKW points and divide the cost among those who will be staying in the GV. Save your SSR points fro another trip.

* Postpone the trip to 2008 and bank & borrow so that you can "afford" the SSR Grand Villa.

* Reserve the weekdays at SSR for points and pay cash for the more expensive Friday and Saturday nights. (Assuming you have enough points to get the weekday nights you want at SSR).

If you want/need to use your SSR points at OKW, I agree with bicker - reserve at SSR now for as many of the days as you have points (at least try to get the weekdays) and try to switch to OKW at the 7 month mark. Plan on having to use the waitlist for some or all of your days and hope you get lucky. It happens - you just can't count on it. There is a risk that you may end up moving back and forth if the waitlist doesn't come through. If you are using borrowed or banked points, you need to remember that those points expire at the end of the current use year if they are not used - yo can't put those points back to their original use year if you find you don't need them after all.
Good luck!

 

[loucrew]

Thanks for the advice. I have put in for a 3 BR at SSR for the timr i needed it. It will require borrowing some points, but the bottom line is it will be worth it. Can't wait to go home for the first time.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the advice. I have put in for a 3 BR at SSR for the timr i needed it. It will require borrowing some points, but the bottom line is it will be worth it. Can't wait to go home for the first time.

If you decide to change over to OKW GV at 7 months out and get it, you could always use the borrowed points first and bank the others to next use year.