Booking at non-home resort

[Mmw37]

So, I've been doing a bunch of research lately. Our sons are 4 and 1, and we're planning our third WDW trip in 3 years. I'm starting to think that DVC might be a good fit. I'm leaning towards BWV due to reasonable pricing and perfect (for us) location. In about 25 years I'd like to be retired and have moved back to FL, so the expiration should be ok for us.

I have to put my vacation requests in a year in advance at work, so the 11 mo window will be perfect. However, if we would like to try somewhere different, how does it work? Do I book at my home resort as a backup and then try to transfer or wait list? Do points just transfer, or is it a pain to get refunded and start over? Also, what happens if something does come up and we have to move our home resort reservation? Can we cancel outright and keep the points up to a certain time, or are there penalties? Can we switch to different dates if still available? Thank you!!

 

[BillPA]

Most will book their home resort, then look and see if a switch is available at 7 months. That way you have a place to stay.
If you cancel at least 31 days ahead, your points are returned to your account. You will need to bank those points if you can't use them in the current UY. Just keep the banking deadline in mind. That is about the only time the Use Year really comes into play.

 

[supersnoop]

Do I book at my home resort as a backup

That's a good idea.

Do points just transfer, or is it a pain to get refunded and start over?

You have to cancel and re-book. If it's during a high-demand time, I have a little trick to make sure you don't lose your reservation: http://disboards.com/threads/making...n-you-go-ahead-of-time.3461485/#post-54707122

Also, what happens if something does come up and we have to move our home resort reservation?

You can cancel without penalty up to 31 days prior to your reservation. But, then, banking deadlines and use year get to be very, very important.

 

[chalee94]

If there is availability at 7 months out, changing resorts is easy and free.

Traveling early in your use year is the best practice. I have an October UY and prefer to travel in November and December, so that is one example. April and June UY would be ideal for mostly summer trips. Summer is also not the peak season for DVC bookings, so hopefully that will give you some options.

 

[Cyberc1978]

That's a good idea.

You have to cancel and re-book. If it's during a high-demand time, I have a little trick to make sure you don't lose your reservation: http://disboards.com/threads/making...n-you-go-ahead-of-time.3461485/#post-54707122

You can cancel without penalty up to 31 days prior to your reservation. But, then, banking deadlines and use year get to be very, very important.

That's cool, thanks for the link.

I just read the link and it mentions something about you need to borrow points in the beginning but further on during the procedure it seems as borrowing is not needed. Could you please clarify?

 

[supersnoop]

That's cool, thanks for the link.

I just read the link and it mentions something about you need to borrow points in the beginning but further on during the procedure it seems as borrowing is not needed. Could you please clarify?

You click the borrow button and cancel out. It's just a trick to get it to refresh the points available from the cancelled reservation.

 

[Cyberc1978]

You click the borrow button and cancel out. It's just a trick to get it to refresh the points available from the cancelled reservation.

Aarh I see. Thanks

 

[Mmw37]

Thanks all, that's very helpful! We've already got our 2017 trip booked, but I'll start looking soon so I can reserve far enough out for 2018. Still need to discuss it with the hubby, but he knows who makes all the decisions in our family, lol. He normally just enjoys the ride.