Booking Gymnastics- 12/26-1/3

[Synonymous]

Anybody have some advice for me? I'm having my first experience with booking at Xmas-time, and I have to decide the best way to do things.

We are travelling 12/26 and want to stay thru 1/3. My points are at 2 different resorts, VWL and BWV. Right now I have ressies for 12/26 and 12/27 in a 1BR at VWL (as much as my points there would cover.) Then we have 12/28 and 12/29 in a 1BR Boardwalk View at BWV. 12/30 and 12/31 we have a 2BR Preferred View at BWV (parents join us for the rest of the trip at that point.) That exhausted my points.

My plan is to try to switch the whole thing to VWL at 7 mos and get the last 3 nights in a 2BR on cash.

Anybody with experience at trying this sort of thing that time of year? Am I dreaming? I figured that with that long to be on the waitlist, I'd have a pretty good shot if it's not available right away.

 

[gracelrm]

Can't really say for sure about the possibility of getting VWL at the 7 month window. Christmas is a very popular time at VWL and I understand it fills up pretty fast since it is so small. However, the waitlist is a wonderful thing and it might just work out for you. You might as well give it a try provided you have a good back-up plan. Best of luck!

 

[DebbieB]

I would get a backup for the cash nights if it is not available at 7 months. Maybe 2 rooms at WL.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Granted it was a studio at VWL, and I didnt try to extend our VWL ressie until 2 months before our checkin, but with the help of the waitlist, we were able to extend our stay this past December 24-26th. We split our stay between VWL (10 nights) and SSR (6 nights) and I think your chances will be pretty good if you get on the waitlist at 7 months.
We dont own VWL and were able to stay there 10 nights during one of the busiest times of the year all booked from 2 to 5 months. Not saying it will always be like that, but it definitely does not hurt to try. Just have a backup plan you are comfortable with.

 

[robinb]

Let's review:

12/26-12/28 2 nights VWL 1 BR 80 points
12/28-12/30 2 nights BWV 1 BR 80 points
12/30-01/01 2 nights BWV 2 BR 212 points
01/01-01/04 3 nights VWL 2 BR cash

Total VWL points 80
Total BWV points 292

Can your immediate family squeeze in a studio for 4 days? You would end up with:

12/26-12/30 4 nights BWV Studio 76 points
12/30-01/01 2 nights BWV 2 BR 212 points
01/01-01/04 3 nights VWL 2 BR 90 points

Total VWL points 90
Total BWV points 288

All of your days are covered by points if you have 10 extra points at VWL and you didn't zero out your account. You'll save even more points if you consider switching to Standard View at BWV.

I don't know what your chances are at getting VWL at the 7 month mark. I guess all you can do is try. Personally, I would want to have as many of the says booked with points that I could.

 

[Synonymous]

Thanks for the encouragement, Liferbabe- the wait list has ALWAYS come through for me, but I don't have experience with this time period, so I don't know what to expect. It's good to know there's hope

Robin, thanks for the suggestion, but I'm insisting on a 1BR for this trip (it's also me insisting on VWL, so I'm to blame for my own problems.) I didn't book standard view because I'm HOPING to switch to VWL, and I figured I'd keep the points the same (I screwed up the math enough times already when I was planning all this.)

My next attempt is to see if I can rent some VWL points somewhere. If I can get 61 it eliminates my need for cash nights and gives me enough to cover all of the 1BR nights at VWL. Then, if we can't switch the BWV ressie over, at least we'll only be changing rooms once.

Thanks again, everyone.

 

[robinb]

My next attempt is to see if I can rent some VWL points somewhere. If I can get 61 it eliminates my need for cash nights and gives me enough to cover all of the 1BR nights at VWL.

I would look into renting those points now. $610 will be cheaper than renting a 2BR on a cash basis for 3 nights.

Good luck!