Booking Xmas Week

[huskies90]

I am thinking of going 12/26-1/1. I called MS yesterday and there is plenty of availability at my home resort (AKV) that week but the agent cautioned me not to wait too long. Since airfares are not out yet for many airlines, I would like to try to hold off as long as possible. When do you think that week will be gone?

 

[drusba]

Obey your agent's advice since you can always try to change later. Those nights may stay open for a while but don't count on it particularly for night of Dec 31 which will likely be the first one to disappear entirely.

 

[chalee94]

there is no penalty for cancelling the reservation until you are within 30 days or so. i'd agree - make the reservation now.

(edited to add: if you are borrowing pts, remember that you can't put them back.)

 

[Crystal_27]

Yup - book now...better safe than sorry.

 

[huskies90]

I will be borrowing points for 12/31. That is the date in question whether to include that date or not. If I book it then cancel that one day I could bank points from 2010 and use my borrowed 2011 points. I will know in plenty of time to bank (Nov). I think I would rather just bag NYE but I am not crazy about traveling on that day either

 

[drusba]

Borrowing creates a different issue since preference is not to borrow unless you are actually going to keep the reservation and personally I would not do so unless I was certain. Possibly just book all other nights and hope for the best. Don't know what airlines you are waiting on but you should assume that on May 25 everything for Dec 25 to Jan 1 will fill if it has not done so by that date (that is the first open date at the 7th month window for which those reserving a week can try for night of Dec 31).

 

[discott71]

I originally booked our Nov/Dec trip in a 2bdrm and borrowed points from my next use year. Well, we decided to go down to a 1bdrm and add a day which still resulted in less points than my original booking. So, those borrowed points become part of this current use year. So, MS said they use banked and borrowed points first and I could bank the rest. We know we're going back next year so no biggie, but if I wasn't maybe that would have created some difficulty.

This was my first experience with bank and borrowed points, but I would not have done it that way if I really understood the consequences. In your case I wouldn't borrow unless I was sure about the reservation.

 

[Halle]

Grab that reservation, if not now definitely before the 7 month window opens and folks start reaaranging their villas. We're staying at BWV's in a GV and 2 standard studios, can't wait.

 

[Donna M]

I made a ressie at the 11 month mark so I could get THV but eventhough I called at 9am I am on the waitlist for 12/30. A few days ago I looked at the airfare and since $3,000 for air and car will be more than what we want to spend we will be cancelling the ressie. I borrowed points to make the ressie and won't be able to use them. Luckily it's only 11 points. Live and learn!

I wish they didn't have to charge so much for the car and airfare on Christmas.

 

[huskies90]

they use banked and borrowed points first and I could bank the rest. We know we're going back next year so no biggie, but if I wasn't maybe that would have created some difficulty.

Yeah, if I borrow the points for the night of 12/31 then cancel, that is what I was thinking I would do...I would use my borrowed 2011 points in December then bank my leftover 2010 points to use in 2011. That is OK, correct?

Possibly just book all other nights and hope for the best.

Is there hope for that last night (12/31) if I wait or is it more of a pipe dream? Does anyone know when Airtran, Jet Blue, Southwest, etc releases fares for Xmas week?

If airfares are too outrageous, I guess we could drive...

 

[discott71]

Yeah, if I borrow the points for the night of 12/31 then cancel, that is what I was thinking I would do...I would use my borrowed 2011 points in December then bank my leftover 2010 points to use in 2011. That is OK, correct?

That's how I understood it from MS, however, you have to bank before your banking deadline. For example, I have a December use year so I would have to bank by 7/31 otherwise the points would have to be used or lost.

Maybe one of the experts will chime in here just to confirm since this was my first experience with all this.

Good luck with whatever you decide - that's a tough one. We're traveling late November/early December and haven't booked air yet. I've heard air is more expensive this year, but we won't know for sure until airlines post.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I made a ressie at the 11 month mark so I could get THV but eventhough I called at 9am I am on the waitlist for 12/30. A few days ago I looked at the airfare and since $3,000 for air and car will be more than what we want to spend we will be cancelling the ressie. I borrowed points to make the ressie and won't be able to use them. Luckily it's only 11 points. Live and learn!

I wish they didn't have to charge so much for the car and airfare on Christmas.

If you can, wait to see if the airfare and car rental goes down. In the last year to year and 1/2 I've seen much higher airfare and cars when booking way in advance and they have always decreased for me closer to travel time. You have up until 31 days in advance to cancel the room (depending on UY) so I'd hang in there awhile.

 

[MinnieGi]

We're going at Christmas and have already booked the autotrain. With the high cost of car rental that week and airfares looking much higher too for then not to mention the hassle the whole airport situation has become we've opted to ride the Autotrain. Looking forward to not having to go to the car rental counter at the airport too. The last few times we have gone, their lines just seem to take forever!!!

 

[5forDiz]

Borrowing creates a different issue since preference is not to borrow unless you are actually going to keep the reservation and personally I would not do so unless I was certain. Possibly just book all other nights and hope for the best. Don't know what airlines you are waiting on but you should assume that on May 25 everything for Dec 25 to Jan 1 will fill if it has not done so by that date (that is the first open date at the 7th month window for which those reserving a week can try for night of Dec 31).

Agree on those dates filling when 7 month window opens; actually this will begin as early as May 19 if member is inclined to walk the reservation.

Best wishes OP on you planning, post back how it goes

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Agree on those dates filling when 7 month window opens; actually this will begin as early as May 19 if member is inclined to walk the reservation.

Best wishes OP on you planning, post back how it goes

Can I just ask - Does 'walking' actually work at the 7mth window??

I had assumed not, as I thought that whilst you are 'ahead of the competition' in terms of other 7mth guests, you could still miss out to an owner with the 11mth advantage?? - or have I misunderstood things again??

(This is quite likely as I think I just get my head around something and then I get all confused again!!)

 

[Sandisw]

Yeah, if I borrow the points for the night of 12/31 then cancel, that is what I was thinking I would do...I would use my borrowed 2011 points in December then bank my leftover 2010 points to use in 2011. That is OK, correct?


Is there hope for that last night (12/31) if I wait or is it more of a pipe dream? Does anyone know when Airtran, Jet Blue, Southwest, etc releases fares for Xmas week?

If airfares are too outrageous, I guess we could drive...

Yes, if you book the night of the 31st with borrowed points and the rest of your trip with current UY points, and then cancel the 31st, you can ask MS to reallocate the borrowed points to those other nights. As long as the number of borrowed points wont be more than the current UY points you have to bank, you should be all set.

But, remember, if you do this and then, for some reason, have to cancel the trip all together, those borrowed points would have to be used by the end of the UY you borrow in to. So, there is always a risk when using borrowed points.

I have heard that the 31st is a busy night and the longer you wait, the more risk you have of having it not be open. What you could do is try to reserve it on cash through MS and then when you know for sure, call back and see if it is still available on points. If it is, you can cancel the cash one and book a points one. If it is not, then at least, you have a room to stay in for the night.

Good luck!

 

[huskies90]

*What you could do is try to reserve it on cash through MS and then when you know for sure, call back and see if it is still available on points. *If it is, you can cancel the cash one and book a points one. *If it is not, then at least, you have a room to stay in for the night.

Wow!! So funny I thought of this when I woke this AM and was coming back to ask the very question about cash. So, what is the cancelation policy on the cash room? Based on your comment, I assume holding the room with a cash ressie doesn't guarantee that the room can be converted to a point ressie. Finally, when I called MS for the first time, the agent was giving me an introduction overview and he mentioned cash reservations were given to members at a "significant" discount. Roughly how much would a Savanna view studio over Xmas week cost a DVC member?

 

[wildernessDad]

I wonder how long those rooms will be available at AKV. Time marches on and DVC'ers tend to go at Xmas time.