Can MS reallocated points without cancelling / re-booking?

[get_us_to_WDW]

I have a vacation in May that is definite - i.e. airfare booked and all intentions of going. I have a vacation in August that I am fairly certain we will be taking (the only thing that may stop us is my son's sports commitments - but the odds are very good that we will take this trip). The August vacation was booked with some borrowed points. I called MS to ask if they could reallocate the points so that the borrowed points were all used for the May trip, just in case the August trip doesn't happen.

The CM that helped me said it was too dangerous because there is no availability in May and we'd need to cancel and re-book.

I thought I had been told before (either read here on disboards or a previous CM told me) that the points could be reallocated "behind the scenes"? Am I just remembering incorrectly? Thanks DVC experts for your advice!

 

[disneynutz]

I would just send an email to MS asking them to re-allocate. My understanding is that it is just an accounting change and not a cancel and re-book. We have always had the same reservation number after the re-allocation.

Bill

 

[Sandisw]

In order to reallocate the points, the points have to be "free"...that is they can't be tied up into the vacation. If they are part of your August trip right now, you do have to cancel that, free up the borrowed points, and then MS can allocate them back in to the May trip without a cancellation and/or rebook of that trip...at least, they have done that for me before.

What they can't do is swap them between the two and maintain both reservations.

 

[Mpadovani2]

I just needed to borrow some points for a very last minute trip to BLT this April from August 2014 use year. I already had all 2015 points allocated for a trip at vgf for November. A very nice woman at member services was able to manipulate my vgf reservation by borrowing 2016 points for VGF trip which freed up points to borrow from 2015 for this April. I told her the most important thing was to not lose my studio reservation at vgf. She replied it was no promblem that they can manipulate points how they see fit. Good luck. Hope this helps.

 

[get_us_to_WDW]

Thanks everyone! I am going to try again, I thought it was possible.

 

[Sandisw]

I just needed to borrow some points for a very last minute trip to BLT this April from August 2014 use year. I already had all 2015 points allocated for a trip at vgf for November. A very nice woman at member services was able to manipulate my vgf reservation by borrowing 2016 points for VGF trip which freed up points to borrow from 2015 for this April. I told her the most important thing was to not lose my studio reservation at vgf. She replied it was no problem that they can manipulate points how they see fit. Good luck. Hope this helps.

Your situation worked because the MS agent was able to get points because you had them available in your 2016 UY to borrow. You didn't have them in a different reservation already.

In OP's case, the points being switched into the May trip are not currently available for use, because they are already being used in August. So, there aren't really any points to reallocate until the August trip is canceled and those points are in the account, like your points were.

But, as with everything, MS may be able to cancel August and hold that room, switch the points to May, and re-book August. If they can do that, then it will work out for the OP!

 

[Mpadovani2]

That makes sense. Thank you for helping me understand. I am still learning myself. I have noticed that some at member services are more helpful than others.

 

[get_us_to_WDW]

I still haven't called MS again. There is plenty of availability in August, but none in May. So I am hoping it is possible and a different CM will know what to do.

 

[nalajms]

If the room you have booked for Aug is still available, then it shouldn't be a big deal. Worst scenario if they say they can't do it, tell MS to drop 2 nights (or whatever amount = borrowed points). Reallocate May trip to use borrowed points, then add on 2 nights.