Canceling Online and Rebooking Immediately?

[VLee]

I know a reservation cannot be modified online, but it can be canceled entirely, correct?
When a reservation is canceled, I believe that a member's points are available immediately to rebook, can someone please verify this.
Also if a cancellation "frees" up an accomodation (that is currently unavailable), is there a good chance of getting that same room/date back if a new booking is done immediately. Or does it go to the waitlist?
Thanks for input on this question.

 

[rlduvall]

I know a reservation cannot be modified online, but it can be canceled entirely, correct?
When a reservation is canceled, I believe that a member's points are available immediately to rebook, can someone please verify this.
Also if a cancellation "frees" up an accomodation (that is currently unavailable), is there a good chance of getting that same room/date back if a new booking is done immediately. Or does it go to the waitlist?
Thanks for input on this question.

Yes to all of your questions. I have been doing this way too much for my upcoming December reservation. A caveat - there is always a chance that the reservation you just cancelled could be grabbed by a waitlist, but I have had quite a bit of luck in retrieving back an old reservation if I did it quickly. That's why I have been booking separate one night reservations for my 7 night trip. Then, when I am all settled I will contact DVC and ask them to link it all together. Honestly, indecisive people like me should not have access to online booking. I am waiting for a "cease and desist" letter from DVC.

 

[coup2516]

I know a reservation cannot be modified online, but it can be canceled entirely, correct?
When a reservation is canceled, I believe that a member's points are available immediately to rebook, can someone please verify this.
Also if a cancellation "frees" up an accomodation (that is currently unavailable), is there a good chance of getting that same room/date back if a new booking is done immediately. Or does it go to the waitlist?
Thanks for input on this question.

I would highly recommend not doing this just because of the possibility of losing the reservation you just canceled and losing the reservation you want, therefore being left with no room. You can just call MS and have them do this for you. A lot of the CMs have the ability to hold a room while canceling the other so that you are ensured a reservation. If the CM says they can't hold the room, just call back and get a different CM. It seems that some have the ability to hold rooms and some don't.

 

[rlduvall]

I would highly recommend not doing this just because of the possibility of losing the reservation you just canceled and losing the reservation you want, therefore being left with no room. You can just call MS and have them do this for you. A lot of the CMs have the ability to hold a room while canceling the other so that you are ensured a reservation. If the CM says they can't hold the room, just call back and get a different CM. It seems that some have the ability to hold rooms and some don't.

It's not that I don't agree with you, but it can take several minutes to get through to MS and then you are not guaranteed a CM who knows how to hold the room. If you have to hang up and call back, by that time the room you want could already be gone.

Either way, it can be a gamble.

 

[coup2516]

Either way, it can be a gamble.

Eh, I don't know if I'd say that. If you call MS, you're always guaranteed to have a room, maybe not the one you wanted, but a room nonetheless. Canceling and rebooking online yourself, there's always the slight chance that you lose both the one you had and the one you want, leaving you with no room.

I've called MS twice this past trip to have them switch a room for me, and luckily, the room I wanted never disappeared in the time it took me to reach someone, and both times it was a room at BCV!

So, if you're willing to take the gamble, then go ahead and do it yourself online. If you're like me and want to play it safe, call MS

 

[rlduvall]

Eh, I don't know if I'd say that. If you call MS, you're always guaranteed to have a room, maybe not the one you wanted, but a room nonetheless.

Not necessarily. Many people have mentioned on the boards how they have called MS to change a reservation and by the time the CM cancels/releases their old reservation for the point usage [being CMs that don't have authority to lock in a room] and try to get the new reservation - both are gone. Well, except for your advice of calling back if original CM doesn't have authority.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3009980

Post #5 and #8

 

[VLee]

On the reservation I have in mind, I booked 5 nights (all individually with separate numbers). I have holding points in my account which I am hoping to rebook using. So I really don't have to free up points by canceling.

I am assuming though since it is holding points, I will have to cancel my original reservation and am hoping to be able to rebook using the holding points. I know if the room is available, I could book on the 60th day out with the holding points under another name, such as my sister who is traveling with me and later on switch it to my name.

But since it is going into MKL weekend, I am not sure if a room would be available. After I see what I end up with, I am planning to link the reservation into one to keep from having to move or check in each day.

 

[coup2516]

On the reservation I have in mind, I booked 5 nights (all individually with separate numbers). I have holding points in my account which I am hoping to rebook using. So I really don't have to free up points by canceling.

I am assuming though since it is holding points, I will have to cancel my original reservation and am hoping to be able to rebook using the holding points. I know if the room is available, I could book on the 60th day out with the holding points under another name, such as my sister who is traveling with me and later on switch it to my name.

But since it is going into MKL weekend, I am not sure if a room would be available. After I see what I end up with, I am planning to link the reservation into one to keep from having to move or check in each day.

Ohhh now it makes sense why you wouldn't be able to just call MS and have them switch for you.

 

[lilpooh108]

Just a note for anyone willing to risk it---

I literally just cancelled a 1 bedroom BLT (that I didn't need) and I refreshed my screen over and over for the last 10 minutes to see if it will come back up. It never did. I will say that I have previously cancelled other reservations and did see the rooms on other occassions pop back up. I'm not sure if this one simply got grabbed by someone else or by the system. My internet is pretty fast and I was refreshing nonstop.

So my advice is YMMV. If you really need a room for particular dates, I would not bet on cancelling & immediately booking.

 

[dvcterry]

Just a note for anyone willing to risk it---

I literally just cancelled a 1 bedroom BLT (that I didn't need) and I refreshed my screen over and over for the last 10 minutes to see if it will come back up. It never did. I will say that I have previously cancelled other reservations and did see the rooms on other occassions pop back up. I'm not sure if this one simply got grabbed by someone else or by the system. My internet is pretty fast and I was refreshing nonstop.

So my advice is YMMV. If you really need a room for particular dates, I would not bet on cancelling & immediately booking.

We too cancelled a week reservation and before the cancellation there was no inventory showing. Immediately after I clicked cancel and a good while after only one day from that cancelled reservation showed in online inventory. Agreed, it can be very risky doing the cancel/rebook since the inventory is not guaranteed.

 

[com_op_2000]

Did this all online:
This morning I cancelled 5 nights at OKW in June.
Then used those points to book 5 nights at BCV for the same time period.

 

[davedmaine]

I know a reservation cannot be modified online, but it can be canceled entirely, correct?
When a reservation is canceled, I believe that a member's points are available immediately to rebook, can someone please verify this.
Also if a cancellation "frees" up an accomodation (that is currently unavailable), is there a good chance of getting that same room/date back if a new booking is done immediately. Or does it go to the waitlist?
Thanks for input on this question.

Yes, as long as you can run like the wind, Bullseye!