Can't do transfer - Any other way to combine points?

[sarahk0204]

We have 2 families who want to vacation together. Both families are DVC members & own at BLT. With 2 sets of parents and 5 kids (girls 13, 10, 10 and 9 and 1 boy 9), we are a party of 9. We are looking at a 2BR at AKV or OKW or, better yet, THV.

We looked into a points transfer, but since we'd have to borrow and our friends have banked points, that won't work. Is there any other way to combine points for a reservation? We'd love to split the points more or less equally, but is that possible? Depending on where we stayed, we might have enough points for the reservation ourselves, but then our friends would waste their banked points. We also have some banked points that I would hate to waste if our friends booked the reservation. Any ideas?

 

[disneynutz]

Book separate reservations for a 2 bedroom, have them noted that they are a continuing reservation so that you can stay in the same room.

Bill

 

[DebbieB]

We have 2 families who want to vacation together. Both families are DVC members & own at BLT. With 2 sets of parents and 5 kids (girls 13, 10, 10 and 9 and 1 boy 9), we are a party of 9. We are looking at a 2BR at AKV or OKW or, better yet, THV.

We looked into a points transfer, but since we'd have to borrow and our friends have banked points, that won't work. Is there any other way to combine points for a reservation? We'd love to split the points more or less equally, but is that possible? Depending on where we stayed, we might have enough points for the reservation ourselves, but then our friends would waste their banked points. We also have some banked points that I would hate to waste if our friends booked the reservation. Any ideas?

A DVC friend & I stayed at VGC last September. I booked 3 nights, she booked 3 nights and we had the reservations linked. When we checked in, we got key cards for 6 nights, it was just like 1 reservation.

 

[sarahk0204]

Book separate reservations for a 2 bedroom, have them noted that they are a continuing reservation so that you can stay in the same room.

Bill

Thanks! I figured as much. Probably taking quite a gamble if we tried for a treehouse, though, in case one of us didn't get the reservation.

A DVC friend & I stayed at VGC last September. I booked 3 nights, she booked 3 nights and we had the reservations linked. When we checked in, we got key cards for 6 nights, it was just like 1 reservation.

Good to know. Thanks!

Maybe AKV would be a safer option, since there is more availability. With 4 tween/teen girls, 3 bathrooms at Kidani is probably smarter too! I did like the idea of 2 equivalent bedrooms in the treehouse, but if we each reserved half the nights at AKV, the 2 couples could trade rooms halfway through. Each couple could then enjoy the master, and I would be willing to wash sheets to make the switch. We also drive, so we could bring our air mattresses and bedding in case the kids wanted to camp out together in the living room. My DH has back issues and really needs to sleep in a bed, otherwise we could let the girls have the second bedroom. That is what made the treehouse appealing, but I think we will have to save that for another year when a points transfer may be an option.

Well, I am off to check out AKV Kidani Savanna View points! Thanks again!

 

[sarahk0204]

Oops! One more question: How would the dining plan work with a linked reservation? All guests would need to be on the plan, but could we each pay for our family's plan? We could split it up by night, but since our friends will be 5 adults, and we will be 2 adults, 2 kids, it is a little lopsided. If we can't split it by family, we could make it up another way - maybe our friends could buy the groceries for a breakfast in the room or grilling out.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Oops! One more question: How would the dining plan work with a linked reservation? All guests would need to be on the plan, but could we each pay for our family's plan? We could split it up by night, but since our friends will be 5 adults, and we will be 2 adults, 2 kids, it is a little lopsided. If we can't split it by family, we could make it up another way - maybe our friends could buy the groceries for a breakfast in the room or grilling out.

You have to pay for it when you add it to the reservation. And all points are combined. Maybe separate lodging at the same resort might work out better. Then you aren't worried about who gets the master bedroom, who has what dining credits, etc.

 

[sarahk0204]

You have to pay for it when you add it to the reservation. And all points are combined. Maybe separate lodging at the same resort might work out better. Then you aren't worried about who gets the master bedroom, who has what dining credits, etc.

Yes, good point. We might go back to separate rooms.

If only 1 person can pay for dining, since the points are combined, we could always have 1 family pay for everyone & the other family reimburse them. And, we can still add the dining up to 2 days before the reservation, yes? It might be easier to do it during the phone call where the reservations are linked, but it wouldn't have to be, correct?

 

[jel0511]

Thanks! I figured as much. Probably taking quite a gamble if we tried for a treehouse, though, in case one of us didn't get the reservation.



Good to know. Thanks!

Maybe AKV would be a safer option, since there is more availability. With 4 tween/teen girls, 3 bathrooms at Kidani is probably smarter too! I did like the idea of 2 equivalent bedrooms in the treehouse, but if we each reserved half the nights at AKV, the 2 couples could trade rooms halfway through. Each couple could then enjoy the master, and I would be willing to wash sheets to make the switch. We also drive, so we could bring our air mattresses and bedding in case the kids wanted to camp out together in the living room. My DH has back issues and really needs to sleep in a bed, otherwise we could let the girls have the second bedroom. That is what made the treehouse appealing, but I think we will have to save that for another year when a points transfer may be an option.

Well, I am off to check out AKV Kidani Savanna View points! Thanks again!

IMO, the 2 queens rooms in THV aren't comparable at all. You're better off with AKV and switching mid-stay

Oops! One more question: How would the dining plan work with a linked reservation? All guests would need to be on the plan, but could we each pay for our family's plan? We could split it up by night, but since our friends will be 5 adults, and we will be 2 adults, 2 kids, it is a little lopsided. If we can't split it by family, we could make it up another way - maybe our friends could buy the groceries for a breakfast in the room or grilling out.

The dining plan has to be paid prior to check-in, you probably could do a conference call with MS to have each person charge their part individually. As noted above, all points once there are pooled....

 

[lodge]

Yes, good point. We might go back to separate rooms.

If only 1 person can pay for dining, since the points are combined, we could always have 1 family pay for everyone & the other family reimburse them. And, we can still add the dining up to 2 days before the reservation, yes? It might be easier to do it during the phone call where the reservations are linked, but it wouldn't have to be, correct?

Tables in Wonderland might work for this situation, with one family paying for everyone.

 

[sarahk0204]

The 2 families did Facetime tonight, and we each booked our own 1BR at BLT

We talked about maybe switching at the 7 month window, but I bet we will stay where we are. Gotta love BLT at Christmas!

Thanks everyone!

 

[myzel]

About the Dining Plan, with 2 and 2 the DP is a good value. With 5 adults with the math I did TIW works better. There are a couple of people who have done spread sheets on this that might help.

 

[sarahk0204]

Yes, actually by each family making their own accommodations, we can choose whether or not to get the dining plan. Our friends like the dining plan and feel that it is worth it. We used to get a good value from the plan, and when you have kids who want to do character meals, it is a great value. However, now we have the situation where my almost 9 year old DS eats more like an adult. He doesn't eat the kid's meal anymore at fast food restaurants. If we were to get the DDP, it wouldn't work well. Buffet TS are fine, and I realize that adult and child CS credits are pooled. However, if we stand in line together, we will be expected to purchase 2 adult and 2 child CS meals. So either my son is unhappy or I am stuck eating chicken nuggets for the week. We will probably not get the DDP this trip and instead put money on a prepaid credit card. We have AAA and their travel Visa works well for us. DH and I each get a card that draws from the same pool of money. I calculate how much we plan to spend on meals, including grocery shopping and traveling, and load the card accordingly. TIW will probably not work this time because our trip is too short, but I will keep it in mind for the future (especially when we will be paying for 4 adults).