Complicated trip coming up -- Advice?

[crocko]

Okay,

I have taken a couple DVC trips, but the one we plan on taking next year is definitely the most complicated situation we have yet to face -- so wanted to get the opinions of some of you tenured experts.

Next November, My family (DVC owners - AKL home) will be traveling to Disney World with my sister (a DVC owner - AKL home) and my mom.

Our goal is to stay at the Wilderness Lodge in a 2 bedroom villa -- my kids have never stayed there and think it would be a beautiful time to be there since Christmas decorations should be up (plan to arrive approx. Nov 16th but get out of Disney a couple days before Thanksgiving)

The issues:
1) Points -- My sister and I plan on splitting the points cost of this trip. What is the best way to book this stay when the time comes? Would her transferring points to me before we try and book work best?

2) Split-Stay -- My mom and sis can stay for a max of 8 nights, but my family would like to stay 2 extra nights (after they leave). For the last 2 nights, we don't need a 2BR so would like to downgrade to a 1BR (obviously, the least distance we have to move the better!) What is the best method for booking these 2 extra nights?

3) 11-month safety net -- So far, any time my family has stayed somewhere that wasn't our home resort, we have booked at AKL at 11 months as a safety net. We love this resort, so if we can't get our desired resort at the 7-month window, we like to know that we have an AKL room already booked for the dates we want. Thus, I would like to do that again for this trip but am worried that between using transferred points and needing to book a split-stay that this could over-complicate the situation. Based on your experience, do you think I need to worry about the safety net? Will Wilderness Lodge be booked up? If so, should I be concerned about booking AKL at 7 months?

Thanks for any advice/opinions!

- John.

 

[sweetdana]

Ideally I would set up a transfer of points however if either of you need your UY transfer.. then


I would book the 1st half with 1 parties points and the 2nd half with the second parties points. IE 1st 4 days 1 and 2nd 4 days 2 and not worry about the difference of weekend points ect. you can link ressies. 99% you will be in the same room, but you will have to "check out and re-check in" but you could do DP on 1 of them this way IE only the 2nd 4 days.. if you wanted.

I agree to book 11 months at Ak then attempt to move it at the 7 month window.

I would plan on getting a different room for the extra 2 days, but if you are in the same resport bells services will hold luggage for you. there is a small chance they will keep you and a small chance they will give you a free upgrade. .. but plan on a move.

 

[Donna M]

When we travel with DVC friends we make the reservation using a 3-way call; she will use her points for some days and I'll use our points for the other days. We have done this a few times without any problem. If we haven't used the 3-way call then it's alittle more trouble because you need to link them and I needed their member number, I think.

Something else I did when my family was joining us later. We reserved a one bd lockoff for just us, then reserved a 2 bd lockoff when they were arriving. We let MS know what was going on and we didn't have to change rooms. They said it can't be guaranteed, but they worked it out.

 

[CRobin]

We've done his both ways, with a transfer and a 3 way call.

Downside to the transfer is that each member uses up his yearly transfer.

The 3 way worked good, but figure out in advance whose points go to which day. MS cannot take 10 points from one member and 13 from another to cover a villa going for 23 points a nite.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I would book the 1st half with 1 parties points and the 2nd half with the second parties points. IE 1st 4 days 1 and 2nd 4 days 2 and not worry about the difference of weekend points ect. you can link ressies. 99% you will be in the same room, but you will have to "check out and re-check in" but you could do DP on 1 of them this way IE only the 2nd 4 days.. if you wanted. ....

Nope, if you link the two reservations, they become one reservation and you cannot do different dining plans. However, the OP could do a different dining plan if they downgraded to a one bedroom from the two bedroom for the nights in the one bedroom.

 

[Sandisw]

The benefit that I see in transferring is that you can then book it as one reservation---well, the 2 bedroom part--and at the 7 month mark, make one call to get it changed.

Booking 1/2 the nights on one membership and 1/2 on the other at the 11 month mark, two calls--or the 3 way one---will need to be made again at the 7 month mark so that both reservations can be changed. With that being a popular time of the year, it might take a bit longer to change over two reservations than one.

The drawback, of course, is that once transferred, they can't go back so if something happens and someone has to cancel, it could get sticky.

Good luck!

 

[sweetdana]

Nope, if you link the two reservations, they become one reservation and you cannot do different dining plans. However, the OP could do a different dining plan if they downgraded to a one bedroom from the two bedroom for the nights in the one bedroom.

Since there are more than 2 adults in the room.. having John on 1 and Mary on the second.. would stop these from being linked.. it also would lower the likely of not moving.. but it would be easy to not link these. Using 2 different persons points.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Since there are more than 2 adults in the room.. having John on 1 and Mary on the second.. would stop these from being linked.. it also would lower the likely of not moving.. but it would be easy to not link these. Using 2 different persons points.

If the reservations are in two different names, you really risk having to move. We had this situation a few years ago where we booked one night on an AP and the rest on DVC points. We would have been moved if we didn't coordinate it with the front desk. But if you have two different dining plans, they might not coordinate it to the same room for both stays.

 

[spiceycat]

would definitely do AKV later this month. so you have a place to stay.

have your sister do Sat-tues using her points, you do Wed-Sun using your points - then make the extra 2 days for your family in a 1-bedroom.

would not transfer just in case something goes wrong between now and then - would link them.

that said you can probably wait to do your 1-bedroom - they go the slowest of all types of villas.

now a lock out as you know has a studio attached to a 1-bedroom, if your sister and mother are sharing the studio - that means someone will be sleeping on the sleeper sofa. well in that case would rather have a 2-bedroom dedicated - because it has 2 queen beds.

I know that does not work into your plans of not moving - but would rather move than have my mother sleep on sleeper sofa and not like it.

otherwise you are asking your sister to give up her bed when she is sharing the points with you.

now if you doing this all on your own - then definitely do what you want - but when you are sharing points - that means sharing everything.