Do you get points back if you cancel a stay at a WDW hotel?

[jdyer]

We're on a waitlist for a 1-bed at SSR in December...
Can we book one week at Port Orleans on points, whilst remaining on the waitlist, and then switch our reservation to SSR from Port Orleans if the waitlist comes through?

I know this would be OK between DVC resorts, but unsure if points take on some other meaning when used for a non DVC resort.

 

[cobbler]

No, you could not turn them back to stay at a DVC resort. Once used at a non-DVC resort they are called Reservation points, if you cancel your non DVC resort, you must book another reservation at a non-DVC resort.

Taken from the Member planner on the bottom of page 27
"Returned Reservation poins may not be used for DVC resort reservations or World Passport Collection exchanges and will expire at the end of your UY."

 

[Dean]

We're on a waitlist for a 1-bed at SSR in December...
Can we book one week at Port Orleans on points, whilst remaining on the waitlist, and then switch our reservation to SSR from Port Orleans if the waitlist comes through?

I know this would be OK between DVC resorts, but unsure if points take on some other meaning when used for a non DVC resort.

since Cobbler has told you the bad new, maybe we can help you be successful. First, did you wait list other resorts than SSR and did you wait list day by day or for the chunk at once? Your best bet would be to do day by day and for as many resorts as you can be comfortable with. SSR and OKW will be the two most likely to come through.

 

[jdyer]

We're on the waitlist for 12/03 -> 12/10 at SSR only, in one big block. Didn't realise we could waitlist at multiple resorts. How does that work? Do MS just cancel all the other waitlists we're on if one of them comes through?

What about the day by day thing? Do you mean waitlisting each day individually, or phoning up each day to check availability?

 

[Dean]

We're on the waitlist for 12/03 -> 12/10 at SSR only, in one big block. Didn't realise we could waitlist at multiple resorts. How does that work? Do MS just cancel all the other waitlists we're on if one of them comes through?

What about the day by day thing? Do you mean waitlisting each day individually, or phoning up each day to check availability?

What's best depends on your use year and how many points you have. I'll assume you have 200 points or so. That will give you only enough points to reserve what you want with a little extra. I'd call DVC tomorrow and see what days they might have available during the time you want to go. Since SSR and OKW will likely be easier to get now or later, concentrate on those. Lets assume they have day 1 & 2 for SSR and day 5 & 6 for OKW. I'd make both reservations as long as you don't have to borrow. Then wait list day by day for both resorts, that means if either come up, you can add to what you have already. As a rule weekends are easy to get so don't invest in a weekend night if you are excluding a weekday. At some point you'll have to decide which resort reservation to keep going at but by then you'll have almost everything you want anyway. Right now they're giving any individual days they get during that time you are looking for to other people because they'll only fill your request if they have it all at one time.

Also, keep a wait list going at the other resorts as an entire chunk as you never know what might happen.