Drop & Pick Up: I don't want to lose out on two resorts

[chrispgross]

Hello All!

I have a 2 Bedroom LO booked at RIV in June. Right now there is pretty good availability for BCV anytime during our two weeks and thinking about a split stay. I don't have enough points to have both reservations at the same time, so I would have to drop days and then search for BCV availibity. I'm worried that during this process I will lose out on both rooms and be going to SSR (though I do love that resort.) Do I need to call Member Services to be sure I don't lose out on both?

 

[Sandisw]

MS has to do the same thing so the risk is the same.

One thing that we do when a split stay is a pssopibly is book that way from the start so we can try at 7 months. If it doesn’t work out, then MS can merge back to one.

If there are any rooms for the beginning or end of your stay still at RIV and you have at least enough points without borrowing, you can try to split it yourself slowly.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Do people ever book rooms with their expensive home resort points at 11m and then drop and book at 2am with cheaper SAP at 7m so they can bank their more expensive points to a future year?

 

[Sandisw]

Do people ever book rooms with their expensive home resort points at 11m and then drop and book at 2am with cheaper SAP at 7m so they can bank their more expensive points to a future year?

While not at 2 am, I do this all the time. When book RIV and VGF using the advantage and then when I get yo 7 months, I use my SSR points to snag whatever I can for any of the trips and then drop the same nights using the home resort points!!

So far, it’s always worked!!

 

[Bearval]

Do people ever book rooms with their expensive home resort points at 11m and then drop and book at 2am with cheaper SAP at 7m so they can bank their more expensive points to a future year?

You run the risk of losing the room since you will have to drop it first.

 

[intamin]

Do people ever book rooms with their expensive home resort points at 11m and then drop and book at 2am with cheaper SAP at 7m so they can bank their more expensive points to a future year?

I've thought about doing this. You are taking a gamble by releasing the room because it gives the waitlist a chance to pick it up or for another owner to pick it up in the mean time. We don't know how fast the waitlist works to pick up rooms but I don't think it's instantaneous in most cases. One thing you could try doing if you have enough points to do so is go ahead and book the room twice with home resort points. Let's just say it's for Boardwalk or something. You book 2 studios with the same dates at 11 months. Once 7 months rolls around, go ahead and drop one of them and then immediately go back in with Aulani points or whatever points of your choice and try to book the studio.

The second room basically gives you insurance. Of course the major down side is you have to own literally 2x as many points as you need for the reservation but if you regularly book 2BRs you should have enough points to do this with studios at least. If I had grandfathered SSR points I absolutely would be trying to do this with Riviera.

 

[Sandisw]

You run the risk of losing the room since you will have to drop it first.

Only if you are trying to cancel the rooms you have.

If you do it the way I do, there is no risk. Book what is still there at beginning or end and drop after.

Now, I have gambled and canceled one night at a time and picked it up immediately but I usually have no more than 3 nights so it’s not crazy hard to do.

And, I only do it every few years because when it works, I have banked points then which do need to be used.

 

[JackosinDIS]

Do people ever book rooms with their expensive home resort points at 11m and then drop and book at 2am with cheaper SAP at 7m so they can bank their more expensive points to a future year?

Can you explain the reference to 2am to me? Is there a different time that you can book from at 7m?

 

[intamin]

Can you explain the reference to 2am to me? Is there a different time that you can book from at 7m?

Lol no, he's just saying to do it at a random time within the 7 month window so it makes it less likely that other people will pick it up once within that window. You don't want to drop the room if your intention is to pick it back up immediately at 8AM at 7 months, you want to do it a few days after the window opens and ideally at a random time like 2-4AM to decrease the chances that a member is looking for that room specifically.

 

[JackosinDIS]

Lol no, he's just saying to do it at a random time within the 7 month window so it makes it less likely that other people will pick it up once within that window. You don't want to drop the room if your intention is to pick it back up immediately at 8AM at 7 months, you want to do it a few days after the window opens and ideally at a random time like 2-4AM to decrease the chances that a member is looking for that room specifically.

Phew! Thought I’d missed something then

 

[intamin]

Phew! Thought I’d missed something then

Nah unless you're trying to hold @AstroBlasters rooms for a ransom and steal them from under his nose at 2AM