Ever been able to book outside home resort before the 7 month mark?

[rutgers1]

Just wondering if anyone ever got lucky and were allowed to book a reservation prior to the 7 month window.

 

[tripletsmama]

Do you mean like member services just waiving the rule and allowing you to book? That won't ever happen. You just have to wait until your 7 month window and keep your fingers crossed.

 

[Sandisw]

No, never...and I don't think that would ever happen. My understanding is that when they pull up your account, the CM only has access to book with the points you have that are eligible and it won't allow a booking sooner than 7 months.

 

[CarolMN]

Just wondering if anyone ever got lucky and were allowed to book a reservation prior to the 7 month window.

There are a few legal ways to do this. (I've not heard of anyone who was successful in just bypassing the booking window rules).

You could find someone to rent you a reservation or transfer you the appropriate points. As you probably know, points retain their home resort tag & use year when transferred.

Some members have been successful in trading reservations to get what they prefer for a particular stay.

 

[lodge]

If someone did, they'd be sure to keep quiet so as to not draw attention. Know what I mean?!?!

 

[drusba]

The rule as to booking only at home resort until 7 months out has always been the same (the rule itself actually existed in the official documents before there was a second resort). In the 1990s to 2000, the exception was that Christmas season was a designated special season for which the rules can differ. Beginning two years out you could put in a requested reservation for time during the Christmas season for a room classification at a resort including one at a resort not your home. Then about 14 months out, they started calling those who had requested ressies at which time the member either had to confirm the request or give it up, and they did that until either a resort was full or the list ran out.