First time booking, I have no idea what I am doing

[TheYellowDart]

So, I only really have enough points per year for one trip. I would like to go in December and would like another resort than my home resort. I can book my home resort now without problem, then at 7 months lets say all but 2 days are free. Do I just waitlist the whole thing and hope for the best? Do I cancel my first and book parts of the trip and waitlist one day a time? Our trips are 10 days long so it might not work out that we get the full 10 days out on the 7 month mark. Thoughts?

 

[Kidanifan08]

Definitely book your home resort ASAP, since your looking at December. We are going in December, and I am surprised at the unavailability of certain room types at our home of AKV already.

Getting a WL that is 10 days long for December seems unlikely, especially at 7 months, but you never know until you try. One thing that you have to look at closely is the number of points you need to get the room type you want the other resort you are wanting to switch to. If it is more points than your home resort, and you choose to do a WL, you will have to instruct MS on where to take the extra points from if the WL comes through. If the other resort is fewer points and the WL comes through, then the excess points will be returned to your current UY. If that happens, and you are past your banking deadline, you may find yourself in a situation where you lose those points if you can't figure out a way to use them.

 

[Deb & Bill]

A ten day waitlist is going to be tough anytime. A few days waitlisted are easier to get. So at 7 months out, you may be looking at a split stay if you really want to book a different resort than your own. And if you don't want a split stay (we hate them), you'll be staying at your home resort. Just one reason why you want to own at a resort you like.

But December is hard anyway. The early part of the month has low point requirements, so lots of members want to go then. And lots will book their home resort and be happy with it if that is all they get. Early December can book up at 11 months out for some resorts.

 

[JAG107]

Have you thought about a split-stay? That might actually be fun for a 10 day trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Have you thought about a split-stay? That might actually be fun for a 10 day trip.

No, a split stay isn't fun anytime. Nicer to move it, unpack, settle down for nine nights (ten days).

 

[TheYellowDart]

We actually might not mind a split stay since we want to try all the hotels sooner than later... the only problem I can think of is how to get from one hotel to the other without a car... I don't really want to take a bus to a park with all our stuff, maybe I can get disney to drive us?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We actually might not mind a split stay since we want to try all the hotels sooner than later... the only problem I can think of is how to get from one hotel to the other without a car... I don't really want to take a bus to a park with all our stuff, maybe I can get disney to drive us?

Disney will transfer your stuff, but you'll have to get yourself there. You can go to a park and take the new transportation back to your new resort. Or take a cab with or without your stuff.

 

[Kidanifan08]

We actually might not mind a split stay since we want to try all the hotels sooner than later... the only problem I can think of is how to get from one hotel to the other without a car... I don't really want to take a bus to a park with all our stuff, maybe I can get disney to drive us?

A split stay would certainly increase the likelihood of getting into another resort for part of the week. I agree with Deb, it is a bit of a chore to change resorts, as you are "homeless" for a day. We have done split stays twice in the past 6 months, and I feel like we lost about 2-3 hours on the transfer day. We have another split stay coming up, but we wanted to try AKV-CL, so we are doing that for 4 nights followed by BLT for 5 nights.

We do like the split stays as a way to try different resorts. We have an Owner's Locker, so it is a bit of a pain to switch resorts, and I am certain that this next trip will be the last split stay we do in a long time. As noted, bell services can move everything for you, so you don't have to worry about moving your stuff.