First Time Using my points

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Newbie DVC member concerns!!!!

Currently in ROFR so wishful thinking but- if all goes well I should have points deposited in my new DVC account by first week of October (by my estimate). We want to use the points for a weeks stay for the second week of May so- I should get the points right in time to book at 7 month window- I think!

Im stressing about how to use the points-

Is it better to call or book online? Is it relatively easy booking online considering it'll be our first time? What time can I start online booking? Calling?

We would LOVE to do a split stay at BCV/AKV and would be happy with a studio (any view) or even a one bedroom at one- not both (so one bedroom part of stay, studio other part) since not enough points to do a one bedroom for whole stay (we want to save some points for December 2015 trip). Im worried that at seven months we won't be able to get a few days at BCV. We'd be happy with BWV too- but always wanted to check out SAB.

Ive never seen the members booking site. Is it easy to use? Will I able to see whats available for the whole week, or just for the dates I put in? (for example- I don't care if we stay at BCV during the first part of the week or the second- will the system show me the whole weeks availability)

THANK YOU!

 

[disneynutz]

Average time is 75 days from offer to being able to make a reservation.

As soon as you have website access, log in and check out the booking section. Online can book at 8 AM Eastern, calling 9 AM but be prepared for a wait up to 45 minutes for someone to help you.

I suggest that you spend a couple of hours looking at all of the member website. You should also track down the home resort rules, they might be on the site.

As far as where to stay, don't worry about it. During your ownership you will stay at all of the DVC resorts many times over. If your desired resort isn't available this time, there is always next time.

I also recommend that you start a journal, keeping track of where and when you stayed at a resort. Years down the road you can use it to look back, refresh your memory and decide where to stay and where not to stay.

Bill

 

[Msmithmd]

May before Memorial Day weekend should be easy to book.

Online is easy, even the first time.

Online opens at 8am for the 7/11 month windows; phone bank opens at 9am.

I'm optimistic you will have your first choice in lodging at seven months and still have many options even six months or less out.

Now, that December '15 trip- you'd better book that one at your home resort right at eleven months. Good luck!

 

[sndral]

The minute I was able to access the member site last year I started checking out availability at my 'target' resorts, but I was more than 11 months out. When the time came to actually book it was super simple, I did have to bank points to use them, but that was easy too.
At 7 months I had to call because I was trying to switch the first 3 nights from my home resort to another - that didn't work out so well because by the time I waited 40+ minutes on the phone the villa showing available on line was gone - but we're talking the first 11 days of January and between New Year and the marathon race the following weekend there's very little availability anywhere.

 

[undchefreak]

When I bought my first contract, my guide called me to introduce himself and to ask if I had any questions. I was able to get my member number from him, then he offered to make a reservation for me. This was at least two weeks before I received my member packet. I don't know if this is standard practice, but it worked out fantastically for me (I had a 4 night stay booked for about a week later that day, and was able to sign in with his info and a call to member admin that afternoon).

 

[Deb & Bill]

When I bought my first contract, my guide called me to introduce himself and to ask if I had any questions. I was able to get my member number from him, then he offered to make a reservation for me. This was at least two weeks before I received my member packet. I don't know if this is standard practice, but it worked out fantastically for me (I had a 4 night stay booked for about a week later that day, and was able to sign in with his info and a call to member admin that afternoon).

You must have purchased direct from Disney and not a resale. The OP bought a resale.

 

[jscottnc]

When using your points the first time do not do what I did. Pay attention to your use year and the year in which you are making the reservation. My use year is December. December 2013 usage covers most of 2014. My first reservation is in January 2015. Different use year. In order to use points made available December 2013 for travel in January 2015, I first had to bank the the points from December 2013 before making the reservation for January 2015 even though I made the reservation during use year for the December 2013 points. (This confuses me and I wrote it.) Needless to say I made my first reservation online using points from Dec 2014 and borrowing from Dec 2015 rather than Dec 2013 and borrowing from Dec 2014. Fortunately a call to Member Services straighten this mess out but I had to wait on hold 25 minutes. The moral? Read all of the member's guide (especially the boring bits) before you start. When in doubt, pickup the phone.

 

[cpc430]

When using your points the first time do not do what I did. Pay attention to your use year and the year in which you are making the reservation. My use year is December. December 2013 usage covers most of 2014. My first reservation is in January 2015. Different use year. In order to use points made available December 2013 for travel in January 2015, I first had to bank the the points from December 2013 before making the reservation for January 2015 even though I made the reservation during use year for the December 2013 points. (This confuses me and I wrote it.) Needless to say I made my first reservation online using points from Dec 2014 and borrowing from Dec 2015 rather than Dec 2013 and borrowing from Dec 2014. Fortunately a call to Member Services straighten this mess out but I had to wait on hold 25 minutes. The moral? Read all of the member's guide (especially the boring bits) before you start. When in doubt, pickup the phone.

Thank you for sharing this lesson!! I would have never thought of this but makes sense after I read it (twice)!

 

[DenLo]

May before Memorial Day weekend should be easy to book.

Online is easy, even the first time.

Online opens at 8am for the 7/11 month windows; phone bank opens at 9am.

I'm optimistic you will have your first choice in lodging at seven months and still have many options even six months or less out.

Now, that December '15 trip- you'd better book that one at your home resort right at eleven months. Good luck!

I agree that any dates not near Memorial Day weekend should be easy to get.

FYI for those of not in the eastern time zone. Online opens at 8:00 AM Eastern (standard or daylight savings depending in the time of year) and Member Services opens for phone calls at 9:00 AM.

If you wait to call MS at 9:00 AM someone else could get the last available room online between 8:00 and 8:59 AM. Beside right now the wait time for phone calls is often very long. If a reservation has to be modified then MS will have to do it. Although some members book additional nights online with the same villa type and view at the same resort and then email MS to request that they merge the two reservations into the original reservation number.

 

[Spork24]

We were able to get the room types we wanted last May at about four months and it included Memorial Day weekend. We did have to do a split stay at VWL and BLT. We had a fabulous time. I know those aren't your first choices. As best as I can remember BWV was also available that week, but BCV was not.

Even if you don't get your first choice, I definitely think there will be something great available at 7 months.

 

[undchefreak]

You must have purchased direct from Disney and not a resale. The OP bought a resale.

Nope, I bought resale in late November, passed ROFR right before Christmas, and closed in early January. The call came a little over a week after closing. I'm not sure why he called, but like I said, it worked out well for me.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Thank you all so much!

So when I go to use my points we have planned the following and please let me know if I am off base....

We will have 46 points from Dec 2013 uy that need to be used by Dec 2015
Dec 14-125 pts coming
Dec 15-125 pts coming
Dec 16-125 pts coming

Planning on getting an AP and squeezing three trips in one year- so with the above points we will...

Book our May 2015 points with the Dec 2013 banked pts and Dec 2014 points

Book our Dec 2015 points with remainder of Dec 14 if we haven't used them (do we have to bank these first? We get them Dec 1 2014 (right?) and plan on using some Dec 6 2015) and some of Dec 2015 pts
Book first week of May 2016 using rest of Dec 15 points and borrowing from Dec 2016

Then we don't plan on going again till 2018- are we able to bank the rest of Dec 2016 points to use in 2018 (before December)???

HEAD SPINNING!

 

[supersnoop]

Book our Dec 2015 points with remainder of Dec 14 if we haven't used them (do we have to bank these first?

Yes, you'll need to bank your 2014 points in order to use them in Dec 2015

Then we don't plan on going again till 2018- are we able to bank the rest of Dec 2016 points to use in 2018 (before December)???

Yes, you'll be able to bank your 2016 points in to your 2017 use year, which will be valid for reservations through 11/30/2018.