Had it and lost it and its my own fault!

[*pixie*]

We are on the Westbound Panama Canal cruise in May. We are flying in a day before and staying a night at Vero Beach and then driving to Miami. We have been going back and forth on what to do after the cruise. Initially thought about spending a day in San Diego or Disneyland, but lately had been leaning towards just flying straight home after getting off the ship. We were a little worried that after being away from home for 15 nights we might be ready to just get home.

This morning our 7 month booking window opened and we suddenly decided that maybe we should go ahead and stay a night afterwards. Maybe spend part of the day in San Diego then head to Disneyland and not go into the parks, but just enjoy the resort and such.

I was able to book a studio at the Grand Californian for the night we needed

About four hours later, I noticed I didn't receive a confirmation email. I log back in to DVC and there is no record of my reservation

I must have logged off before the final confirmation page. Not sure, because I've only made one other reservation before. Of course, at this point there are no available studios. I cannot believe I was so careless. I went ahead and did a waitlist. We are 12 points short of enough for a 1 bedroom. Not sure if I should buy the one time points or borrow from next year or just go back to the original plan of flying straight home.

I really want to throw up over my stupid mistake.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We were on this years's WBPC and think it was our best cruise ever! we stayed in CA go 5 nights afterwards. We went to Joshua Tree and Death Valley NPs, and 3 nights in DL. We felt it was too far to go without enjoying some of California. We did get the 3 nights in a GCV studio, booked at 7 months. If I would have had to get a 1 bedroom for the stay, I would have done it. The whole experience was worth it. The character breakfast in the hotel was one of the best experiences, and the restaurant is gorgeous. Our first night we only had dinner at Napa Rose which was wonderful.

I would definitely do what I could to spend a night there!

Bobbi

 

[maburke]

Oh, that is so frustrating! Good luck, and let us know what you do!

 

[js]

If the one bedroom is available, I would either buy or borrow the extra points and book it right now. If your "sick" about your mistake, you really want it.

Let us know how you make out.

 

[*pixie*]

I ended up borrowing points and booked the one bedroom. I'm still frustrated that I had to use double the amount of points for bigger accommodations that we don't really need, though it might be nice after being in a cabin on the ship for 14 nights!

We've never been to DLR. I didn't want our first time there to be rushed, so we decided to just enjoy the resort and Downtown Disney. I need to do some checking, but hoping we might get a glimpse of fireworks from the resort somewhere.

 

[Msmithmd]

I ended up borrowing points and booked the one bedroom. I'm still frustrated that I had to use double the amount of points for bigger accommodations that we don't really need, though it might be nice after being in a cabin on the ship for 14 nights! We've never been to DLR. I didn't want our first time there to be rushed, so we decided to just enjoy the resort and Downtown Disney. I need to do some checking, but hoping we might get a glimpse of fireworks from the resort somewhere.

You can see the fireworks from outside the park. The really special thing to do from VGC though, is to watch the World of Color show at California Adventure from the DVC sixth floor viewing deck. It's a somewhat side view but the show is unlike anything in Florida, and they pipe up the music. It's really something special, considering you can see it there for free.

Have a great trip!

 

[*pixie*]

You can see the fireworks from outside the park. The really special thing to do from VGC though, is to watch the World of Color show at California Adventure from the DVC sixth floor viewing deck. It's a somewhat side view but the show is unlike anything in Florida, and they pipe up the music. It's really something special, considering you can see it there for free.

Have a great trip!

That is exactly what I was hoping to find! Thanks so much for tip!

 

[Disney52303]

I love the idea of a one bedroom after the cruise. In room laundry is welcomed IMO. I like bring able to wash my cruise stuff and go home with clean items.

 

[*pixie*]

My waitlist came through!!

Which of course leads me to another question. I had to borrow 12 points to book the one bedroom which was a total of 48 points. The studio is only 24 points, which leaves me with 24 points, 12 from 2014 and 12 borrowed from 2015.

When I log in to the dvc member site, it shows that I have 24 available points to bank. My understanding was that once points were borrowed, they had to be used in the year that they were borrowed to and could not be banked. Is it possible when my waitlist came through, that DVC cancelled the 1 bedroom reservation and then used the borrowed points first as opposed to the current year's points to book the studio?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

My waitlist came through!!

Which of course leads me to another question. I had to borrow 12 points to book the one bedroom which was a total of 48 points. The studio is only 24 points, which leaves me with 24 points, 12 from 2014 and 12 borrowed from 2015.

When I log in to the dvc member site, it shows that I have 24 available points to bank. My understanding was that once points were borrowed, they had to be used in the year that they were borrowed to and could not be banked. Is it possible when my waitlist came through, that DVC cancelled the 1 bedroom reservation and then used the borrowed points first as opposed to the current year's points to book the studio?

Yes, they would should have used the borrowed points first and it sounds like they did.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Good for you!

 

[maburke]

Congrats! They did exactly what they were supposed to do, which saves you the headache of asking for it to be done after the fact. Enjoy!

 

[DenLo]

Good news! And now you can bank any or all of those 24 points to replace the borrowed 2015 points so you won't be short changed next year.

Enjoy your Panama Canal cruise, we have cruise the canal east to west twice with Princess and loved it. I would love to see the construction for the new canal as well. I understand it is pretty amazing. Also by going westbound you gain hours which is a plus to the crew onboard the ship. As passengers we can always sleep later when changing time zones that lose hours, but the crew just become more sleep deprived when going eastbound.

 

[*pixie*]

I'm so glad the borrowed points were used first and that I didn't hurt myself by borrowing!

DenLo, you have a very good point. I hadn't really thought about the crew when it came to losing hours with the time zones!