Help me figure out this booking

[Jennasis]

We're planning first week of December (5-11) and would like to split the stay between a studio at home at BLT and a studio at VWL. I know it might be hard to score the VWL portion at 7 months, so when I go to make our booking this Monday morning (11 months for BLT) I'm planning to make TWO reservations and splitting that week in half. Then at 7 months I will try to convert one of those halves into a studio at VWL.

Now...what of "linking" the split reservation at BLT? If we can't score that time at VWL we are more than happy to keep the week at BLT (heck we bought BLT because it is our favorite). But I've heard you can't move the half of the reservation to a different resort if it's linked. True? If so, then I should WAIT to link the two reservations at BLT until I've tried and potentially failed to score the days at VWL?

I hope that made sense.

And refresh my memory...what time does the online booking tool come online in the morning? I will be ready at the computer!

 

[kristenrice]

... so when I go to make our booking this Monday morning (11 months for BLT) I'm planning to make TWO reservations and splitting that week in half.

You will not be able to book all seven nights and "split the week in half" on Monday. You will be booking 2 separate reservations with 2 separate check in days. So, you will only be able to book the first "half" on Monday and then you will have to wait until the 11 month window opens for the second "half".

If you are booking a hard-to-get category, then I would suggest booking all 7 days at the 11 month window, then calling back later in the week to see if they can break them up. Then, at 7 months, you can book or waitlist the second part of your week at VWL.

We did something similar for our trip last October. We booked 2 reservations of 2 nights/3 nights in a standard 2BR at AKV-Kidani. Then at 7 months, we waitlisted the first 2 nights in a standard 2BR at BWV. Needless to say, the waitlist did not come through, so before they sent our MB's, I cancelled the WL and had them link the other 2 AKV reservations.

 

[Jennasis]

You will not be able to book all seven nights and "split the week in half" on Monday. You will be booking 2 separate reservations with 2 separate check in days. So, you will only be able to book the first "half" on Monday and then you will have to wait until the 11 month window opens for the second "half".

If you are booking a hard-to-get category, then I would suggest booking all 7 days at the 11 month window, then calling back later in the week to see if they can break them up. Then, at 7 months, you can book or waitlist the second part of your week at VWL.

We did something similar for our trip last October. We booked 2 reservations of 2 nights/3 nights in a standard 2BR at AKV-Kidani. Then at 7 months, we waitlisted the first 2 nights in a standard 2BR at BWV. Needless to say, the waitlist did not come through, so before they sent our MB's, I cancelled the WL and had them link the other 2 AKV reservations.

Thanks for that (about booking it all as one and splitting later if possible)! So book as one full week....try to break it up a few days later when the 11 months moves up a bit...then wait to see what I can get at 7 months...then link the two halves if I can't get VWL. Is that right?

 

[kristenrice]

Thanks for that (about booking it all as one and splitting later if possible)! So book as one full week....try to break it up a few days later when the 11 months moves up a bit...then wait to see what I can get at 7 months...then link the two halves if I can't get VWL. Is that right?

Sounds about right...the only thing I am not sure about is if they can split the reservation into two parts. I don't see why they couldn't as it is not circumventing the home resort advantage. You are still booking the same 7 days, you just want the ability to "cancel" (change) one portion of the reservation without jeopardizing the whole thing.

 

[Sandisw]

I would think you will have to wait until at least the 11 month window opens before you split.


What I might do is book the week and walt until just prior to your 7 month to split. MS has been know to combine reservations into one when they are continua, even without a request.

The tricky part will be having to give up what you booked at BLT fir VWL. If something happens and it's gone between canceling the original and booking the new, you may have trouble getting BLT back.

Good luck!

 

[drusba]

You can wait to link the BLT reservations till well beyond the seven month window (I have done it as late as 60 days out). Thus, even if you have to wait list for VWL, you can delay linking the BLT reservations. You must not link the BLT reservations before trying to change because the computer, if you try to make the change online at 8 a.m. 7 months out, construes a linked reservation as one for which you have to cancel the whole thing before making a change, i.e., if linked the computer won't let you cancel just one of the two reservations..

 

[jodiey]

Ok so if I'm understanding this correctly, if you want to do a split stay and you are wait listing, you need to split the week you already have reserved into 2 different reservations first?

 

[Minniesgal]

I do this for every reservation with my AKV points. We tend to try and stay 16 nights and stay in groups of 4 so I book 4 consecutive identical 4 night stays and cancel and rebook at 7 months so i can do it all on line without having to call. This also allows me to keep my AKV 4 night stay while my alternative is wait listed if necessary.

I have never had a problem doing this and never ever had stays combined by MS.

 

[Dean]

Sounds about right...the only thing I am not sure about is if they can split the reservation into two parts. I don't see why they couldn't as it is not circumventing the home resort advantage. You are still booking the same 7 days, you just want the ability to "cancel" (change) one portion of the reservation without jeopardizing the whole thing.

They can split it once the 11 month window opens for the second part. IF one has enough points, the best option is to book the full time at BLT AND the second portion additionally in a different name. Then try and if needed, WL the VWL option in the same second name. If you get the VWL dates then you just drop the days from the current reservation. Obviously there are points security and UY possibilities but UY and banking options are unlikely to be an issue unless you're late on the WL match.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

They can split it once the 11 month window opens for the second part. IF one has enough points, the best option is to book the full time at BLT AND the second portion additionally in a different name. Then try and if needed, WL the VWL option in the same second name. If you get the VWL dates then you just drop the days from the current reservation. Obviously there are points security and UY possibilities but UY and banking options are unlikely to be an issue unless you're late on the WL match.

I don't see much of a reason to do a full week and another reservation for the last half even if one has the points to do that. It's reserving a room that a person has zero intentions of using and if a person reserved BLT as 2 reservations MS is able to merge 2 reservations into a single one later so one wouldn't have to worry about dealing with a linked reservation. Safest way that doesn't take up inventory for several months that isn't meant to be used and if one has the points is to book the BLT as one and then book the VWL at 7 months if available and then modify the BLT. And if a waitlist is needed and a person wanted to be cautious they could waitlist VWL under a second name and if it came thru then modify the BLT and still no reason to be holding the second BLT reservation.

But if one didn't have the points to try and get VWL before cancelling the BLT part I'd be doing what the OP was first thinking - book BLT in 2 parts and then try and change to VWL at 7 months or waitlist the one part if that's necessary. Putting the second reservation at BLT in a different name could help if one is concerned about MS being confused in filling a waitlist if that were necessary. If the waitlist doesn't come thru then call MS and either have them merge the 2 reservations after modifying the names or else link them. It wasn't said what category was being booked at BLT but other than standard view I wouldn't worry about booking that in 2 reservations.

 

[Jennasis]

We don't have enough points to make a full reservation plus a secondary back up one for the half of the trip. And no way I'd want to tie up inventory.

So it looks like I'll book a week at BLT in a studio (standard view preferably) on Monday at 11 months out. After a few more days pass and the window opens further, I'll split the reservation. At 7 months out I will try to convert either the first or second half of the trip into VWL. If we can't, then I will link the two separated BLT reservations together.

 

[Dean]

I don't see much of a reason to do a full week and another reservation for the last half even if one has the points to do that. It's reserving a room that a person has zero intentions of using and if a person reserved BLT as 2 reservations MS is able to merge 2 reservations into a single one later so one wouldn't have to worry about dealing with a linked reservation. Safest way that doesn't take up inventory for several months that isn't meant to be used and if one has the points is to book the BLT as one and then book the VWL at 7 months if available and then modify the BLT. And if a waitlist is needed and a person wanted to be cautious they could waitlist VWL under a second name and if it came thru then modify the BLT and still no reason to be holding the second BLT reservation.

But if one didn't have the points to try and get VWL before cancelling the BLT part I'd be doing what the OP was first thinking - book BLT in 2 parts and then try and change to VWL at 7 months or waitlist the one part if that's necessary. Putting the second reservation at BLT in a different name could help if one is concerned about MS being confused in filling a waitlist if that were necessary. If the waitlist doesn't come thru then call MS and either have them merge the 2 reservations after modifying the names or else link them. It wasn't said what category was being booked at BLT but other than standard view I wouldn't worry about booking that in 2 reservations.

IMO there are extremely few situations where one could use ethics and timeshares in the same sentence and this would not be one of them. If one releases the room someone will get it or if it's too late, the member in question would either lose points or have them restricted. The advantage to this approach is that you reduce the risk of the conversion to 2 different resort reservations and it gives one WL options that may not be reasonable otherwise like one day at a time, esp in between. I don't have any problem restricting such situations but I do have problems with picking and choosing trying to micromanage. So we'd be back to no changes once reserved, each change a cancelation and rebooking, fees to do so; etc.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

IMO there are extremely few situations where one could use ethics and timeshares in the same sentence and this would not be one of them. If one releases the room someone will get it or if it's too late, the member in question would either lose points or have them restricted. The advantage to this approach is that you reduce the risk of the conversion to 2 different resort reservations and it gives one WL options that may not be reasonable otherwise like one day at a time, esp in between. I don't have any problem restricting such situations but I do have problems with picking and choosing trying to micromanage. So we'd be back to no changes once reserved, each change a cancelation and rebooking, fees to do so; etc.

You misinterpreted any ethics being applied - just that there's no reason to bother with a second room for the part wishing to be switched that won't be used at all - for any reason - and that I think it would actually complicate and slow down getting VWL. The scenario you had presented requires enough points to hold 2 rooms at a single time. Since a waitlist can be done without replacing an existing reservation the second room at BLT isn't required to try and get VWL and it actually would be a hindrance in trying to replace a reserved room with a VWL room if it were available right at 7 months because it would need to be cancelled and then book the VWL. So, if one had enough points then simply booking the BLT as one reservation and then either booking or waitlisting VWL at 7 months is all that is necessary. Then if VWL was acquired they could drop the days off of the BLT which is what would be required in the scenario you had presented if I understood it correctly.

If one were extremely concerned about modifying reservations they could book a full length stay at BLT and a second one for the first part of the stay. Then book or waitlist VWL for the second half at 7 months and if that were obtained then drop the full length of stay at BLT. I also think that's unnecessary overkill but the second room has a little purpose in that an owner wouldn't have to worry about MS modifying the full week and instead it would just be a cancellation.

 

[Dean]

You misinterpreted any ethics being applied - just that there's no reason to bother with a second room for the part wishing to be switched that won't be used at all - for any reason - and that I think it would actually complicate and slow down getting VWL. The scenario you had presented requires enough points to hold 2 rooms at a single time. Since a waitlist can be done without replacing an existing reservation the second room at BLT isn't required to try and get VWL and it actually would be a hindrance in trying to replace a reserved room with a VWL room if it were available right at 7 months because it would need to be cancelled and then book the VWL. So, if one had enough points then simply booking the BLT as one reservation and then either booking or waitlisting VWL at 7 months is all that is necessary. Then if VWL was acquired they could drop the days off of the BLT which is what would be required in the scenario you had presented if I understood it correctly.

If one were extremely concerned about modifying reservations they could book a full length stay at BLT and a second one for the first part of the stay. Then book or waitlist VWL for the second half at 7 months and if that were obtained then drop the full length of stay at BLT. I also think that's unnecessary overkill but the second room has a little purpose in that an owner wouldn't have to worry about MS modifying the full week and instead it would just be a cancellation.

OK, sorry, I did take more from your statement on holding duplicate rooms than apparently you attend, I apologize. Regardless, my statement on timeshare ethics wasn't meant as an argument but rather simply my view on the situation as it comes up from time to time This approach does take more points as I stated up front and we can argue about which is easier or better. What can't be argued is that it gives one options for the WL (and website searching) that aren't reasonable for most people otherwise. For example, what if the only day available at some point would be mid stay for VWL? My way assures no lost reservation due to wait list while allowing for securing partial reservations along the way and modifying any WL accordingly. It also allows reverting back to the original BLT reservation if there is not total success.

Management of the WL options in general is complicated with the only 2 at a time rule and for larger points owners is one advantage, for some a major one, to having multiple masters.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

OK, sorry, I did take more from your statement on holding duplicate rooms than apparently you attend, I apologize. Regardless, my statement on timeshare ethics wasn't meant as an argument but rather simply my view on the situation as it comes up from time to time This approach does take more points as I stated up front and we can argue about which is easier or better. What can't be argued is that it gives one options for the WL (and website searching) that aren't reasonable for most people otherwise. For example, what if the only day available at some point would be mid stay for VWL? My way assures no lost reservation due to wait list while allowing for securing partial reservations along the way and modifying any WL accordingly. It also allows reverting back to the original BLT reservation if there is not total success.

Management of the WL options in general is complicated with the only 2 at a time rule and for larger points owners is one advantage, for some a major one, to having multiple masters.

No doubt there can be advantages to having "extra" points available if you are trying to secure a particular reservation that isn't easily obtainable while also having the security of a backup. And also multiple masters for waitlisting although if going that route you will end up with linking between the UY's that isn't quite as seemless as it used to be although I don't think it's quite the mess that it was a year or two ago when they first began the modifications in preparation for launching MDE.