Hilton Head or Bay Lake Tower May 2013

[mickeyplanner]

We are new DVC members, closed on a BLT resale in February. We are looking ahead to May 2013 to plan our next DVC trip. We are undecided if we will go to BLT for a week in May or should we try something new at go to Hilton Head instead.

Has anyone have any advice on HH? What will our chances be to book HH at the 7 month window?

Can we book BLT at 11 months out and then try for HH at 7 months out? Are they any fees to do that?

 

[chalee94]

Can we book BLT at 11 months out and then try for HH at 7 months out? Are they any fees to do that?

booking your home resort at 11 months out is a great idea. trying for another resort at 7 months is very common. no fees at all.

i enjoyed staying at BLT a few years ago. i've stayed at HHI at a different timeshare and really enjoyed it - amazing food in that area, nice beaches, golf, fun historical things to see, dolphin watching boat tours, biking trails and not too far from savannah.

HHI can be tough to book in the summer - not sure if may is that difficult, but if it's not available when you call at 7 months, ask to waitlist.

 

[mickeyplanner]

Another DVC newbie question, how does wait list work? If I book 11 months out at BLT and then try to book HH 7 months out and I am put on a waitlist when do I have to decide which trip to take without penalty?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Another DVC newbie question, how does wait list work? If I book 11 months out at BLT and then try to book HH 7 months out and I am put on a waitlist when do I have to decide which trip to take without penalty?

You make the decision to go to HHI if it becomes available when you go on the Waitlist. They do not call you before they change the reservation.

 

[mickeyplanner]

You make the decision to go to HHI if it becomes available when you go on the Waitlist. They do not call you before they change the reservation.

When is the latest I could cancel BLT if HHI waitlist would become available? Maybe I won't even need to worry about a HHI waitlist for May 2013.

 

[chalee94]

When is the latest I could cancel BLT if HHI waitlist would become available? Maybe I won't even need to worry about a HHI waitlist for May 2013.

as bobbiwoz posted, if you waitlist HHI for may and it becomes available, they will instantly cancel your BLT reservation in order to book your HHI reservation (unless you have the pts to do both).

it's not like they will hold the HHI reservation and call you and wait for you to decide.

 

[mickeyplanner]

I have so much to learn as a DVC member...I have a few more questions. We have a Dec UY and banked some of our 2011 points, when do we have to bank our 2012 points by? How late can you cancel a reservation and still be able to bank those points or do they go into holding?

 

[chalee94]

We have a Dec UY and banked some of our 2011 points, when do we have to bank our 2012 points by?

you can bank your 2012 pts during the 1st 8 months of your UY (i.e. bank by july 31, 2013.)

How late can you cancel a reservation and still be able to bank those points or do they go into holding?

from the member site:

Cancelling a reservation 31 or more days prior to check-in:
All Vacation Points used to make the reservation will be restored to your account in the Use Year in which the reservation falls.


Cancelling a reservation 30 days-1 day prior to check-in:
All the Vacation Points used to make the reservation will be placed in the Holding Account in the Use Year in which the reservation falls.


Cancelling a reservation on the check-in date:
All the Vacation Points used to make the reservation will be forfeited.

so if you cancel more than 30 days out AND you cancel before july 31 in your UY, you can bank any current UY pts forward to the next UY.

this is why it's more risky to travel late in your UY...think about the difference between having to cancel a reservation for thanksgiving week as opposed to canceling a reservation for mid-december...

here are some other reminders if you need them:

dec 2011 pts are valid for stays from dec 1, 2011 to nov 30, 2012.

since you banked them, they are valid for stays from dec 1, 2012 to nov 30, 2013.

if you haven't used them for a stay by nov 30, 2013, they are gone. they cannot be banked again.

you can bank or borrow a pt one time only. you cannot unbank or unborrow a pt. (banking and borrowing are "final" transactions.)

edited to add: dec can be a tricky UY...make sure you understand that even though your 2012 pts are mostly valid during 2013, they are still 2012 pts. i assume your banked pts are actually dec 2011 and not from dec 2010...

 

[mickeyplanner]

Thank Charles for the useful information. I think I need to start a database with all the timelines. I am sure I will get the swing of it in a year or two.

Yes we banked 2011 points. So if we were planning to use our 2012 points to either go to HHI or BLT in may 2013, I could actually wait to decide in April 2013 to cancel a reservation and still bank points if need be?

 

[chalee94]

So if we were planning to use our 2012 points to either go to HHI or BLT in may 2013, I could actually wait to decide in April 2013 to cancel a reservation and still bank points if need be?

yep - if you cancel at 31 or more days out, there are no penalties...and you'd still be eligible to bank the 2012 pts.

 

[mickeyplanner]

Great, I think I understand thanks to your wisdom.