how difficult is it to change part of your stay to another resort?

[kniquy]

For our upcoming april trip (14-21st) i am going to book AKV 2BR (party of 7- with bringing the in-laws) at 11 months. Once the 7 month window approaches i will look at options and consider changing the first few days to possibly Poly, BR, CC, BW or BC resorts - and will be looking at either a 2BR where available or just 2 studios.

when modifying a reservation to do this is there anything in particular I should know?
Will the CM be able to tell me if there is 2 studios available, before proceeding and canceling the first couple of days? I would not want to book one studio and then not be able to secure the second one? I know bookings could happen at any moment so the rooms could be there then not, but I guess my question is if they can see the number of studios available vs us on the DVC site which just gives availability.

I know this isn't a crazy busy time like December, but i want to avoid creating issues with modifying the reservation. And would this actually be a canceling and re-booking because i would be taking off the first couple of days of the trip? would they cancel the whole thing or just modify - putting the points back into the bank. Can you tell this is my first time booking and changing a reservation??

I am almost leaning towards just staying at one resort but the vote from the family is to try out a couple resorts.

 

[com_op_2000]

You might want to make the original reservation in two separate reservations.
Book 2 - 3 days at HR in someone else's name (DH, DW, nickname, In-laws, etc) and then after the 2 - 3 days book the rest of the reservation in someone else's name other than the original person's name.
Then when you go to book somewhere else at 7 months you are not looking at cancelling and redoing your whole reservation.
Taking days off the from end of a DVC trip is cancelling and rebooking, not modifying.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

You might want to make the original reservation in two separate reservations.
Book 2 - 3 days at HR in someone else's name (DH, DW, nickname, In-laws, etc) and then after the 2 - 3 days book the rest of the reservation in someone else's name other than the original person's name.
Then when you go to book somewhere else at 7 months you are not looking at cancelling and redoing your whole reservation.
Taking days off the from end of a DVC trip is cancelling and rebooking, not modifying.

That has not been my experience. It is simple to call member services and take days off or add days to your trip.

 

[disneynutz]

MS will modify the original reservation and make new reservations for the dates needed. You can check availability using the RAT and MS should be able to make the new reservation(s) without issue.

If you have enough regular points, you can book the new reservations yourself online, then email MS to modify the original, just be mindful if you are using banked or borrowed points.

Bill

 

[com_op_2000]

That has not been my experience. It is simple to call member services and take days off or add days to your trip.

Can it be done - yes.
It might seem simple but changing the front end of a reservation and booking another DVC resort at 7 months, is not as simple as removing days from the end of a reservation. It is even more complicated to remove days in the middle of a reservation.

 

[kniquy]

If you have enough regular points, you can book the new reservations yourself online, then email MS to modify the original, just be mindful if you are using banked or borrowed points.

I thought of this but that would require borrowing from 2019 -- and once borrowed i can not bank -- correct?

I have strategically plotted out our points usage because we only plan on every other year so those remaining 2019 points need to get banked into 2020

 

[drusba]

The riskiest change to attempt is trying to switch a reservation at one resort to two rooms at another resort. You mights succeed in getting the first new room but then find the second one might disappear during the time MS is reserving the first one, rendering your entire vacation screwed up.

Making two separate reservations at AKV would allow you to attempt to make the change online at 8 a.m. at exactly 7 month out fior the part of the trip you want to change -- you could cancel one of the reservations and then attempt to get rooms elsewhere. However, that also has the risk of the second room disappearing while reserving the first if you attempt to get two rooms. You cannot change a single reservation by dropping days except via phone to MS, meaning you cannot attempt the change that way before 9 a.m.

As to the chances of being able to change rooms be aware of the following. The highest risk time during the week you will be trying for will the nights of April 19 (Thurs) and April 20 (Fri). Those are part of the Star Wars Dark Side half marathon weekend. During DVC's low to moderate demand season that runs from mid-Jan to late Sep, that weekend is the second highest demand time; the Princess half marathon weekend in February is the first. There is a real risk for those nights that studios at all the resorts you are considering could be gone by 7 months out and a risk that one room might be open but the second and last one available might fill while you are making the change to the first one if you will be seeking two studios. You may have a better chance for a 2BR.

For the rest of the week, April 14 through 18, you have a high chance that both two studios and a 2BR will be a open at BRV or Boardwalk (pool/garden view), the same for studios and at Poly, and some chance for studios or a 2BR at BCV. CCV is too new to determine the issue but I am guessing the chances will be similar to BRV and Boardwalk pool/garden view.

 

[kniquy]

The highest risk time during the week you will be trying for will the nights of April 19 (Thurs) and April 20 (Fri). Those are part of the Star Wars Dark Side half marathon weekend.

I did take this into consideration so any change i make will be for s saturday 14th to monday 16th. Thanks for the input on this!