How to Book for non home resort

[Irish Goofy]

I have 600 points for Poly and 200 for Riveria but want to book a family holiday for 12 in AKL for July 2026. I am afraid if I wait till 7 months window I won’t get the rooms I need. Has anyone any suggestions. Is there a points swap system where I can swap my points for AKL points in order to book trip????

 

[AnnaS]

How many units will you be booking/need? Studio? 1BDR?

You can bank and borrow one resort and have double the points.

If you don't have enough to book at one resort for everyone in your party or even if you do, I don't think you will have any problems switching or waitlisting AK when the 7 month widow opens up.

 

[Irish Goofy]

How many units will you be booking/need? Studio? 1BDR?

You can bank and borrow one resort and have double the points.

If you don't have enough to book at one resort for everyone in your party or even if you do, I don't think you will have any problems switching or waitlisting AK when the 7 month widow opens up.

Yeah I will be looking for a 2 bed and 3 studios all at AKL so not sure all would be available at 7 months hence why looking for advice on what would be best stray

 

[MyDogTink]

I believe Jambo will be going through its refurbishment July 2026 so it may be better to focus on Kidani.

 

[eticketplease]

Looking at dvchelp.com availability charts look better in the last 15 days of July compared to the first 15 days.

 

[Chuck S]

If it were me, I would focus on Kidani, and book the studios first, as they would tend to book up the quickest, and then book as many nights as you can i the two bedroom. At 7 months, modify and complete the 2 bedroom booking. Be sure, one booking are complete, that you call MS and have "Traveling With" noted on all the reservations so your rooms are somewhat near each other.

 

[Mommb]

There is no official way to swap points to book early at a non-home resort.

You could ask around to friends to see if anyone knows anyone who owns at Animal Kingdom and would like to stay at Polynesian and/or Riviera and book for you in AKL. If you do find someone who can book some of your reservations for you, start with the Studios at Chuck S suggested, since the 2-bedroom is more likely to be still available at 7 months.

You could book now at the resorts you own to be sure you have somewhere to stay, then change the reservations when you can book at Animal Kingdom (or if you find someone to swap with).

 

[Sandisw]

As mentioned, not really a way to swap points. You can try and get a transfer into your account for AKV points and then rent sone of your own to offset the cost.

But, you are limited to one transfer in or out per UY so finding that many points might be difficult.

Hopefully, between what is there and waitlists, you will get all you need!

The other option since you need multiple rooms is do a short walk and book a few days earlier before you want to check in to save time and then move forward.

I have done do this sometimes when I need multiple rooms.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

It seems like AKL Kidani would be a reasonable place to book rooms at 7 months - probably better availability than most. Just be ready to go right at 7 months. Book yourself as the primary and don't worry about guest names until after you have them all booked - moves faster that way! I also agree very much with the plan to book something at your home resort(s) now in case it doesn't work out for AKL. Not sure how that might work for you with banking/borrowing for your trip - I expect AKL rooms (even savanna rooms) will be less points than booking comparable rooms at Poly or Riv. Good luck - AKL is an amazing resort and will be worth your efforts to get the family there!

 

[Chuck S]

Sorry, yes, I misread the first post as having AKL points, not Poly. But you could try looking for someone on the Rental board offering AKL points, contact them via PM and offering to book Poly reservations for them in exchange for the Studio reservation at AKL. It would be like a mutual rental, you book a reservation for them, they book a reservation for you. But that will take a lot of trust on both sides. Another option would be to fund someone that will transfer AKL points to you, the wrench there is that we are only allowed one transfer in or out per use year, so you could not just transfer Poly or RIV points back to the other owner.

Another option would be to rent your points out, and take that cash to book cash reservations, if you can find a good promo price on cash stays.

Personally, for a group needing 4 rooms, I'd probably just book at my home resort(s) at 22 months, then, if possible at 7 months, modify the reservation to a "less popular" resort like OKW or SSR, which are both lovely resorts and will often have availability into the 7 months window.
I did a stay at Kidani several years ago. Lovely resort, liked the animals, but if you get stuck at the end of the hallway, it is NOT pleasant. It was a one and done for me just because my visit was at the very end of the hallway.

 

[sndral]

…
Personally, for a group needing 4 rooms, I'd probably just book at my home resort(s) at 22 months, then, if possible at 7 months, modify the reservation to a "less popular" resort like OKW or SSR, which are both lovely resorts and will often have availability into the 7 months window.
I did a stay at Kidani several years ago. Lovely resort, liked the animals, but if you get stuck at the end of the hallway, it is NOT pleasant. It was a one and done for me just because my visit was at the very end of the hallway.

22 months - I think you meant 11 months .
Funny how one stay can sour your feelings towards a resort - I had a similar experience w/ my one & only stay at the BWVs, that long & winding narrow hallway on an upper floor to reach my villa was so off putting that I lost any desire to stay there again. The chaos at the one central bank of elevators didn’t help. I think Kidani works especially well for those w/ cars because they can park under the building near one of the multiple elevators along the very long hallways. We never have a car, so it’s Jambo for us .