How to secure 1 point?

[DaleFan]

Hello! I am looking for some advice. I am wanting to waitlist 1 night at The Grand Californian June 12. I currently have 19 points available from my Oct 2016 use year. The night would be 20 points. I can't borrow from 2017. When this all came about I was going to buy the point from member services. Until I remembered I have to actually be making the reservation. So is there any way to get that 1 point to create a waitlist, or am I just going to have to stalk the website, hope something pops up, and member services is open? Thank you!!

 

[JCerniglow]

You can "rent" up to 25 points per year from member services.

 

[erionm]

You can "rent" up to 25 points per year from member services.

It's up to 24 One-Time-Use Vacation points per UY. Cost is $15/point.

 

[suebeelin]

Hello! I am looking for some advice. I am wanting to waitlist 1 night at The Grand Californian June 12. I currently have 19 points available from my Oct 2016 use year. The night would be 20 points. I can't borrow from 2017. When this all came about I was going to buy the point from member services. Until I remembered I have to actually be making the reservation. So is there any way to get that 1 point to create a waitlist, or am I just going to have to stalk the website, hope something pops up, and member services is open? Thank you!!

Maybe you can transfer a point in from someone? Maybe someone is willing to do that for just a point...

 

[HtomSirveaux]

It's up to 24 One-Time-Use Vacation points per UY. Cost is $15/point.

Can't use that for waitlist, though. Can only be purchased at time of actual booking, so OP had that correct.

 

[CarolMN]

Can you find something, somewhere within the 7 month window that would require 20 points? If so, call MS to book that night now so you can buy the 1 point from MS.

Then go head and waitlist for the night you want. Be sure to have the waitlist set up to cancel the "placeholder" reservation if the waitlist comes through. If you can find something to book now that is more than 31 days farther out than June 4, you can keep the waitlist going until 7 days prior to your arrival date of June 12. If you see June 12 in inventory, you will still have to call MS because the purchased point won't necessarily show up in your account if you cancel the reservation that originally used it.

Worst case: You'll be out the $15 for the purchased point if the waitlist never works.

Good luck!

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

Another possibility is to buy the fewest number of points for transfer into your account. Make sure they are current use year points. Then you can book using the 1 point you need and bank the rest.

 

[DaleFan]

Can you find something, somewhere within the 7 month window that would require 20 points? If so, call MS to book that night now so you can buy the 1 point from MS.

Then go head and waitlist for the night you want. Be sure to have the waitlist set up to cancel the "placeholder" reservation if the waitlist comes through. If you can find something to book now that is more than 31 days farther out than June 4, you can keep the waitlist going until 7 days prior to your arrival date of June 12. If you see June 12 in inventory, you will still have to call MS because the purchased point won't necessarily show up in your account if you cancel the reservation that originally used it.

Worst case: You'll be out the $15 for the purchased point if the waitlist never works.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for this idea! I will start checking availability ASAP

 

[DaleFan]

I am very willing to take the risk of losing the $15! Also I have no points available in 2015 and 19 for 2016. Oct use year. I really need to just buy more points!

 

[DaleFan]

I'm not sure what you mean by fewest number of points for transfer? This sounds like another option I would like to pursue, but I'm not sure what it means! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions

 

[suebeelin]

Looks like bay lake, lake view studio on that date is 21 points. So, you can pay the mouse $30 for the 2 points, then Waitlist for grand Californian, possibly forfeiting the $30 if nothing comes through (or $15 if it does come through).

Or, maybe someone is willing to transfer 1 itty bitty point. It might be tough because you're only allowed one transfer per year. But I've read of people who have a few extra points left and dont know what to do with it...

 

[dvc_john]

If you want to go that way, a studio at SSR for a Fri or Sat from Jun 11 to Aug 25 is exactly 20 points And since it's SSR, it should be available.

 

[supersnoop]

I'm not sure what you mean by fewest number of points for transfer? This sounds like another option I would like to pursue, but I'm not sure what it means! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions

Members are only allowed a single transfer, either in or out, not both, each year. The likelyhood that someone would be willing to go through the trouble and use up their one chance for a single point is very, very slim. Basically, you're looking for someone who has some points stranded and can't use them, and they'd probably want you to take them all. Transfers are usually a "take all I have left" transaction.

 

[suebeelin]

If you want to go that way, a studio at SSR for a Fri or Sat from Jun 11 to Aug 25 is exactly 20 points And since it's SSR, it should be available.

I think the OP's date is a Sunday (June 12), and all studios are 19pts and under, or 21pta and over, with the exception of the grand Californian, which is 20pts for that day.

The transfer is unlikely but... You never know. Can't hurt to ask or look around. Good luck!!

 

[dvc_john]

I think the OP's date is a Sunday (June 12), and all studios are 19pts and under, or 21pta and over, with the exception of the grand Californian, which is 20pts for that day.

The transfer is unlikely but... You never know. Can't hurt to ask or look around. Good luck!!

Re: CarolMN's suggestion above.
The 'placeholder' reservation doesn't have to be for June 12. The idea is to book a reservation for 1 day buying one point. Ideally, that reservation be for 20 points, and would be for any date after June 12 (but preferably 31 days or more out from June 4). Then waitlist for June 12 at VGC (setting it up to cancel the 'placeholder' reservation and use those points).

 

[suebeelin]

Ohh! Didn't know you could do that!! Thx!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Can you find something, somewhere within the 7 month window that would require 20 points? If so, call MS to book that night now so you can buy the 1 point from MS.

Then go head and waitlist for the night you want. Be sure to have the waitlist set up to cancel the "placeholder" reservation if the waitlist comes through. If you can find something to book now that is more than 31 days farther out than June 4, you can keep the waitlist going until 7 days prior to your arrival date of June 12. If you see June 12 in inventory, you will still have to call MS because the purchased point won't necessarily show up in your account if you cancel the reservation that originally used it.

Worst case: You'll be out the $15 for the purchased point if the waitlist never works.

Good luck!

I believe they could also book that as you suggest and then cancel it so the points are just sitting there.

 

[Judique]

Can you find something, somewhere within the 7 month window that would require 20 points? If so, call MS to book that night now so you can buy the 1 point from MS.

Then go head and waitlist for the night you want. Be sure to have the waitlist set up to cancel the "placeholder" reservation if the waitlist comes through. If you can find something to book now that is more than 31 days farther out than June 4, you can keep the waitlist going until 7 days prior to your arrival date of June 12. If you see June 12 in inventory, you will still have to call MS because the purchased point won't necessarily show up in your account if you cancel the reservation that originally used it.

Worst case: You'll be out the $15 for the purchased point if the waitlist never works.

Good luck!

I'm not sure this is going to work as he has to borrow from Oct 2016 to use in June 2016, so if the waitlist doesn't work he is stuck with the points in his 2015 use year, expiring Sept 30.

OP - too bad this wasn't last use year as I had to let 3 points expire that I would have happily transferred to you. You really need a 1 point transfer into your 2015 use year.

Edit:

To follow Carol's idea, if you book a night in your 2016 Use year at the 7 month window after Oct 1st you could then purchase the point. Just not sure you could then 'borrow' that point back to June.....

Have you tried getting a Member Discount on the room with cash? Sometimes even though not available for points rooms are available for cash.

 

[DaleFan]

I did try getting a cash room, with discount, but they didn't have any availability I was going to book SSR and go that route, but now I am wondering if that will work. Thank you for all the helpful tips! I so appreciate it. I don't mind losing the 1 point I need to buy, but I don't really want to lose the 19 points. Thank you for explaining how transferring works! I have never understood that! I so appreciate all of you taking the time to help me out! I will figure something out, that hopefully won't include paying rack rate for the night

 

[MouseOfCards]

Can you find something, somewhere within the 7 month window that would require 20 points? If so, call MS to book that night now so you can buy the 1 point from MS.

Then go head and waitlist for the night you want. Be sure to have the waitlist set up to cancel the "placeholder" reservation if the waitlist comes through. If you can find something to book now that is more than 31 days farther out than June 4, you can keep the waitlist going until 7 days prior to your arrival date of June 12. If you see June 12 in inventory, you will still have to call MS because the purchased point won't necessarily show up in your account if you cancel the reservation that originally used it.

Worst case: You'll be out the $15 for the purchased point if the waitlist never works.

Good luck!

Good info!