Hypothetical Question-Booking on Very Short Notice

[WilsonFlyer]

OK. Let's say I want to go on very short notice. Time of year is not important or should I say, pertinent, to my question.

I call MS. How short of a notice am I allowed to book a room? Is there a windows that closes and points inventory (I'm not talking about traded points here.) is released to sales? What if I wanted to go on a week's notice? 2 weeks? 3? Where's the line and is there one?

Sorry. I just don't recall ever seeing this question clearly answered in all my reading and posting here.

 

[erionm]

You could call MS while standing outside of the resort and get a room for that night if something is open.

Unreserved rooms are turned over to DRC at 60 days from arrival. MS can, subject to resort approval, pull those rooms back for points reservations.

 

[com_op_2000]

DW and I have on multiple occasions been at DTD for the day, decided that we wanted to stay the night. Called the front desk of OKW (before MS was open on Sundays) or MS and checked in within 15 minutes.

 

[Simba's Mom]

You could call MS while standing outside of the resort and get a room for that night if something is open.

Unreserved rooms are turned over to DRC at 60 days from arrival. MS can, subject to resort approval, pull those rooms back for points reservations.

Actually, when we were at HHI over Thanksgiving, something similar happened. A couple decided on Saturday (overheard while we sat in Big Murgie's Den) that they didn't want to check out on Saturday as planned, that they wanted to stay overnight so they could watch some important football game, rather than be en route home. Surprisingly there was a villa available (a 1 BR, not 2 BR). That's unusual, but I have gotten a standard studio at AKV at a couple months before.

 

[DizBub]

We have been on the road and called MS and got BWV boardwalk view for the next day.

Have also wanted to extend a stay and called same day. MS just had to call the front desk and we didn't even have to move from our room.

 

[Psychodisney]

We've called from the airport when our flight was cancelled and returned that day. Even got ME to take us back!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

You could call MS while standing outside of the resort and get a room for that night if something is open.

Unreserved rooms are turned over to DRC at 60 days from arrival. MS can, subject to resort approval, pull those rooms back for points reservations.

So. I'm not there. I'm inside 60 days. What do I have to do? There are no points stays at resorts available, hypothetically, right? Yet that is inconsistent with what others are reporting here.

So. I'm at home and it's 14 days out. What do I do? I can't call the resort. How did you guys motivate MS to call the resorts?

Again, I'm still missing something here, apparently.

 

[DizBub]

So. I'm not there. I'm inside 60 days. What do I have to do? There are no points stays at resorts available, hypothetically, right? Yet that is inconsistent with what others are reporting here.

So. I'm at home and it's 14 days out. What do I do? I can't call the resort. How did you guys motivate MS to call the resorts?

Again, I'm still missing something here, apparently.

Are you not a DVC member? I just booked 2 nights at OKW for Jan 5+6 using on-line booking. Yesterday.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Of course I'm a DVC member. I've just always heard that all points were taken away (effectively) at 60 days so I'm just not understanding how you can book inside 60 with all points having already been transferred to CRO.

Apparently I'm making this way harder than it is.

 

[Missyrose]

Of course I'm a DVC member. I've just always heard that all points were taken away (effectively) at 60 days so I'm just not understanding how you can book inside 60 with all points having already been transferred to CRO.

Apparently I'm making this way harder than it is.

MS turns over any points inventory at 60 days out to CRO. But MS can always pull inventory back from CRO if it is still available during that 60-day window. Just call MS to ask about availability for your dates.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Of course I'm a DVC member. I've just always heard that all points were taken away (effectively) at 60 days so I'm just not understanding how you can book inside 60 with all points having already been transferred to CRO.

Apparently I'm making this way harder than it is.

From my experience it's an incorrect statement that all rooms are turned over to CRO. I'd believe that some are but there's little rationale to turn everything over if CRO already has rooms to rent out.

Anyway - the shortest time is when I called from Tampa at 2PM and was checking in by 5PM. And the hotel I was at in Tampa didn't charge me for the extra night I was supposed to be there.

I've booked multiple times at less than 60 days and just 13 days ago moved a reservation from WDW to a few days later at Aulani - so booked Aulani 15 days prior to check in.

MS turns over any points inventory at 60 days out to CRO. But MS can always pull inventory back from CRO if it is still available during that 60-day window. Just call MS to ask about availability for your dates.

I just don't think this is absolutely correct. Online booking shows otherwise or we wouldn't be able to access any rooms less than 2 months out. I have had one experience where I know MS called CRO to get a room back for a night but otherwise there has never been a hesitation either in a call or for some availability online.

I'd say the POS probably gives them the right to turn it all over but that differs from what is actually done.

 

[DizBub]

Of course I'm a DVC member. I've just always heard that all points were taken away (effectively) at 60 days so I'm just not understanding how you can book inside 60 with all points having already been transferred to CRO.

Apparently I'm making this way harder than it is.

Sorry to question you, no offense intended. Not sure what you mean about all points being taken away at 60 days. I have booked several vacations within 60 days so I'm a little confused. There have been occasions that there was availability for cash when nothing was available for points but those have been at extremely busy times.

I think maybe the 60 days is when a percentage unbooked rooms by DVC members go into CRO because of trades into RCI of DCL? If you have the points and there is availability you should be able to book your vacation.

 

[erionm]

So. I'm not there. I'm inside 60 days. What do I have to do? There are no points stays at resorts available, hypothetically, right? Yet that is inconsistent with what others are reporting here.

So. I'm at home and it's 14 days out. What do I do? I can't call the resort. How did you guys motivate MS to call the resorts?

Again, I'm still missing something here, apparently.

MS can see from their end if rooms have been turned over to CRO and or not. If some have, they will call to see if it truly is available and they will pull it.

 

[chalee94]

Of course I'm a DVC member. I've just always heard that all points were taken away (effectively) at 60 days so I'm just not understanding how you can book inside 60 with all points having already been transferred to CRO.

i'd agree with the others that CRO would have the right to "breakage inventory" that is still available within 60 days but in practice it isn't all turned over to them. (it might depend on the level of demand for cash reservations.)

i'd also add as a reminder that there are "points-based" rooms turned over to CRO due to trading for cruises or just booked with points owned by DVC (unsold or from foreclosures or ROFR) that can never be pulled back for a booking on pts since DVC owns or manages those pts.

 

[dcfromva]

In August one time we decided to leave a day early (we were driving), we called member services and we were able to get a room at HHI later on that afternoon.

In Feb a few years ago, there was a huge snow storm which closed all our home airports for a couple of days. We were able to get a room at BLT for a couple extra days.

 

[RobDoc]

At 60 days, available member inventory is made available to CRO. Nothing is physically "turned over" to CRO. If CRO gets a request for DVC inventory, they have access to those villas. If DVC gets a member request for DVC inventory, it also has access to that same inventory.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

At 60 days, available member inventory is made available to CRO. Nothing is physically "turned over" to CRO. If CRO gets a request for DVC inventory, they have access to those villas. If DVC gets a member request for DVC inventory, it also has access to that same inventory.

Greatest post for clarity I've ever seen on this board. THAT is the answer to my question. Thank you. The answer lies in "made available to" as opposed to "Turned over to," the latter being the term most often used around here but apparently not technically correct.

That explains everything including my confusion.

 

[CarolAnnC]

During one BWV trip, our flight home was cancelled due to a blizzard. The front desk was able to get us one extra night, but nothing was available after that as they were totally booked (all DVC). We were able to stay in our same room for the one additional night, and then moved over to the Swan.