Impatiently waiting for my PIN

[Mr Man]

Hello all. I will be making my first DVC reservations just as soon as I get this PIN. We signed the contract on 9/13/07 but do not expect the loan to close until 10/23/07 per the supplied paperwork.

My understanding is we can bank/make reservations in advance of this closing but do need our PIN number to do it online or over the phone. Is this a correct assumption on my part?

Unfortunately, I have more questions, please bear with me (or scroll on to the next thread if I am coming off as too needy )

We have 3 yrs+ worth of points we would like to use in 2008 to do a big-ole family reunion. For this to happen, I need to book a GV. Problem is, best time for us to go is Spring Break (specifically during Premium time). I have enough points for a GV but.......given that I will have to use some developer points (and we are now at the 7 mo window), do I have a chance in Hades of getting a GV at any resort for this time period?

If this does not pan out, we have set aside Mid to end June as an alternate. For this reservation, I would definitely want a GV at SSR. Given that we are in-between 11 mo & 7 mo, do I stand a better chance of getting this reservation?

Finally, (and this is very subjective) am I opening myself up to headaches by trying to coordinate tickets/plane/dining etc for 14 family members on this trip? Has anyone done this and used the Grand Gathering program to assist? If so, did it work? Am I a dead man? I mean, I love my people, but they is craaaazy!

I realize these are pretty broad questions (probaby better answered by MS-& the family question really is just for levity) I guess I am just looking for any experience posters have here that apply. I have received some of the best advice to date from this forum. This has shaped our strategies for DVC that, to date, have proven invaluable.

Thanks again for your response.

 

[squirrlygirl]

I called member services the day after I made my down payment, told them I was new, and they gave me my member ID and let me make a ressie. I can't answer your other questions since I'm new to all this, too

 

[Poohs Pal]

I agree with the above poster. You should be able to call MS now and make your resevation. Susan

 

[LisaS]

Yep, call MS and they can give you your PIN over the phone and you can do whatever you need to do on the phone with MS: bank points, make reservations, etc.

There is no online booking. What they call online booking is really just sending an email to MS via the members' website. MS makes your reservation some time in the next 3 days and then responds back to you. Definitely not the route you want to take when trying to get something like a GV.

You can bank points on line, but that feature is disabled at times, not sure why.

 

[Mr Man]

Thanks for the info all. Guess I better call as soon as I get home from work today.

Regards,

 

[Mr Man]

Kinda bizarre bookending my own thread (and answering my own questions) I called MS yesterday and they took care of me just fine.

Here is what I did:

Banked 2006/2007 points
Made a reservation for Spring Break using 2006/2007/developer points. Got a 2 bedroom suite and 2 studios for March 16 thru Mar 23. Premium time YUK but that is when the kids have vacation. What's a dad to do?.......

This still leaves me with my 2008 points untouched WOOHOO!!

I went with my home resort SSR due to favorable point costs as compared to the other resorts (and because I couldn't get a dedicated 2BR at VWL).

I asked MS to run a few different scenarios for me (just to see what resorts had availability during this time. GV appear to be hard to get unless you book at your home resort and call at 1st opportunity.

For this trip, I would have liked to have all family in one area.......but the more I think about it, some separation isn't a bad thing (especially for my dear Cousin Eddie type family people)......

This is going to be a great vacation.

 

[Poohs Pal]

Kinda bizarre bookending my own thread (and answering my own questions) I called MS yesterday and they took care of me just fine.

Here is what I did:

Banked 2006/2007 points
Made a reservation for Spring Break using 2006/2007/developer points. Got a 2 bedroom suite and 2 studios for March 16 thru Mar 23. Premium time YUK but that is when the kids have vacation. What's a dad to do?.......

This still leaves me with my 2008 points untouched WOOHOO!!

I went with my home resort SSR due to favorable point costs as compared to the other resorts (and because I couldn't get a dedicated 2BR at VWL).

I asked MS to run a few different scenarios for me (just to see what resorts had availability during this time. GV appear to be hard to get unless you book at your home resort and call at 1st opportunity.

For this trip, I would have liked to have all family in one area.......but the more I think about it, some separation isn't a bad thing (especially for my dear Cousin Eddie type family people)......

This is going to be a great vacation.

Glad to hear you got your ressie all squared away. The GV's do book quickly. I have stayed in a GV at SSR in early December for 2 weeks. After we finished decorating for christmas it was really pretty. Most of us drove that year so we were able to bring a lot of christmas decoration's and believe me it take's a lot to decorate. Susan