I've got 26 points in holding--options?

[snackyx]

I ended up with 26 points in holding--first time in 20+ years. I was told that they could be exchanged out with an existing reservation that was within 60 days. I called MS today to do this, and am now being told you can't do this unless you are changing the existing reservation (which I am not--everything is booked over this timeframe).

My question: what are my options for 26 points in holding? I believe I can book 60 days out, and my contact year ends January 31.

Advice? Help? Condolences?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I ended up with 26 points in holding--first time in 20+ years. I was told that they could be exchanged out with an existing reservation that was within 60 days. I called MS today to do this, and am now being told you can't do this unless you are changing the existing reservation (which I am not--everything is booked over this timeframe).

My question: what are my options for 26 points in holding? I believe I can book 60 days out, and my contact year ends January 31.

Advice? Help? Condolences?

If there was availability, you could swap them out. It would be a cancel and rebook.

But if there isn't anything available, you would be defeating the purpose of holding.

Could you add another night?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'd suggest to keep checking the website and see if something opens up somewhere that you could book when you are going.

The information you were told previously was incorrect - or actually could have been done if there was availability but since there isn't it can't. Just changing out the points for an existing reservation would be circumventing the holding penalty.

You also could try and find a renter prior to them expiring.

Holding points if current UY can also be transferred. They will retain their holding status but you might find someone who is interested - probably at a discount. Or they also should be able to be converted to reservation points if you wanted to book a night or two at one of the hotels instead but at WDW that also means a $95 fee so unless you had always wanted to do that it's probably not worth it.

 

[snackyx]

Thanks for the advice. I have a Saturday to Saturday reservation that is just within the 60 days window for booking with holding points. Travel plans have already been made, so adding a day to the front or back of the existing reservation is not an option (and there is no inventory, anyway). Just a week ago two days were open in the middle of the reservation (a Monday and a Tuesday), but those have, unmagically, booked up in the last week.

My question: If a day in the middle of my reservation were to open up, can this single day be cancelled in the exisitng reservation and rebooked with my holding points? It is far too risky cancelling the entire reservation and hoping to rebook it--I'm sure it would get gobbled up by an existing waitlist request.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for the advice. I have a Saturday to Saturday reservation that is just within the 60 days window for booking with holding points. Travel plans have already been made, so adding a day to the front or back of the existing reservation is not an option (and there is no inventory, anyway). Just a week ago two days were open in the middle of the reservation (a Monday and a Tuesday), but those have, unmagically, booked up in the last week.

My question: If a day in the middle of my reservation were to open up, can this single day be cancelled in the exisitng reservation and rebooked with my holding points? It is far too risky cancelling the entire reservation and hoping to rebook it--I'm sure it would get gobbled up by an existing waitlist request.

You could certainly grab it with the holding points and then call MS and ask them if they could split your other reservation into two. It would end up giving you 3 reservations and you might have to check in and out several times.

Typically, they can't split a reservation like that--they have to drop from the ends-- but it doesn't hurt to talk to a supervisor to see if there is anyway they can. The worse that happens is they say no. But, I would not cancel anything from your current reservation without having it booked with the holding points already since if you cancel, the room could immediately go to a wait list.

As you have found out, there must still be availability for the same thing you have reserved in order for holding points to be used for a time when you have a reservation.

Good luck!

 

[rlovew]

Your best bet for doing anything with the holding points is to use them in January. There is generally a lot more availability in the middle of January- especially in the middle of weeks not around a holiday.

 

[CarolMN]

.......(snip)..... Or they also should be able to be converted to reservation points if you wanted to book a night or two at one of the hotels instead but at WDW that also means a $95 fee so unless you had always wanted to do that it's probably not worth it.

I know that adding a night to the existing vacation is not an option for the OP since his/her travel plans are already set.

For anyone else who may be considering this option, remember that the 4-month rule comes into play once you are within the last 4 months of your use year.

With a February use year, a stay at any of the options in The Disney Collection (or Adventurer's Collection or Concierge Collection) that will occur in the last four months of the use year must be booked before the end of the 8th month of the use year.

So for example, if the OP wanted to add a night or two in October at the Poly, it would have to be booked through MS no later than close of business on 9/30/2013.

snackyx - Have you looked at any of the options in the Concierge Collection? Perhaps there is something close to home that might work out for you. It could be a bit of a splurge, but a weekend away is better than losing points. Remember that you have to book before 9/30 as well as no more than 60 days in advance to choose this option.

Good luck!

 

[starry_solo]

Can 26 points get someone a room at any of the DLR hotels (PPH, DLH, GCH)? If so, there's no $95 fee to book that so to salvage the situation, maybe book a night there for someone (I'm guessing PPH is the cheapest if available for 26 points) and maybe offer it for $5-8 per point?

 

[d3boyz]

We had a points debacle once a long time ago ... cannot remember if they were 'hold' points or not, but rather than lose the we did as CarolMN suggested to you. We stayed for two nights at The Jefferson in Washington, DC. This was an amazing hotel, and my poor husband had to suffer a night at the opera as well, but I had a ball!

I didn't realize how posh the place was, so when we drove up in my husband's hooptie, I know the valets were drawing straws to see who would have to park his blue-and-rust colored 1983 Chevette! It was hysterical! Naturally my husband lovingly pats the roof as he hands over the keys telling the man, "Take it easy on her ... six more payments and she's all MINE!"

Deb