Labor Day weekend availability at BWV??

[Sparkles816]

We just purchased 210 pts at SSR, along with 210 banked points from 2013... expect to close in the next few weeks. We are planning an August 2014 vacation (thru Labor Day weekend). We would like to stay in a 2 bedroom at BWV.

I was hoping to get some advice.

Should I book a 2 bedroom at SSR now (once I receive my membership info), then cancel and book BWV at the 7 month mark?

What is availability like at BWV during Labor Day? Do you think we'd have a good chance of getting a 2 bedroom? (views aren't important, but we're okay with using more points too)

If I am not able to get the 2 bedroom at BWV for just Labor Day weekend and we are able to get the earlier part of the week, how does the reservation work? Do I have 2 separate reservations - one at SSR for 5 nights and one at BWV for 2 nights? Do I have to check out of SSR at 10am and into BWV at 3pm?

I like to work out as many of the logistics as I can before I travel, so I'm not in for too many surprises, so any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

[disneynutz]

You should always make a back-up reservation.

Each resort stay is a separate reservation.

Check out is before 11AM, check-in is after 4PM.

Availability is fluid, that's why we own 6 resorts.

Bill

 

[com_op_2000]

On move day:
Call Bell Services and have them come pick-up your luggage and refrigerated items. Be sure to inform them that you have items to keep cold.
Tell them where you are transferring too.
Check-in to your new resort.
Go do whatever you want that day.
After getting your room and you are back in it (items are not at your new resort until 2 - 4 PM), call Bell Services to have the item delivered to your room.
NOTE: You must be in the room for the pick-up and delivery.

 

[drusba]

Late Aug through Sep (until last weekend) is one of the easiest times for getting rooms at near park resorts at 7 months out, and that includes time around Labor Day. You will certainly find BWV pool/garden view open (it was still open for that Aug/Sep time this year at 6 months out) but likely will face difficulty for standard or boardwalk view (which are gone by 7 months out much of the year) at least for any Labor Day weekend time. Other options likely to have a 2BR open at 7 months out include BLT lake or theme park view, BCV, and VWL.

 

[Sparkles816]

Late Aug through Sep (until last weekend) is one of the easiest times for getting rooms at near park resorts at 7 months out, and that includes time around Labor Day. You will certainly find BWV pool/garden view open (it was still open for that Aug/Sep time this year at 6 months out) but likely will face difficulty for standard or boardwalk view (which are gone by 7 months out much of the year) at least for any Labor Day weekend time. Other options likely to have a 2BR open at 7 months out include BLT lake or theme park view, BCV, and VWL.

thanks for the advice... two more questions, if you don't mind... I saw another post that said these might be 2 separate reservations (if I kept SSR for 5 nights and wanted BWV for 2 nights); would MS link these 2 reservations? How would this whole process work? I'm also assuming I need to call MS to handle this rather than doing this online? I did see the post about using bell service and helping out with our refrigerated items, so that's a plus. The other question was if I am able to get BWV (or somewhere else) for the 7 nights, will they modify the existing reservation from SSR to BWV or will they cancel SSR and then book BWV? I've read different things in the posts where they will hold BWV, cancel SSR? It seems like if they just modify, then I won't lose my stay at SSR - it seems that even if I did, I have a good chance of getting a 2 bedroom somewhere else (we're okay with BCV or FWL, not keen on BLT); TYIA!!!

 

[drusba]

A split stay, SSR and BWV, would be two separate reservations that are not linked. Linking is what can be done when you have two separate reservations made for the same resort and room category, which often happens when you have an owner with two different member numbers and use years. Linking avoids your having to change rooms.

As to changing the reservation at 7 months out, what you can do depends on whether you do it on-line or call. A reservation cannot be modified on-line, it can only be completely canceled, and then you can make another, and in the interim you have a risk of losing both because someone else may grab the new one you want and close out availability for that room category. A reservation can be modified by calling MS to drop or add days at the beginning or the end of an existing reservation. For example if you had a week long SSR ressie, you could call, drop two days while keeping the remaining five, and make another ressie at BWV for the remaining two days. However, eliminating an entire reservation to reserve at another resort is not a modification of a reservation and requires a cancellation and the making of a new reservation. If you call and get the right person, MS can cancel an existing reservation entirely while holding a new one so there is not a risk of losing both. Key is getting someone who knows what they are doing because many have reported losing a new desired reservation while canceling another when calling MS because the MS person claims not to be able to hold the new one in the interim time it takes to cancel the old one.

In any event, you are not likely to have any real risk of losing both reservations if you cancel all of SSR and then try for BWV whether you do it on-line or call. As noted, you should have no trouble getting BWV at that time of year at 7 months out. Also, if there is one thing that has been a certainty for years, it is that SSR studios, 1BRs, and 2BRs are always open at 7 months out all year, and thus you will easily be able to get it back at 7 months out.

 

[bltpoppins]

It is my understanding that the BWV 2 BR are only lock-offs. Is that what you want? We only book 2 BRs so we can have the 2 beds in the second BR.

 

[CarolMN]

We just purchased 210 pts at SSR, along with 210 banked points from 2013... expect to close in the next few weeks. We are planning an August 2014 vacation (thru Labor Day weekend). We would like to stay in a 2 bedroom at BWV.

I was hoping to get some advice.

Should I book a 2 bedroom at SSR now (once I receive my membership info), then cancel and book BWV at the 7 month mark?

What is availability like at BWV during Labor Day? Do you think we'd have a good chance of getting a 2 bedroom? (views aren't important, but we're okay with using more points too)........(snip)...........I like to work out as many of the logistics as I can before I travel, so I'm not in for too many surprises, so any help is greatly appreciated!!

Don't make a back up reservation at SSR. Keep your points "free" so that you can book online at the BWV when your 7 month window opens.

As already posted late August & September are among the easier times to get one of the near park resorts at 7 months. If you do not get your BWV reservation - and I agree you have a very good chance for a Pool/Garden villa for your entire week, you will be able to book SSR at that time. There will be availability at SSR for sure at 7 months for that time. SSR is the largest WDW DVC resort and it usually doesn't sell out until much closer to arrival. Those looking for last minute availability (60 days or less) are often advised to try there.

If you do not have points tied up with a back up (that IMO, you do not need), you will be able to book BWV online at 8 am Eastern when the 7 month window opens. You won't have to wait until MS opens at 9 am. Sometimes, that hour advantage matters when you are trying to book an EPCOT or MK resort.

Congratulations and welcome home!

P.S. I have never read of anyone being shut out at the 7 month window if they wanted a 2 bedroom at SSR for anytime, except possibly New Year's Eve.