Linking Reservations

[DizBub]

We have a rented reservation. We have decided to add a couple of nights at the same resort and want to use our own points to book it. I don't think MS can do this but can we request our reservations be linked upon check-in at the front desk? Don't want to move if we don't have to.

 

[vicki_c]

MS can do it, but both you and the other owner will have to call, I believe. And I would mention it at check in anyway.

And of course,the rooms have to be the exact same categories and sizes.

 

[disneynutz]

Be careful that the front desk doesn't cancel the rented reservation and try to rebook it. They have done this in the past and the points go into holding. A real problem for you and the owner that you rented from.

Bill

 

[DizBub]

Be careful that the front desk doesn't cancel the rented reservation and try to rebook it. They have done this in the past and the points go into holding. A real problem for you and the owner that you rented from.

Bill

Yikes!

We did this one other time. Rented reservation, 4 nights at SSR. We enjoyed it so much we called MS before we checked out to see if there was any availability to extend our stay. They called the resort and worked it out with them and we didn't have to move. I guess we got lucky.

 

[disneynutz]

Yikes!

We did this one other time. Rented reservation, 4 nights at SSR. We enjoyed it so much we called MS before we checked out to see if there was any availability to extend our stay. They called the resort and worked it out with them and we didn't have to move. I guess we got lucky.

You went through MS, that's the difference. The front desk might think that they know what they are doing with DVC reservations but they often don't.

Bill

 

[DizBub]

MS can do it, but both you and the other owner will have to call, I believe. And I would mention it at check in anyway.

And of course,the rooms have to be the exact same categories and sizes.

Thanks for the advice! Rooms are exactly the same.

You went through MS, that's the difference. The front desk might think that they know what they are doing with DVC reservations but they often don't.

Bill

Thanks for the heads up on this. I'm calling MS tomorrow anyway, I'll see what they can do.

 

[disneydenisel]

I have a rented reservation that I have to link to my own reservation for our November trip, and MS informed me that I have to do a three-way call with the other owner to get the reservations linked.

I did the same thing for our December 2013 trip--I rented the nights I didn't have enough points for and booked the most nights I could with our own points--and MS was able to link them without having the other owner on the phone. Made it so much easier!

Now I am waiting for the owner to have time to do a call when MS is still open. Then I can link my reservation online and enter our Magical Express information!

 

[DizBub]

Just wanted to come back and report that I did call MS and the CM was able to link the rented reservation with the one I made with our own points. He said we wouldn't have to move and no mention of having the owner call to try to link them. I had the reservation #s and the owner's name. I guess it depends on who you talk to.

However, it took a very long time to actually merge 2 different reservations for another trip. I had booked 6 nights at BLT in Sept, the 7th night I was going to waitlist at 7 months. When I logged into the members site it was available so I booked it. Previously MS would automatically link/merge these reservations. I spent about 15 minutes on hold for this to be achieved. CM said linking and merging are 2 different things. Again, I guess it depends on who you talk to.

 

[luckyman_apd]

So, I have a question now. I have July 1st through 5th booked for us at BLT, and then we move to BCV for the 5-10th. My mother is joining us for the 1st - 5th at BLT. I originally booked my mother the 1st through 4th. The night of the 4th was unavailable. Later I saw it open.....sat on hold (I was using transferred points) and booked the night of the 4th-5th for her. My reservations are showing two separate reservations for her. the 1st-4th and then another for the 4th-5th. How do I make sure she keeps the same room?

 

[DizBub]

So, I have a question now. I have July 1st through 5th booked for us at BLT, and then we move to BCV for the 5-10th. My mother is joining us for the 1st - 5th at BLT. I originally booked my mother the 1st through 4th. The night of the 4th was unavailable. Later I saw it open.....sat on hold (I was using transferred points) and booked the night of the 4th-5th for her. My reservations are showing two separate reservations for her. the 1st-4th and then another for the 4th-5th. How do I make sure she keeps the same room?

Call MS and have them merge the reservation. As long as it's the same room size and view this should be easy.

 

[LisaS]

However, it took a very long time to actually merge 2 different reservations for another trip. I had booked 6 nights at BLT in Sept, the 7th night I was going to waitlist at 7 months. When I logged into the members site it was available so I booked it. Previously MS would automatically link/merge these reservations. I spent about 15 minutes on hold for this to be achieved. CM said linking and merging are 2 different things. Again, I guess it depends on who you talk to.

Linking and merging are two different things. With linking, you have two or more reservations and they link the reservation numbers together so the room assigner is alerted that these separate segments are actually one continuous stay: Res 1 (3 nts) <-> Res 2 (2 nts) <-> Res 3 (2 nts).

With merging, they take the nights from two or more separate reservations and move all of the nights into the first reservation, creating one reservation for the entire stay: Res 1 (3 nts) + Res 2 (2 nts) + Res 3 (2 nts) --> Res 1 (7 nts)

Merging is more complicated because they are editing reservations, not just creating a list of associated reservation numbers, so I can see why it would take longer. Merging is the better option because there is absolutely no way the guest could end up having to move rooms or having to check in and check out multiple times. However, they can only merge reservations if they are all owned by the same DVC member (and for the same resort, room size and booking category obviously). For reservations made by different members that are all part of the same stay, they cannot merge them, they can only link them.

 

[DizBub]

Thank you LisaS. This makes perfect sense.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Linking and merging are two different things. With linking, you have two or more reservations and they link the reservation numbers together so the room assigner is alerted that these separate segments are actually one continuous stay: Res 1 (3 nts) <-> Res 2 (2 nts) <-> Res 3 (2 nts).

With merging, they take the nights from two or more separate reservations and move all of the nights into the first reservation, creating one reservation for the entire stay: Res 1 (3 nts) + Res 2 (2 nts) + Res 3 (2 nts) --> Res 1 (7 nts)

Merging is more complicated because they are editing reservations, not just creating a list of associated reservation numbers, so I can see why it would take longer. Merging is the better option because there is absolutely no way the guest could end up having to move rooms or having to check in and check out multiple times. However, they can only merge reservations if they are all owned by the same DVC member (and for the same resort, room size and booking category obviously). For reservations made by different members that are all part of the same stay, they cannot merge them, they can only link them.

Thanks for the clarification. I do believe I asked to have them linked. I should have said merged.

 

[DizBub]

I called MS back for a MagicBand question and was told that yes, the rented reservation and my add-on nights were linked but I will have to go and get new room keys on the 1st for the last 2 nights. He said we would not have to move. The CM that originally linked them didn't tell me that so I'm glad I asked.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I called MS back for a MagicBand question and was told that yes, the rented reservation and my add-on nights were linked but I will have to go and get new room keys on the 1st for the last 2 nights. He said we would not have to move. The CM that originally linked them didn't tell me that so I'm glad I asked.

Now with the magic band....do you actually have to go get new room keys since the band opens the door?

 

[DizBub]

Now with the magic band....do you actually have to go get new room keys since the band opens the door?

Yup. That's what I was told.

The merged reservations do not have to do this.

 

[disneynutz]

Now with the magic band....do you actually have to go get new room keys since the band opens the door?

You don't really get a key unless you request it. They do have to update your MDE account with your room access.

Bill

 

[betsywdw]

We stayed at the new GF Villas in October. We paid for the first 3 nights with cash and used points for the last 2 nights. We technically had 2 reservations and I had them linked. They actually wanted us to check out at the end of the cash stay and move rooms for our 2 night stay with points. I was very upset as we had a 7 year old and 10 month old with us. After about 30 minutes with the manager, they finally agreed to allow us to stay in the room. He made sure to say several times that it was never a guarantee to be able to stay in the same room. That seemed crazy to me!

 

[DizBub]

We stayed at the new GF Villas in October. We paid for the first 3 nights with cash and used points for the last 2 nights. We technically had 2 reservations and I had them linked. They actually wanted us to check out at the end of the cash stay and move rooms for our 2 night stay with points. I was very upset as we had a 7 year old and 10 month old with us. After about 30 minutes with the manager, they finally agreed to allow us to stay in the room. He made sure to say several times that it was never a guarantee to be able to stay in the same room. That seemed crazy to me!

Glad you stuck to your guns on this one. Good for you! Thanks for reporting.

Since SSR is so much larger hopefully we won't have this issue. We will go to the front desk early in the morning to get the new room keys but I suppose we should be prepared to move, just in case.

 

[disneydenisel]

I have a rented reservation that I have to link to my own reservation for our November trip, and MS informed me that I have to do a three-way call with the other owner to get the reservations linked.

I did the same thing for our December 2013 trip--I rented the nights I didn't have enough points for and booked the most nights I could with our own points--and MS was able to link them without having the other owner on the phone. Made it so much easier!

Now I am waiting for the owner to have time to do a call when MS is still open. Then I can link my reservation online and enter our Magical Express information!

Quick update. I finally got ready to make a three-way call today, stayed on hold with MS for 42 minutes before they answered, and the CM told me that I didn't need to conference the other member in at all! It definitely does depend on who you speak to. It was just 4 days ago when I was told that I had to get the other member on the call. I could have saved 42 minutes on hold if I could have called on a non-weekend, less busy time. But then, I may have gotten a CM that would insist on the other member being there.

Oh well! All linked and all set on MDE. At least for now!