Modifying Reservation Because of Airfare

[SpaceMountain77]

Hi everyone,

Up until now, we have been a book at 11- or 7-months and pay whatever the airfare family. However, this past week, Frontier Airlines offered a 3-day sale and I was able to get direct, round-trip tickets to Orlando for $164. Had I kept our planned days, tickets may have been over $324. Needless to say, it was a deal too good to pass up and I chanced our DVC reservation.

Right now, I have a continuous lake view studio reservation at BLT for the third through ninth night of our 10-day trip. Our first night is booked for a value studio at AKV and our second night is waitlisted for the same room types at both BLT and AKV.

We are still 3+ months out, but our reservation is not complete. At what point would you give up on your waitlists and book the first two nights at OKW or SSR to ensure a complete trip?

Thanks,
Jim 8O

 

[disneynutz]

We have bad luck with waitlists, too many variables, people taking your requested nights before the list is run and MS using the wrong points even though you tell them which ones to use.

Because of this we do not waitlist anymore. We enjoy less stress but a lighter pocket book!

Bill

 

[DebbieB]

Don't just wait for the waitlist, stalk the website, especially when you are only looking for 1 or 2 nights.

 

[jekjones1558]

I hope you have better luck with waitlists and stalking the website than I do. Even when I have needed only 1 or 2 nights I have not been lucky. How long you should wait probably depends on how many rooms are available at OKW and SSR and the difference in point costs for what you have booked and what you have waitlisted. If you can count on OKW and SSR and are not worried about having points in holding because the waitlisted rooms are less points than what you have temporarily booked, then you might as well stay on the waitlist until 7 days out and then still keep checking the website. Good luck!

 

[com_op_2000]

In over 20+ years of DVC, I have never used the WL to get a reservation. Just look for yourself that is what I do.

 

[CarolMN]

Hi everyone,

Up until now, we have been a book at 11- or 7-months and pay whatever the airfare family. However, this past week, Frontier Airlines offered a 3-day sale and I was able to get direct, round-trip tickets to Orlando for $164. Had I kept our planned days, tickets may have been over $324. Needless to say, it was a deal too good to pass up and I chanced our DVC reservation.

Right now, I have a continuous lake view studio reservation at BLT for the third through ninth night of our 10-day trip. Our first night is booked for a value studio at AKV and our second night is waitlisted for the same room types at both BLT and AKV.

We are still 3+ months out, but our reservation is not complete. At what point would you give up on your waitlists and book the first two nights at OKW or SSR to ensure a complete trip?

Thanks,
Jim 8O

I think I'd book the OKW/SSR back up now and re-do the waitlists to cancel the OKW/SSR reservation when a waitlist comes through. I'd keep the AKV waitlist (and reservation) only until the 31 day mark, because if it comes through after that, it would use fewer points than the OKW/SSR reservation and the "extra" points would go into holding.

I'd waitlist for 2 nights at BLT and keep the BLT waitlist until it expires at 7 nights prior, because it will use more points than the back up reservation. (I think that's right, but you'll want to verify it yourself). I'd still be checking the website frequently in hopes I'd see what I wanted and be able to get it myself.

Good luck!

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I think I'd book the OKW/SSR back up now and re-do the waitlists to cancel the OKW/SSR reservation when a waitlist comes through. I'd keep the AKV waitlist (and reservation) only until the 31 day mark, because if it comes through after that, it would use fewer points than the OKW/SSR reservation and the "extra" points would go into holding.

I'd waitlist for 2 nights at BLT and keep the BLT waitlist until it expires at 7 nights prior, because it will use more points than the back up reservation. (I think that's right, but you'll want to verify it yourself). I'd still be checking the website frequently in hopes I'd see what I wanted and be able to get it myself.

Good luck!

This is certainly the best approach, however, I only have 31 vacation points to work with for these two nights. Changing now to OKW or SSR would essentially lock us into an OKW/SSR and BLT split stay. If I had one more point, then it could work for OKW.

With 31 points, one night in a BLT lake view studio only works when coupled with one night in an AKV value studio.

Sadly, I am borrowed out, have already purchased one time use points and completed one annual transfer in

 

[ldo]

last summer, I only had enough points for AKV value. I WL 2X and neither came thru by 31 days. 1st was for for 2 nights in Aug. prior and made a back up reservation for cash at POP. WL did not come thru and we just stayed @ POP two nights.
Other trip was late June when I had a car and needed to add a night, I just stayed offsite and moved over the next AM. We checked into our hotel (near Seaworld), got quick bite to eat and went straight into the parks that night--really no big deal. Next AM, we drove over and checked in. My WL for that extra night also never came thru. On the other hand, My WL for 5 nights AKV Value came thru for MLK weekend, replacing my standard room at 3 months prior--so you never know!

 

[SpaceMountain77]

last summer, I only had enough points for AKV value. I WL 2X and neither came thru by 31 days. 1st was for for 2 nights in Aug. prior and made a back up reservation for cash at POP. WL did not come thru and we just stayed @ POP two nights.
Other trip was late June when I had a car and needed to add a night, I just stayed offsite and moved over the next AM. We checked into our hotel (near Seaworld), got quick bite to eat and went straight into the parks that night--really no big deal. Next AM, we drove over and checked in. My WL for that extra night also never came thru. On the other hand, My WL for 5 nights AKV Value came thru for MLK weekend, replacing my standard room at 3 months prior--so you never know!

Four of our BLT nights were single night waitlist requests and each came through, two within days and the other two within two weeks. Although I am optimistic with this fifth request, I do not want to run the risk of having to pay cash because I missed out on an OKW/SSR booking.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Thanks, everyone, for your quick and thoughtful replies.

Regarding May availability at OKW and SSR, when will studio availability become limited? Yesterday, a member services cast member told me that inventory was very strong.

What has your experience been with studio availability in early May at these two resorts? Do they generally have availability 2-months or even 1-month out?

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks, everyone, for your quick and thoughtful replies.

Regarding May availability at OKW and SSR, when will studio availability become limited? Yesterday, a member services cast member told me that inventory was very strong.

What has your experience been with studio availability in early May at these two resorts? Do they generally have availability 2-months or even 1-month out?

Once you hit 60 days, DVC can sent any unreserved rooms to CRO for rent to the general public. Typically they can still get them back for members who want to reserve them but they could get more limited.

 

[disneynutz]

Once you hit 60 days, DVC can sent any unreserved rooms to CRO for rent to the general public. Typically they can still get them back for members who want to reserve them but they could get more limited.

Getting inventory back is questionable. Revenue accounting has control of the rooms and according to several MS Advisors that I have talked to, they either say that they have no control on that process or that they don't know what I am talking about.

A few years ago MS gave away our CL Jambo reservation by mistake. A few months later I was talking to member satisfaction and mentioned what a raw deal that was. She put me on hold for 10 minutes or so and came back on the line saying that she worked some Disney magic, pulling back a DVC CL room form CRO for us.

So it can happen if you talk to the right people.

Bill

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Once you hit 60 days, DVC can sent any unreserved rooms to CRO for rent to the general public. Typically they can still get them back for members who want to reserve them but they could get more limited.

So, you would recommend booking by the 60-day mark to ensure a reservation at SSR or OKW?

 

[disneynutz]

So, you would recommend booking by the 60-day mark to ensure a reservation at SSR or OKW?

Couldn't hurt but SSR and OKW may not be resorts that the public wants to pay cash for.

Bill

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Couldn't hurt but SSR and OKW may not be resorts that the public wants to pay cash for.

Bill

I have no experience with booking in May or at OKW and SSR. Is it possible to wait until 31 days out to book two consecutive nights?

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Our waitlist came through in less than 3 days!

Our first night will be at AKV - Jambo House and we now have eight consecutive nights at BLT. Surprisingly, what we had hoped for has come to pass. More importantly, we are no longer homeless Thursday night!