Need advice! Christmas fiasco...

[Tink-aholic]

Hi all. I am hoping some veterans can help me here. Any advice is appreciated!

Due to some major upheavals at home, I have missed my banking window. I have 33 points left over from 2008 and 200 points from 2009 that will expire Feb 2010. I understand that DVC sometimes allows a one-time banking exception, and I have not used mine.

But that isn't my only error -- I have been checking the DVC resort availability on these boards regularly and I erroneously assumed that if a resort wasn't on the list, that it would have availability. There were several options for availability at Christmas, which I chalked up to the economy. I started to make last-minute plans to take my son for the week of Dec. 24 - 31.

I called today, and everything is booked except Dec 24, 25, 26. I can waitlist for the rest, but I have never done that and would like opinions on the reality of those days coming through.

My options as I see them are:

1. Beg to bank the 200 points and most likely lose the 33.
2. Book the three days and just stay for three days.
3. Book the three days and waitlist for the rest, but run the risk of not having a place to stay for four days (we would be flying).
4. Book the three days and pay for the additional days out of pocket at another resort.
5. Book the entire stay with points at other Disney resorts (never done this either).

To compound matters, we each have flight vouchers that must be used by March. There will be no other time before the summer that we could go. My son and I have enough parkhoppers for the trip, so it would literally only cost us our food and any souveniers.

Any ideas or advice? What would you do?

 

[disneynutz]

Before making a decision. you need to find out more information.

Will the DVC give you a banking exemption?

Are there flights available during your travel dates?

What' is the availability at other Disney non-DVC resorts/hotels during your vacation dates?

Until you have all of the facts, it's hard to make a decision.

Good luck,

Bill

 

[Chuck S]

The options you list do seem pretty complete. I would choose option one or option four.

I think the likelihood of a waitlist comming through is minimal, and th list already probably has many members ahead of you.

I would either ask politely to bank the 200 points (yes, the 33 points from 2008 are surely gone, unless you use them this year) and hope for the best, or book the days that are available on points and book the rest on cash at either a DVC resort or a cash resort.

 

[Sue's Mum]

If you cannot bank the points, rather than lose them youu could consider renting them to someone.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi all. I am hoping some veterans can help me here. Any advice is appreciated!

Due to some major upheavals at home, I have missed my banking window. I have 33 points left over from 2008 and 200 points from 2009 that will expire Feb 2010. I understand that DVC sometimes allows a one-time banking exception, and I have not used mine.

But that isn't my only error -- I have been checking the DVC resort availability on these boards regularly and I erroneously assumed that if a resort wasn't on the list, that it would have availability. There were several options for availability at Christmas, which I chalked up to the economy. I started to make last-minute plans to take my son for the week of Dec. 24 - 31.

I called today, and everything is booked except Dec 24, 25, 26. I can waitlist for the rest, but I have never done that and would like opinions on the reality of those days coming through.

My options as I see them are:

1. Beg to bank the 200 points and most likely lose the 33.
2. Book the three days and just stay for three days.
3. Book the three days and waitlist for the rest, but run the risk of not having a place to stay for four days (we would be flying).
4. Book the three days and pay for the additional days out of pocket at another resort.
5. Book the entire stay with points at other Disney resorts (never done this either).

To compound matters, we each have flight vouchers that must be used by March. There will be no other time before the summer that we could go. My son and I have enough parkhoppers for the trip, so it would literally only cost us our food and any souveniers.

Any ideas or advice? What would you do?

If you have a Feb UY (I'm guessing that since your points expire in Feb), you can't use points to book at non-DVC resort during the last four months of the UY IF you are in the last four months of the UY. And that's where you are right now. But if you have a March UY, you still have a couple of days to try to get something at a non-DVC resort on points.

I think they need to post a disclaimer on that resort availability board because a lot of people seem to think if it is available there, it's available with MS. The fallacy there is that everyone who can't get something posts it on that thread. I'd bet 80% or more of all DVC members don't even know about the DIS. So you are missing a lot of info.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Since you have airline vouchers that will expire and you have no other chance to use them I would go. You should check though if you can get seats on the airline with those vouchers - some airlines blackout times around the holidays.

If you can use them I would do option #4 but I would waitlist the days I was paying cash up until the time I could not cancel the cash reservation without penalty. Maybe you'll get lucky!

If none of that works I'd either attempt to rent the points or ask for the exception for banking the points.

Don't forget banking to RCI if necessary. It will extend time for you to use them at some other place if you are unable to get an exception.

 

[Chuck S]

I think they need to post a disclaimer on that resort availability board because a lot of people seem to think if it is available there, it's available with MS. The fallacy there is that everyone who can't get something posts it on that thread. I'd bet 80% or more of all DVC members don't even know about the DIS. So you are missing a lot of info.

There is a disclaimer. In the sticky thread titled Welcomeirections-Read Me

Is this information accurate?
The information displayed is only what has been reported by DISboard members. It is totally UNOFFICIAL. It does not reflect any cancellations that may have occurred, or DVC members experiences using waitlists. Use these reports as a general guideline only. Feel free to post in the dedicated discussion thread information about waitlists. It's best to think of these lists as showing which villas most likely do not have availability. Do not assume that if a date is not listed, that the converse is true and the resort does have availability.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

if you can get the airfare, book the three days, sounds like a fun trip! stay longer on cash and waitlist, but knowing you may have to pay cash. Or just fly home after the three days. Did you look into going over to Vero or up to HH for the other days? you could rent a car, drive up to hilton head, then fly home from there?

 

[Tink-aholic]

Great advice. Thanks to everyone who responded. Here is what I've done:

This morning, I booked the airfare for the seven days. I called Member Services and they had significantly more inventory today than yesterday (yesterday they had three days of AKL studio Concierge and same three days of SSR 1BR). Today, they had the same three days at BCV, VWL, OKW, Jambo AKL, and an additional day at BWV (garden view studio). As BWV is the only one with four days, I booked that and waitlisted the rest. I am also waitlisted for the remaining days at SSR because they have the most inventory. The rep said people are calling to cancel reservations like he's never seen before.

I will make cash ressies elsewhere and cancel if my waitlist comes through. I will most likely reserve offsite so I don't have to worry about cancellation/refund issues if my waitlist comes through.

I feel comfortable with this decision and I think you all helped me see it clearer. I even managed to snag a couple of great ADRs for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners!

Thanks again!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would check to see if I could use the flight vouchers, you're awfully close to the trip and may not be able to use them, but if you can, I would go to WDW. I would book the 3 nights, waitlist for the rest and get something for cash as a backup. I would even consider just staying offsite and doing other things than WDW if on site rooms don't open up. There's lots to do in Florida...and I like the VB option as well for the other days.

My choice would be 3 nights at WDW...rest at VB with a waitlist at WDW if you really don't want to see the beach.

Bobbi

 

[Tink-aholic]

Oh, and I just wanted to say that I never meant to imply that it is our forum that mislead me. I know it was my own mistake and I'm sure I read that disclaimer when that board first started. I think it is still a highly valuable information source and I will try to utilize it better in the future.

 

[CarolMN]

Good luck - hope the BWV waitlist comes thorugh for you. I think it will. The 31 day mark is almost here for your week and some are bound to cancel then to avoid the holding account.

 

[jeankeri]

Tink-aholic:
I'll be looking for you by the pool!! Have a great trip!

 

[Tony-NJ]

Good luck Tink - sounds like more options available to you. You may want to consider some of the DTD hotels that are more forgiving on cancellations. I had to cancel 48 hours a couple of years ago and there was no penalty.

Good luck!

 

[Tink-aholic]

Thank you again to everyone who offered advice and perspective to my situation. My waitlist came through today! We even added an extra day. As of now, I have five days in a preferred view studio at BWV and three days in a 1BR at OKW. I've never done a split-stay, but it sounds like the move is pretty easy. I have also never stayed at either resort before, so I'm excited.

I will be surprising my son with this trip on the day we leave.

All in all, I am using 226 points...leaving a grand total of 7 unused. I feel okay about that.

Thanks again!

PS to jeankeri: I'll be the one with the fruity drink!

 

[dgaston]

I am really glad that this worked out as it did for you. Enjoy your trip!