Need some advice to get non home resort

[TexasChick123]

If you call MS and ask them to “link” the reservations, then you cannot modify online. I have personal experience with this. It’s a thing that MS does only when asked. My advice is don’t link them with your situation. There is no reason for you to link them as you’re going to use all BLT points.

This is something people do when they are using points from different resorts for one stay. Example: I use 100 BLT points to book June 1-3 at BLT at 11 months and 100 VGF points to book June 3-5 at VGF at 11 months. Then, at 7 months, I change my BLT reservation to a VGF reservation for June 1-3. I cannot combine these into a single reservation because they use different points (VGF and BLT). What I can do it “link” them with a call to MS and hope I don’t have to change rooms.

 

[Sandisw]

If you call MS and ask them to “link” the reservations, then you cannot modify online. I have personal experience with this. It’s a thing that MS does only when asked. My advice is don’t link them with your situation. There is no reason for you to link them as you’re going to use all BLT points.

This is something people do when they are using points from different resorts for one stay. Example: I use 100 BLT points to book June 1-3 at BLT at 11 months and 100 VGF points to book June 3-5 at VGF at 11 months. Then, at 7 months, I change my BLT reservation to a VGF reservation for June 1-3. I cannot combine these into a single reservation because they use different points (VGF and BLT). What I can do it “link” them with a call to MS and hope I don’t have to change rooms.

Interesting. I have never had any problem when I have called and asked my reservations to be linked And then modifying online,

Maybe I just haven’t ever gotten CMS who did it right.

 

[TexasChick123]

Interesting. I have never had any problem when I have called and asked my reservations to be linked And then modifying online,

Maybe I just haven’t ever gotten CMS who did it right.

Haha. We all know the experiences vary depending on which CM does it.

I’ve had 2 sets of reservations linked, and neither one could be modified online. I was also told this when I linked them.

 

[TraderSamWDW]

@TexasChick123 - I am 80%+ sure I did call to have them linked, so that makes sense.

I had a 3 day reservation at the poly for myself and person B, linked to a 1 day reservation for the same people.

It started as a week stay at VGF booked at 11 months. Then at 7 months, I moved 3 days to poly, waitlisted one night that came thru.

I THINK i purchased some one time points since I was at 7 months and I was projected a shortage for the next year.

I changed the 2nd ressie to myself and Person C - and had to call for it. (person B wasnt going to be there so I added a local friend for fast pass purposes)

Why exactly I had to call, Im not sure, but I wish I knew.

I know the party was what changed

 

[Sandisw]

Haha. We all know the experiences vary depending on which CM does it.

I’ve had 2 sets of reservations linked, and neither one could be modified online. I was also told this when I linked them.

Wow, I have linked many times...or so I thought..and never an issue. I guess I didn’t ask right...glad I didn’t!mLoL

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

If you modify at 7 months or up to 31 days prior to check-in in , the extra points go back into your account with no penalty. If you modify 30 days or less prior to check-in date, the extra points go into holding status. That means they expire at the end of your use year and can only be used to reserve a stay that is no more than 60 days away.

The points only go into holding if you make your change less than 31 days from your expected arrival on the original reservation.

One other consideration...

If you have borrowed points for the reservation and then cancel (or modify resulting in fewer points being required), those surplus points go back to your account with no penalty (assuming you're not within 30 days as stated above, or else they go into holding).

However, those borrowed points remain in the current UY and cannot be "unborrowed." In that instance, you would need to use those points before the end of your current UY or they would expire.

 

[floribr1]

One other consideration...

If you have borrowed points for the reservation and then cancel (or modify resulting in fewer points being required), those surplus points go back to your account with no penalty (assuming you're not within 30 days as stated above, or else they go into holding).

However, those borrowed points remain in the current UY and cannot be "unborrowed." In that instance, you would need to use those points before the end of your current UY or they would expire.

Yes, this exact situation happened to me for the first DVC reservation I ever booked (waaaay back when). For me, it was just more of an annoyance than a real problem... Since I was left with excess points (that I had borrowed) in my current Use Year, I had to bank points which of course had to be used by the end of the next UY. At the end of the day, it wasn't a huge problem, but I learned from that.

Newbie mistake.

 

[Mumof4mice]

If you're attempting to switch from BLT to VGF, having excess points returned that's unbankable won't be a problem - VGF costs so many more points!

Definitely make 2 BLT bookings for ease of switching to a split stay at 7 months. If unsuccessful, call MS and ask to have your bookings tagged as "continuing reservations". That way you'll still be able to modify the bookings online yourself and you're extremely unlikely to be moved.

I've done it four times without issue at:
PVB - using rented and own PVB points
PVB - using the same account (PVB)
BLT - using two accounts (BLT and CCV)
BCV - using two accounts

At check in, remind the front desk your bookings are for a continuing stay and you don't want to move. All you have to do is online check in for your second stay on the "move day". Our magic bands worked without any gap.

Good luck and have a great vacation!

 

[BLT9664]

Thanks for all valuable advice. I will try different scenarios for the next 2 trips.

 

[Granny]

No choice. Mrs. like the Victoria style.

I see a VGF add-on contract in your future!

 

[Deb & Bill]

No choice. Mrs. like the Victoria style.

So tell Mrs that the only way it is going to happen is to book a trip in late Jan, early May or buy another contract of VGF points. Otherwise, non-home resort in Dec is not going to happen.

 

[BLT9664]

In fact we did visit DVC office last time when we were there and asked if we could add on some VGF points. However they said the only way was when a member asked them to resale the existing points, so they could do the transfer to my contract. Obviously the chance is minimal.

 

[Deb & Bill]

In fact we did visit DVC office last time when we were there and asked if we could add on some VGF points. However they said the only way was when a member asked them to resale the existing points, so they could do the transfer to my contract. Obviously the chance is minimal.

You need to find them on the resale market.

 

[Disneykate605]

Haha. We all know the experiences vary depending on which CM does it.

I’ve had 2 sets of reservations linked, and neither one could be modified online. I was also told this when I linked them.

I have also experienced this. I had made 3 different reservations with 2 different memberships (all at BRV/same room type) last year and I wanted to stay in the same room throughout the whole stay. I was told that if I "linked" them they would not be able to be modified online. So I held off linking them until it was closer to my trip and I knew I would be making no more changes. I did not end up having to move.

If you made two separate BLT reservations and were not able to modify one to VGF and you instead decided to just use your two BLT reservations to stay at BLT your whole trip you wouldn't link those BLT reservations you would combine those BLT reservations which is different.

 

[BLT9664]

You need to find them on the resale market.

Since I am from Canada, I have no connection to any trusted lawyer or broker to process all the complicated documents for me. And there will be quite a amount of money settlement. Member Services said they could not help me if any problem happened in that case. Therefore I am quite worry to purchase the points on resale market.

 

[PsycProfPlum]

I'd also recommend considering split stays. We managed to score 2 nights mid-week in December 2019 at GFV at 7 months. If you are open to that, you might have better success than trying to get your entire stay.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Since I am from Canada, I have no connection to any trusted lawyer or broker to process all the complicated documents for me. And there will be quite a amount of money settlement. Member Services said they could not help me if any problem happened in that case. Therefore I am quite worry to purchase the points on resale market.

You just need a reputable reseller to help you with all that. They will do that. Try contacting the Timeshare Store and ask them.