New DVC Member needs help

[mrs pooky]

Hi, I have been searching but can't seem to find the answer to my question, so I hope you can help me.

We joined the DVC is Jan, but he gave us an August 06 use year, for 320 points total.

We are going to Disney in Jan., and my DH really wants to stay in OKW, so in 2 weeks I can call to do this.

My problem is, that the DH's family has all decided to come with us, and I don't want to use up all of our points on one trip, so want to do cash and points. The FIL and MIL will stay with us in a 2 bedroom; his sister's group in a studio.

How can I do cash and points for this situation?

Thanks!

 

[CarolAnnC]

You don't mention how many points you need for the rooms for the trip, but it seems if you have 320 pts from Aug 06 and another 320 pts coming in Aug 07, you will have enough even without borrowing the 08 use year points.

I believe the DVC member has to be booked into the room for a cash discount, and it is 25% off rack rates (too early to book now with MS), so your family may even get a better deal for an OKW studio with CRO.

I would use the points, and you could even have the family reimburse you $10 per point that you use to book their room. Just a thought..

 

[mrs pooky]

We bought 160 points, but he gave us August 2006 Use year, so we got 160 for 2006, and 160 for 2007. The studio is 80 points, and the 2 bedroom is 218 in Jan, so that will kill 298 of the points. (and it sounds as though the family wants to make this an annual thing.)

I want to take my DS back again in June 08 for Star Wars weekends, and the Studio will cost 109 then.

So, if we go back again in Jan 08, even when they give me 160 for 08, we would not even have enough for a studio.

Maybe I should use the points, charge them, and use the $ to buy more points? Do you have to pay closing to buy more points?

Sorry to be so dense.

 

[1-407-WDWJUNKIE]

Just a thought:

Use your points for both rooms for the weekdays as they cost so much less point wise and ask the in-laws to pay cash for the weekend nights. They get seven nights for the price of two and you only use 150 points.

 

[mrs pooky]

That sounds like a great idea! And there are no penalties for doing it that way?

 

[1-407-WDWJUNKIE]

You make 2 seperate reservations (or even three if you go weekdays/cash weekend/more weekdays) at the same time and have them link them together in the system so you won't have to move rooms. People do it all the time.

Many people choose to pay cash for weekend nights to get more mileage out of their points.

This is of course all based on availability, so book as soon as possible.

 

[mrs pooky]

Ok, so normally I have to wait until the check-out date to make the reservation. We are going January 19th-26th, so if I did all points I would have to wait until the 26th, right?



But If I am doing cash for Saturday, then points for Sun-Thurs, then cash for Friday, can I call on May 19th and just book Sat? Then call on May 24th to book Sun-Thurs, then call May 25th for Fri? Or do I just wait until the 26th and do it all?

I never realized how confusing this could be.

 

[1-407-WDWJUNKIE]

Yes, you can book on three dates like you described. You could wait until the 26th and book all of them at once or do it in pieces as you described.

Some people, for high demand rooms at high demand times, book each day and link them. So they make a 1 day reservation for the first day, and on the next day call and make a 1 day reservation for the second day and link them as I described, and do it again on the third day.

I am not trying to scare you here - that is normally not necessary, but for example there are some reduced point rooms at BWV that go very fast, and if you want one during the Food and Wine Fest or Early December you want to the day by day booking.

 

[mamatojon]

Ok, so normally I have to wait until the check-out date to make the reservation. We are going January 19th-26th, so if I did all points I would have to wait until the 26th, right?



But If I am doing cash for Saturday, then points for Sun-Thurs, then cash for Friday, can I call on May 19th and just book Sat? Then call on May 24th to book Sun-Thurs, then call May 25th for Fri? Or do I just wait until the 26th and do it all?

I never realized how confusing this could be.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but May is 8 months ahead of January,so you'll have to wait until June for the 7 month window for January.