New to booking... advice needed

[lazydazy8]

Okay. We are going next October (7-17). We own at SSR. We've only gone once, but would like to try out BW or BC, if possible.

What do I do?

Should I book SSR now, so I know we have our trip planned? But, if we transfer over to BW or BC at the 7 month mark, and it's less points, do I lose those points? (We aren't going back until Dec. 2009.)

Also, we plan to do a studio for the first 5 days, then 1BR the other 5 (since my brother is joining us the second half of the trip). They'll be two different reservations, right? So, if I wanted, I could add on the food plan for one part of the trip?

 

[castleri]

Okay. We are going next October (7-17). We own at SSR. We've only gone once, but would like to try out BW or BC, if possible.

What do I do?

Should I book SSR now, so I know we have our trip planned? But, if we transfer over to BW or BC at the 7 month mark, and it's less points, do I lose those points? (We aren't going back until Dec. 2009.)

If it is less points then they will go back into your account as you will be well within the period that they can be returned to the current UY if you get the reservation at 7 months. If you have to borrow points to make the original reservation make certain they use those points first to book the new one at 7 months. You can have points put back into your account as long as it is more than 31 days before the reservation would start. You do need to keep in mind banking deadlines if you want to bank any of the points into the next year however. Transferring to BCV is not likely to be less points and the same would be true with BW unless you are lucky enough to get the Standard view which is not too likely for the time period you are looking at. You can most likely get SSR or OKW at the 7 month point for those days but I think I would go ahead and make the reservation since you know you want to go then and you will be assured of a room. Then at 7 months try to make the change.



Also, we plan to do a studio for the first 5 days, then 1BR the other 5 (since my brother is joining us the second half of the trip). They'll be two different reservations, right? So, if I wanted, I could add on the food plan for one part of the trip?
You are right about this. As long as they are separate reservations you can add the DDP to one and not the other.

 

[lazydazy8]

Thank you Castleri. I like to have a handle on it all b/f I call member services!

I will do just what you said. I will book SSR for our dates. My DH suggested we try OKW (I didn't realize the F&W was going on, so I probably won't get BW std view). 7 months out, I'll try and switch to OKW, which will take less points, so the points WILL go back into our account b/c they will be the points from the current UY.

 

[robinb]

You should be fine booking SSR and then calling at they 7-month window to get into another resort as long as you don't have April or June use year. If you do and you cancel your SSR reservation in March you will not be able to bank the extra points into 2009 as you will be within the 4-month 0% booking window.

FWIW, I think you have a chance of getting into one of the Boardwalk resorts, although a Standard View will probably by long gone. Just call day-by-day at the 7-month window. On your first day ask MS to check availability for you for your whole time at the resorts you're interested in. That way you'll know which resort to go for.