New to DVC - Just Made First Reservation

[CruzTerri]

Wow, finally got my login today. Made our first reservation for November 2013 at our home resort AKV. 4 nights, 1 BD Savanna View at Kidani. Neither my husband or I have ever been to WDW. This will be a first for us.

I have a question. There's a chance that we may want to check out a day early. However, this decision will be made 45 to 60 days before check-in. Will we get the points back? I believe that if it's more than 31 days before check-in, they go back into our 2013 UY point bank, but under 31 days they go into holding and must be used within 60 days?

We chose to book the extra night, knowing it would be easier to cancel that last night instead of trying to add on a Saturday night to the reservation.

Thank you to all of you who post wonderful information!

 

[LisaS]

Wow, finally got my login today. Made our first reservation for November 2013 at our home resort AKV. 4 nights, 1 BD Savanna View at Kidani. Neither my husband or I have ever been to WDW. This will be a first for us.

Our first stay at WDW was at AKL (before AKV existed). I hope your first stay is as wonderful as ours was!

I have a question. There's a chance that we may want to check out a day early. However, this decision will be made 45 to 60 days before check-in. Will we get the points back? I believe that if it's more than 31 days before check-in, they go back into our 2013 UY point bank, but under 31 days they go into holding and must be used within 60 days?

If you cancel that last night 30 days or less from check-in, the points will go into holding and can only be used to book something 60 days or less in advance of the check-in date of the new reservation. The points will not be bankable and will expire at the end of your UY.

If you cancel 31 days or more from check-in, the points go back into your account unrestricted. If you have a Dec UY, they will go into your 2012 UY, otherwise they will go into our 2013 UY. If you are within the first 8 months of your UY at the time you cancel and the points were not banked or borrowed, they can be banked into your next UY.

 

[rmcildw2m]

Congrats to you and welcome home.

 

[Doug7856]

Welcome Home!

We love AKV. There isn't a resort like it anywhere else. Have fun planning and enjoying your DVC membership.

 

[mlittig]

Congrats and happy planning

 

[spiceycat]

I have ever been to WDW. This will be a first for us.

I have a question. There's a chance that we may want to check out a day early. However, this decision will be made 45 to 60 days before check-in. Will we get the points back? I believe that if it's more than 31 days before check-in, they go back into our 2013 UY point bank, but under 31 days they go into holding and must be used within 60 days?

We chose to book the extra night, knowing it would be easier to cancel that last night instead of trying to add on a Saturday night to the reservation.

Thank you to all of you who post wonderful information!

you are correct.

you have until the end of your use year to use the points in holding.
that say you must make the reservation in 60 days before you leave (which can make it hard during some months). generally you have several months between when you make the reservation and when you go.

think you are smart - that shows good planning.

Now since this will be first trip - any questions? good planning can make it a wonderful time - but it seems you have a good start.

 

[SamSam]

Enjoy Kidani! Dh and I love it! We have points at BCV and AKV and we now much prefer AKV, it just suits us.

 

[CruzTerri]

I'm still getting used to all the acronyms LOL We won't be using any dining plans. Hoping to do breakfast in our unit except the checkout day. The best part of all of this we don't have to purchase any park tickets. Hubby has just recently become an employee of Disney and so we have passes already. He also has much better discounts as well at restaurants

Trying to figure out where everything is as it relates to where Kidani is. Oh my goodness everything is so spread out! Here in CA DL is very compact. DL is right next door to CA, and it's just a few minutes walk to Disney Hotel and Grand Californian, a few more to Paradise Pier Hotel.

Looks like Garden Grocer or another may have better options for ordering food to be delivered than the one on the DVC site which is very limited. I've taken a glance at Garden Grocer and they have quite the selection.

We have friends who have been DVC owners for a few years. With a car paid off and hubby having a better paying job (oh yeah!) it allowed us to purchase DVC. We're empty nesters, our one child (son) recently married. So we thought this could be useful for trips with children and grandchildren. With a few for just us thrown in.

Thanks for all the encouragement. I sure will be posting questions, if I don't see the answers in a search!!

 

[TwinsFan]

Hi Terri, I think you're going to love AKV! You should check into the Wanyama Safari you would get some amazing photos!

 

[bumbershoot]

Trying to figure out where everything is as it relates to where Kidani is. Oh my goodness everything is so spread out! Here in CA DL is very compact. DL is right next door to CA, and it's just a few minutes walk to Disney Hotel and Grand Californian, a few more to Paradise Pier Hotel.

It is indeed overwhelming! I recommend finding HydroGuy's post about "WDW for DL veterans". It's older, so some specifics are outdated, but it gives you an overview.

And I still buy a Passporter guidebook to WDW for each trip we take. The most current, of course; it's available for pre-order from their website, to be shipped in February, but once you buy it you get access to the e-book that you can read online or save as pdf and read on your computer.


Nice thing for you is that you have scads of time to research!

 

[CruzTerri]

It is indeed overwhelming! I recommend finding HydroGuy's post about "WDW for DL veterans". It's older, so some specifics are outdated, but it gives you an overview.

And I still buy a Passporter guidebook to WDW for each trip we take. The most current, of course; it's available for pre-order from their website, to be shipped in February, but once you buy it you get access to the e-book that you can read online or save as pdf and read on your computer.


Nice thing for you is that you have scads of time to research!

Thanks for the info, I'll do a search. I have been seriously considering getting the Passporter Guidebook. I just might breakdown and do that. Again, thanks for the info.

 

[BestDadEver]

Congrats . I just booked my first DVC trip for may . I got AKV value 1 BR . I am pretty excited about that since its not my home resort.

 

[TinkandGoofy'sMom]

Congrtulations and Welcome Home! AKV is our home resort and we LOVE it!