Online booking and borrowing questions

[Anal Annie]

OK, first, we've never borrowed points so I'm not so familiar with how that works - can that be done online? I've figured out like 12 possible scenarios for our vaca next summer. As part of my planning I have also worked out a couple of plans where we would over-book by several nights in either direction of what we REALLY want until I can find flights. I want to hedge my bets for the cheapest available dates to fly. We want to go to DL for about 3 nights then on to Aulani for about 5 nights before we move on to Maui. This is a big trip that will span 2 weeks and the airfare is gonna be a killer. So I was thinking that maybe I should book a few days in either direction at both VGC and Aulani when our booking windows open. We have exactly the amount of points that we need for what we want but to over-plan by a few days would require that we borrow points. Like a lot of points. Once I get flights booked I can cancel the extra nights - but what happens to the borrowed points? Do they go right back into the use year that they came from as if they were never touched?

Also, with the online booking system - that would be available even on holidays, right? Like if I do this like this I will want to book ON Jan. 1st. Member Services would be closed BUT I could book online at 8:00 am, right? Now, if I need to borrow points does the online system just grab them for me as I am making the reservation or does that need to be a separate transaction? I mean, what if what I want isn't available? Do I need to borrow points ahead of time JUST IN CASE? Just trying to wrap my head around what all would be involved. Have I overlooked any snags?

 

[disneynutz]

You borrow and assign points as part of the online reservation process.

Bill

 

[DebbieB]

OK, first, we've never borrowed points so I'm not so familiar with how that works - can that be done online? I've figured out like 12 possible scenarios for our vaca next summer. As part of my planning I have also worked out a couple of plans where we would over-book by several nights in either direction of what we REALLY want until I can find flights. I want to hedge my bets for the cheapest available dates to fly. We want to go to DL for about 3 nights then on to Aulani for about 5 nights before we move on to Maui. This is a big trip that will span 2 weeks and the airfare is gonna be a killer. So I was thinking that maybe I should book a few days in either direction at both VGC and Aulani when our booking windows open. We have exactly the amount of points that we need for what we want but to over-plan by a few days would require that we borrow points. Like a lot of points. Once I get flights booked I can cancel the extra nights - but what happens to the borrowed points? Do they go right back into the use year that they came from as if they were never touched?

Also, with the online booking system - that would be available even on holidays, right? Like if I do this like this I will want to book ON Jan. 1st. Member Services would be closed BUT I could book online at 8:00 am, right? Now, if I need to borrow points does the online system just grab them for me as I am making the reservation or does that need to be a separate transaction? I mean, what if what I want isn't available? Do I need to borrow points ahead of time JUST IN CASE? Just trying to wrap my head around what all would be involved. Have I overlooked any snags?

Borrowed points remain in the year they were borrowed into and will expire at the end of the use year. If you have current year points in the reservation, you can ask member services to return those points first so that they can be banked (assuming you are before the banking deadline).

Good question about holidays. Not sure if they open the 11 or 7 month window on a holiday since member services is closed. My bet is they don't, you have to wait until the next day.

 

[dvcterry]

I booked online this past July 4th holiday when member services was closed, if that is of any help. you would not be able to book at a DL resort, that you would have to wait for ms to be open; however, you can book VGC online. I know you are looking to have a nice window of time but if you do borrow all those points, they will remain in the UY they are moved to, so if your plans change, take that into consideration.

 

[DebbieB]

I booked online this past July 4th holiday when member services was closed, if that is of any help. you would not be able to book at a DL resort, that you would have to wait for ms to be open; however, you can book VGC online. I know you are looking to have a nice window of time but if you do borrow all those points, they will remain in the UY they are moved to, so if your plans change, take that into consideration.

Were you at the 7 or 11 month window? I was wondering if they open the window on a holiday.

 

[Anal Annie]

You borrow and assign points as part of the online reservation process.

Bill

OK, good, so one transaction. I was curious if I would need to do one then the other.

Borrowed points remain in the year they were borrowed into and will expire at the end of the use year. If you have current year points in the reservation, you can ask member services to return those points first so that they can be banked (assuming you are before the banking deadline).
Good question about holidays. Not sure if they open the 11 or 7 month window on a holiday since member services is closed. My bet is they don't, you have to wait until the next day.

THIS is exactly what I needed to know before I do it come Jan 1st. We have a Dec. UY so I will be using a few points leftover from this year that we banked then primarily all of next years points that we get in Dec. What I would be borrowing would then be from the NEXT UY. Since we don't know when or where we're going NEXT that might be a problem 'eh? So if I did this I would ask that they use the borrowed points & leave the current points and then I would bank those into the year that I borrowed from?!

I booked online this past July 4th holiday when member services was closed, if that is of any help. you would not be able to book at a DL resort, that you would have to wait for ms to be open; however, you can book VGC online. I know you are looking to have a nice window of time but if you do borrow all those points, they will remain in the UY they are moved to, so if your plans change, take that into consideration.

Awesome! Perhaps I'll just call MS sometime tho to double check. I don't see what the difference would be between July 4 and New Years tho - both are major holidays so I would think same rules.

Were you at the 7 or 11 month window? I was wondering if they open the window on a holiday.

Why would it matter if it was an 11 month booking vs a 7 month booking?

 

[DebbieB]

Why would it matter if it was an 11 month booking vs a 7 month booking?

Under the phone system, if your 11 or 7 month window hit on a holiday, you had to wait until the next day to call. So if you wanted a 12/1 reservation for your home resort, you had to wait until 1/2 since member services is closed on 1/1. My question is do they open the online window at 8:00am on a holiday when MS is closed? Or do you have to wait until the next day like the phone system.

 

[Sandisw]

THIS is exactly what I needed to know before I do it come Jan 1st. We have a Dec. UY so I will be using a few points leftover from this year that we banked then primarily all of next years points that we get in Dec. What I would be borrowing would then be from the NEXT UY. Since we don't know when or where we're going NEXT that might be a problem 'eh? So if I did this I would ask that they use the borrowed points & leave the current points and then I would bank those into the year that I borrowed from?!

You also want to make sure you don't borrow more points than you have current points if your plan is to just to replace those points by banking the current ones.

Since you also have banked points, just be sure you are clear of what you want and then check the point activity on your account to be sure that is what happened. I thought my points had been done right when I made some switches and they had attached some of my banked points to the reservation I made that I wasn't sure I was keeping insted of my August trip that I do every year.

I didn't notice it until I canceled the Dec trip AFTER I had completed my August trip--at that point, there was nothing I could do...so I have 5 banked points that will expire at this point--unless I can convince MS to transfer them to my other membership as I have a May reservation scheduled.

My 7 month window opens in 11 days so when I call to make a switch, I'll ask--not expecting a yes, but some have said they do things a little differently when you have two memberships.

 

[ebenmax]

We are trying to book Aulani online at the 7 mon. window. Each time I check for reservations, the first night of our stay is unavailable, therefore, I cannot book any of the rest of the week. I know we can waitlist our entire stay, but that keeps us from making any other plans such as flights. Do any of you have any suggestions to help us?

Thank you so much!!

 

[Anal Annie]

We are trying to book Aulani online at the 7 mon. window. Each time I check for reservations, the first night of our stay is unavailable, therefore, I cannot book any of the rest of the week. I know we can waitlist our entire stay, but that keeps us from making any other plans such as flights. Do any of you have any suggestions to help us?

Thank you so much!!

Personally I would grab whatever IS available ASAP before it also disappears. If you keep waiting there may be nothing open. How many days are you trying to book? Can you maybe add another day to the END of your trip or maybe consider a different size / view unit for that first night or pay cash for the first night if necessary?! I would move units and book 2 diff. types if I absolutely had to so I could move on with my plans. I am also nervous about this kind of situation happening to us and am trying to be flexible on the type of unit we book... Good luck!

 

[ebenmax]

Thanks for your ideas! Unfortunately, because we cannot get the first night of the seven we want, they will not let us book the remaining nights at all. We will have to wait until the next day when our 7 mo. window opens again. But each time we get to the next day, the first day of the reservation is gone again!! It has been happening this whole week! I get online a little before 8:00 and have everything ready for when the clock chimes 8:00. We are very flexible with views and can book a 1BR, 2 BR, or 2 studios. I just can't figure out why that first night keeps showing "unavailable." I am sure there is some strategy in play that we are missing .

Thanks again and I hope all works out for your upcoming trip!

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks for your ideas! Unfortunately, because we cannot get the first night of the seven we want, they will not let us book the remaining nights at all. We will have to wait until the next day when our 7 mo. window opens again. But each time we get to the next day, the first day of the reservation is gone again!! It has been happening this whole week! I get online a little before 8:00 and have everything ready for when the clock chimes 8:00. We are very flexible with views and can book a 1BR, 2 BR, or 2 studios. I just can't figure out why that first night keeps showing "unavailable." I am sure there is some strategy in play that we are missing .

Thanks again and I hope all works out for your upcoming trip!

Aulani is still being built so rooms may be limited. Not much you can do but keep trying. Home resort advantage would help, you could rent a reservation from a Aulani owner.

Bill

 

[ebenmax]

Does anyone know when they will be booking rooms in the 3rd phase? I thought I read some were already open.

 

[Anal Annie]

Thanks for your ideas! Unfortunately, because we cannot get the first night of the seven we want, they will not let us book the remaining nights at all. We will have to wait until the next day when our 7 mo. window opens again. But each time we get to the next day, the first day of the reservation is gone again!! It has been happening this whole week! I get online a little before 8:00 and have everything ready for when the clock chimes 8:00. We are very flexible with views and can book a 1BR, 2 BR, or 2 studios. I just can't figure out why that first night keeps showing "unavailable." I am sure there is some strategy in play that we are missing .

Thanks again and I hope all works out for your upcoming trip!

Wait a minute. What kind of new rule is this? You WANT 7 nights but only 6 are available but because you want 7 they won't let you book the other 6?! Since when? Don't tell them you really want 7. Just book the 6 and spend your first night in Waikiki at like the Outrigger Waikiki or something.... You must be trying to go in early June before the points go up. I wonder if that's why? I also thought I'd heard that they were starting to book rooms in the final phase....

I hope it works out for you too! But seriously, don't just NOT GO just because of that first night. Book what you can get and consider either booking a cash night at Aulani or at another hotel in Waikiki.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wait a minute. What kind of new rule is this? You WANT 7 nights but only 6 are available but because you want 7 they won't let you book the other 6?! Since when? Don't tell them you really want 7. Just book the 6 and spend your first night in Waikiki at like the Outrigger Waikiki or something.... You must be trying to go in early June before the points go up. I wonder if that's why? I also thought I'd heard that they were starting to book rooms in the final phase....

I hope it works out for you too! But seriously, don't just NOT GO just because of that first night. Book what you can get and consider either booking a cash night at Aulani or at another hotel in Waikiki.

The 6 that are wanted are 7 months + 1 day from the day they are allowed to book, so they have to wait to book the other days. I think you can waitlist that one day.

 

[ebenmax]

That's exactly the problem! Thank you for explaining it better than I did. The way I understood Member Services is that I CAN wait list the first day, but I still do not gain immediate access to the rest of the days.

 

[bobbiwoz]

That's exactly the problem! Thank you for explaining it better than I did. The way I understood Member Services is that I CAN wait list the first day, but I still do not gain immediate access to the rest of the days.

Hopefully, the reason you are unable to book is BECAUSE someone is walking and really doesn't want those days. I hope you do waitlist and get what you want!

Bobbi

 

[Sammie]

Online book is available to book at 11 months or 7 months if Member Services is closed for a holiday.

 

[ebenmax]

Thanks for the pixie dust...we do, too! This trip is for my retirement after 30 years of teaching. We've been hoping for it since Aulani was announced. We will keep trying...

 

[ebenmax]

We got a room!! We opted to try for the 1BR ocean view instead of 2BR and it came through!! All rooms were gone on the first day of ressie again within minutes. Be ready to book by 7:59 am but nothing happened until straight up 8:00. I will waitlist for a 2BR, but we are still thrilled we are in!!
Good luck to all others at 7 month mark!