Planning With Borrowed Points

[kristenrice]

I'm driving myself insane waiting for my 7-month booking window to open!

My first choice is to go to HHI for the first week of April. I know that it might be a long shot so I am working on my backup plan(s).

We own at AKV and we've stayed there 3 times already. If we do WDW, we want to try something different. I am looking at BWV at the end of June 2011 for DD's birthday.

Here are my scenarios (dates purposefully omitted)...

Option #1: Fri-Tue in a pool-view studio (96 points)
Option #2: Fri-Sat in a pool-view studio, Sun-Tue in a standard 1BR (132 points)
Option #3: Sat in a pool-view studio, Sun-Wed in a standard 1BR (141 points)

I have a Feb UY and I will have 46 banked 2010 points, 0 2011 points and all 100 of my 2012 points available to use. Because I am dealing with borrowing, I am not sure what my best plan of attack should be. I am assuming that the standard 1BR may need to be waitlisted. So, is this my best plan?...
--> Book Option #1, but only the first two days (check availabilty for the next three nights at that time)
--> Wait two days and check availability of the std 1BR. If it is available, continue with Option #2.
--> If it is NOT available, try to add 3 days to Option #1 and waitlist the standard 1BR.

I am assuming that it would not be possible to book all 5 nights of option #1 and then waitlist the final 3 in a 1BR would it? I would have to cancel 3 nights from the reservation if the WL came through which is why I think I need to keep the reservations separate.

I am hoping that all of this is moot anyways because we REALLY want to go to HHI!

 

[CarolMN]

I'm driving myself insane waiting for my 7-month booking window to open!

My first choice is to go to HHI for the first week of April. I know that it might be a long shot so I am working on my backup plan(s).

We own at AKV and we've stayed there 3 times already. If we do WDW, we want to try something different. I am looking at BWV at the end of June 2011 for DD's birthday.

Here are my scenarios (dates purposefully omitted)...

Option #1: Fri-Tue in a pool-view studio (96 points)
Option #2: Fri-Sat in a pool-view studio, Sun-Tue in a standard 1BR (132 points)
Option #3: Sat in a pool-view studio, Sun-Wed in a standard 1BR (141 points)

I have a Feb UY and I will have 46 banked 2010 points, 0 2011 points and all 100 of my 2012 points available to use. Because I am dealing with borrowing, I am not sure what my best plan of attack should be. I am assuming that the standard 1BR may need to be waitlisted. So, is this my best plan?...
--> Book Option #1, but only the first two days (check availabilty for the next three nights at that time)
--> Wait two days and check availability of the std 1BR. If it is available, continue with Option #2.
--> If it is NOT available, try to add 3 days to Option #1 and waitlist the standard 1BR.

I am assuming that it would not be possible to book all 5 nights of option #1 and then waitlist the final 3 in a 1BR would it? I would have to cancel 3 nights from the reservation if the WL came through which is why I think I need to keep the reservations separate.

I am hoping that all of this is moot anyways because we REALLY want to go to HHI!

Actually, it is totally possible to book all 5 nights in a studio and then change to (or waitlist for) the 3 nights in a 1 bedroom (assuming the 1 bedroom is not available for the 3 nights you need), Obviously, you'd have to wait for the window to open to try for the 1 bedroom.

In fact, that is what I would do to guarantee myself a place to stay. When you call for the 1 bedroom reservation, you just tell the CM that if the waitlist comes through, you want the last 3 nights of the studio canceled and the freed up points reused for the 1 bedroom. You'll need to tell the CM that it is OK to borrow the remainder.

As you probably know, there aren't many standard view rooms available, so getting one at 7 months will be a challenge, especially if you are going the week before the 4th of July Holiday. Best not to delay calling or getting on the waitlist. I would ask if 5 nights in a SV studio or BW view studio were available when I called at 7 months (you could get lucky) and if not, book the Pool/Garden category. Those should be available. If I got lucky with SV or BW view studio, I might change my mind about moving. But that's me, LOL

Hope HHI works out for you so that this can be moot.

 

[kristenrice]

Actually, it is totally possible to book all 5 nights in a studio and then change to (or waitlist for) the 3 nights in a 1 bedroom (assuming the 1 bedroom is not available for the 3 nights you need), Obviously, you'd have to wait for the window to open to try for the 1 bedroom.

In fact, that is what I would do to guarantee myself a place to stay. When you call for the 1 bedroom reservation, you just tell the CM that if the waitlist comes through, you want the last 3 nights of the studio canceled and the freed up points reused for the 1 bedroom. You'll need to tell the CM that it is OK to borrow the remainder.

I *think* I get what you're saying...

Basically, I can make the five-night studio reservation as ONE reservation. Then, two days later, I can 1) drop the last three nights of the studio reservation if the 1BR is available; or 2) waitlist the 1BR and if it comes through, then ONLY the last three nights of the studio reservation will be dropped. But either way, I should still retain 5 nights in some type of room.

I was thinking that if I booked 5 nights in a studio as one reservation and them waitlisted the last three for a 1BR that it would cancel the entire 5-night reservation. I wouldn't want that to happen

 

[CarolMN]

I *think* I get what you're saying...

Basically, I can make the five-night studio reservation as ONE reservation. Then, two days later, I can 1) drop the last three nights of the studio reservation if the 1BR is available; or 2) waitlist the 1BR and if it comes through, then ONLY the last three nights of the studio reservation will be dropped. But either way, I should still retain 5 nights in some type of room.

Yes, that is the way to go.

I was thinking that if I booked 5 nights in a studio as one reservation and them waitlisted the last three for a 1BR that it would cancel the entire 5-night reservation. I wouldn't want that to happen

It will be very important to emphasize to the CM that ONLY the last 3 nights are to be canceled if the 1 Bedroom waitlist comes through. It all comes down to how the waitlist is set up. Wouldn't hurt to call back after the call and get the next CM to tell you how the waitlist was set up. Get the CM tell to give you the info - don't volunteer what you want until after the CM gives you the info. - That way you will have some assurance that what you intended is what they set up.

Again - hope it is all moot.