Please Tell Me If I'm Thinking Correctly

[lugnut33]

First off, let me thank anyone that offers up an answer because I'm not sure I'm completely correct in my thinking and maybe there is a flaw. This will be first time I've made a reservation at a DVC resort, so I'm nervous.

I currently have 120 2008 points with June use year that I will bank by January 31. Then next June I get the next 120 points, so I'll have 240 points to work with. Plan on taking the trip from August 16th (beginning of Dream Season is the 16th) until August 21 (Sunday through Friday stay, so we don't get dinged for the big weekend points). Staying at SSR should cost us 155 points for that stay (31 points per night).

SSR is our home resort, and we'll be happy to stay there, but would prefer an OKW dedicated 2 bedroom because we are going to be 6 adults and 2 children and the OKW room has an extra 300 square feet. Another bonus is it would save me 20 points for a total needed of 135 (could return later in the year for another trip since it's only 27 points per night!!) However, I can't be assured that we'll get a room at the 7 month window at OKW, but I've been told that there's a good chance.

So, I believe my 11 month window opens up on Sept. 21st for me to call and make a reservation at SSR for a dedicated 2 bedroom, with a preference to stay in Congress Park with DTD view, or second preference would be The Springs (not picky about views or rooms as we'll have vehicles, but I have preferences). I'll call member services first thing in the morning on the 22nd because the 21st is a Sunday.

At the 7 month window, I plan on calling to see if I can get the reservation changed to a dedicated 2 bedroom at OKW. Best as I can tell that should not be a problem to change the reservation from SSR to OKW at the 7 month mark???? There's no weird point thingy is there? Or, is it better to just wait until the 7 month window to make any reservation at all since SSR and OKW should not be full during that time of year?

I know it's long, but is it right?

 

[Chuck S]

You can certainly go ahead and book SSR, but remember that location requests are not guaranteed.

At OKW, there is a booking cayegory (same number of points) for buildings near the Hospitality House. Hospitality House is the front desk, restaurant, boat dock and main pool area of OKW. It includes buildings 11 to 14 and 23 to 26.

Also at OKW, there was a design change to 1 & 2 bedroom units during OKW construction. In buildings 29 and under, there is one entrane to the master bath...through the master bedroom. In blgs 30 and higher, the bathroom has two entrances, through the master bedroom and through the laundry room. This allows for more privacy for those in the master suite is someone is on the living room sleeper sofa.

At 7 months you should be able to get a 2 bedroom unit at OKW, but there may not be a dedicated 2 bedroom available, as they normally book those first when someone needs a two bedroom unit.

However, both dedicated and lockoff units at OKW have two queen beds in the second bedroom, no sofa sleeper, as all OKW studios have two queen beds.

The main differences at OKW between a lockoff & dedicated is the lock-off will have a kitchenette, dedicated has additional closet space. Lockoff has the additional entry door to the studio portion, and the lock-off studio portion will have a balcony. The 2nd bedroom of a dedicated does not have a balcony.

 

[Caskbill]

.....Plan on taking the trip from August 16th (beginning of Dream Season is the 16th) until August 21 (Sunday through Friday stay....

So, I believe my 11 month window opens up on Sept. 21st for me to call and make a reservation at SSR.....

With the recent changes in the booking rules, you can now call on September 16th to book August 16th - 20th inclusive.

 

[lugnut33]

With the recent changes in the booking rules, you can now call on September 16th to book August 16th - 20th inclusive.

Oh, that would be now!!!!!!

Thanks for the thorough answer. I'm still learning.

Since we will have cars, I'm not real concerned about location. It's weird that in the planning book it doesn't mention booking categories at OKW, but I do know about them.

 

[Chuck S]

Oh, that would be now!!!!!!

Thanks for the thorough answer. I'm still learning.

Since we will have cars, I'm not real concerned about location. It's weird that in the planning book it doesn't mention booking categories at OKW, but I do know about them.

The "Near HH" category at OKW only started earlier this year.

 

[lugnut33]

Called in this morning and made the reservation.

No problems. The only thing that threw me a bit was already having to bank the 08 points to use them for the 09 reservation. Oh well, I wasn't planning on going before next August anyways.

And at 7 months I call in to see if I can get OKW instead, although I'll be perfectly happy with SSR dedicated 2 bedroom.

I asked just for the fun of it if BLT was selling fast, and she said "very fast".

 

[photobob]

i think it is always wise to make your reservations at the eleven month mark and lock in a room for the time you are going and then change at the 7 month mark if you want to stay elsewhere.

 

[kristenrice]

I have a related question. If you book your home resort at the 11-month window and then want to change at the 7-month window, do you need to have the points to cover both to avoid losing the original? I would assume that you have to cancel the home resort and book the new one, but what if the new room "disappears" in the process? Has this ever happened? How often?

 

[Chuck S]

I have a related question. If you book your home resort at the 11-month window and then want to change at the 7-month window, do you need to have the points to cover both to avoid losing the original? I would assume that you have to cancel the home resort and book the new one, but what if the new room "disappears" in the process? Has this ever happened? How often?

That does happen. Calling right at 7 months your chances are good that it won't happen, but it can happen.

And like you said, the only way to avoid it would be to have enough points to book both, and then cancel.

Maybe someday MS will update the computer system to allow the CM to hold a room for a few minutes for those types of reservation changes.