Point transfer & availability

[Cyberc1978]

Hi

I'm in the middle of buying my first DVC at BLT. I have bought a contract with 120 points and with all 2016 and 2017 points, UY March.

We wont be going to DVC until july 2017.

We plan to go to AKV for 2-3 days in either a 1BR SV or 2BR SV. Also 2-3 days in VGF in a 1BR or 2BR standard.

I assume booking the 1BR or 2BR SV at AKV wont be a problem during july? at least if I do it at the 7months mark. But want about VGF, will there still be some availability for the 1BR or 2BR standard?

If the availability is limited for those at the 7 months, my idea was that I would try to get a point transfer for VGF for the points needed so I could book before the 7 months mark. I would then transfer out the corresponding BLT points(2017).

How is the rules in regards to point transfer, how often can you do it and does it matter if you are in the receiver end or the one doing the transfer? - If I can only do it once per UY then I would need to receive the points once my new membership is ready and then wait until March 2017 to do the last transfer - is that correct?

Regards

 

[drusba]

Since "SV" at AKV could stand for either savanna view or standard view, I will answer for both. Except for time around July 4, both should be open at 7 months; that is true also for the time right around July 4 but some risk otherwise at Jambo for the 2BR (but not 1BRs), but not a problem at Kidani.

Based on current demand patterns, the issue is similar for VGF 1BRs and 2BRs (both standard and lake view). Both should be open at 7 months out throughout July except for some risk otherwise for 1BRs (not 2BRs) for time around July 4.

As to transfers, which I believe is unnecesaary for what you want to do, you are limited to one transfer per use year, either in or out but you cannot do both. Thus you could not transfer out 2017 BLT points and transfer in 2017 VGF points, and that is regardless of whether you wait until 2017 to actually do the transfer out. However, you could transfer out 2016 BLT points and transfer in 2017 VGF points , or transfer in 2016 VGF points, and bank them if use year is before July and use then for the July trip, and transfer out your 2017 BLT points. Note you would not have to wait until March 2017 to do that as you could transfer out your 2017 points even now.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Thanks so much.

The SV was for savanna view at AKV.

So if one needed to do a points transfer one dont need to be in the actual UY to do so, thats great. But as you pointed out, the availability for the resorts in July should be doable except for July 4th.

How close to the checkin will the AKV 1or2 BR savanna view be available? 4-7months out or maybe even closer?

regards

 

[drusba]

You do not mention which part of July or which AKV resort. I do not advise waiting past the 7 month window to do any reservation. There is usually no reason to wait -- you can always reserve and then cancel if you are not certain you are going. However, AKV Kidani 1 and 2BR savanna views have usually been open for most of July even at 6 months out. I have seen a lot of openings beyond that 6 month period for particularly the last half of July but do not recommend even thinking about waiting beyond then. Jambo has usually been open past the 7 month window but it starts to become more iffy by 6 months.

As to transfers, be aware that at any given time you can trasnsfer points for the use year you are currently in and for the next use year.

 

[CarolMN]

Note that transferred points are not visible online - you will have to call MS to use them. The only exception is a transfer that is for the exact same resort and use year as your own contract.

 

[Sandisw]

I think for the summer getting a 1 bedroom right at 7 months at VGF is doable. It is the 2 bedroom that might be tricky, but I believe they have dedicated ones, which may be possible as well. I ended up amending my summer trip this August right around that time and was able to get the 1 bedroom. I own at VGF so I had two studios booked and would have kept them had I not been able to switch. IIRC, there were dedicated two bedrooms available for our dates. But, getting a transfer of points obviously would give you a better advantage.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Hi

Thanks for your answers.

We plan to go in last two weeks of July.

I don't plan on booking an entire week at VGF just 2-3 days.

The reason for asking if it was possible to wait with the reservation at AKV was that I currently have a OGS with Rci and was kinda hoping it would come through. I know not many if any at all 2br has been deposited but still crossing my fingers. Also the 2-3 nt at AKV would have to be with borrowed points from 2018, since those points cant be returned to 2018 if I borrow, I would like to wait as long as possible before making the reservation.

Let's say I make the reservation and borrow the points and my Rci ogs comes through, could I then switch around the points used for the different reservations?

So the 2016 & 2017 points used for Vgf could be 2016 & 2018 in stead and then I could bank the 2017 to 2018.

Regards.

 

[drusba]

I think for the summer getting a 1 bedroom right at 7 months at VGF is doable. It is the 2 bedroom that might be tricky, but I believe they have dedicated ones, which may be possible as well. I ended up amending my summer trip this August right around that time and was able to get the 1 bedroom. I own at VGF so I had two studios booked and would have kept them had I not been able to switch. IIRC, there were dedicated two bedrooms available for our dates. But, getting a transfer of points obviously would give you a better advantage.

At VGF, 1BRs almost always book full before the dedicated 2BRs. The issue the 1BR has is that like studios there are only 47 of them and because studios can be difficult to get even at 11 months out at times, many VGF owners who actually want a studio have to reluctantly opt for a 1BR to even have a room during higher demand times. Nevertheless, VGF 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs are usually open between mid-Jan and late Sep, DVC's low to moderate demand season, except for a risk otherwise for the 1BR for some holiday and special event (races) times. During DVC's high to extremly high demand season from late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan. both can be gone much of the time by 7 months out but chance of getting something are better if seeking a dedicated 2BR rather than a 1BR.

 

[drusba]

Hi

Thanks for your answers.

We plan to go in last two weeks of July.

I don't plan on booking an entire week at VGF just 2-3 days.

The reason for asking if it was possible to wait with the reservation at AKV was that I currently have a OGS with Rci and was kinda hoping it would come through. I know not many if any at all 2br has been deposited but still crossing my fingers. Also the 2-3 nt at AKV would have to be with borrowed points from 2018, since those points cant be returned to 2018 if I borrow, I would like to wait as long as possible before making the reservation.

Let's say I make the reservation and borrow the points and my Rci ogs comes through, could I then switch around the points used for the different reservations?

So the 2016 & 2017 points used for Vgf could be 2016 & 2018 in stead and then I could bank the 2017 to 2018.

Regards.

Last half of July is one of the slowest DVC demand times of the year at WDW and thus you likely will have some better chance of things at Kidani lasting longer beyond the 7 month window, although it is still a risk if you wait. Did not know of the borrowing issue you might have and it is usually not good to borrow unless you are certain points will be used.

You cannot do the switch you suggest. For a reservation that was made 7 months out, they let you later replace regular points with any borrowed (or banked) points you might accumulate, but the problem is those borrowed (or banked) points must themselves be free from any reservation when you want to make the exchange. In your situation, that would require cancelling part of the VGF reservation first and then trying to get the cancelled day or days back after you have made the exchange in the AKV reservation, and you could find that the VGF days are no longer available if you try that.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Last half of July is one of the slowest DVC demand times of the year at WDW and thus you likely will have some better chance of things at Kidani lasting longer beyond the 7 month window, although it is still a risk if you wait. Did not know of the borrowing issue you might have and it is usually not good to borrow unless you are certain points will be used.

You cannot do the switch you suggest. For a reservation that was made 7 months out, they let you later replace regular points with any borrowed (or banked) points you might accumulate, but the problem is those borrowed (or banked) points must themselves be free from any reservation when you want to make the exchange. In your situation, that would require cancelling part of the VGF reservation first and then trying to get the cancelled day or days back after you have made the exchange in the AKV reservation, and you could find that the VGF days are no longer available if you try that.

But if I get a match for a AKV unit through Rci, the nights at AKV would be canceled, so the 2018 points would be freed up at that point.

If I need to cancel and rebook, is I right to assume that since I'm in a different time zone, it might not be a problem? Thus if I cancel at 9.00cet it would be like 3.00est, and since most members are in the us, the newly freed up days wouldn't be snagged? Or will the system snag the days if they are requested on a wait List?

Regards

 

[maburke]

If there is a waitlist, there's a very good chance that it will grab what you cancel before you get it back.

Can I ask why you're buying BLT if you want to stay elsewhere? I'd suggest you book BLT at 11 months, then change if you can.

 

[Michal Holm]

Used my old username by mistake, post will be reposted in new username.

 

[Cyberc1978]

I Really like BLT, and will stay there for the most part.

Family want to try some of the other resorts too, so for next year we will try AKV and VGF, but as you mentioned we will book BLT as soon as we can, so we for sure have a resort, and if the availability is there we will switch around.

Regards

 

[Sandisw]

At VGF, 1BRs almost always book full before the dedicated 2BRs. The issue the 1BR has is that like studios there are only 47 of them and because studios can be difficult to get even at 11 months out at times, many VGF owners who actually want a studio have to reluctantly opt for a 1BR to even have a room during higher demand times. Nevertheless, VGF 1BRs and dedicated 2BRs are usually open between mid-Jan and late Sep, DVC's low to moderate demand season, except for a risk otherwise for the 1BR for some holiday and special event (races) times. During DVC's high to extremly high demand season from late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan. both can be gone much of the time by 7 months out but chance of getting something are better if seeking a dedicated 2BR rather than a 1BR.

Thanks for a more detailed explanation. I was just going by my experience in searching and booking. We always stay around the beginning of August and for the past few years, have been fortunate to get VGF with my BWV points around the 7 month mark for what I wanted!! Being a slower time, I think that has helped it seem like things are more readily available when it may not be so most of the time!!