Points usage help

[Bucketfoot]

Background info... We currently own direct at VGF (Feb UY) and are in the process of buying resale at AKV (Oct UY).

We plan on booking a split stay where we will be staying at AKV the last days of Jan 2024 and VGF at the begining of Feb.

My issue is that we plan on staying 5 nights at AKV, but will only have enough points for 4 nights on the AKV contract. The plan is to book the last 4 nights as soon as we get the points, then go back an book the first night at the 7 month window. We have enough AKV points to where we could go ahead and buy one-time use points, but ideally I would rather use VGF points since we have more than enough to cover this and it saves the AKV points for the next trip.

The dilema is that as mentioned our VGF UY is Feb and we have 2023 points that need to be used by 1/31/24. Just for simplicity let's say I need 50 points for the AKV stay and I have 100 2023 points. If I bank 50 of the points, I know I can use them for my VGF stay.

Can I book the VGF stay without using the 50 2023 points that I did not bank so that I can save them to use at the 7-month window for AKV?

Since I haven't had to do anything like this yet, I'm not sure how specific you can be on what points you use when!

 

[RoseGold]

Call MS. They are good and wiggling points around like this. I got them to apply like banked from one contract, borrow from another. They can see all the points.

 

[Bucketfoot]

My question there would be how on the spot for time do I need to be for a 2-bed standard view at VGF. My plan was to be logged in and ready to go right at the 11-month window opening

If I understand correctly you have to wait a little longer in the morning to do it on the phone. But you are probably correct that this would be the way to go!

 

[intamin]

So you're trying to book the last 4 of 5 nights of AKV at the end of January using your AKV resale.
Then using your VGF points, book a 2BR at the 11 month window to complete the VGF stay in February.
Then go back and book 1 night at AKV using your remaining VGF at the 7 month window at AKV.

The question is can you use the VGF points you didn't bank on that 1 AKV night at 7 months. Yes. You can, assuming it's available.

I'm assuming it's not an option to simply book the first 4 nights with AKV and then book the remainder at VGF and then at 7 months, modify the VGF stay to have 1 less night and switch that 1 night to AKV because that would make this a lot simpler.

 

[drusba]

My question there would be how on the spot for time do I need to be for a 2-bed standard view at VGF. My plan was to be logged in and ready to go right at the 11-month window opening

If I understand correctly you have to wait a little longer in the morning to do it on the phone. But you are probably correct that this would be the way to go!

Be aware that, for many years, Feb 1 to the Thursday before Presidents' Day has consistely been the lowest WDW DVC demand time of the year, measured by how fast rooms disappear after the 11-month window opens. When I checked at 9 a.m. eastern on March 1, 2022, for availability beginning Feb 1, 2023, the only rooms already filled were the three studios (and lock-off 2BRs) that typically disappear right at 8 a.m. year round: AKV value and club level, and BWV standard view, and also the OKW GV in the near Hospitality House booking category (it also books full year round at or even before 11-months out for any date because there are only 2 such rooms).

Also, you can hold back banking those 50 VGF points to try to use them for AKV at 7-months out for the Jan time. Just note that your banking deadline is Sep 30, and if, for any reason you cannot get that extra day at 7-months, you will need to bank those VGF points by Sep 30. Moreover, once you bank them, you could then modify your VGF Feb reservation to the same dates and room size already booked, and have the system use those banked points to replace Feb 2024 points in the reservation.

Also, you do not mention which AKV building, or view, you will book at AKV. If you are thinking value 2BR at Jambo, your chances of getting it even at 11-months out are low. If savanna view, it will be likely you can add an extra night for the 2BR at 7-months out at either building, and if for a Kidani dedicated savanna view 2BR, the probability is virtually certain. Be aware, however, there is some risk the standard view 2BR at Jambo (all lock-offs) could be full for the night you want at 7-months out. The Kidani standard view 2BRs, particularly the dedicated 2BRs, have a much lower chance of being full for that time at 7-months out.

 

[Bucketfoot]

So you're trying to book the last 4 of 5 nights of AKV at the end of January using your AKV resale.
Then using your VGF points, book a 2BR at the 11 month window to complete the VGF stay in February.
Then go back and book 1 night at AKV using your remaining VGF at the 7 month window at AKV.

The question is can you use the VGF points you didn't bank on that 1 AKV night at 7 months. Yes. You can, assuming it's available.

I'm assuming it's not an option to simply book the first 4 nights with AKV and then book the remainder at VGF and then at 7 months, modify the VGF stay to have 1 less night and switch that 1 night to AKV because that would make this a lot simpler.

I definitely thought of this option, but there are two things that might make it an issue.

The first is that would have me booking VGF on 1/31 and I would be booking across my Feb UY, which I've been told usually requires calling MS.

The second is that I will be borrowing 2025 points for the VGF stay and if I initially book at the higher VGF point level I'm pretty sure that I would have to eat the point delta when switch that night to AKV. This may still be something to think about. It looks like it would be 17 points that I would lose and could be worth it for the simplicity.

 

[intamin]

When you book that higher point amount for VGF that makes you borrow, if AKV is still available at 7 months, you can call member services at the 7 month mark and ask them to re-allocate the amount you borrowed into that AKV booking so you don't have to eat that 17 point difference. The borrowed points would be re-applied to the AKV night if it's still there and then you bank the remainder just like you had planned to begin with.

 

[Bucketfoot]

Well maybe I'll give it try to book the VGF portion with the extra day online on 2/28, rather than without it on 3/1.

Worst thing that happens if it doesn't work is either I wait a day or I call MS for help.

 

[Bucketfoot]

Now that I look at what I typed... can I do that?

Can I book a stay starting on 1/31 or 2/28? Is that technically 11 months or do I have to wait until the first anyway?

 

[kes601]

If the stay is for a 2/1/24 check in then you can't book until 3/1/23.

 

[Bucketfoot]

The question in this case is what if it is for a 1/31/2024 check-in.

Is 2/28/2023 considered the start of the 11 month window for 1/31/2024?

They need to take away a day from two of the 31 day months and turn Feb into a 30/31 day month rather than 28/29

 

[kes601]

Same deal, 3/1/23 would be the 11 month booking mark for 1/31/24.

 

[Bucketfoot]

Let me ask this. Would it make more sense for me to do two bookings?

One with 1/31 as a separate single day, and the other for 2/1 on.

 

[Sandisw]

Let me ask this. Would it make more sense for me to do two bookings?

One with 1/31 as a separate single day, and the other for 2/1 on.

If you want 1/31 to end up being AKV at 7 months then yes, book it as it’s one so you only need to modify that one night and can do it online at 8 am.

If you book it with the VGF nights, then you have to modify that first to drop the night and then pick up the AKV night.

 

[drusba]

Generally, the reservation system will not do a single reservation for a reservation that has days in two different use years. Thus you cannot book VGF in the eleven month window for Jan 31 plus any days in Feb afterwards as one reservation. You could book two separate reservations when doing the reservation on March 1: one for Jan 31 using Feb 2022 VGF points banked into the Feb 2023 use year, and one for the Feb 1 and after dates using the Feb 2024 use year.

Understand, however, that does not guarantee you can change the Jan 31 reservation to AKV at 7 months out. You will be able to do that if, and only if, AKV is still separately available for that date. The certainty that you would create is that you would definitely have all the nights you need even if nothing is available at 7-Months out, i.e., you could just choose to keep Jan 31 as VGF and thus have AKV for only dates through Jan 30, and VGF for Jan 31 and after. After it becomes clear you cannot switch Jan 31 to AKV, you could contact MS and request that it link your two VGF reservations, so you do not have to change rooms after you arrive at VGF.