Question about 2 reservations, borrowed points and switching resorts...

[buzzrelly]

Hello all. Bear with me, I've just made our second DVC reservation ever and I have some questions.

We are planning on going next April 2016. Our home resort is BLT, and we have a cruise booked for April 11-15. We want to stay at WDW for 3 nights before and 2 nights after the cruise, so I had to make 2 different reservations. I booked the first 3 nights last week for a studio at BLT, and I just not booked the last 2 nights for a 1 BDR TPV at BLT, for which I needed to borrow 63 points from December 2016.

Ultimately, what I would like to do (if possible), is the try to get a Poly studio for the 3 nights and change from the first 3 nights nights at BLT. I can't try for that until September. I did not have to borrow those points for this reservation.

First, in September, how do I try to change the reservation to the Poly? Do I have to wait and call or can I do it online?

Second, does changing that reservation affect the second reservation at all?

Thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

To change the reservation you need to book new and cancel old if you have enough points or cancel first, then book new. Most MS advisors do not have the ability to hold inventory so there is a small chance that switching could cause you to lose your reservation. Some members use 2 computers to cancel and re-book.

The reservations are separate and do not affect each other.

Bill

 

[buzzrelly]

Thanks, I like the 2 computer idea but have only one. I wonder if I could open 2 separate windows on my Mac and switch back and forth quickly?

So the borrowed points won't have any affect on switching this reservation?

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks, I like the 2 computer idea but have only one. I wonder if I could open 2 separate windows on my Mac and switch back and forth quickly?

So the borrowed points won't have any affect on switching this reservation?

Once borrowed the points stay borrowed. The only issue is if the new reservation requires less points than the old reservation, make sure the you use the borrowed points first.

Bill

 

[disneyberry]

Yes, you can use one computer but you'll need two different browsers. For example, have Safari open and Chrome open. Lately, the DVC website hasn't been very good about being able to accomplish this temporary hold on the room, though. Sometimes you'll get kicked out of the session and have to start over. So just be aware that there is a risk no matter what, that you'll lose your original reservation.

 

[buzzrelly]

Yes, you can use one computer but you'll need two different browsers. For example, have Safari open and Chrome open. Lately, the DVC website hasn't been very good about being able to accomplish this temporary hold on the room, though. Sometimes you'll get kicked out of the session and have to start over. So just be aware that there is a risk no matter what, that you'll lose your original reservation.

Ugh! Thanks. Is there LESS risk by calling?

 

[disneyberry]

I looked at your dates again and that weekend shouldn't be that bad in terms of BLT rooms getting booked up.

As for whether to call MS or do it online yourself, you could try doing a practice run of the 2 browser strategy to see how comfortable you are.

I guess you used all your points now so maybe you can test rebooking the same BLT studio by releasing the original reservation in a separate window, so you can see what hitting refresh on the contract selection page looks like. And if you're unlucky (or lucky) enough to see what getting kicked out looks like.

Of course all this is messing around with your already booked reservation so if you don't want to play around, please feel free to ignore my horrible advice typed up at 1am haha.

 

[buzzrelly]

I looked at your dates again and that weekend shouldn't be that bad in terms of BLT rooms getting booked up.

As for whether to call MS or do it online yourself, you could try doing a practice run of the 2 browser strategy to see how comfortable you are.

I guess you used all your points now so maybe you can test rebooking the same BLT studio by releasing the original reservation in a separate window, so you can see what hitting refresh on the contract selection page looks like. And if you're unlucky (or lucky) enough to see what getting kicked out looks like.

Of course all this is messing around with your already booked reservation so if you don't want to play around, please feel free to ignore my horrible advice typed up at 1am haha.

I appreciate your help! I'm so new at this…I wish I could just change the reservation instead of canceling and booking new. Maybe I'll try playing around like you said.

Is there any way to check and see how many rooms are booked at a given time, besides the Resort Availability Tool?

Thanks!

 

[supersnoop]

I guess you used all your points now so maybe you can test rebooking the same BLT studio by releasing the original reservation in a separate window, so you can see what hitting refresh on the contract selection page looks like. And if you're unlucky (or lucky) enough to see what getting kicked out looks like.

DO NOT HIT REFRESH ON THE CONTRACT SELECTION SCREEN! That will kick you out. You simply select to borrow points and then click cancel on the borrow points window, and your points will refresh.

Is there any way to check and see how many rooms are booked at a given time, besides the Resort Availability Tool?

Nope, there's no way to check. You just have to book one room and then see if anohter is still available.

 

[disneyberry]

DO NOT HIT REFRESH ON THE CONTRACT SELECTION SCREEN! That will kick you out. You simply select to borrow points and then click cancel on the borrow points window, and your points will refresh.

Prior to Poly being added to the reservation system, hitting refresh on the contract selection screen never kicked me out. It doesn't always kick me out nowadays either.

I guess the borrow points method is the newer way to do this? I learned the refresh method years ago but have been out of the loop.

 

[buzzrelly]

So let me get this straight, To change my existing reservation, I'd have to cancel the current registration. Since those points were not borrowed, they just revert to regular points? Even though they should be banked by July 31st (for my December use year)?? I think I am more confused now than I was! So those 83 points will be available for immediate use upon canceling the first reservation?

 

[supersnoop]

So let me get this straight, To change my existing reservation, I'd have to cancel the current registration. Since those points were not borrowed, they just revert to regular points? Even though they should be banked by July 31st (for my December use year)?? I think I am more confused now than I was! So those 83 points will be available for immediate use upon canceling the first reservation?

That's all correct, though I'm not sure why you mentioned your banking deadline. Do you have a question or concert about that?

 

[buzzrelly]

That's all correct, though I'm not sure why you mentioned your banking deadline. Do you have a question or concert about that?

I don't know! Ack! Maybe I am overthinking this, but what happens if you cancel a reservation after the banking deadline? I'm sorry, but this whole thing has me totally confused. I appreciate everyone's help so far

 

[supersnoop]

I don't know! Ack! Maybe I am overthinking this, but what happens if you cancel a reservation after the banking deadline? I'm sorry, but this whole thing has me totally confused. I appreciate everyone's help so far

If you cancel a reservation after the banking deadline, then you'll need to use (or lose) those points by the end of your use year. That's one reason why we recommend travelling in the first part of your use year; so you still have plenty of time to use or bank your points.

 

[LisaS]

So let me get this straight, To change my existing reservation, I'd have to cancel the current registration. Since those points were not borrowed, they just revert to regular points? Even though they should be banked by July 31st (for my December use year)?? I think I am more confused now than I was! So those 83 points will be available for immediate use upon canceling the first reservation?

Points do not automatically bank themselves. If you cancel a reservation using current UY points after the banking deadline for those points (but more than 30 days before check-in), they simply go back into your account as current UY points. If you cancel a reservation 30 days or less from check in, the points go into the Holding account and can only be used to book something within 60 days of check-in.

If you cancel a reservation that used banked or borrowed points, those points would go back into the UY into which they were banked or borrowed, which would be the UY into which your reservation falls. They don't go back to their original UY because banking and borrowing are final transactions that cannot be undone. Again, if you cancel 30 days or less from check in, those banked/borrowed points go into the Holding account.

So in your situation, when you cancel your existing reservation, all of the points used for that reservation go back into your account, into the UY into which your reservation falls. When you make your new reservation, you just re-use the points from the cancelled reservation for the new one.

Just be careful if you ever do this to book a cheaper resort/room type than the one you originally had booked. If you do this 30 days or less from check in, you will be left with Holding points that can only be used to book something 60 days or less from check in. If you do it more than 30 days from check in but after your banking deadline, you cannot bank the points that will be left over.

 

[buzzrelly]

Thanks everyone! I think I get it now…I'll be stressing for the next 4 months about it, but I get it