question about holding points

[PatMcDuck]

For the first time, as a long time DVC owner (18 years or so), I have points in holding.

OK, so I have to wait until 60 days out of my next trip, to use these. This date is coming up next week for me.

What do I have to do to use these?? Once the date comes up, 60 days out, can I just go online at 8 am and book the one night I need? Or do I have to call at 9 am??

Thanks all!

 

[disneynutz]

You should be able to book online. Holding points show up under your accounts point summary.

Bill

 

[maburke]

Please post here about how it goes, though. It would be good to know if there are any strange subtleties o using holding points online.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Well, I have nothing to lose, trying to do it online before 9 am, so I will go for it.

So far, the room I want is still available, a Saturday night.

 

[erionm]

I booked a room on-line on 1/6 using holding points with no problem.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Great, I would rather do it online before 9 am.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Hypothetical.....if you had points in holding could you book with other points ahead of the 60 days, and when you get within 60 days can MS switch to use the holding points? Or is that not allowed?

 

[tripletsmama]

Hypothetical.....if you had points in holding could you book with other points ahead of the 60 days, and when you get within 60 days can MS switch to use the holding points? Or is that not allowed?

I am waiting to find this out too. If they say no, couldn't you just cancel and re book? There would be a risk of losing the room, but we have a back up for the night we are using the holding points for anyway.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hypothetical.....if you had points in holding could you book with other points ahead of the 60 days, and when you get within 60 days can MS switch to use the holding points? Or is that not allowed?

Nope. Not unless the same room type were still available for booking at 60 days. Otherwise it's circumventing the restriction and they might as well not have it to start with.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Nope. Not unless the same room type were still available for booking at 60 days. Otherwise it's circumventing the restriction and they might as well not have it to start with.

That's what I thought, I just wanted to know. But can you cancel and rebook? Or will they not do that? I would think if you canceled online, and (depending upon the mystery we call waitlist) rebooked if it was still available, I would think the online system would do that......as long as the reservation didn't get filled in that time after canceling. Hopefully I will never have to have points in holding, but it's always good to know.

 

[LisaS]

That's what I thought, I just wanted to know. But can you cancel and rebook? Or will they not do that? I would think if you canceled online, and (depending upon the mystery we call waitlist) rebooked if it was still available, I would think the online system would do that......as long as the reservation didn't get filled in that time after canceling. Hopefully I will never have to have points in holding, but it's always good to know.

There are no rules against cancelling a reservation and trying to rebook it using holding points. As you pointed out, someone else could grab some or all of those nights before you manage to rebook.

 

[myxdvz]

There are no rules against cancelling a reservation and trying to rebook it using holding points. As you pointed out, someone else could grab some or all of those nights before you manage to rebook.

So then rebook first using the holding points and if successful Cancel your older reservation. That way you won't lose the available room while you were canceling the old ressie.

 

[LisaS]

So then rebook first using the holding points and if successful Cancel your older reservation. That way you won't lose the available room while you were canceling the old ressie.

If there are rooms still available then yes, make a new reservation with the holding points first, then cancel the existing reservation. I thought luckyman_apd was asking if there were any rules against using strategies in anticipation of no availability 60 days out. In other words, grab something when it is available and then at 60 days out (when there is likely nothing left) try to release it and quickly grab it back using the holding points.

There are no rules against this approach, just a risk of not getting the reservation back again if that room type is not available at that time.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I thought about trying to book the room (its only one night) now and trying to get it switched later, but not even an option for me, not enough points.

I am not too concerned, the view I want is still available, as are all other views, so worst case, I book a different view, and have to switch rooms (same resort). I would wait list the desired view too, of course. If I get the same view, will call MS and try to link the one night with my other 5 nights.

Just want to get it settled, approaching 60 days out....

 

[luckyman_apd]

If there are rooms still available then yes, make a new reservation with the holding points first, then cancel the existing reservation. I thought luckyman_apd was asking if there were any rules against using strategies in anticipation of no availability 60 days out. In other words, grab something when it is available and then at 60 days out (when there is likely nothing left) try to release it and quickly grab it back using the holding points.

There are no rules against this approach, just a risk of not getting the reservation back again if that room type is not available at that time.

That is was I was asking. I'm not looking to circumvent. I'm just making sure I know what the rules are if I ever am in that situation. That's all.

I know there have been many questions regarding how the wait list actually works. Would be a good test to see of the wait list grabs it. Especially if its tried online when MS phone hours are closed.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That is was I was asking. I'm not looking to circumvent. I'm just making sure I know what the rules are if I ever am in that situation. That's all.

I know there have been many questions regarding how the wait list actually works. Would be a good test to see of the wait list grabs it. Especially if its tried online when MS phone hours are closed.

I think the waitlist may fill quicker than some thought. In Nov I cancelled a couple of GCV nights right at 31 days - in the evening (like 9 or 10 PM) Pacific time. Out of curiosity I checked immediately if those nights were available and only 1 of the 2 were. Neither had been available prior to my cancellation.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Followup: Today was my 60 day mark to use my holding points. I went in a little before 8 am, to get into the site and to the correct page.

AND, the new site was up, and it is very confusing. It showed my points still in holding, even after 8 am, and I could not even find the correct page to book online. I was looking all over for it, but kept getting sent back to the same page. I was FREAKIN'.

I then looked at my browser history, and went into an old link, and tHAT took me to the booking page (I was looking last night at availability). I got my room, 1 BR Villa, BWV, BW view. I will call later to link it to my other 5 nights. No changing rooms! (assuming it can be linked)

The opening page of the new site still shows my points in holding.

 

[tripletsmama]

Thanks for reporting back. So glad you got your room.