Question about making and changing reservations

[cmoore]

We've been DVC members for about 2 years now but until now have only used our points for Interval International, Concierge, and Disney Collection. Next year we'd like to do our first "real" DVC trip to WDW.

We own at Saratoga Springs, but we're thinking we'd like to try for
one of the other resorts, maybe Beach Club. We're planning to book
a 2 BR for 2 weeks in July of 2008.

I get the impression that "the way to do it" is to book at our home resort
11 months out - that way we're guaranteed we have a booking. Then,
at the 7 month mark, we can see about getting a different resort. Is
that true? Is there any cost or penalty to switch a reservation from
one resort to another?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Chris

 

[disneynutz]

We've been DVC members for about 2 years now but until now have only used our points for Interval International, Concierge, and Disney Collection. Next year we'd like to do our first "real" DVC trip to WDW.

We own at Saratoga Springs, but we're thinking we'd like to try for
one of the other resorts, maybe Beach Club. We're planning to book
a 2 BR for 2 weeks in July of 2008.

I get the impression that "the way to do it" is to book at our home resort
11 months out - that way we're guaranteed we have a booking. Then,
at the 7 month mark, we can see about getting a different resort. Is
that true? Is there any cost or penalty to switch a reservation from
one resort to another?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Chris

That would work. Be careful, make sure that the BCV is booked b4 you cancel SSR. There is no cost or penalty.

 

[cmoore]

Hmm...to book BCV first, then cancel SSR, wouldn't we need to have enough points for 4 weeks? We don't have that. I would think that they could look at BCV and tell us if it's available. Then, if it is, cancel SSR and book BCV. There'd be a small chance that someone else could get the last available BCV villa during the short time in between, but I wouldn't think that would be likely. Or am I missing something?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[disneynutz]

Hmm...to book BCV first, then cancel SSR, wouldn't we need to have enough points for 4 weeks? We don't have that. I would think that they could look at BCV and tell us if it's available. Then, if it is, cancel SSR and book BCV. There'd be a small chance that someone else could get the last available BCV villa during the short time in between, but I wouldn't think that would be likely. Or am I missing something?

Thanks,

Chris

There have been several incidences reported and I have had it happen to us where the BCV availability is snatched up by someone else. BCV is verified as available and while your slow and methodical CM is switching your reservation, poof. The CM comes back on the line with oops, BCV is gone. My reply was put me back at SSR, their reply, nothing seems to be available. We ended up staying on cash for the missing days. Another time we transfered points with another member to get the 11 month booking window.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Ask how many BCV villas of the type you want are available, and then make your decision. Perhaps you can borrow for the BCV, and then bank the SSR if you are still in the banking part of the year. Or go a day at a time.

We have lost both ressies during a transaction when I was trying to change from BWV studio to a garden view inn room at VB that I was told was available. It took 3 months to get things straightened out...we wound up in an OV inn room, but this issue was finally resolved the Friday before the trip began on Sunday! I would not want to go through that again.

Bobbi