Question about making ressies?

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

I have a question that I hope I can get out so that it makes sense so please bear with me.

The other day, when I was changing my address through MS the lady noted that I had some points that were going to expire and that I could still bank 25% of my points by November 30th. Did I want to go ahead and bank them while I was on the phone with her?
Naively I said to her, "Well I was hoping to use them before they expired. I know it's last minute but I'm trying to talk DH into bringing me down for the holidays."
To which the MS lady says, "Oh, you'll not get anything now. Everything is booked. A little while ago I was trying to help a lady with the Disney Collection and we have nothing so, you'll not be able to get anything."
So I said to her, "Oh, that's a bummer. How about in January? Will you have anything in January?"
And she said, "Well, not the first week. Maybe the second week but then there's the MLK holiday and you won't get anything then."

Needless to say, I was on the road doing all of this and I was trying to drive and I could not concentrate on my conversation with her or what to do with my points and drive in a new town so I said I'd have to call her back.

So, to make a long story/question short. . . Just for kicks and giggles I was wondering, Could you call MS in the morning at say 9:00am and they not have anything but call in at say 1:00pm and then they have a room?

I know it's bad timing/planning on my part. We sold our house this year and made a long distance move and things have just been plain crazy to say the least but I'd really like to get a trip in before those points expire.

I'm just wondering the best way to go about getting any room at the WDW resort. Of course, part of me says, if they're THIS packed do I really want to be there and what happened? I mean I know December is a popular time with DVCer's as we usually always go in December and I'm usually a better planner and it's generally not what I would call crowded by a long shot. What really threw me was when she said nothing even in the Disney Collection.

Anyway, just wondering if it would be worth calling MSs a couple times a day to try and snag some ressies.

Hope this made sense.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and thanks for your time in responding.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

It's always worth trying to call. People cancel .. openenings show up.

 

[Plutofan]

You never know if something may open up so it is always worth the chance. Remember that there is a waitlist up to 7 days before that gets filled first prior to a call in. At 7 days out you may have some luck since there is no waitlist. Also from my understanding at 60 days out inventory is available to be sold by Disney so that may make it tougher to get a room on points.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Thank you for your replies.

I called MS early this morning and a very nice customer service rep helped me to locate a studio at Saratoga Springs Resort. I had 76 points left and if I had banked them at the 50% timeline I could have banked 75 w/ one remaining. But with all of the moving and such I missed that date.
Anyway, she was kind enough to check availability for me (which is more than the other person did ) and as I said, we'll be staying at SSR for 75 points and she banked my one remaining point into next year. She was just so helpful. Can we call or write to MS telling them about a great experience? I'd really like to commend her for helping me.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[JimMIA]

You may want to try the strategy we use to avoid losing points.

As we approach our 100% banking deadline, I take a look and see where we are. We usually have <50% of the points left, so the 100% deadline is a non-event for us...but I check anyway.

Nearing the 50% deadline, I check again. At that point, we usually have >25% of our points left, so I get ready to bank. I usually bank whatever we have before the 50% deadline. I know I could bank some then and then bank the rest prior to the 25% deadline, but it's only another month and I like to get banking out of the way.

Then...if we decide to take any short-notice trips late in the Use Year, we just borrow from next year. We know we can't unborrow, but if we're making a trip like that we know we're not going to be cancelling.

So far, we have not faced a situation of potentially losing points, and the banking/borrowing strategy has been easy for us to use.

 

[FLYNZ4]

You may want to try the strategy we use to avoid losing points.

Jim,

We pretty much do the same thing... except that I usually bank everything left over at the 100% banking point... and then borrow if necessary for the rest of the year. Part of the reason is because there have been years when I banked more than 50% of my points. You have a good approach.

/Jim