Question about moving a reservation at the 7 month window... UPDATE - SCORE!!!

[HannaBelle]

We are BLT owners and I am planning a trip for our extended family for spring break 2013. We currently have reservations at BLT for March 9 to March 16.
My plan is to move everyone from BLT to the VGC on August 9th. We currently have 3 two bedrooms and 1 one bedroom booked at BLT. We want to go to DL, but booked BLT as a “back up” reservation since our schedule is not flexible.

It is my understanding that we will need to call member services at the moment they open on August 9th to attempt to move the reservations. They will cancel the BLT room, put the points back into our account and then make the new reservation. We do not have enough points to book 4 new rooms unless they cancel the current reservation.

If they confirm that they have VGC rooms and “grab one” to make the new reservation, is that room “ours” while they take the time to complete the reservation? Hopefully I am asking this clearly, but I am concerned that in the time that CS agent confirms availability and then goes through all of the paperwork that someone else might get the room b/c the CS agent they are speaking with is faster.

Any experience with this?

I have written explicit instructions for each family to move their ressies, but I am a nervous wreck!!! (Read: I am a control freak and do 98% of our planning, but I want 4 members dialing the phone at 7:59:55 AM CST to move these reservations at the same time.)

I would do it all on the 8th for an arrival on the 8th and then cancel/add 1 day on the 9th , but we do not have enough points to book 2 weekend nights at VGC. We are tapped out for three years with this trip!

 

[k3chantal]

We are BLT owners and I am planning a trip for our extended family for spring break 2013. We currently have reservations at BLT for March 9 to March 16.
My plan is to move everyone from BLT to the VGC on August 9th. We currently have 3 two bedrooms and 1 one bedroom booked at BLT. We want to go to DL, but booked BLT as a “back up” reservation since our schedule is not flexible.

It is my understanding that we will need to call member services at the moment they open on August 9th to attempt to move the reservations. They will cancel the BLT room, put the points back into our account and then make the new reservation. We do not have enough points to book 4 new rooms unless they cancel the current reservation.

If they confirm that they have VGC rooms and “grab one” to make the new reservation, is that room “ours” while they take the time to complete the reservation? Hopefully I am asking this clearly, but I am concerned that in the time that CS agent confirms availability and then goes through all of the paperwork that someone else might get the room b/c the CS agent they are speaking with is faster.

Any experience with this?

I have written explicit instructions for each family to move their ressies, but I am a nervous wreck!!! (Read: I am a control freak and do 98% of our planning, but I want 4 members dialing the phone at 7:59:55 AM CST to move these reservations at the same time.)

I would do it all on the 8th for an arrival on the 8th and then cancel/add 1 day on the 9th , but we do not have enough points to book 2 weekend nights at VGC. We are tapped out for three years with this trip!

Yikes! I am nervous for you. VGC is a small resort. I think you will be extremely lucky for all parties to get what you want. The last time we went to VGC, all we could get was a studio. Thankfully, our youngest was 8 months old and didn't 'count' for the amount of people in the room. But, space was tight!

 

[Sandisw]

Yes..they should be able to do that..at least they told me that is what they are doing.. However I would confirm that you want to be sure you are not at risk. I think you biggest problem is getting more than one room. My suggestion is to just have them book the vgc rooms with one name and then once booked go back and add guests, just so you don't waste time.

 

[HannaBelle]

TY both for the quick replies! I am so nervous about this move b/c of the number of rooms, but we really want to go to DL so we are going to give it a try…

I will definitely tell everyone to book under one name, thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I hope you get what you want, but I'm afraid that someone is going to be disappointed. I think you are talking about 9% of the total villas for Spring Break at seven months (there are only 23 dedicated and 23 lock off two bedroom villas, 0 dedicated one bedroom villas). And that is based on 100% vacancy when you call.

And if you move your reservation and the others can't, what will you do? Will you need to try to get it back? You might be too late to get it back.

I'd stick with BLT this year and try to do a smaller trip for just your immediately family another time.

 

[cvjw]

Yikes - I would be extremely nervous trying to do this. I don't think that MS can hold more than one room at a time, so getting 4 villas at GCV at 7 months for spring break would be a miracle. I think that you might get 1 or 2, but then you would be split between BLT and GCV - with no availability left a either to switch back. When reading your post, I think that you are going to let all of your family call at the same time at the 7 month window. Are you sure that 4 different MS agents can work in your account at the same time? I would think that your account could only be opened by one CM at a time.

 

[maburke]

Question: are you talking about 4 different memberships, or 4 people calling about 4 rooms on the same membership? I think PP's indicate that the second situation could be problematic. The first is unlikely to have everything you want, but the second might be simply not doable.

Another question: Could some people could stay at other hotels at DL on the points? There might be more chance of that, and then you're not dealing with people with reservations on both coasts.

 

[maburke]

Oh, and could you book online? I think that opens an hour earlier than the phone lines. You could also have multiple computers (maybe even in one location) doing the same thing, and you'd be able to communicate with each other more easily.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

 

[Dean]

TY both for the quick replies! I am so nervous about this move b/c of the number of rooms, but we really want to go to DL so we are going to give it a try…

I will definitely tell everyone to book under one name, thanks!

I think your chances of getting 4 GCV at 7 months out for a higher demand time is about zero and your chances of losing part of your reservations and still being unsuccessful is fairly high. For those room needs I would not even chance it. My suggestion is to change your plans and go to GCV at a time when you only need one unit, preferably a smaller one.

 

[Pirate Granny]

One, each time I've called at the 7 month THIS year, they were very firm that I understood that someone else could snag the room while she was canceling my current reservation. They could NOT hold the room I wanted and was available while doing that. Maybe others got a more understand CM but it was 4 different times with 4 different CM, same info.

Two, GCV is a very small resort, I doubt if those rooms are available now, let alone at 7 months. Four rooms ??? I would plan to be going to BLT. Actually, if only a few rooms change, you most likely wouldn't gat back in at BLT...did you check to see what is available today for your dates at BLT?

But perhaps spring break out west are at different weeks? When is Easter in 2013? Can you combine into three rooms? two rooms? May be a better chance, I don't give four rooms any chance from what we've read on the boards about availability at GCV.

 

[hjgaus]

MY OPINON IS (being that I AM a VGC owner but have also booked @ 7 months out) that you SHOULD try calling it in on the day you are allowed to call because you MAY have a better chance of getting the rooms you seek when asking for EARLIER DATES weeks BEFORE & AFTER Spring Break. I also will attempt to do an add on to my Spring Break stay @ the 7 month mark. So good luck to you!

 

[WsPrincess]

I think I am with others and I would be a complete wreck with this. If you have 4 people calling, what happens in 2 gets rooms and 2 don't? How will you know how gets what and what to do? By then the BLT reservations might be gone already. Good luck

 

[HannaBelle]

TY for all of the responses! I know it is super risky and that is why we opted to book BLT as a back-up.

We have 6 adults on 1 membership. We bought 6 smaller contracts that we all own jointly. I know a lot of people are not in favor of this, but it works for us.

Everyone is fully aware of the risks and we are going give it a try! I have asked member services (more than once) if we can have 4 members on the phone at the same time and every person said yes we can. They will be able to make the changes simultaneously.

All of that being said, we will not attempt to make the changes unless there are more rooms than we need. I will update on the 9th!

 

[HannaBelle]

Okay my DVC friends, I got all 4 rooms!!! I am so excited I cannot stand it!!! I spoke with Carl @ MS and he was absolutely wonderful. I did "cheat" a bit and booked for Friday arrival. My nerves could not take waiting one more day. I will have to call back tomorrow and cancel Friday night and add Wednesday night.

We will fly from DFW into LAX on Saturday, stay at the VGC Saturday to Thursday, drive to San Diego, stay Thursday to Sunday and then fly home from San Diego to DFW on Sunday. Let the planning begin!!!

 

[disneynutz]

Okay my DVC friends, I got all 4 rooms!!! I am so excited I cannot stand it!!! I spoke with Carl @ MS and he was absolutely wonderful. I did "cheat" a bit and booked for Friday arrival. My nerves could not take waiting one more day. I will have to call back tomorrow and cancel Friday night and add Wednesday night.

We will fly from DFW into LAX on Saturday, stay at the VGC Saturday to Thursday, drive to San Diego, stay Thursday to Sunday and then fly home from San Diego to DFW on Sunday. Let the planning begin!!!

Congratulations, you should run out and buy a lotto ticket ASAP.

Have a wonderful vacation.

Bill

 

[k3chantal]

Thrilled for you. I was honestly very worried about this working out so I am so happy it did.

 

[hjgaus]

YES!!! THAT"S AWESOME!!! I've been silently checkin for you was well!! I KNEW you had a GREAT shot at this!!! You are going at a good time! I wish my son did not have so many HS band commitments in early March or I would have made ressies at that time as well! YEAH FOR YOU!!! HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!!!

 

[NC State Tigger]

Congratulations, you should run out and buy a lotto ticket ASAP.

Have a wonderful vacation.

Bill

NO --- send me 6 numbers between 1 and 48 and let me go buy a lotto ticket. I'll pay for the ticket, but with your luck I'd like you to pick the numbers!!!!

Congratulations, have a great trip!

 

[HannaBelle]

TY everyone! I could not be happier. There are still rooms of all types left, so that is encouraging. I can definitely exhale and relax... I might buy that lottery ticket though!

hjgaus, I appreciate the encouragement! I thought you might have had some inside information.

 

[hjgaus]

HanaBelle - glad I could help just a little bit! Enjoy your trip to Southern California or what us locals call "So Cal"!! It's gonna be FUN!!!!