Questions about combining cash and points

[Mike]

Hi All,
I have a question about paying cash for weekends and points during the week. I have my first trip Home planned for July. We currently have reservations for Sun-Thur (7/24 -7/28) in a 1BR in OKW and for Sun-Thur (7/31 - 8/4) in a 1 BR at BCV. We are still weighing our options for Fri and Sat night (7/29 & 7/30). At first I'd thought we'd move out to a moderate or the Swan, but now I am considering using cash to stay at OKW for those two nights. My questions are:

1) How likely is it that member discount rooms will be available?

2) When can I call MS to book it?

3) If I get the reservations linked will I have to change rooms? Will I have to check-out and then Check-in again?

4) If I have linked reservations and then AP rates come out that offer a better discount, will I be able to cancel just the 2 cash nights or will I have to cancel the entire reservation and then try to re-book the points portion?

5) If we have guests that decide to join us and use rented points for their stay, will I be able to book a discounted room for them as well for Fri and Sat or is it just one room per member?

Thanks!

 

[Scoootch]

Hi All,
I have a question about paying cash for weekends and points during the week. I have my first trip Home planned for July. We currently have reservations for Sun-Thur (7/24 -7/28) in a 1BR in OKW and for Sun-Thur (7/31 - 8/4) in a 1 BR at BCV. We are still weighing our options for Fri and Sat night (7/29 & 7/30). At first I'd thought we'd move out to a moderate or the Swan, but now I am considering using cash to stay at OKW for those two nights. My questions are:

1) How likely is it that member discount rooms will be available?[Quote/]
I'd think you'd have a good chance at it being available since many of the members do tend to move out on the weekends to save points and it's not the busiest week of the year your looking at.

2)when can I call MS to book it? [Quote/]

MS generally will have the rooms available 2-3 mos out. They will make them available for cash about the same time they realease the extra rooms to CRO - they realease those rooms they feel they won't get booked with points about 2-3 months out or so. So you can call whenever but expect them to actually be available anywhere from 4 months on if I had to guess. One thing I did notice is that the closer to the date - the less they want for the room to just get it booked I guess.

3) If I get the reservations linked will I have to change rooms? Will I have to check-out and then Check-in again?
[Quote/]
if you book with the member discount through MS then no, they'll link the ressies and you won't have to check in and out or move. If you book through CRO then they will make notes if you let them know you have a DVC ressie but won't guarentee anything -- chances are you will have to check in and out and get new keys and they won't make you move but you'll almost definetly have to check in and out and may have to move too - ya never know. It all kind of depends on if the CRO rate is saving you enough $$ vs. the MS discount rate and not having to move as to which is more worth it.

4) If I have linked reservations and then AP rates come out that offer a better discount, will I be able to cancel just the 2 cash nights or will I have to cancel the entire reservation and then try to re-book the points portion?
[Quote/]

the cash nights are booked on a separate ressie that they link to the points ressie so you should be able to just cancel the cash nights - they let you cancel up to 5days prior. So no need to have to rebook your points ressie, it should stay in tact

5) If we have guests that decide to join us and use rented points for their stay, will I be able to book a discounted room for them as well for Fri and Sat or is it just one room per member?

Thanks!

- As I understand it, the member is suppossed to be actually staying in the room in order to get the cash discount sooo...if you can get a big enough villa for all of you for those nights that would work, but I don't think they'll let you book a separate room for them and another for you. I guess it's one per customer and you'd have to be staying in the room booked. That's for MS cash discount ressies -- CRO on the other hand will let you book up to 3 separate rooms with one AP if it's an AP discount rate.

HTH's - let us know how you make out.

 

[spiceycat]

1) I don't think there is a way to tell

2) I would try now

3) depends - most of the time when they link a reservation you can stay in the same room - make sure when you check in that the front desk is aware of all the reservations.

4)You points don't have anything to do with the cash. So yes you can easily cancel your cash reservation without it effecting your points.

5) using the DVC member discount - the member must be in the room - so no - however using the AP discount you can get 3 might be 6 rooms at a time.

 

[Dean]

Hi All,
I have a question about paying cash for weekends and points during the week. I have my first trip Home planned for July. We currently have reservations for Sun-Thur (7/24 -7/28) in a 1BR in OKW and for Sun-Thur (7/31 - 8/4) in a 1 BR at BCV. We are still weighing our options for Fri and Sat night (7/29 & 7/30). At first I'd thought we'd move out to a moderate or the Swan, but now I am considering using cash to stay at OKW for those two nights. My questions are:

1) How likely is it that member discount rooms will be available?

2) When can I call MS to book it?

3) If I get the reservations linked will I have to change rooms? Will I have to check-out and then Check-in again?

4) If I have linked reservations and then AP rates come out that offer a better discount, will I be able to cancel just the 2 cash nights or will I have to cancel the entire reservation and then try to re-book the points portion?

5) If we have guests that decide to join us and use rented points for their stay, will I be able to book a discounted room for them as well for Fri and Sat or is it just one room per member?

Thanks!

1. It depends on the demand for what you want, I'd say generally low chance of getting what you want. The member MUST be staying in the unit to get the discount.

2. Theoretically at 11 months out though it's frequently less than 6-7 months before they have availability at times and even far less some of the time. All you can do is try and keep trying.

3. Not if it's all booked through MS and is the same exact unit type and resort. Maybe for CRO reservations.

4. Technically a cash reservations through MS and a points one are separate so you could change or cancel one without affecting the other. What can be difficult is to change days in the middle of a reservation. Say you have 5 days on points and want to change a middle day or you have 3 days on cash and want to change the middle day, it can be a problem but usually works out.

5. No, you must be in the room to get the discount. Assuming you have cash for both units for the same night, I doubt you'll be able to do it. Still, DVC and Disney in general tend to be slack about even the most obvious of rules, all you can do is ask MS and see what they say. You can also book through CRO without limitations but might have to change rooms.