Rescheduling DVC due to COVID

[sagosto]

We purchased DVC April 2021 and cancelled 2 trips due to may wife's gallbladder surgery and COVID. We are scheduled for Riviera on Friday for 9 days (Used 200 points from UY 2020 and 4 from UY 2021) but I am just getting over COVID and my wife is starting to see symptoms (Test is negative so far but she sees a 'faint' line on the home test... But, the boss is always right). We have a few options:

1) Fly out early next week and lose time -- Do I have to eat those points?
2) Reschedule but Riviera is completely booked ALL summer -- Should I beg DVC and explain I still haven't used Welcome Home?

I am trying to think of options but I can't simply lift and shift a few weeks EVEN if it was available as dining wouldn't be available for the kids.

 

[Sandisw]

At this point, all you can do is modify your trip to arrive later, as long as it is done by tomorrow, but those points will go into holding. You may get them to waive that aspect for you, so you won't be limited to booking only 60 days or less out to move the trip.

In terms of banked 2020 points, those will expire at the end of the UY (you don't mention which month you have)....so they will be use or lose no matter what you do.

I am sorry that things are not working out for you. Last minute changes are hard and when using banked points, it can be even harder.

 

[sagosto]

At this point, all you can do is modify your trip to arrive later, as long as it is done by tomorrow, but those points will go into holding. You may get them to waive that aspect for you, so you won't be limited to booking only 60 days or less out to move the trip.

In terms of banked 2020 points, those will expire at the end of the UY (you don't mention which month you have)....so they will be use or lose no matter what you do.

I am sorry that things are not working out for you. Last minute changes are hard and when using banked points, it can be even harder.

Our UY is 2020. I am not sure why but points/UY/etc. just doesn't work in my head. Reminds me of Genie+ where they tried to make some 'easy' and made it complicated.

Define "by tomorrow"? Thursday 11:59PM EST? What time zone?

If we use less than 200 points when we do end up going, I lose the remainder?

If we modify the trip from Friday to Monday, do I lose those points? They would go into holding which I wouldn't be able to use anyhow as we don't plan to go again this year.

 

[Sandisw]

Our UY is 2020. I am not sure why but points/UY/etc. just doesn't work in my head. Reminds me of Genie+ where they tried to make some 'easy' and made it complicated.

Define "by tomorrow"? Thursday 11:59PM EST? What time zone?

If we use less than 200 points when we do end up going, I lose the remainder?

If we modify the trip from Friday to Monday, do I lose those points? They would go into holding which I wouldn't be able to use anyhow as we don't plan to go again this year.

But what is your actual UY? I have 3...June, Aug, and Dec. That will determine when those banked 2020 UY points expire.

You must modify a trip or cancel it at least the day before check in in order to salvage any points. Once the day of check in comes, all points are used. So, at some point tomorrow. Not sure what time the online system would prevent a modification, but I would do it before MS closes at 9 pm, in case you have an issue, and can at least talk to someone.

Once Friday comes, all points from the reservation will be used. Now, MS could make an exception for you and allow modification starting Friday, but that is a rare exception as is removing holding penalty that results from changing or canceling a trip within 31 days of arrival.

The bigger problem is that you have banked points and those can not be extended so regardless, they have to be used before the end of the 2021 UY. If you share your UY month, I can guide you to when that is.

Unfortunately, there are no great options at this time. The best one is probably to just go at the beginning of the week for a shorter trip.

 

[vicarrieous]

We purchased DVC April 2021 and cancelled 2 trips due to may wife's gallbladder surgery and COVID. We are scheduled for Riviera on Friday for 9 days (Used 200 points from UY 2020 and 4 from UY 2021) but I am just getting over COVID and my wife is starting to see symptoms (Test is negative so far but she sees a 'faint' line on the home test... But, the boss is always right). We have a few options:

1) Fly out early next week and lose time -- Do I have to eat those points?
2) Reschedule but Riviera is completely booked ALL summer -- Should I beg DVC and explain I still haven't used Welcome Home?

I am trying to think of options but I can't simply lift and shift a few weeks EVEN if it was available as dining wouldn't be available for the kids.

Sorry to hear this. Just fyi a faint line is a positive no matter how faint. Maybe she can get a PCR if there is question between whether or not you see a line.

What is your UY? If you modify or cancel your trip your points will go into holding. Unfortunately the "Welcome Home" thing really isn't anything. It doesn't hurt to call and see if they will make an exception, but I would not count on it. Best of luck and hope recovery goes well.

 

[sagosto]

But what is your actual UY? I have 3...June, Aug, and Dec. That will determine when those banked 2020 UY points expire.

You must modify a trip or cancel it at least the day before check in in order to salvage any points. Once the day of check in comes, all points are used. So, at some point tomorrow. Not sure what time the online system would prevent a modification, but I would do it before MS closes at 9 pm, in case you have an issue, and can at least talk to someone.

Once Friday comes, all points from the reservation will be used. Now, MS could make an exception for you and allow modification starting Friday, but that is a rare exception as is removing holding penalty that results from changing or canceling a trip within 31 days of arrival.

The bigger problem is that you have banked points and those can not be extended so regardless, they have to be used before the end of the 2021 UY. If you share your UY month, I can guide you to when that is.

Unfortunately, there are no great options at this time. The best one is probably to just go at the beginning of the week for a shorter trip.

Sorry! Typo. UY is October 1st.

 

[vicarrieous]

But what is your actual UY? I have 3...June, Aug, and Dec. That will determine when those banked 2020 UY points expire.

You must modify a trip or cancel it at least the day before check in in order to salvage any points. Once the day of check in comes, all points are used. So, at some point tomorrow. Not sure what time the online system would prevent a modification, but I would do it before MS closes at 9 pm, in case you have an issue, and can at least talk to someone.

Once Friday comes, all points from the reservation will be used. Now, MS could make an exception for you and allow modification starting Friday, but that is a rare exception as is removing holding penalty that results from changing or canceling a trip within 31 days of arrival.

The bigger problem is that you have banked points and those can not be extended so regardless, they have to be used before the end of the 2021 UY. If you share your UY month, I can guide you to when that is.

Unfortunately, there are no great options at this time. The best one is probably to just go at the beginning of the week for a shorter trip.

All of this! But if your wife is positive, that will blow most if not all of your trip.

 

[Sandisw]

Sorry! Typo. UY is October 1st.

With an Oct UY, that means you have to use all of those banked 2020 UY points by October 1st. If you can get MS to waive the holding penalty...and with the concern of COVID, they may do that...at least you can still bank the 4 points from 2021 UY you have in the reservation as your banking window doesn't end until the end of the month.

Basically, you would have to reschedule the trip between now and September to not lose the 200 points that were banked from 2020 into your 2021 UY.

 

[DeeBee3]

You need to get on the phone ASAP. I know it's a tremendous wait, but just keep it on speaker and do the rest of your work while waiting. That's a lot of points to lose. Your wife sounds positive so you wouldn't want to go anyway. It's gonna take you another 2 weeks to get back to normal.

 

[sagosto]

Sorry to hear this. Just fyi a faint line is a positive no matter how faint. Maybe she can get a PCR if there is question between whether or not you see a line.

What is your UY? If you modify or cancel your trip your points will go into holding. Unfortunately the "Welcome Home" thing really isn't anything. It doesn't hurt to call and see if they will make an exception, but I would not count on it. Best of luck and hope recovery goes well.

I don't see a "faint line" or anything at all. The boss says she does but she is usually right. We shall see. I am hoping it's just nerves as I am feeling good and things could all work out lovely if she stays healthy.

 

[kboo]

At this point, all you can do is modify your trip to arrive later, as long as it is done by tomorrow, but those points will go into holding. You may get them to waive that aspect for you, so you won't be limited to booking only 60 days or less out to move the trip.

I would definitely call MS and talk to them - and also check CDC guidelines, I think they have shortened the recommended isolation time and you may be able to only lop a few days off the beginning of your trip and still have a decently long trip. (NOT inviting a debate about isolation, CDC or covid!) We had to cut our trip short (at the end of the trip) and the points got put back into our account, not in holding and I think we were able to bank them.

 

[kboo]

2) Reschedule but Riviera is completely booked ALL summer -- Should I beg DVC and explain I still haven't used Welcome Home?

I had not seen this the first time, but they may be able to do that as well, given the circumstances. But definitely CALL. Good luck!!

 

[Sandisw]

I would definitely call MS and talk to them - and also check CDC guidelines, I think they have shortened the recommended isolation time and you may be able to only lop a few days off the beginning of your trip and still have a decently long trip. (NOT inviting a debate about isolation, CDC or covid!) We had to cut our trip short (at the end of the trip) and the points got put back into our account, not in holding and I think we were able to bank them.

Definitely and the removal of holding points may very well be granted. But 200 of these points have already been banked and DVC is no longer giving owners their points to replace banked points. That ended quite a long time ago. Plenty of reports of people having lost out on a welcome home booking and not getting that benefit again, since the whole purpose is just to help new owners secure first trip when buying after the booking windows have begun.

 

[kboo]

Definitely and the removal of holding points may very well be granted. But these are banked points and DVC is no longer giving owners their points to replace banked points. Plenty of reports of people having lost out on a welcome home booking and not getting that benefit again, since the whole purpose is just to help new owners secure first trip when buying after the booking windows have begun.

True - but since Riviera is not 100% declared, maybe there is some inventory. It's worth an ask, even if it's possible to reschedule for later in the same UY.

*I also realized I might have been unclear re: we were able to bank points - we had used current year points and we were before the banking deadline. So once the points went back into our account without the holding restriction, we were able to bank them. This wouldn't apply to OP's banked points.

 

[Sandisw]

True - but since Riviera is not 100% declared, maybe there is some inventory. It's worth an ask, even if it's possible to reschedule for later in the same UY.

*I also realized I might have been unclear re: we were able to bank points - we had used current year points and we were before the banking deadline. So once the points went back into our account without the holding restriction, we were able to bank them. This wouldn't apply to OP's banked points.

Of course it never hurts to ask, but just sharing that plenty of reports since the closure of people who didn't get a welcome home visit who were not given that pixie dust a second time because they had a chance to book on their own...and it sounds like this trip is a replacement of the initial welcome home trip from 2021 that ended up canceled.

 

[sagosto]

Of course it never hurts to ask, but just sharing that plenty of reports since the closure of people who didn't get a welcome home visit who were not given that pixie dust a second time because they had a chance to book on their own...and it sounds like this trip is a replacement of the initial welcome home trip from 2021 that ended up canceled.

Correct. Wife had gallbladder surgery the 1st time. And, I've already spent 3 hours on the phone for a missing magic band -- I suspect this phone call will suck 100X more. But again, I don't see a positive test regardless of what she sees. But, tomorrow will tell.

 

[sndral]

If you end up canceling & assuming you bought direct look at all DVC resorts for your replacement trip rather than just Riviera.
If you need to reschedule then grab whatever is available for new dates w/ the 200 banked points for a trip w/in the next 60 days if you end up w/ points in holding or if MS waives holding then before the end of Sept..
Focus on the bigger resorts (AKV Kidani, BWV, SSR) & the less popular villa sizes (1 br.,) consider a split stay if necessary, waitlist Riviera & then keep an eye on the DVC availability site to see if anything else opens up. While June is pretty booked, a quick look at availability shows some options for July & things open up at the larger resorts around August/September for ex. AKV savanna view 1 br., BWV 1 br., & SSR.

 

[sagosto]

No availability for me to shift 2 days at front to Sunday/Monday at end. Only Monday available. NO inventory at all on Sunday. They checked with back-end team. Is it worth trying again?

 

[bumbershoot]

I can't simply lift and shift a few weeks EVEN if it was available as dining wouldn't be available for the kids.

What does the part about dining and kids mean?

I am not sure why but points/UY/etc. just doesn't work in my head.

Use Year involves the month (really important) and the year. For the first few years I just wrote it out. I have February, which makes things much easier, but it's still not always simple. So you could write out a master calendar starting in October and ending in September to visualize it.

No availability for me to shift 2 days at front to Sunday/Monday at end. Only Monday available. NO inventory at all on Sunday. They checked with back-end team. Is it worth trying again?

Availability changes. I would also open the possibility to other resorts.

CDC says "IF YOU
Tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status
Stay home for at least 5 days
Stay home for 5 days"...

Honestly I would have someone else look at the test strip. It doesn't make a huge amount of sense for one to see something and the other not to see something. Or do another test.

 

[sagosto]

DVC said no availability. I asked again and again and finally they were able to shift the reservation from Friday to Monday and add 2 days at the end. The 2 days would be a split stay in 1BR Riviera which sucks to pack and unpack for 2 days. So, I lose 1 day, have to unpack/pack and $400 in flight changes. Life goes on!