Reservation approach

[ljlaurajane]

Hi all,

Trying to wrap my head around the best way to book a split stay as we are soon to be new members (subject to ROFR!) so new to making our own bookings. Here's our scenario. We will be visiting from the UK for 2 weeks. We will need to use basically all of our available current and future points, home resort SSR. Let's say we book 2 weeks at SSR at 11 months. At 7 months we want to book 4/5 nights at another resort. We do not have enough points to have both bookings simultaneously. We do not want to call member services to amend the booking as we might loose the more popular options if we don't book as soon as they are released. So I think this is what I need to do:

When booking the original 2 weeks, we actually split that reservation into multiple bookings so 4 nights / 5 nights / 5 nights. At 7 months we modify one of those, depending on which has availability elsewhere to a different resort. Then any concurrent bookings left at same resort and same room type eventually get merged together. Also if no availability at 7 months, 2 of the existing reservations could be waitlisted.

Is this correct or am i over complicating it? I'm thinking I can't modify the original 2 week booking if it's all done as one reservation (especially if the middle portion is the one I want to change), I assume I would have to amend the original booking first, then make a new booking, at which points we may have lost the room we wanted. And also I don't think I can do the auto booking waitlist unless it's replacing the existing booking in its entirety? (again we don't have enough points to have both the waitlisted booking and the original booking simultaneously)

Hope this makes sense, I'm sure it'll be easier once I've seen the booking system. I've been scouring YouTube for videos of how the online bookings work and can't find anything.

 

[lehrsj]

That makes sense to me and I think the only way you could do it.

 

[Sandisw]

Right now, you will be limited to borrowing only 50% of the following UY points, until further notice.

So, when booking, you will need to keep that in mind.

But, you have it correct that if you want to modify some and not all, book it that way from the start!

If things never work out to making the switch, MS can always combine back into one closer to your trip!

 

[CarolMN]

IMO, that's the best & safest way to do it. Make separate, consecutive home resort reservations at 11 months, and modify the one you want to change at 7 months.

Good luck.

 

[LSchrow]

We have had multiple stays with separate reservations (same resort/room size & view, same guests, same membership) combined into a single reservation, without our requesting.
To prevent that, keep the lead on all reservations the same (just easier), and add/remove an additional guests on alternating reservations (e.g., first 2 nights yourself, nights 3 & 4 yourself & spouse, nights 5-8 yourself - you can do any variety as long as you don't have 2 consecutive stays with the exact same information).
Once you have your reservations as you want, just go back on & adjust the reservations to who is actually staying in the rooms. If the reservations are not automatically (& eventually) combined, request MS to do so via call or chat.

 

[ljlaurajane]

We have had multiple stays with separate reservations (same resort/room size & view, same guests, same membership) combined into a single reservation, without our requesting.
To prevent that, keep the lead on all reservations the same (just easier), and add/remove an additional guests on alternating reservations (e.g., first 2 nights yourself, nights 3 & 4 yourself & spouse, nights 5-8 yourself - you can do any variety as long as you don't have 2 consecutive stays with the exact same information).
Once you have your reservations as you want, just go back on & adjust the reservations to who is actually staying in the rooms. If the reservations are not automatically (& eventually) combined, request MS to do so via call or chat.

thanks for the tip, I thought they would only merge close to the trip date but if they can do it anytime I’ll keep them slightly different

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi all,

Trying to wrap my head around the best way to book a split stay as we are soon to be new members (subject to ROFR!) so new to making our own bookings. Here's our scenario. We will be visiting from the UK for 2 weeks. We will need to use basically all of our available current and future points, home resort SSR. Let's say we book 2 weeks at SSR at 11 months. At 7 months we want to book 4/5 nights at another resort. We do not have enough points to have both bookings simultaneously. We do not want to call member services to amend the booking as we might loose the more popular options if we don't book as soon as they are released. So I think this is what I need to do:

When booking the original 2 weeks, we actually split that reservation into multiple bookings so 4 nights / 5 nights / 5 nights. At 7 months we modify one of those, depending on which has availability elsewhere to a different resort. Then any concurrent bookings left at same resort and same room type eventually get merged together. Also if no availability at 7 months, 2 of the existing reservations could be waitlisted.
...

So plan on booking the first trip 11 months out. Then four days later, book your five night trip. Then five nights later, book your next five night trip. You can't book more than seven nights right at 11 months (or seven months a non-home resort).

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I noticed that you said your reservation would require all present and future points in order to reserve it. Keep in mind that borrowing is currently restricted to 50% of next year's points and even though the system will allow you to make the reservation, we are being told that the entire reservation will be cancelled within 7 days if it violates the written policy.

 

[ljlaurajane]

So plan on booking the first trip 11 months out. Then four days later, book your five night trip. Then five nights later, book your next five night trip. You can't book more than seven nights right at 11 months (or seven months a non-home resort).

that’s good to know thanks, didn’t realise I couldn’t book the full 2 weeks straight away. Would have to split it up then!

I noticed that you said your reservation would require all present and future points in order to reserve it. Keep in mind that borrowing is currently restricted to 50% of next year's points and even though the system will allow you to make the reservation, we a being told that the entire reservation will be cancelled within 7 days if it violates the written policy.

yes we are working on borrowing the 50% but thanks for the reminder