Scenario

[Marc A.]

If you have a ressie thru disney (website) for a non DVC resort (CR) and you are a DVC member can you switch it thru DVC at 7 mths out and use your points?
7mths out b/c of developer points????
Please help

 

[tjkraz]

To the best of my knowledge, they won't do a one-for-one switch. DVC is allocated so many rooms for member bookings. If there are still rooms available in that block when you call to use your Developer's Points, you can book it and then cancel your other. But I don't believe they would be able to work with CRO to simultaneously cancel your cash booking and reserve that same room using points.

 

[Marc A.]

I think I'll call my rep and see what she thinks. If I could it would solve a huge problem. You would think since I would already have the ressie they could do it??????????

 

[LisaS]

I know you have to wait until 7 months from check out to book a DVC resort with developer points but I don't think the 7-month window applies to anything else such as WDW resorts, cruises, etc. Call MS and ask them if you can book the CR now for December with your developer points.

 

[Marc A.]

I know you have to wait until 7 months from check out to book a DVC resort with developer points but I don't think the 7-month window applies to anything else such as WDW resorts, cruises, etc. Call MS and ask them if you can book the CR now for December with your developer points.

Booking Dev. Points at any resort must be 7 months out.
Tried this already.

 

[tjkraz]

Booking Dev. Points at any resort must be 7 months out.
Tried this already.

I was going to offer the same suggestion as Lisa but I thought I might be mistaken. Now that she's spoken up, I would swear I've heard of people using their DPs more than 7 months out for non-DVC locations.

The Developer's Points are simply normal DVC points at their core. The problem is that DVC doesn't want to tell you which Home resort they are attached to, nor do they want to mess with giving you the 11-month booking advantage. So they simply added the limitation that they could only be use 7 months out.

However, the non-DVC resorts can be booked 11 months out regardless of where you own. It's not too much of a stretch to think they would extend this courtesy to the Developer's Points as well.

Just for kicks, I would call back one or two other times to ask different MS reps. Or even go right to your Guide. Perhaps DVC has since cracked-down on these other bookings. But it sounds like you really want to get the CR so I'd at least invest one or two more phone calls to see if you can get a different answer.

 

[LisaS]

I agree with tjkraz's advice. Sometimes you get an MS rep who doesn't know the rules. It would be worth calling again and talking to a different MS rep and your guide as well. Let us know what you find out!

 

[Marc A.]

I agree with tjkraz's advice. Sometimes you get an MS rep who doesn't know the rules. It would be worth calling again and talking to a different MS rep and your guide as well. Let us know what you find out!

I've been thru my guide 3 times and MS twice (had a ressie which could not got thru). It's 7 months with Dev. Points no matter where you book.
Thanks

 

[JimMIA]

Keep in mind that if something comes up and you have to cancel a non-DVC ressie, you will not be able to use those points for a DVC stay. They will become "Reservation Points," and will only be usable at non-DVC properties.

 

[Dean]

Keep the cash reservation then get something that works at 7 months out and cancel the one for cash. You cannot just convert it over and if there's nothing available and you cancel what you have, you could be out of luck. If there's nothing for when you want, wait list, you can cancel the cash reservation later if you get something.

 

[Marc A.]

Keep the cash reservation then get something that works at 7 months out and cancel the one for cash. You cannot just convert it over and if there's nothing available and you cancel what you have, you could be out of luck. If there's nothing for when you want, wait list, you can cancel the cash reservation later if you get something.

And is it possible to be on waitlist for 6+ months???

 

[LisaS]

And is it possible to be on waitlist for 6+ months???

Yes. You have two choices for the amount of time you want to stay on the wait list. You can stay on until 31 days from check in or you can stay on until 7 days from check in. The reason for the option is because if you are waitlisting for something that costs fewer points than your backup reservation and it comes through 30 days or less from check-in, the extra points that are freed up would go into "holding". Points in holding cannot be banked and can only be used to book something 60 days from check in. In my one experience using the waiting list, the MS CM did not even mention the option to stay on the list until 7 days out, I had to ask for it. Decide which option is best for you before you call and tell MS which option you want when you go on the waiting list.