Shifting Points at Seven Months?

[gmi3804]

Can I book my home resort at eleven months, then shift points from a different contract at another resort at the seven-month window? I'd like to have those home resort points back to bank to the next UY, the presumption being that they're still bankable. Is this possible?

 

[Sandisw]

No...you would have to cancel and then re-book. Any reservation booked during the home resort period can only remain if it booked with home resort points.

Now, when your 7 month window opens, if there are some of the nights still available at the beginning or end of your trip, you could call MS and they are likely to be able to swap the point for you...but there must be availability still for what you want to book in order for that to happen.

 

[chateau]

I've wondered if the cancelled points become immediately available (to anyone, really) when one cancels a reservation. I know the wait list program does not pick up those points being available right away. My thought is OP can book, cancel, then rebook with another resorts points, running the risk of someone finding them and booking. I suppose I'm just wondering how fast the points show up as available to rebook on member site.

 

[nalajms]

I've wondered if the cancelled points become immediately available (to anyone, really) when one cancels a reservation. I know the wait list program does not pick up those points being available right away. My thought is OP can book, cancel, then rebook with another resorts points, running the risk of someone finding them and booking. I suppose I'm just wondering how fast the points show up as available to rebook on member site.

It depends on your luck and how many other people are booking during that time. A few weeks ago I decided to change my reservations at VGF (8m out). The days I had booked were all gone. I released my reservation, booked the new one, went back to the old dates and it showed availability. The next day it was gone. So either someone or a WL got it.

On the other hand, 2 years ago I tried to switch 2 nights from a pool/garden view to boardwalk view when I saw it was available. I called MS, they stated very clearly they could not hold my P/G view room while holding the BW view. By the time MS canceled the P/G, the BW view was gone. I ended up losing both in a span of 5mins. I think I just got an inexperienced MS

 

[gmi3804]

So I suppose that it's a crap shoot with regards to canceling and re-booking, assuming that the points you're swapping out are for space that's not available at the seven-month window. That's it's not just a matter of shifting points around on an existing booking. Thanks for the info.

 

[LisaS]

... it's not just a matter of shifting points around on an existing booking. Thanks for the info.

MS can shift points around within a reservation. They will do it in certain circumstances provided that doing so does not circumvent the home resort booking window rules.

In your situation, they would do so only if an identical room is available to be booked at that time. In other words, if the room you want is available to be booked 7 months or less from check-in then they are allowed to substitute non-home points into the reservation you are already holding.

 

[gmi3804]

MS can shift points around within a reservation. They will do it in certain circumstances provided that doing so does not circumvent the home resort booking window rules.

In your situation, they would do so only if an identical room is available to be booked at that time. In other words, if the room you want is available to be booked 7 months or less from check-in then they are allowed to substitute non-home points into the reservation you are already holding.

Right. Got it. Thanks.

 

[cvjw]

OP, I have multiple home resorts, so I have done what you are trying to do several times. The easiest way to do this is to go online at 8:00 am at your 7 month mark and book any days that are available using your "other" points. Then, you call MS when they open at 9:00, have them modify your original reservation to drop any days of the reservation that you were able to book online with the "other" points. You then have MS link the 2 reservations.

Very easy. You have used the "other" points, and MS has released at least some of your "home" resort points that you will be able to bank into your next use year.

Best case scenerio is that you go online at the 7 month mark and the whole reservation is available, which you book with the "other" points, and then cancel your original reservation online. You have just switched your points yourself.

 

[Sandisw]

OP, I have multiple home resorts, so I have done what you are trying to do several times. The easiest way to do this is to go online at 8:00 am at your 7 month mark and book any days that are available using your "other" points. Then, you call MS when they open at 9:00, have them modify your original reservation to drop any days of the reservation that you were able to book online with the "other" points. You then have MS link the 2 reservations. Very easy. You have used the "other" points, and MS has released at least some of your "home" resort points that you will be able to bank into your next use year. Best case scenerio is that you go online at the 7 month mark and the whole reservation is available, which you book with the "other" points, and then cancel your original reservation online. You have just switched your points yourself.

Yes, but what is important here is that you are booking based on availability at 7 months. But you are correct in that going online and booking what you can before canceling the other reservation can get you what you want,

But I would think those available days have to be in a row in order for an adjustment to be made by MS. Just want to be sure its clear that it's still a rebook and a cancel not a swapping of points from the original reservation.

 

[gmi3804]

OP, I have multiple home resorts, so I have done what you are trying to do several times. The easiest way to do this is to go online at 8:00 am at your 7 month mark and book any days that are available using your "other" points. Then, you call MS when they open at 9:00, have them modify your original reservation to drop any days of the reservation that you were able to book online with the "other" points. You then have MS link the 2 reservations.

Very easy. You have used the "other" points, and MS has released at least some of your "home" resort points that you will be able to bank into your next use year.

Best case scenerio is that you go online at the 7 month mark and the whole reservation is available, which you book with the "other" points, and then cancel your original reservation online. You have just switched your points yourself.

Yes, but what is important here is that you are booking based on availability at 7 months. But you are correct in that going online and booking what you can before canceling the other reservation can get you what you want,

But I would think those available days have to be in a row in order for an adjustment to be made by MS. Just want to be sure its clear that it's still a rebook and a cancel not a swapping of points from the original reservation.

My original intent was to hold the reservation at the 11-month mark, then swap less valuable points from a different contract, the assumption being that my preferred accommodation wouldn't be available at the 7-Month mark.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Breyean]

Here's what happened to me just a couple of weeks ago while changing a reservation at VGC.

It was really 2 reservations since I could only get 2 nights in a 1 bedroom followed by 2 nights in a stdio. They were over a new race weekend in November. I had enough VGC points for the 4 nights in a studio, but 2 were already gone, and I had to borrow a few for the 2 nights in each anyway, and didn't want to borrow even more for all 4 nights in the 1 bedroom.

This was all before the 7 month mark.

At the 7 months, the 1 bedroom for my 2 studio nights was still open, as were a couple of nights in a 1 bedroom before my original stay started.

I decided to use my OKW points to switch from the studio to all 4 nights in a 1 bedroom, plus add 2 more nights at the start of the old reservation.

Called MS, explained what I wanted to do (the 2 nights in the 1 bedroom I had already booked were not available when I called). She put me on hold, took about 20 minutes.

When she came back, I now had 1 6 night reservation in a 1 bedroom, which is what I expected. What I didn't expect was she (or a manager) had deleted both my studio reservation (which was replaced by a 1 bedroom) PLUS my original 2 night 1 bedroom, which they rebooked using my OKW points.

So I wound up getting back all my VGC points (other than the few I had borrowed, which were not enough for even 1 night in a 1 bedroom anyway) and using all my current UY OKW points.

When I asked how she did this since there were no 1 bedrooms to book in place of the 2 nights I originally had, she said they just made a new reservation for the whole 6 nights so since it was at 7 months, and she knew I wanted to use as many OKW points as possible, that's what she did.

I wonder if I was in danger of losing those original 2 nights. In the past when I was making a change like that, the CM would warn me that. but not this time.

It worked out great for me, but I have no clue how they did it.

 

[Sandisw]

Here's what happened to me just a couple of weeks ago while changing a reservation at VGC. It was really 2 reservations since I could only get 2 nights in a 1 bedroom followed by 2 nights in a stdio. They were over a new race weekend in November. I had enough VGC points for the 4 nights in a studio, but 2 were already gone, and I had to borrow a few for the 2 nights in each anyway, and didn't want to borrow even more for all 4 nights in the 1 bedroom. This was all before the 7 month mark. At the 7 months, the 1 bedroom for my 2 studio nights was still open, as were a couple of nights in a 1 bedroom before my original stay started. I decided to use my OKW points to switch from the studio to all 4 nights in a 1 bedroom, plus add 2 more nights at the start of the old reservation. Called MS, explained what I wanted to do (the 2 nights in the 1 bedroom I had already booked were not available when I called). She put me on hold, took about 20 minutes. When she came back, I now had 1 6 night reservation in a 1 bedroom, which is what I expected. What I didn't expect was she (or a manager) had deleted both my studio reservation (which was replaced by a 1 bedroom) PLUS my original 2 night 1 bedroom, which they rebooked using my OKW points. So I wound up getting back all my VGC points (other than the few I had borrowed, which were not enough for even 1 night in a 1 bedroom anyway) and using all my current UY OKW points. When I asked how she did this since there were no 1 bedrooms to book in place of the 2 nights I originally had, she said they just made a new reservation for the whole 6 nights so since it was at 7 months, and she knew I wanted to use as many OKW points as possible, that's what she did. I wonder if I was in danger of losing those original 2 nights. In the past when I was making a change like that, the CM would warn me that. but not this time. It worked out great for me, but I have no clue how they did it.

What she did really should not have happened as she ?lowed you to keep a reservation booked during home resort with non home resort points if in fact there was no availability for all the nights.

I would say that is was a little bit of pixie dust!!!

 

[Msmithmd]

What she did really should not have happened as she ?lowed you to keep a reservation booked during home resort with non home resort points if in fact there was no availability for all the nights. I would say that is was a little bit of pixie dust!!!

Agree this never should have happened.

It's pixie dust for the poster, but if the rooms weren't available at seven months, that likely means some VGC home resort member wasn't able to book for those dates, and in effect got superseded by a OKW member for their home resort for these dates.

Such is the problem with a timeshare that runs at almost full capacity all of the time.

If I were the poster who got this done via member services, I would be happy. If I were a vgc member who read this thread after not being able to get those dates before seven months, I would be more than a little angry.

DVC allowing someone to bypass home resort priority in this manner is something that no owner should be okay with.

Now, if there were still rooms left available at seven months- no harm, no foul, go ahead and swap the points out. But if it truly was full? That's a really big problem.

And it doesn't just end with this one reservation- because now the poster has those points at VGC available for a new eleven month booking, to compete with other owners. So in essence, other owners at VGC potentially lose opportunity twice...not a good situation.

 

[Breyean]

Agree this never should have happened.

It's pixie dust for the poster, but if the rooms weren't available at seven months, that likely means some VGC home resort member wasn't able to book for those dates, and in effect got superseded by a OKW member for their home resort for these dates.

Such is the problem with a timeshare that runs at almost full capacity all of the time.

If I were the poster who got this done via member services, I would be happy. If I were a vgc member who read this thread after not being able to get those dates before seven months, I would be more than a little angry.

DVC allowing someone to bypass home resort priority in this manner is something that no owner should be okay with.

Now, if there were still rooms left available at seven months- no harm, no foul, go ahead and swap the points out. But if it truly was full? That's a really big problem.

And it doesn't just end with this one reservation- because now the poster has those points at VGC available for a new eleven month booking, to compete with other owners. So in essence, other owners at VGC potentially lose opportunity twice...not a good situation.

Not quite true as I own at VGC and had originally used those points way beyond 7 months to book my nights. I think you missed that point in saying I beat out a VGC owner, because I didn't, unless you count those who I beat out at 9 months when I originally booked. I booked early using my own VGC points. When I called to add nights using my OKW points, it was at 7 months and those extra nights were all available.

So the first part of your comment isn't really accurate. I do now have my VGC points back, however, so you are right about that.

I have no idea how or why the CM was able to do what she did, but as I also said in my post, I have a feeling my two nights were in danger of being lost as she made a new reservation because when she canceled my nights they were up for grabs in the system.

I've lost nights with a CM doing that, so I never would have agreed to let her to it, but as I also said, I never asked to do switch points around (other than to tell her to use as many OKW points for the new nights as possible) and she didn't tell me she had done it until afterward. I would have been quite nervous had I known what she was doing while she was doing it.

 

[CarolMN]

What she did really should not have happened as she ?lowed you to keep a reservation booked during home resort with non home resort points if in fact there was no availability for all the nights.........(snip).....

Agree this never should have happened.

It's pixie dust for the poster, but if the rooms weren't available at seven months, that likely means some VGC home resort member wasn't able to book for those dates, and in effect got superseded by a OKW member for their home resort for these dates.

Such is the problem with a timeshare that runs at almost full capacity all of the time.

If I were the poster who got this done via member services, I would be happy. If I were a vgc member who read this thread after not being able to get those dates before seven months, I would be more than a little angry.

DVC allowing someone to bypass home resort priority in this manner is something that no owner should be okay with.

Now, if there were still rooms left available at seven months- no harm, no foul, go ahead and swap the points out. But if it truly was full? That's a really big problem.

And it doesn't just end with this one reservation- because now the poster has those points at VGC available for a new eleven month booking, to compete with other owners. So in essence, other owners at VGC potentially lose opportunity twice...not a good situation.

As long as there was no wait list for the nights originally booked with VGC points, there is no issue. We do not know if there was a waitlist or not, only that Breyean knew that the nights were not available to book online just prior to calling MS.

Happy it all worked out for Breyean and we cannot be sure any rules were bent by the CM. I prefer to think not.

 

[Sandisw]

As long as there was no wait list for the nights originally booked with VGC points, there is no issue. We do not know if there was a waitlist or not, only that Breyean knew that the nights were not available to book online just prior to calling MS.

Happy it all worked out for Breyean and we cannot be sure any rules were bent by the CM. I prefer to think not.

Good point...I never thought about the fact that as long as there was no wait list, maybe its okay..

But still, if someone books during home resort time, then in order to use points at 7 months, those nights should have be to cancelled and then re-booked.

Maybe that is what the CM did, but if not, and they just changed out the points, they technically are using OKW points to book a room that was no longer available because the OP booked it using the correct points.

 

[Msmithmd]

To clarify my prior post, I never said, nor did I mean to imply, that Breyean did anything wrong, as clearly they did not. This is all on MS.

The principle is whether a reservation made before seven months with home points should be allowed to be replaced with non-home points inside seven months. It shouldn't, unless there are still open rooms that any member could book with non-home points.

Agree that it's unknowable whether there were waitlists that got bypassed- but if a VGC member had checked before seven months and seen that the dates were full, they would be much more likely choose to book different travel dates than would a Florida vacationer. This is simply because there isn't anything else at Disneyland which becomes available to them on those dates when the seven month window opens.

That's what I was trying to state via the earlier post. If another member had booked my home resort with their home resort points when I wished to travel, thus blocking me out, and then replaced that reservation with non-home points, that would be a problem to me. Not that they had originally booked before I did (which is simply how the system works); but that they were then allowed to replace the booking that I couldn't get with non-home points.

I really am glad it worked out well for Breyean. I just hope this doesn't become a pattern with member services, simply because it somewhat devalues the home resort booking advantage.

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip)......But still, if someone books during home resort time, then in order to use points at 7 months, those nights should have be to cancelled and then re-booked.

Maybe that is what the CM did, but if not, and they just changed out the points, they technically are using OKW points to book a room that was no longer available because the OP booked it using the correct points.

Respectfully, as long as there was not a waitlist, it makes no difference how the CM accomplished the change. IMO, the CM should use the most efficient process. Again, no rules were broken as long as there was no waitlist.

To clarify my prior post, I never said, nor did I mean to imply, that Breyean did anything wrong, as clearly they did not. This is all on MS.

Good, because I think he may have interpreted your post in that manner. Thanks for clarifying.

The principle is whether a reservation made before seven months with home points should be allowed to be replaced with non-home points inside seven months. It shouldn't, unless there are still open rooms that any member could book with non-home points.

Agree that it's unknowable whether there were waitlists that got bypassed- but if a VGC member had checked before seven months and seen that the dates were full, they would be much more likely choose to book different travel dates than would a Florida vacationer. This is simply because there isn't anything else at Disneyland which becomes available to them on those dates when the seven month window opens.

We'll have to agree to disagree. DVC members make alternate plans all the time. That VGC member who chose other dates should have added herself to the waitlist if the booked up time was important. That's the process.

That's what I was trying to state via the earlier post. If another member had booked my home resort with their home resort points when I wished to travel, thus blocking me out, and then replaced that reservation with non-home points, that would be a problem to me. Not that they had originally booked before I did (which is simply how the system works); but that they were then allowed to replace the booking that I couldn't get with non-home points.

If you put yourself on the waitlist, it wouldn't/shouldn't happen.

Since a Supervisor was involved, I tend to believe the rules were followed. We just don't know for sure in this case

I really am glad it worked out well for Breyean. I just hope this doesn't become a pattern with member services, simply because it somewhat devalues the home resort booking advantage.

I agree with you 100%. Had there been a waitlist, it would be wrong to substitute points and I do not believe MS routinely does that. Of course, it's possible that CMs make mistakes. Absent evidence to the contrary, I prefer to believe that they did not make a mistake in Breyean's case.