Should I book one reservation or 2 smaller?

[katriscari]

We are going to be able to book our first stay as DVC members at the end of June. I will have 100 2019 points available and 100 2020 points available to me for our stay that wil begin May 30. Our home resort is OKW. I usually like to stay near hospitality house for ease of refilling mug/walking to pool, but this is not a necessity. WE definitely want to stay at OKW for part of our stay to be close to Disney Springs (no park trip). My question is this....

Should I book 1 studio for 7-10 days (I am trying to decide on length of stay) just to have something concrete and then attempt to switch part of that at 7 months? Can I switch only part of a reservation at 7 months online, or does member services have to do that for me?

or

Would it be better to just book a new reservation at 7 months if I can find something else and then cancel what days I don't need on the Old Key West reservation?

or

Should I book 2 separate smaller stays knowing I want to ultimately switch at 7 months, cancel one online at 7 months, and then choose an available resort for those days? I know at certain times of year this could be risky, but during the time we go/reviewing the historical charts from this site (WHICH ARE AMAZING BY THE WAY) I believe I can get at least animal kingdom for a short block of time. at 7 months.

A week at old key west during this time is 99 points, so I should have extra points to tinker with if I need to book a small reservation for 3 or 4 days to make a split.

Help a newbie out

 

[starry_solo]

Book two separate reservations and make sure the second reservation is under a different lead name, so the reservations are not combined. This would require you to book at two different 11-month time periods.

Then at the 7 month time period from the proposed new reservation date, if you see that the new location is available and you want it, modify (don't cancel and book a new, but modify) the existing reservation to the new location.

 

[Deb & Bill]

What is your UY? That could make a big difference. Remember, if you borrow 2020 points (if you can borrow them depending on your UY) you cannot unborrow them. They stay in the UY they were borrowed into.

 

[katriscari]

What is your UY? That could make a big difference. Remember, if you borrow 2020 points (if you can borrow them depending on your UY) you cannot unborrow them. They stay in the UY they were borrowed into.

Use year is April. I don’t think I’d have to borrow anything. After I bank I’ll have 200 2020 points available for May trip, correct?

 

[CarolMN]

Use year is April. I don’t think I’d have to borrow anything. After I bank I’ll have 200 2020 points available for May trip, correct?

Yes. With an April use year, your May 2020 trip falls within your 2020 use year. You will need to bank the 2019 points BEFORE you book the May 2020 vacation. Then you will first use up the 2019 points for the May 2020 trip (because they will expire on March 31, 2021 if not used). Those 2019 points cannot be banked again). After the reservations are final (probably after you make the 7 month reservation for somewhere else), and when you are sure you won't be visiting again until after 3/31/2021, you can bank any remaining 2020 use year points into 2021.

I agree that the best plan is to make two reservations at OKW at 11 months and then when the 7 month window rolls around for the reservation you really want to be at another DVC resort) MODIFY that reservation. By modifying, you won't lose the original reservation if you can't get what you prefer. FWIW, May seems to be an easier time to book at 7 months. You should have several choices for the second part of your split stay. Good luck!

 

[katriscari]

Book two separate reservations and make sure the second reservation is under a different lead name, so the reservations are not combined. This would require you to book at two different 11-month time periods.

Then at the 7 month time period from the proposed new reservation date, if you see that the new location is available and you want it, modify (don't cancel and book a new, but modify) the existing reservation to the new location.

So I should do one under mine and one under my husband? Would I have to login under his info for the second one?

 

[starry_solo]

So I should do one under mine and one under my husband? Would I have to login under his info for the second one?

You can make the reservations under one account. Just make sure the lead names are different for the two reservations.

 

[TheMick424]

You can make the reservations under one account. Just make sure the lead names are different for the two reservations.

If you use different lead names, are you able to combine them in the future? (Say if you are unable to switch at 7 months) When does member services typically combine reservations?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

If you use different lead names, are you able to combine them in the future? (Say if you are unable to switch at 7 months) When does member services typically combine reservations?

Certainly. MS will change the names when you ask them to combine it. And it can be done anytime before check in. Actually the hotel can do it for you but that often leads to messed up points so I'd always recommend having MS do it.

 

[TheMick424]

Certainly. MS will change the names when you ask them to combine it. And it can be done anytime before check in. Actually the hotel can do it for you but that often leads to messed up points so I'd always recommend having MS do it.

Thanks! So I just split my week long home resort reservation into two parts - 1 night under my DH as the lead and 6 nights with me as the lead. This makes me nervous just because I have never done it before. Hoping this will allow for easier modifications online if things are available at 7 months. I'm also thinking about booking a cash hotel reservation for the first night as a back-up plan. This whole thing makes my head hurt.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks! So I just split my week long home resort reservation into two parts - 1 night under my DH as the lead and 6 nights with me as the lead. This makes me nervous just because I have never done it before. Hoping this will allow for easier modifications online if things are available at 7 months. I'm also thinking about booking a cash hotel reservation for the first night as a back-up plan. This whole thing makes my head hurt.

If you don't already have a reservation for your first night then a cash reservation as a backup is not a bad idea although I generally wouldn't be worrying about being able to book a cash backup until much closer to the stay and would wait and see how it goes at 7 months.