Shuffling Around Points - Advice Wanted

[gppnj]

Hi, all.

I'm doing some advance planning for 2007. Most of my vacation plans are straightforward enough, but I'm not sure what to do about my December 2007 trip. That one's going to be a little tricky.

Here's the background: I have all my points at VWL. I have a February use year.

I want to visit WDW during the first week in December 2007. Although I'd dearly love to stay at VWL at this time and intend to do so someday, I don't want to stay there for this particular trip because I'll be traveling with a friend of mine. I don't want to share a bed with him, and we're both big guys, so I don't think either one of us would be comfortable on a sofa bed, especially for a whole week. For both of us to have our own beds and stay at VWL, I'd have to get a two-bedroom unit, which is overkill for two people (and I won't have the points for it anyway). Therefore, I was thinking my best bet would be to get a studio at OKW.

As it is, I'll have used all of my 2007 points already for previous trips, so I'll be using entirely borrowed points. When the 11-month window opens for this trip, I'd be foolish not to book a room at VWL just so I'm assured I have something during this busy time. My problem is that at the seven-month mark, if I am able to switch to OKW, that will cost fewer points than the VWL
reservation. The points that will be freed up are points that had been borrowed, so I'd be stuck with them in my current use year. It doesn't help that this trip is close to the end of my use year. If I was certain that I'd be able to get into OKW, I'd just wait and not book until seven months out, but this is such a busy time that I'd be foolish to chance it.

Any ideas on how I can finagle the points so that it will work for me regardless of whether or not I am able to switch to OKW at the seven-month point?

 

[spiceycat]

go to the rent/trade board.

you want to trade your VWL points for OKW points. do it by Dec.

or an OKW member can make your reservations and you make their at VWL. then you just trade reservations.

 

[dianeschlicht]

On the other hand, I suspect if you call exactly at the 7 month window, you will have no problem getting what you want at OKW.

 

[greenban]

I like SpiceyCat's suggestion.

If your stay includes a weekend night, then just book the VWL Sunday-Friday with borrowed points.

At the seven month window OKW will become available, and you can borrow (if needed) the points from your next use year.

Should OKW not be available (unlikely at 7 months), then book VWL for points on those expensive FRI-SAT nights!

Good luck!

-Tony

PS, since their your points, you get the bed!

 

[gppnj]

Thanks for the advice. Very good. It hadn't occurred to me to focus on the relatively inexpensive weeknights. And, of course, I will try to do the switch to OKW the moment the seven-month window opens.