Stopping MS combining reservations

[MJ6987]

Hi All,
What we want to do is book our whole stay at our home resort BWV at 11 months but then switch half of it to another resort at 7 months, making it a split stay.

I’ve read on here that it’s best to make the original booking in two parts so that at 7 months one booking can just be cancelled and rebooked at another resort, but that to avoid MS combining the reservation, we should make the two original reservations in different names.

To do this, would we have to make another DVC account, in my wife's name (who is also on the deed)? Or can you make reservations in different names on the one DVC account?

Or is there a better way to do this altogether, with the updates to the website?

Thanks

 

[drusba]

In the past I have found that I can easily make two reservations on line at 11 months out in my own name and then change one at 7 months out online because they have never gotten merged without my specific request to do so. However, as some have reported, MS sometimes merges the two reservations made in the same name without notice to you, and thus the possible need to have the second reservation with another name in the lead. If wife is on the deed, she can be named as lead on the second reservation and there should be no issue of MS merging the two reservaions without notice to you first.

As to whether making the two reservations is needed anymore because you can now modify reservations online, I would lean towards yes. The sytem allows a change to a reservation, e.g., you can cancel a reservation onlne and make another for the same or slightly different time period at another resort without risking losing both reservations. However, I am not sure the system would allow you to make at one time two separate reservation changes, which would be required if you were to drop some days from one reservation and make another for those days elsewhere.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I’ve never had 2 reservations merged without calling and asking them to.

 

[disneynutz]

Is it policy for MS to merge if they see the reservation or do they think that they are helping out. Maybe a call to MS to verify the policy is in order.

Bill

 

[Dean]

Hi All,
What we want to do is book our whole stay at our home resort BWV at 11 months but then switch half of it to another resort at 7 months, making it a split stay.

I’ve read on here that it’s best to make the original booking in two parts so that at 7 months one booking can just be cancelled and rebooked at another resort, but that to avoid MS combining the reservation, we should make the two original reservations in different names.

To do this, would we have to make another DVC account, in my wife's name (who is also on the deed)? Or can you make reservations in different names on the one DVC account?

Or is there a better way to do this altogether, with the updates to the website?

Thanks

That means you'll have to wait until 11 months out for the second part to reserve it. You might have availability issues depending, esp if it's standard view. This is one area where having extra points is helpful.

 

[Frederic Civish]

Is it policy for MS to merge if they see the reservation or do they think that they are helping out. Maybe a call to MS to verify the policy is in order.

Bill

Yes, I’d like to hear the answer if someone does call Member Services to verify their policy

 

[CarolMN]

To me, policy doesn't matter all that much unless all CMs consistently follow it. MS has the ability to merge reservations and for whatever reasons, CMs have been know to do it. Why take the chance if it's not necessary?

OP, I would make two separate 11 month reservations and use a different lead name for each. It's best to choose lead names from your MDE list of friends and family. Many will use a spouse on one and themselves on the other. You could also use just your initials on one and your full first name on the other. After you have secured the reservation you want at 7 months, you can modify both reservations to add names or change names on your reservations if you want to do so. Just do it prior to 60 days so that MDE recognizes you as eligible for the 60 Day perk for FP+ reservations.

 

[disneynutz]

If it isn't policy, maybe a note on the reservation "do not merge" would help.

Bill

 

[automaticsoap]

I’ve never had 2 reservations merged without calling and asking them to.

I just had a one-night waitlist come through, and MS merged it with my other reservation without me asking. This happened to me last year too.

 

[Dean]

Is it policy for MS to merge if they see the reservation or do they think that they are helping out. Maybe a call to MS to verify the policy is in order.

Bill

Yes, I’d like to hear the answer if someone does call Member Services to verify their policy

It is my understanding is it's policy if they are aware but it's done manually. Ultimately it doesn't matter since they routinely do it and it can't be undone if you lose a reservation. This is a challenge if getting a reservation that is difficult to get at 11 months our the the first and 7 months out for the second. If you have enough points to hold the full reservation up front and the second portion you plan to change, you're way ahead of the game. They can always reallocate to the best points in the 7 month reservation later if needed.

 

[MJ6987]

Thanks all

 

[n2mm]

They just merged a reservation for me last week without me asking. I was surprised. It was scared as I had reservations for family for the same date, so it could’ve gone bad.

 

[bumbershoot]

Some reservations I’ve had are merged and some aren’t. Pretty random.

If wife is on the deed, she can be named as lead on the second reservation and there should be no issue of MS merging the two reservaions without notice to you first.

Could do it with any name, really. I could put a room in my name then a room in my cousin’s name for Princess, if I needed to keep them separate, and it would work.

 

[Frederic Civish]

Could do it with any name, really. I could put a room in my name then a room in my cousin’s name for Princess, if I needed to keep them separate, and it would work.

How about if you make a second reservation with yourself as the primary but listing different people as secondary tertiary and so on in comparison to the first reservation. Wouldn’t that clearly delineate it as two separate reservations? Because it would have different people? Then later, you could go change it. I haven’t tried this.

Also, you could make a reservation of course, with someone else traveling with you listed as the primary. It could be your spouse, a relative, a friend, or someone else. Then again you could change it as you get closer to the reservation so that everyone gets their magic bands.

 

[Dean]

How about if you make a second reservation with yourself as the primary but listing different people as secondary tertiary and so on in comparison to the first reservation. Wouldn’t that clearly delineate it as two separate reservations? Because it would have different people? Then later, you could go change it. I haven’t tried this.

Also, you could make a reservation of course, with someone else traveling with you listed as the primary. It could be your spouse, a relative, a friend, or someone else. Then again you could change it as you get closer to the reservation so that everyone gets their magic bands.

While it makes it less likely to be merged, it still could be if you're listed on the reservation. A different name, either someone else or you listed differently (middle name, initials) would be the safest. Still it's not a lock if it's under one account but it is unlikely to be merged if you list the names differently. The other option for those that have multiple masters, is to do the reservations under different master contracts then they can't be merged.

 

[MouseOfCards]

Some of our reservations with the same names have been merged and some have not. We also had one instance of reservations with totally different names that were merged (very upsetting at the time) - hopefully it was a one-time fluke!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I rented two nights at VWL for a friend. Their name was on the reservation. I waitlisted the night before their check in day ( so as to give them 3 nights reservation). Without notice, I got the waitlist AND they put the reservation in my friends name. That worked out great and saved me time BUT what if I didn’t want that?

 

[DebbieB]

I had the night of 10/19 come through by waitlist at VGC. I then waitlisted 10/18, it came through. They did not combine them, they are still listed separate on my dashboard. I have a waitlist now for 10/17, so I am waiting to see if that comes through before I call them to combine. I have a cash room at PP for 10/14 to 10/19 so my strategy is to get the nights at the end at VGC and then modify the PP checkout date. 10/15 and 10/18 were soldout before the 7 month window.