Strategy to book VGC?

[darkconz]

I have enough VGC points to book 11 months out (March/April) for full duration of my stay in studio. However, I wanted a 1BR but don't have enough for the full duration. March is a bit tricky with spring break.

I have other resort points to make the booking at 7 months mark and I am wondering what is the best strategy to secure the 1 BR or is 1 BR readily available at the 7 month mark?

Also, is the 7 month mark is only for the check in date? So if my vacation is 10 days and March 1 is my check in date, can I pool the points and book on Aug 1 for the entire trip using other resort points too?

So should I:
1. Book the entire trip in studio, then at 7 month mark modify the booking from studio to 1 BR?
2. Book the first bit of the trip in 1 BR then on the 7 month mark for my initial check in date, I modify the booking to extend the trip and use my other resort points?
3. Book the entire trip at 7 month mark in 1 BR?

Please let me know your thoughts and what you have done to secure something like this in VGC! Thanks!!

Edit: Forgot to mention, by enough points, I mean I need to borrow from next year's points so it'll be a 1 way direction for those borrowed points.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

If it was me I would be walking it with the extra points—VGC is so small and extremely popular for spec renters.

 

[darkconz]

If it was me I would be walking it with the extra points—VGC is so small and extremely popular for spec renters.

Sorry I am not entirely understanding how it can be done Is it not allowed to be described in here?

Edit: I did a bit of reading, you mean I should book with the VGC points first but start a new reservation with the other resort and walk it so it matches with the checkin/checkout date of the initial reservation?

 

[Flash_Sloth]

To clarify, you have a mix of VGC points and non-VGC points, right?

Are you more concerned about having a 10 day reservation, or a 1BR for possibly fewer days?

I've heard that for reservations made in the 11 month window, you can't wait until the 7 month window and then swap the points used with points from other resorts. I know that this isn't what you're doing, but I'm not 100% sure the system will let you modify a reservation made in the 11 month window to add more days using points from other properties. Theoretically it should. I've never tried this.

If you really want the 1BR, book as much of it as you can as early as you can. Then 7 months from check-in, try to modify it to add additional nights using points from other resorts.

If you're more concerned with having a 10 day reservation, book the studio as early as you can.

VGC availability in the 7 month window goes fast. There are already a few March nights unavailable in a VGC studio.

Or maybe another crazy idea. Book 2 reservations split between 1BR for the first half and studio the second half to cover the 10 nights? Personally, I hate split stays, but sometimes you have to when you're juggling points. At the 7 month window, if it is available, modify the 1BR to be one day longer using other points, and reduce the studio reservation by 1 night. Repeat a few times to hopefully get all your nights into the 1BR without risking the 10 nights.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I would book the room I want right now (11 months). Someone else will know how to add the other days at 7 months. I don't know if you can modify or if you need to make a separate reservation and then call MS to combine. Since you want a one bedroom, I would not book a studio right now.

 

[darkconz]

Thanks for the inputs!

Yes - I have a mix of VGC and non-VGC points. I would really want the entire 10 days stay in the 1 BR if all possible..

So I guess I will book the 1BR now for the first few days and maybe somehow add the remaining days towards the end when 7 month mark opens up.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Thanks for the inputs!

Yes - I have a mix of VGC and non-VGC points. I would really want the entire 10 days stay in the 1 BR if all possible..

So I guess I will book the 1BR now for the first few days and maybe somehow add the remaining days towards the end when 7 month mark opens up.

I think this is the right strategy. I would book the room you want now and then I would actually book the second half of the trip in a 1bed with your other points starting like 10-20 days before you actually want to travel, and "walk" the reservation forward a few times, to be sure you get it.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Thanks for the inputs!

Yes - I have a mix of VGC and non-VGC points. I would really want the entire 10 days stay in the 1 BR if all possible..

So I guess I will book the 1BR now for the first few days and maybe somehow add the remaining days towards the end when 7 month mark opens up.

That’s the right strategy…. but I would have a backup plan…. it’s a positive that you are in early March and not late March.

 

[DianaMB333]

Thanks for the inputs!

Yes - I have a mix of VGC and non-VGC points. I would really want the entire 10 days stay in the 1 BR if all possible..

So I guess I will book the 1BR now for the first few days and maybe somehow add the remaining days towards the end when 7 month mark opens up.

Consider securing the 1BR for the weekend dates, I think the 7m could be bit easier for week days

(I do separate bookings first and after all is done, I call to MS to get them either merge them or put a note to ensure not having to change room)

 

[tx911]

I have enough VGC points to book 11 months out (March/April) for full duration of my stay in studio. However, I wanted a 1BR but don't have enough for the full duration. March is a bit tricky with spring break.

I have other resort points to make the booking at 7 months mark and I am wondering what is the best strategy to secure the 1 BR or is 1 BR readily available at the 7 month mark?

Also, is the 7 month mark is only for the check in date? So if my vacation is 10 days and March 1 is my check in date, can I pool the points and book on Aug 1 for the entire trip using other resort points too?

So should I:
1. Book the entire trip in studio, then at 7 month mark modify the booking from studio to 1 BR?
2. Book the first bit of the trip in 1 BR then on the 7 month mark for my initial check in date, I modify the booking to extend the trip and use my other resort points?
3. Book the entire trip at 7 month mark in 1 BR?

Please let me know your thoughts and what you have done to secure something like this in VGC! Thanks!!

Edit: Forgot to mention, by enough points, I mean I need to borrow from next year's points so it'll be a 1 way direction for those borrowed points.

I did this for next year.

Idk if this is the best way, but I booked the 1BR for as many nights as I could, then filled in the rest with a "good neighbor" hotel.

I'll try to get the other days at 7 months, and if not at least I have some place to stay.

 

[darkconz]

That’s the right strategy…. but I would have a backup plan…. it’s a positive that you are in early March and not late March.

Actually it could be towards end of March or Early April. I haven't finalized the holiday yet so the spring break frenzy could be challenging

 

[AstroBlasters]

Actually it could be towards end of March or Early April. I haven't finalized the holiday yet so the spring break frenzy could be challenging

That’s right into spring break, it’s going to be very hard to get consecutive night at 7m.

 

[darkconz]

That’s right into spring break, it’s going to be very hard to get consecutive night at 7m.

That's why I want to see what is the best strategy. Or I can fully secure it with a Studio and sacrifice the laundry

 

[Flash_Sloth]

I think this is the right strategy. I would book the room you want now and then I would actually book the second half of the trip in a 1bed with your other points starting like 10-20 days before you actually want to travel, and "walk" the reservation forward a few times, to be sure you get it.

Walking a reservation at 7 months can be blocked. It might be more effective than waiting until the 7 month day to arrive, but no guarantee.

That's why I want to see what is the best strategy. Or I can fully secure it with a Studio and sacrifice the laundry

GC does have some laundry facilities available. If that's a top reason for booking a 1BR vs a studio, that is expensive price of points. I found this old thread about GC laundry: https://www.disboards.com/threads/laundry-rooms-at-grand-californian.3420701/

 

[darkconz]

Walking a reservation at 7 months can be blocked. It might be more effective than waiting until the 7 month day to arrive, but no guarantee.

GC does have some laundry facilities available. If that's a top reason for booking a 1BR vs a studio, that is expensive price of points. I found this old thread about GC laundry: https://www.disboards.com/threads/laundry-rooms-at-grand-californian.3420701/

haha well.. I was joking when I said sacrificing the laundry machine. Of course the bigger room and most importantly the second washroom!!

What do you mean by walking at 7 months can be blocked? Meaning it is tough to do or forbidden?

 

[Flash_Sloth]

haha well.. I was joking when I said sacrificing the laundry machine. Of course the bigger room and most importantly the second washroom!!

What do you mean by walking at 7 months can be blocked? Meaning it is tough to do or forbidden?

LOL, no worries about the laundry!

When walking at 11 months, you're pretty safe to keep the reservation unless they take some rooms out of inventory for maintenance or something.

When walking at 7 months, you can be moving right along, but then hit a blockage because of running into reservations from owners in the 11 month window. You don't know how many people are trying to walk at 7 months or how many rooms are available in future dates that show availability.

 

[darkconz]

LOL, no worries about the laundry!

When walking at 11 months, you're pretty safe to keep the reservation unless they take some rooms out of inventory for maintenance or something.

When walking at 7 months, you can be moving right along, but then hit a blockage because of running into reservations from owners in the 11 month window. You don't know how many people are trying to walk at 7 months or how many rooms are available in future dates that show availability.

Gotcha, I am going to secure the trip with the desired dates using 11 months right now in studio. When 7 months rolls around I'll see if I can modify into the 1 BR. If not I still have the time I want secured.

Does anyone have experience combining both home resort/non home resort points at 7 months mark? For example if I book 10 days, my home resort points only secures first 6 days in the 7 month mark, meaning the remaining 4 days will use the non-home resort points. But then technically that remaining 4 days is not at the 7 month mark yet...

 

[VGCgroupie]

A couple things from someone who normally does not book at 11 months and watches VGC availability closely. If you go in and look at availability right now at the 7 month mark for Feb you will see availability is not good even in the accessible rooms. 10 days is a lot of days to hope to get at VGC even in a 1 bed. How many of the 10 days can you book at 11 months? I honestly do not think the probability of working out for you is great. Would you stay in a studio if that was the only option? Or is it 1 bedroom or nothing? I would rather stay in a studio than a good neighbor hotel.

If you have enough points to walk 2 extra nights prior to 7m that would be the best option. Next would be just book a studio so you are guaranteed a stay.

 

[darkconz]

A couple things from someone who normally does not book at 11 months and watches VGC availability closely. If you go in and look at availability right now at the 7 month mark for Feb you will see availability is not good even in the accessible rooms. 10 days is a lot of days to hope to get at VGC even in a 1 bed. How many of the 10 days can you book at 11 months? I honestly do not think the probability of working out for you is great. Would you stay in a studio if that was the only option? Or is it 1 bedroom or nothing? I would rather stay in a studio than a good neighbor hotel.

If you have enough points to walk 2 extra nights prior to 7m that would be the best option. Next would be just book a studio so you are guaranteed a stay.

Thanks for your input! I just booked 10 days with studio and secured the vacation rather than taking chances.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Thanks for your input! I just booked 10 days with studio and secured the vacation rather than taking chances.

No problem. I hope it pops up for you around the 7 month mark.