Substituting points at 7 months ?

[jamstew]

If I make a reservation at BCV for May 2010 (making the ressie in June 2009) using my BCV home resort points, can I, at 7 months, substitute VWL points for part of that reservation? The reason I ask is that it looks like I'm going to have 52 VWL 2008 points (August UY) that I can bank into my 2009 UY. They will have to be used by 7/31/10, and I'd love to be able to save some BCV points for a later trip.

It's great to have more points than I need for that particular year, but it's really confusing figuring out how to use them. I'll have 64 BCV points banked from 2008 (December UY) and 52 VWL points banked from 2008 (August UY). If I add 7 current points (current 2009 points that is), that gives me enough for 7 nights in a studio that I really hadn't planned on having

I'm beginning to see the possible problems/confusion with more than one UY and hope this makes sense to someone

 

[toesmom]

can't be done, sorry, you'd have to make a new reservation if rooms are available

 

[RobDoc]

As long as there is availability, you may use your VWL points at BCV at 7 months - but if there is already a waitlist MS will not usually allow members to use non-home points in an existing reservation since that defeats the purpose of the 11 month priority and would not be fair to those members already on the waitlist.

If you had another reservation made using banked BCV points and cancelled that reservation, MS would allow you to use those points in the other reservation and allow you to bank the current BCV points vased on normal banking deadlines.

 

[Dean]

Technically the above answers are correct. However, sometimes they'll do it after the 7 month window opens. Just call and ask.

 

[jamstew]

Thanks everyone. I was thinking that availability might not be a problem the first couple of weeks of May. Could I do this instead: Reserve the week as a split stay (x nights at BCV using BCV points at 11 months and x nights at VWL using VWL points at 11 months), then at 7 months try to change from VWL to BCV? If I can do this, would I then need to link the two BCV reservations so I wouldn't have to move?

Just when I start to think I understand everything, I end up confusing myself

 

[Dean]

Thanks everyone. I was thinking that availability might not be a problem the first couple of weeks of May. Could I do this instead: Reserve the week as a split stay (x nights at BCV using BCV points at 11 months and x nights at VWL using VWL points at 11 months), then at 7 months try to change from VWL to BCV? If I can do this, would I then need to link the two BCV reservations so I wouldn't have to move?

Just when I start to think I understand everything, I end up confusing myself

Yes you can.

 

[RobDoc]

Thanks everyone. I was thinking that availability might not be a problem the first couple of weeks of May. Could I do this instead: Reserve the week as a split stay (x nights at BCV using BCV points at 11 months and x nights at VWL using VWL points at 11 months), then at 7 months try to change from VWL to BCV? If I can do this, would I then need to link the two BCV reservations so I wouldn't have to move?

Just when I start to think I understand everything, I end up confusing myself

You may be fine for early May. Making two reservations and then try to switch the VWL to BCV at 7 months. Yes, you can easily link the 2 reservations - as long as they are both the same room type.

 

[LauraLea]

Unless it is an extremely popular time to visit, I have had success reserving all my weekday nights at the 11 month window. Then on the first day of the 7 month window I call and get my weekend nights. This has always worked for me.

Laura

 

[kristler]

Okay, do you define weekend nights here as Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday? Just want to make sure. I was thinking about trying the same thing.

Thanks!

 

[Tikihula]

Okay, do you define weekend nights here as Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday? Just want to make sure. I was thinking about trying the same thing.

Thanks!

Weekends are Friday and Saturday nights and require more points.

 

[Tara]

Okay, do you define weekend nights here as Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday? Just want to make sure. I was thinking about trying the same thing.

Thanks!

Weekend nights are defined by DVC as Friday and Saturday nights. Point values are higher for those nights than for Sunday-Thursday nights. I'm sure that's what LauraLea was referring to - the higher point value nights don't book as quickly as the lower ones, so she's been able to get them at the 7 month window.

 

[Tikihula]

Is there a calculator for figuring out the 11-month or 7-month windows? If we want to make reservations for December 4th of 2009, what would be the 11-month window?

 

[jamstew]

Is there a calculator for figuring out the 11-month or 7-month windows? If we want to make reservations for December 4th of 2009, what would be the 11-month window?

It's a straight 11 months & 7 months--not like the 180 days for ADRs. You can make your reservation for 12/4/09 on 1/4/09 (11 months) or 5/4/09 (7 months).

 

[jamstew]

Unless it is an extremely popular time to visit, I have had success reserving all my weekday nights at the 11 month window. Then on the first day of the 7 month window I call and get my weekend nights. This has always worked for me.

Laura

Good idea

 

[Tikihula]

It's a straight 11 months & 7 months--not like the 180 days for ADRs. You can make your reservation for 12/4/09 on 1/4/09 (11 months) or 5/4/09 (7 months).

Thanks Jamie. I'll put it on my calendar.