Switching at 7 mos.

[VMS]

What are our chances of switching to OKW for a 2BR for the last week in August next year at the 7 mos. window? I plan on making ressies at 11 mos. out at our home at VWL, but to get better use of the points, was going to try to switch at 7 mos. Do I need to call on the day by day basis, or do you think I would be able to do the whole thing with one phone call at the end? Do I risk not getting every day? I'm confused as to how to do this (I'm a new member who hasn't made any ressies yet) to play it safe. Thanks for your help.

VMS

 

[RobDoc]

You should make reservations at your home resort just to be safe, but OKW ressies at 7 months should be easily available at 7 months. Late Aug is a verrrry slow time at WDW and all WDW resorts are usually available.

Be careful with your use year, however, since you will use fewer points at OKW than you would at VWL. If the 7 month window is too close to your use year, you may not be able to bank the returned points. You are in effect cancelling a reservation and therefore must watch the banking deadlines if you need to bank those points.

Good Luck!

 

[Richyams]

Obviously VMS is asking a reasonable question and pursueing a reasonable course of action.

A course that I have described here many times.

I think that Disney's practice of going with smaller rooms for higher points in locations that offer less value is going to really start making the home resort the most important thing in the world. If BCV point schedule turns out to be even higher than VWL, we are going to see more and more use of that seven month window to change to OKW or BWV.

 

[VMS]

Thanks for your helpful info. Doc, my use year is Dec., so if I am able to switch, the points returned to my account can be banked like normal points, correct? I am hoping that at the 7 month window for this trip I will be able to switch, which would be the end of January. I still could bank 100% of points in May. Aren't the returned points treated like they were regular points - can be banked then? I know I've read the info lots of times, but when you do everything for the first time you really want to get it right!

VMS

 

[drusba]

When you cancel a ressie more than 30 days from date arrival all points go back to whatever status they had before the ressie. As long as you are within banking dates the regular use year's points can be banked. The post above was simply pointing out that you needed to be within banking dates at time you cancel VWL in order to be able to bank.

As to OKW, we have found that summertime in general including August is fairly easy to get even if you make the ressie less than 7 months out.

 

[RobDoc]

I still could bank 100% of points in May. Aren't the returned points treated like they were regular points - can be banked then?

Yes, you'll be fine !

Enjoy!