Switching ressies

[Pooh's Pixie]

I'm an SSR owner and would like to book a ressie for October. At the 7 month window, I assume I can switch the ressie to BCV if there is availability. Hypothetically, what happens to your points if the new ressie is fewer points (I know this is not going to be true w/BCV but it could be with OKW)?

Also, care to weigh in on my chances at BCV or BWV with F & W going on? How likely/unlikely?

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you have time to bank the extra points, you can do that when you change the ressie.

As for your chance of BCV at the 7 month window for F&W...Depends on the size unit, but probably about 45-50% chance.

 

[LisaS]

If you make any changes to your reservation (different resort, fewer nights, downsizing your accommodations) that result in using fewer points, those points are returned to your account. They can then be used for another reservation or be banked, subject to your banking deadlines.

Could someone explain what happens to your points if you make changes to your reservation within 30 days of your trip? I know if you cancel your reservation within the 30-day window your points go into holding and cannot be banked and will expire at the end of the use year. But what about points returned to your account due to changes you make to your reservation?

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

Just bumping this up to see if anyone has more info...

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip).....Could someone explain what happens to your points if you make changes to your reservation within 30 days of your trip? I know if you cancel your reservation within the 30-day window your points go into holding and cannot be banked and will expire at the end of the use year. But what about points returned to your account due to changes you make to your reservation?

The points go into the holding account. Any points that are returned to your account because of a change or cancellation that is done within 30 days of arrival end up in the holding account.

As with all points in the holding account, they cannot be used to make a reservation unless it is 60 days or less until arrival And as you already posted, holding points may not be banked and they expire at the end of the use year.

Best wishes -

 

[Cruelladeville]

Once you are within 60 days of your arrival, you can always ask MS to manually reallocate your points, so that you can use your points in holding. They may do this for you, depending upon who you get when you call.

 

[CarolMN]

Once you are within 60 days of your arrival, you can always ask MS to manually reallocate your points, so that you can use your points in holding. They may do this for you, depending upon who you get when you call.

They can only do that if there is still availability for the day and unit type you have reserved. To do otherwise would make the holding account rules meaningless.

Best wishes -

 

[LisaS]

The points go into the holding account. Any points that are returned to your account because of a change or cancellation that is done within 30 days of arrival end up in the holding account.

Thanks, Carol. Does this also apply to waitlists that come through at the last minute? Say the OP has booked a 1 BR at SSR at 11 months out and at 7 months out tries to switch to a 1 BR at OKW to save some points, but has to go on the waitlist. Let's say the waitlist finally comes through just 2 weeks before the trip, and some points are returned to the member's account. Does the holding account come into play in this case as well or are waitlist situations exempt from this?

I also seem to remember that something happens to the waitlist at 30 days out... if I remember correctly, if your waitlisted reservation hasn't come through by then, the waitlist goes away at that point and you have to call MS and put yourself back on it, is that correct? This always sounded unnecessarily complicated but now it's starting to make sense if indeed any points freed up as a result of a waitlist coming through within 30 days go into the holding account.

Is this correct, or am I talking late-night jibberish here?

 

[Judique]

They can only do that if there is still availability for the day and unit type you have reserved. To do otherwise would make the holding account rules meaningless.

Best wishes -

Cruelladeville said within sixty days of arrival, so at that point these wouldn't be holding points to begin with.

If you have another reservation that is within 60 days and comes before the end of your use year, and there is availability, sometimes reallocating can work, and it IS within the rules. I've had MS offer to do this for me.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks, Carol. Does this also apply to waitlists that come through at the last minute? Say the OP has booked a 1 BR at SSR at 11 months out and at 7 months out tries to switch to a 1 BR at OKW to save some points, but has to go on the waitlist. Let's say the waitlist finally comes through just 2 weeks before the trip, and some points are returned to the member's account. Does the holding account come into play in this case as well or are waitlist situations exempt from this?

I also seem to remember that something happens to the waitlist at 30 days out... if I remember correctly, if your waitlisted reservation hasn't come through by then, the waitlist goes away at that point and you have to call MS and put yourself back on it, is that correct? This always sounded unnecessarily complicated but now it's starting to make sense if indeed any points freed up as a result of a waitlist coming through within 30 days go into the holding account.

Is this correct, or am I talking late-night jibberish here?

Makes sense to me (and it's early morning, now, LOL).

It doesn't matter how the points come to be returned to your account. If you cancel or change a reservation 30 days or less prior to arrival and it results in points being returned to your account, those points go into the holding account. True even if you were lucky enough to have a waitlist come through. Waitlisted reservations don't get a free pass. So it is something to consider when you are deciding whether to stay on the waitlist at 30 days or just give it up (and utilize your back up plan).

Best wishes -

 

[CarolMN]

Once you are within 60 days of your arrival, you can always ask MS to manually reallocate your points, so that you can use your points in holding. They may do this for you, depending upon who you get when you call.

Cruelladeville said within sixty days of arrival, so at that point these wouldn't be holding points to begin with.

Please reread Cruella's post. She is suggesting that if you have an existing reservation, once you are within 60 days of arrival you can ask MS to substitute points already in the holding account for the points currently being used for the reservation. Then the points returned to your account would not be in the holding account. However, MS cannot do a "substitution", unless there is availability for the same date(s) and unit type. MS essentially has to cancel the reservation and then make another reservation for the same date(s) and unit type. If there were a waitlist, the date(s) would go to the first person on the waitlist. It would not be fair (or within the rules), to just substitute points. It's no different than substituting non-home resort points for home resort points when the 7 month winodw opens (if there is a waitlist).

If you have another reservation that is within 60 days and comes before the end of your use year, and there is availability, sometimes reallocating can work, and it IS within the rules. I've had MS offer to do this for me.

No argument from me. As long as there is availability, this isn't a problem. Again, MS is actually cancelling the existing reservation, (which frees up the points used for it) and then making another reservation for the same date(s) and unit type that uses the points in the holding account. The points that are returned to your account do not go into the holding account as long as you make the change before the 30 day mark.

Best wishes -

 

[LisaS]

Thanks Carol. That was very helpful.

Pooh's Pixie: I don't have any experience trying to switch over to BCV at 7 months for October but I do want to wish you luck. I hope it comes through for you!