Treating Family to DVC problems

[pepples22]

all,

I have been trying for the last month to organise a family vacation to Disney next year using points. We are hopefully going from May 20th for 15 nights. I have my husband and I, my Mom and Dad and My Sister and her Boyfriend. I need 3 studios in AKL Jambo standard view.

Now what I was wondering if there was a way around the 11 month window. I have two contracts both 160 points one at AKL and one at SSR, now I have booked two and half rooms at the moment, which I have allocated to my Parents and 8 days not allocated. Which was from AKL contract.

I have assumed I have to wait till around 20th October this year (which is the 7month window to rest of the resorts) to book the rest from my SSR contract. Am I right in doing that?

Do you think the rooms will be there if I ring as soon as member services open? Or is it too risky.

My parents want us all to be same resort but I am not sure if that will happen.

Also we are booking flights at the end of the month, which I feel is a risk if I can not book my Sister and Boyfriend in anywhere.

Why did I suggest doing this in the first place

Thanks for help in advance.

 

[MouseMomx2]

My advice would be to book what you can at AKV now. Then book the other room(s) at SSR with those points as a backup. At the 7-month window you can try to move the SSR reservation(s) to AKV, waitlisting if necessary.

Of course there is always the possibility that you won't be able to get what you want. If staying at the same resort is a must you also might want to consider moving all of the rooms to SSR if AKV doesn't work out.

Good luck!

 

[IggyLans]

Why don't you book the last room you need at SSR, and at 7 months you can try to switch to AKL... or go on a waitlist... at least this way you'll have a room somewhere.?

 

[MouseMomx2]

Sorry, double post.

 

[castleri]

You might also book three rooms at AKV for however many days you can get and then book three rooms at SSR for the rest of the time . Then at 7 months try to add the addtional days to AKV. If you have to move resorts at least you will all be together at each resort for the same time periods.

 

[pepples22]

Wow thanks for all the quick replies!!!

I need to speak to my sister and her boyfriend but I think your ideas are the best! I can't believe my husband and I didn't think of doing it that way.

 

[drusba]

Two other options:

1. Go for a 2BR, which can easily hold six, which costs significantly fewer points than three studios.

2. Reserve AKV partly with points and partly with the DVC cash discount and then at 7 months reserve the cash nights with SSR points if avaialble on points while cancelling the cash nights. In fact, if you reserve any of the weekend nights with cash, those nights are more likely than others to be available for points at 7 months. Caveat: if, as it appears, some of those nights are part of Memorial Day weekend and your goal is to use nothing but points then use points when reserving now for any days of that weekend because time around Memorial Day weekend bears the highest risk of not being available at 7 months out during the time you are going.

 

[DizDays]

I'm still rather new at this, but could she just borrow 2011 AKV points and book the whole res and not use SSR points at all (banking them if she won't use them)?

 

[pepples22]

I'm still rather new at this, but could she just borrow 2011 AKV points and book the whole res and not use SSR points at all (banking them if she won't use them)?

Thanks for the reply, I have already borrowed from my contract and do not have this available to me.

 

[Cricket2]

Rent some AKV points?

 

[CarolMN]

FWIW, I think you are worrying when you do not need to worry. May and early June is not a time that books up as quickly as some of the other months. In fact, it's probably a candidate for one of the easiest times to switch 7 months. I would be very surprised if you had trouble reserving the rest of your trip if you call when the 7 month window first opens. Worst case, IMO would be you have to spend 2 or 3 weeks on the waitlist.

Keep in mind that by the end of this year, all of Kidani will be open. That will make AKV the third largest DVC resort behind OKW & SSR.

If it were me, I'd book what I could at AKV now and then call as soon as the 7 month window opened to book the rest.

Good luck!

 

[littlestar]

We've booked Sunday through Thursday with my mom's BCV points before at 11 months and then at the 7 month window picked up the weekend nights with SSR points. Just another idea to kick around. Of course, with DVC lowering the weekend points for next year, more people may be booking the weekends than in the past.

 

[bookwormde]

I will second the leave the weekend nights to book at 7 months, they are much more likely to be available and you will need to wait for less nights. OH by the way "splurge" for at least one SV studio.

bookwormde

 

[wdwfan1]

I also think a 2BR or GV would be a better choice. Of course, in a 2BR, the
2nd BR would have to accommodate 2 couples or one couple would use the LR as their BR. In a 2BR you would have a full kitchen and a washer and drier which can be a hugh convenience. There would also be more room with the LR.

For our December trip, I booked a GV at OKW for six of us. Those places look fabulous and I cant wait to be there.

Good luck and enjoy yoru vacation.