Using points for cruises or ABD?

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Hi all,

I'm a fairly new DVC'er and my question is - can you easily combine points from differenct contracts to use for DCL or ABD? If I've got X of AKV points and X of VWL points, will MS pool them together? Or how does that work?

Thanks!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Yes they will. I just did this tonight. However, don't be surprised if you need to get a superviser involved to do this. The CM I had would have totally screwed things up. I would call them like 3 times and see what answers you get. Then, ask for a supervisor.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks, ya wouldn't think it'd be that hard for them to do but I guess it could be. Hope you got it all straightened out!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Hi all,

I'm a fairly new DVC'er and my question is - can you easily combine points from differenct contracts to use for DCL or ABD? If I've got X of AKV points and X of VWL points, will MS pool them together? Or how does that work?

Thanks!

Yes that will work fine as long as you are the owner on both contracts. My husband and I have separate contracts and cannot comine them, but can use his points for one stateroom, and my points for another (we need two rooms when traveling with my daughters).

 

[eva]

It really isn't too difficult to do this as long as you know exactly how you are going to allocate the points for the reservation before you call. Think out how you are going to explain it and make sure that you ask them to repeat where the points are coming from and exactly what you have left in all use years concerned. I took points from 4 different resorts and three different use years for an ABD trip in 2008. It was very important that they use them exactly the way I requested because we need to pool as many AKV and OKW points for 2009 that we can for a 2-week GV stay with extended family in both resorts. So we had to use a number of banked points from 2007, only our points from two resorts for 2008 and 2009. The CM and I went over it a number of times. I was very worried with the first CM I talked to and was almost glad that the early booking for our trip date wasn't available. So I decided to call back. Next time I got a CM that was right on the ball and there were no problems at all. Do realize that these types of request have to be done by hand and can take a couple weeks to show up on the website. But sure enough a couple weeks later it showed up just the way I asked. Also, if you don't feel comfortable with the CM you are talking with, call back later.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

It really isn't too difficult to do this as long as you know exactly how you are going to allocate the points for the reservation before you call. Think out how you are going to explain it and make sure that you ask them to repeat where the points are coming from and exactly what you have left in all use years concerned. I took points from 4 different resorts and three different use years for an ABD trip in 2008. It was very important that they use them exactly the way I requested because we need to pool as many AKV and OKW points for 2009 that we can for a 2-week GV stay with extended family in both resorts. So we had to use a number of banked points from 2007, only our points from two resorts for 2008 and 2009. The CM and I went over it a number of times. I was very worried with the first CM I talked to and was almost glad that the early booking for our trip date wasn't available. So I decided to call back. Next time I got a CM that was right on the ball and there were no problems at all. Do realize that these types of request have to be done by hand and can take a couple weeks to show up on the website. But sure enough a couple weeks later it showed up just the way I asked. Also, if you don't feel comfortable with the CM you are talking with, call back later.

My changes showed up right away, right after they took the points. I didn't have to wait. I don't know why yours would take so long to show up? But you are right about the CM's. I just posted on another thread it took the CM along with a supervisor to get it right....45 minutes later!! Definitely was grateful for the superviosr, CM would have definitely messed everything up.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Wow, thanks for all the tips. Our contracts will be in both mine and DH's names thankfully, that'll make things a little easier.

So with ABD, is there every any other discounts available to DVC'ers, other than the early booking one?

Thanks again for your help

 

[eva]

Wow, thanks for all the tips. Our contracts will be in both mine and DH's names thankfully, that'll make things a little easier.

So with ABD, is there every any other discounts available to DVC'ers, other than the early booking one?
Thanks again for your help

So far that is the only discount that ABD has offered to DVC members. Be careful, don't think you automatically get the discount if you book so far out. It really has very little to do with how far out you are booking. There are just so many offered for each tour and once they are gone, that is it.

We are going on the Viva Italia tour in September and did get the discount for the 14th tour. But we had our hearts set on an adults only European (any of them) tour anytime in the fall. There were plenty to choose from. So we decided on our first few choices before calling. Well it didn't matter at all, when I called in August of 2007 for the Fall of 2008, there were absolutely no adult only European tours that had any early booking discounts left. So we choose one that was not adults only on the 14th.

 

[eva]

My changes showed up right away, right after they took the points. I didn't have to wait. I don't know why yours would take so long to show up? But you are right about the CM's. I just posted on another thread it took the CM along with a supervisor to get it right....45 minutes later!! Definitely was grateful for the superviosr, CM would have definitely messed everything up.

Not sure, but the CM said that they had to do mine by hand. (No developer points here.) And I checked every day until it finally showed up on line. I wish I could remember if the same thing happened on the cruises we booked. It's been a couple years since we used points, so I am not sure. Last year we paid cash for our cruise.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks for telling me about that Eva. I did think if you booked by a certain date you'd get the early booking discount - and I had no idea you had to book over a year in advance!

I think they need more tours!

 

[jfinke]

On a semi related note, has anyone paid for ABD half with points and half with cash?

 

[eva]

Thanks for telling me about that Eva. I did think if you booked by a certain date you'd get the early booking discount - and I had no idea you had to book over a year in advance!

I think they need more tours!

I thought the same thing. As a matter of fact, when DVC sent us an announcement about the early booking discount, it said something about booking 120 days out. But that is only the deadline for the discount. Unfortunately, they only set aside a certain percentage of reservations on each tour for early booking. We were out of luck on a number of tours more than a year out.

If you are interested in specific dates, tours, or want to book an adults only tour, call the minute the point charts come out. I waited a couple of weeks and ended up having to book the following week. Not a big deal. But we were hoping for an adult’s only trip. Although I have to admit that it seems that most fall trips have very few children anyway. Of course being Disney fans, we've never really had a bad experience with children on vacation. Just the parents! Sorry, just kidding!

 

[eva]

On a semi related note, has anyone paid for ABD half with points and half with cash?

It is just like Disney cruises. You have to pay one full person in points and each person has to be paid in completely points or cash. That means that one person can be on points and one person can pay cash. One nice difference is that you can participate in the discount paying with points and cash. It doesn't work that way on a cruise. Hope that makes sense. I did ask about it. But we decided to pay all in points this time.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

eva - have a great time on your trip. I'd love to read a report when you get back

 

[jfinke]

It is just like Disney cruises. You have to pay one full person in points and each person has to be paid in completely points or cash. That means that one person can be on points and one person can pay cash. One nice difference is that you can participate in the discount paying with points and cash. It doesn't work that way on a cruise. Hope that makes sense. I did ask about it. But we decided to pay all in points this time.

Sounds good. I assume that DVC MS can handle both transactions?

Thanks!

 

[eva]

Sounds good. I assume that DVC MS can handle both transactions?

Thanks!

When making reservations for ABD you just call MS. They call ABD and have them on a separate line to check availability. Once the transaction with points is completed, they transfer you over to an ABD representative. This CM then talks to you about the tour and all the particulars. They will ask for your passport info, allergies, and such. It went pretty smooth. I'm not sure which CM would take the reservation with cash. But since you talk to both during the same call, it shouldn't matter too much. Plan to be on the call about 30 minutes total.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

When making reservations for ABD you just call MS. They call ABD and have them on a separate line to check availability. Once the transaction with points is completed, they transfer you over to an ABD representative. This CM then talks to you about the tour and all the particulars. They will ask for your passport info, allergies, and such. It went pretty smooth. I'm not sure which CM would take the reservation with cash. But since you talk to both during the same call, it shouldn't matter too much. Plan to be on the call about 30 minutes total.

I just did this process last week. MS wil find availability from DCL, tell you what cabins are available. You have to pick one. They will take down all the passenger names, ask you what dining time you want. We do not have all the passports yet, so I need to call back with that info when I have it. They will take the cash payment in full during this phone conversation...be ready with a credit card. I did not buy insurance during the call, can do that when reservation papers arrive. Then you will be given a reservation booking number. Go online to disneycruise.com and sign in with your regular dvc login. Then you will be asked for your booking ressie number, and a birthdate. Put all that in, you will see your reservation. Its there you can sign up for excursions, etc. Hope this helps.

 

[nunzia]

Thanks for telling me about that Eva. I did think if you booked by a certain date you'd get the early booking discount - and I had no idea you had to book over a year in advance!

I think they need more tours!

..and then the first ABD Hollywood Magic tour was cancelled because not enough people signed up. I thought that would sell out quickly because of the can't buy it type special things.
We booked the minute the book came out, last October I think, for the 2009 January tour, and was told the same thing..there is no time window for early booking discount, it is determined by how quickly you book as the discount is only available to the first group. Each tour has a limit of 40 people according to the ABD CM I talked to.

 

[eva]

..and then the first ABD Hollywood Magic tour was cancelled because not enough people signed up. I thought that would sell out quickly because of the can't buy it type special things.
We booked the minute the book came out, last October I think, for the 2009 January tour, and was told the same thing..there is no time window for early booking discount, it is determined by how quickly you book as the discount is only available to the first group. Each tour has a limit of 40 people according to the ABD CM I talked to.

That's correct. And I wouldn't be surprised if they only reserve 8-10 seats per tour for early booking. So call as early as possible.

 

[eva]

I just did this process last week. MS wil find availability from DCL, tell you what cabins are available. You have to pick one. They will take down all the passenger names, ask you what dining time you want. We do not have all the passports yet, so I need to call back with that info when I have it. They will take the cash payment in full during this phone conversation...be ready with a credit card. I did not buy insurance during the call, can do that when reservation papers arrive. Then you will be given a reservation booking number. Go online to disneycruise.com and sign in with your regular dvc login. Then you will be asked for your booking ressie number, and a birthdate. Put all that in, you will see your reservation. Its there you can sign up for excursions, etc. Hope this helps.

The reservation I was talking about was for an ABD tour. But I have also book DCL with points , as you did. Booking the cruise was quite a bit easier. But it may be because ABD tours are fairly new and just opened to DVC in 2007. No matter which you decide to do, be sure to have all the information ready before calling. And be sure to confirm everything, including your point balances before getting off the line.