Long post alert!
Before the incentives changed in Sept, I bought into Riviera for 155 points (130 for a fixed week + 25 in a separate contract). I got an Oct UY, so I was able to bank the 2019 points. This left me with a lotta points burning a hole in my DVC pocket.
Like so many others, I’ve been riding the reservation rollercoaster. My March 2020 trip was cancelled and I rescheduled it to Nov 2020 at Pop. Now I’m cancelling that one and decided to try for Easter week with my shiny new points: 04/05/21 – 04/10/21
I’m traveling with my mom, aunt, cousin & her husband. My dream reservation was a 2 bedroom standard view at Riviera. I know how busy that week is, so as expected, only 2 nights were available out of 5.
I checked availability at the other resorts and I could piece together a split stay, with a mix of 2 bedrooms and/or 2 studios at various view levels. I could also try the waitlist.
But I had read when you buy direct, MS can help with a ‘Welcome Home’ reservation. For your first DVC trip, if there’s no availability, they may be able to pull a room from other inventory (especially in resorts that aren’t sold out).
It was worth a shot! I called MS to see if they could get my 2 bedroom at RIV. Preferred view was available, but I would need to cancel my 2021 Fixed Week to borrow points and I don’t want to do that.
Very long story short, they were miraculously able to pull a room from somewhere and I have my reservation! Standard View Dedicated 2 Bedroom at Riviera for 5 nights during Easter week.
Big thanks to Member Services! And thanks to this and other DVC boards. I wouldn’t have known this was possible otherwise. I went in knowing it might not work out, but it didn’t hurt to ask.
Before the incentives changed in Sept, I bought into Riviera for 155 points (130 for a fixed week + 25 in a separate contract). I got an Oct UY, so I was able to bank the 2019 points. This left me with a lotta points burning a hole in my DVC pocket.
Like so many others, I’ve been riding the reservation rollercoaster. My March 2020 trip was cancelled and I rescheduled it to Nov 2020 at Pop. Now I’m cancelling that one and decided to try for Easter week with my shiny new points: 04/05/21 – 04/10/21
I’m traveling with my mom, aunt, cousin & her husband. My dream reservation was a 2 bedroom standard view at Riviera. I know how busy that week is, so as expected, only 2 nights were available out of 5.
I checked availability at the other resorts and I could piece together a split stay, with a mix of 2 bedrooms and/or 2 studios at various view levels. I could also try the waitlist.
But I had read when you buy direct, MS can help with a ‘Welcome Home’ reservation. For your first DVC trip, if there’s no availability, they may be able to pull a room from other inventory (especially in resorts that aren’t sold out).
It was worth a shot! I called MS to see if they could get my 2 bedroom at RIV. Preferred view was available, but I would need to cancel my 2021 Fixed Week to borrow points and I don’t want to do that.
Very long story short, they were miraculously able to pull a room from somewhere and I have my reservation! Standard View Dedicated 2 Bedroom at Riviera for 5 nights during Easter week.
Big thanks to Member Services! And thanks to this and other DVC boards. I wouldn’t have known this was possible otherwise. I went in knowing it might not work out, but it didn’t hurt to ask.
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