Welcome Home Stay Questions

[airjay75]

Love these boards and this community. Learn so much new everyday. Starting to think about my first booking with my 300 RIV points for sometime during the first two weeks of February 2026. I'm about 1-month from the 7-month booking window. Starting to question just how much benefit I might or might not get from waiting until the 7-month mark and making my welcome home stay request vs. just going ahead, making a couple of reservations at RIV and then seeing what is available at the 7-month mark and/or possibly waitlisting. So, a couple of questions.

1. Anyone use their "welcome home" booking for a split day? Was MS willing to book both legs pulling from unavailable inventory for your split stay or just one?

2. So, if my top resorts for my split stay were VGF, BLT, PIT, CCV, and RIV, it seems to me the only two resorts MS could help me with are PIT and RIV because the other resorts are basically "sold out" so there isn't any otherwise unavailable inventory they can pull from? Do I have that right?

3. On the 7-month booking window, I think I've got my understanding correct that on any given day, at 8 am Eastern, you're able to book a 7-night stay that begins 7 months from today (for example, tomorrow is June 4th, and at 8 am, I could book up to a 7-night stay at any DVC resort with an arrival date of Jan. 4th). But, if you were going to do a split stay (say 3 nights that begin Jan. 4th and 4 nights that begin Jan. 7th), you'd need to wait a few more days (in this example, June 7th) to book the second leg of your split stay. Have I got it correct?

To add some color, all 1 BR rooms at RIV, VGF, BLT, and CCV all have full availability during the first 2 weeks of February right now. PIT is a different story - TP view fully available but only some nights for Resort or Preferred view. Of course, I'm sure that will all change quickly once the 7 month window opens up. Debating whether I wait until the 7-month window opens up to call MS or just go ahead and book 2 separate resort view RIV reservations in line with my desired split stay dates, and then see what I can switch to or waitlist. Seems to me that, unless PIT is really my #1 priority, I might be better off going ahead and getting my RIV reservations lined up. Haven't decided what my ideal split stay combo is just yet - TBH, it might be PIT and VGF (BLT would be one but for the pool being under refurb during that time). And, my preference for PIT/VGF/RIV would likely be resort view just to save my points. Guessing those are generally the quickest ones to disappear.

Appreciate any thoughts.

 

[Sandisw]

What I do know is that can’t pull availability outhouse think air from sold out resorts.

If it’s booked, and they don’t have any of those rooms reserved with their own points, then they cant offer it.

Most often, they can get you resorts actively being sold.

Also, they can’t override home resort priority. If you have RIV points, they can only book you RiV if you are beyond 7 months.

Since the first two weeks if February are more than 7 months out, all they can help you with right now is RIv.

If you want to wait to use your welcome home stay for a 7 month or less booking in February in hopes they can get you something you can’t get on your own, you can wait.