What’s my best option?

[disneylover81]

What would make the most sense to do? My brother-in-law and his wife decided to come last minute to WDW with DH & I so I am scrambling trying to change our DVC reservation, since we we are currently booked in a DS. This is both their first times to WDW so the pressure is on to give them a good experience. We are going 4 nights, 8/31/23-9/4/23. As of now all that’s available to book is SSR, OKW or AKV Kidani. I could also waitlist 2 other options. We’ve never stayed at any of these resorts so not sure which is the best. Leaning towards SSR just because it’s the cheapest points. I told DH we could just do a 1 bedroom there since it has the Murphy bed and not a pull out sofa bed, but he’s wanting to do a 2 bedroom (no doubt it’s to impress his brother). But they are staying free on our points and I’m more stingy with them than DH is. Doing all 4 nights in a 2 BR at SSR requires me borrow 32 points from 2024, which I am not going to do. We are also only going to be there to sleep. It’s gonna be park open to park close so they can get the full 4 park experience in just 3 days.

We arrive 8/31/23 at MCO at 11:30 pm. We will use Mears Connect to get to and from MCO.

1.) I have 75 points left for 2023, but I need 103 to complete a booking for a 1 bedroom at SSR. So I need 28 points, I can buy 24 OTU points for $568, and borrow the other 4 from 2024. What happens if I cancel the booking? I know the OTU points must be used by the end of my 2023 UY. But what about the 75 I originally had? Do they go back to my current UY and could be banked if I needed them to? Then the 4 I borrowed, they are permanently in my 2023 UY also, correct? I don’t plan to have to cancel, but if they back out on us for any reason, I’d like to know how my points will be done.

2.) With our flight landing so late, I could use 15k UR’s and stay on arrival night at the Hyatt MCO and catch the Mears bus first thing Friday morning and drop our bags with bell services and head straight to the park. With this option, we could do the 2 BR for the other 3 nights and I’d be 20 points short, so $440 for OTU points. Or if we just stayed in a 1BR, I’d have exactly enough points and wouldn’t need OTU or have to borrow any.

3.) Or we can arrive at MCO at 11:30 pm, take the Mears bus to somewhere cheap like All Stars or Pop for $150-$200 and have Bell Services transfer our luggage to SSR while we are at the parks. Then like above, we could do the 2 BR for the other 3 nights and be 20 points short, $440 for OTU points. Or if we stay in a 1BR, I’d have exactly enough points.

Is there any other option I’m not thinking of that makes sense? I don’t want to waste our time, extra cash or points and I’m not happy about giving up my BWV reservation as it is. I’d even book 2 studios if I could since the point cost is comparable to a 1 BR, but none are fully available that route either.

 

[Genie+]

1.) I have 75 points left for 2023, but I need 103 to complete a booking for a 1 bedroom at SSR. So I need 28 points, I can buy 24 OTU points for $568, and borrow the other 4 from 2024. What happens if I cancel the booking? I know the OTU points must be used by the end of my 2023 UY. But what about the 75 I originally had? Do they go back to my current UY and could be banked if I needed them to? Then the 4 I borrowed, they are permanently in my 2023 UY also, correct? I don’t plan to have to cancel, but if they back out on us for any reason, I’d like to know how my points will be done.

As far as banking, that would need to be done in your banking window. You could cancel a trip 31 day out or more, and depending on your use year still bank them. For example, a December UY would need to cancel and bank before July is over.

If you’re switching the reservation around, then end up using less points, you could still modify to make sure the final reservation is using the OTU and any other expirable points first (like the 4 borrowed). From there decide to bank whatever points you don’t plan using this use year.

 

[Sandisw]

Any change to the trip within 31 days will result in holding points, which means they can’t be banked any longer, can only be booked for trips starting 60 days or less from check in and will expire at the end of the UY of the trip.

Since this trip is happening end of August, in order to bank any potential points, the cancellation would need to happen by July 30th with a check in date of 8/31.

It’s a tough one but I’d choose an option that had me in a 2 bedroom vs a 1 bedroom for at least the three nights.

 

[RoseGold]

I don't understand what you are asking. There should be plenty of 1BRs available, if you can fit in that. If they are staying for free, that is what I would be offering. We have no idea if you have the points to do that or not.

Otherwise, yea, you book something less desirable or do some of it in cash.

I'd also be pricing out Swolphin for them to stay there.

 

[Nursemanit]

Did you consider 2 studios at SSR - probably cheaper than a 2 BR.

 

[Genie+]

Did you consider 2 studios at SSR - probably cheaper than a 2 BR.

That’s not a bad idea. If it’s a park running trip the kitchen and living room aren’t as useful. It is also nice to just have your own space.

 

[Nursemanit]

Check the swan - I get 226 a night for that time

Save your points

 

[Nursemanit]

That’s not a bad idea. If it’s a park running trip the kitchen and living room aren’t as useful. It is also nice to just have your own space.

Nothing is open in studios - Labor Day weekend - only 1 and 2 br in SSR

 

[supersnoop]

With four people, I'd compare the price of Mears with renting a car. I bet it will be very competitive with the Mears cost.

I'd also suggest two studios at a different resort. I don't know how old your BIL and SIL are, but I'm too old to sleep on a couch. If you do decide on a 1BR, I'd go with Kidani since you'd get an extra bathroom.

Spending the night at MCO is a good option if it allows you to book a 2BR. The idea of booking a value room for that first night could work, too. I think renting car makes these options more viable since you could leave luggage in the car when you go to the park or move resorts.

 

[Genie+]

It’s a tough one but I’d choose an option that had me in a 2 bedroom vs a 1 bedroom for at least the three nights.

This is what I’d do too. Stay at Hyatt 1st night then move to SSR 2BR for 3 nights. Easy enough.

 

[disneylover81]

As far as banking, that would need to be done in your banking window. You could cancel a trip 31 day out or more, and depending on your use year still bank them. For example, a December UY would need to cancel and bank before July is over.

If you’re switching the reservation around, then end up using less points, you could still modify to make sure the final reservation is using the OTU and any other expirable points first (like the 4 borrowed). From there decide to bank whatever points you don’t plan using this use year.

I have to bank by Sept 30th. Ok so if I made a change it would use my OTU and borrowed points first. That’s what I was really trying to confirm before I bought any.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Doesn’t Kidani still have the pull out coach instead of the new Murphy beds? I think they were wanting to NOT have a sofa bed for their guests.

 

[disneylover81]

Any change to the trip within 31 days will result in holding points, which means they can’t be banked any longer, can only be booked for trips starting 60 days or less from check in and will expire at the end of the UY of the trip.

Since this trip is happening end of August, in order to bank any potential points, the cancellation would need to happen by July 30th with a check in date of 8/31.

It’s a tough one but I’d choose an option that had me in a 2 bedroom vs a 1 bedroom for at least the three nights.

I have Feb UY, I didn’t state that in my original post so I know I have to bank whatever I have by the end of sept. But I understand what you mean about canceling by 7/31 for this trip.

That’s what DH says too about the 2 bedroom so we can spread out a little. I just feel stingy with my points. We probably want to make park opening on Friday so I guess it makes more sense to just stay at a cheap WDW room for that first night.

 

[disneylover81]

I don't understand what you are asking. There should be plenty of 1BRs available, if you can fit in that. If they are staying for free, that is what I would be offering. We have no idea if you have the points to do that or not.

Otherwise, yea, you book something less desirable or do some of it in cash.

I'd also be pricing out Swolphin for them to stay there.

Sorry if I didn’t make sense. I am offering them a free place to stay, which is why I think 1 bedroom with a Murphy bed should be fine for them. It’s my husband that wants to put them up in a 2 bedroom with us. He’s not my brother so I don’t care where he sleeps and he’s more than welcome to buy his own room if he doesn’t like what I offer. I have 75 points left for this year, so I’ll have to buy OTU or borrow either way, unless I use the 35% discount for a cheap room the first night. We’ve never been to SSR, so I don’t even know what to expect there. But like I said we are only there to sleep and shower.

I will price out swolphin. I always forget it’s even there.

 

[Sandisw]

I have to bank by Sept 30th. Ok so if I made a change it would use my OTU and borrowed points first. That’s what I was really trying to confirm before I bought any.

Even though your banking is end of September, it doesn’t matter because holding status kicks in for any change or cancel to points as soon as you are less than 31 days from the trip, which for you is end of July.

 

[disneylover81]

Doesn’t Kidani still have the pull out coach instead of the new Murphy beds? I think they were wanting to NOT have a sofa bed for their guests.

It does and you’re right. We don’t want them on a sofa bed.

Did you consider 2 studios at SSR - probably cheaper than a 2 BR.

I did, and that’s what I’d love to do, but it’s not available being Labor Day weekend.

 

[disneylover81]

Check the swan - I get 226 a night for that time

Save your points

I will check there. I forget about them being there.

 

[disneylover81]

With four people, I'd compare the price of Mears with renting a car. I bet it will be very competitive with the Mears cost.

I'd also suggest two studios at a different resort. I don't know how old your BIL and SIL are, but I'm too old to sleep on a couch. If you do decide on a 1BR, I'd go with Kidani since you'd get an extra bathroom.

Spending the night at MCO is a good option if it allows you to book a 2BR. The idea of booking a value room for that first night could work, too. I think renting car makes these options more viable since you could leave luggage in the car when you go to the park or move resorts.

Mears is about $130 for all four of us. I don’t think any of us would be up to driving ourselves.

They are both 30ish so not too old. But I know I wouldn’t want to sleep on a sofa bed myself so that’s kind of a last resort. We do want to make this trip enjoyable since it’s their first time. That’s the best thing about Kidani is that extra bathroom in a 1 Br, but it does have a sofa bed.

Ultimately the decision falls on me and everyone else will do what I decide. I just wanted to weigh out all the options and get advice from the Dis.

 

[disneylover81]

Even though your banking is end of September, it doesn’t matter because holding status kicks in for any change or cancel to points as soon as you are less than 31 days from the trip, which for you is end of July.

Right. I would want to have a plan in stone before end of July in case I do have points to bank, although I don’t think I will at this point.

 

[Sandisw]

Right. I would want to have a plan in stone before end of July in case I do have points to bank, although I don’t think I will at this point.

I know you said you had a slight concern they might cancel on you so I might give them that date to keep in mind!