SleepyatDVC
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2001
- Messages
- 2,557
Originally we planned on staying at BWV for 12 nights in a std vw studio over President's week and the following week. Reserved the studio 11 months out in order to save some points and so that we wouldn't have to move during the course of the trip. Those weekend points for a one bdrm are killers!
While juggling points, we decided we had enough to invite some friends to join us on part of our trip and upgrade to a 2 bdrm for the first 5 nights. They were excited to go. It would be their first stay on-site. We planned on driving down together and they would leave first.
But they later found out Feb wouldn't work for them. Both of our kids also had the last week of April off. So, I cancelled the Feb 2005 reservations and reserved a BWV std vw 2 bdrm for the first 5 nights and a BWV std vw studio for the next 7 nights just for our family. This was done still early close to 11 months out.
As time passed, those weekend points kept borthering me.
Especially since I couldn't be sure that I could move from the one bdrm portion of the 2 bdrm into the studio portion. Even if BWV arranged it so I could, would they do a full cleaning that day, or would I need to either pay to get one done or do an early load of linens, just in case? I started to really miss the full kitchen and laundry for the 2nd week. Much harder to go from a larger unit to a smaller unit.
So,... without telling DH, I started to keep an eye on the AP rates. Thought I would take the opportunity to try out either AKL or WL for the weekend and then moving to a one bedroom maybe at OKW. Didn't know if we would actually do this since we hate packing and moving around. As you may know, AP rates for the end of April are still not out yet.
A few months ago, the friends joining us ask me advice on deals on hotels so they can stay 2 more nights in WDW before heading home. We all discussed it and decided that I would keep my eyes open and when I found something, we would all move together over the weekend. If the AP rates did not materialize, we would maybe even move to the DTD hotels or to a nice one off-site.
Waiting, waiting,.. very frustrating because I wanted to finalize my plans. Not only for our April/May trip but for our October 2005 trip. Didn't want to book that one yet because I would have to borrow points, so I wanted to settle the earlier trip first. I wasn't frantic because I knew that there was still availablity at OKW in Oct (where we wanted to stay) and for May, we could always keep 5 nights at the BWV studio or move to OKW where there was availabilty.
2 nights ago, I was surfing on the Interval International website. I found a 2 bdrm at the Marriott Cypress Harbor available for 4/29 - 5/6/05. We stayed there twice in the past and have always loved it. My parents are the actual timeshare owners but our family are allowed to use it anytime otherwise it would go to waste anyways. They have 4 accumulated weeks at their resort as well as 2 weeks already deposited at Interval.
After consulting with everyone, we decided to make the exchange. So, sad to have to give up my 11th month reservation of a BWV std vw studio!
And we have to move off site for the entire 2nd week! But it was the right decision. We only have to move once move. We will have tons of extra room, especially once our friends leave on Sunday morning. I'll have my kitchen and laundry. It will be go to relax before driving home.
But best of all, I get to use 111 points towards my Oct trip! Since I will be borrowing less from next year, I will have more points next year to play with!!!!
Since, there are no cancellations with the Interval exchange, after I cancel our studio portion of the trip, my April/May 2005 plans will FINALLY be set after 9 months!! And then I can start finalizing the Oct 2005 trip!
It's people like me that make the waitlists work! Anyone else?
While juggling points, we decided we had enough to invite some friends to join us on part of our trip and upgrade to a 2 bdrm for the first 5 nights. They were excited to go. It would be their first stay on-site. We planned on driving down together and they would leave first.
But they later found out Feb wouldn't work for them. Both of our kids also had the last week of April off. So, I cancelled the Feb 2005 reservations and reserved a BWV std vw 2 bdrm for the first 5 nights and a BWV std vw studio for the next 7 nights just for our family. This was done still early close to 11 months out.
As time passed, those weekend points kept borthering me.
Especially since I couldn't be sure that I could move from the one bdrm portion of the 2 bdrm into the studio portion. Even if BWV arranged it so I could, would they do a full cleaning that day, or would I need to either pay to get one done or do an early load of linens, just in case? I started to really miss the full kitchen and laundry for the 2nd week. Much harder to go from a larger unit to a smaller unit. So,... without telling DH, I started to keep an eye on the AP rates. Thought I would take the opportunity to try out either AKL or WL for the weekend and then moving to a one bedroom maybe at OKW. Didn't know if we would actually do this since we hate packing and moving around. As you may know, AP rates for the end of April are still not out yet.
A few months ago, the friends joining us ask me advice on deals on hotels so they can stay 2 more nights in WDW before heading home. We all discussed it and decided that I would keep my eyes open and when I found something, we would all move together over the weekend. If the AP rates did not materialize, we would maybe even move to the DTD hotels or to a nice one off-site.
Waiting, waiting,.. very frustrating because I wanted to finalize my plans. Not only for our April/May trip but for our October 2005 trip. Didn't want to book that one yet because I would have to borrow points, so I wanted to settle the earlier trip first. I wasn't frantic because I knew that there was still availablity at OKW in Oct (where we wanted to stay) and for May, we could always keep 5 nights at the BWV studio or move to OKW where there was availabilty.
2 nights ago, I was surfing on the Interval International website. I found a 2 bdrm at the Marriott Cypress Harbor available for 4/29 - 5/6/05. We stayed there twice in the past and have always loved it. My parents are the actual timeshare owners but our family are allowed to use it anytime otherwise it would go to waste anyways. They have 4 accumulated weeks at their resort as well as 2 weeks already deposited at Interval.
After consulting with everyone, we decided to make the exchange. So, sad to have to give up my 11th month reservation of a BWV std vw studio!
And we have to move off site for the entire 2nd week! But it was the right decision. We only have to move once move. We will have tons of extra room, especially once our friends leave on Sunday morning. I'll have my kitchen and laundry. It will be go to relax before driving home. But best of all, I get to use 111 points towards my Oct trip! Since I will be borrowing less from next year, I will have more points next year to play with!!!!
Since, there are no cancellations with the Interval exchange, after I cancel our studio portion of the trip, my April/May 2005 plans will FINALLY be set after 9 months!! And then I can start finalizing the Oct 2005 trip!
It's people like me that make the waitlists work! Anyone else?
