Yet another 11month/7month question ...

[bellazachmom]

So sorry to ask a question that I am sure has been asked and answered numerous times, but I am having a bit of trouble figuring this out.

In my defense, we have been DVC members for 5 years and have made numerous trips home. However, since my hubby is part of our active duty military we never have the luxury of planning very far ahead. Well, I guess I could, but I would probably end up vacationing alone ... I wouldn't mind, but he might have a problem with it!

Our home resort is BCV but we haven't had a chance to stay there yet ... hasn't been available when we have needed it but we have had no problem getting OKW,VWL and HH with less then 4 months notice each time and have loved all of our trips.

We know that we want to visit in October 2009 to celebrate my daughter's birthday. We really want to stay at VWL since she and her little brothers will insure that we spend most of our waking hours at MK. I know that October is a very busy time for DVC. So, my question, and I really do have one is how we go about doing this?

I think I understand what all of you wise DISers have been saying and I should call at the 11month mark and book a trip at BCV and then at the 7 month mark try and change it to VWL - is that correct? What is the best way of going about this? I have never before done any wait listing, day-by-day calling, etc. HELP!! Is MS familiar with this concept? How do I go about "changing" the reservations? How do you book an new, 2nd reservation if you don't have enough points? Won't you have to cancel the first one before they let you make a new one? If I do that, isn't there a chance I could loose my first reservation?

Sorry to be so long winded, I am just a very OCD person and want to make sure I don't mess up my daughter's birthday trip! Any advice is greatly appreciated! - Jennie

 

[DVC Mary]

Yes, you book at the 11 month for the dates you want.

Member Services is very familiar & very helpful.

You won't run out of points b/c you will be transferring to a different DVC resort. They will keep modifying the original reservation over & over again as they get you in at VWL. You won't have 2 reservations for the same night.

At the 7 month window, you call at 7am (if possible) each day to get you days moved over to VWL. This is a bit tedious, but the best way to ensure the switch.

If this doesn't work, ask to be put a on waiting list to be moved to VWL. You may wind up w/ only 2 days at VWL & may have to hold out on a waiting list for the other nights, while still keeping your home resort reservation.

If you can be flexible w/ your room size 1 bedroom v. a studio or vice versa that will always help. VWL is one of the smallest DVC resorts & October can be busy b/c of the Halloween Party which requires separate tickets. There is a discount for DVC members.

If all else fails, you could split your stay 2 nights at VWL & 2 nights at BCV or Shades of Green w/ your DH's military discount. We are at our home resort BWV for 4 nights this summer & then a 1 bedroom at VWL for 3 nights.

I hope this helps. I may have been a bit too wordy, but I hope it's clear.

God Bless your husband for his service to our country & God Bless you family too!

 

[bellazachmom]

Thank you so much for the quick response! You answered all of my questions and I feel much more comfortable with what I will need to do when the time comes!

I'm beginning to think that having so much time to plan might not be such a good thing for me!

I hadn't even considered the monkey wrench that the Halloween party would throw into our desire for VWL ... I was only thinking about the F&W at Epcot! Yikes! Wonder if I could find someone who's home resort is VWL that would prefer BCV around the same time of year and might want to trade ... something to think about, anyway.

Thank you again for your help! -Jennie