Reserving Home at 11 months then switching at 7 months - is it possible?

[TomBella]

Hi, we are looking to go to our home resort of BLT in Aug 2020 but want to do 2 or 3 of nights at AKV at the end of our stay. We are hoping to transfer extra points or buy a reservation from another member. Just wondering, if I transfer the full number of BLT points to cover the whole vacation could I reserve all the nights at BLT in the 11 month window to ensure we had some accommodation (we are travelling from the UK so don't want to be homeless for 3 nights) and then when the 7 month window opens can we amend the last 3 nights and switch to AKV instead? Does anyone know if there are any fees or charges for doing this? The other option would be to transfer the BLT we need and then look for a reservation at AKV from someone with that as their home resort so they could book for us at 11 months. We are wanting a savanna view studio are these usually available at 7 months or do they book up fast? Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi, we are looking to go to our home resort of BLT in Aug 2020 but want to do 2 or 3 of nights at AKV at the end of our stay. We are hoping to transfer extra points or buy a reservation from another member. Just wondering, if I transfer the full number of BLT points to cover the whole vacation could I reserve all the nights at BLT in the 11 month window to ensure we had some accommodation (we are travelling from the UK so don't want to be homeless for 3 nights) and then when the 7 month window opens can we amend the last 3 nights and switch to AKV instead? Does anyone know if there are any fees or charges for doing this? The other option would be to transfer the BLT we need and then look for a reservation at AKV from someone with that as their home resort so they could book for us at 11 months. We are wanting a savanna view studio are these usually available at 7 months or do they book up fast? Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

You cannot modify only part of a reservation to a different resort. What you can do is make two reservations at your home resort at 11 months - one for the nights you hope to stay at your home and the other for the nights you hope to switch - and then modify the second one to AKV at 7 months. If for some reasons you fail to secure the AKV studio, you can ask Member Services to combine the two home resort reservations into a single reservation.

There are no fees for modifying a reservation.

I don’t think that there would be a need to rent an AKV reservation in August. August does not tend to be a high-demand month at DVC and AKV is a very large resort. You should be able to book something at 7 months unless you’re shooting for a value or club-level villa.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I agree to make the initial reservation in 2 parts so you can modify the 3 nights to AKV. And that August shouldn't be an issue to get that away 7 months. Are you transferring points because you don't have enough to borrow?

 

[lovin'fl]

BUT...when you make the 2 BLT resies, put one name on the first one and one name on the 2nd one. Don't put same names on both or MS will combine them into 1 resie. For example, say you are doing 4 BLT nights put your name and then 3 BLT nights that you hope to switch to AKV put DH's name (or mom or kid...whoever you are going with). Then at 7 months you modify the BLT to AKV and add the names needed as you modify and then go back and modify the 4 BLT nights to add the names you need to that.

Transferred points also need to be same resort and same UY in order to see them online and use them online and modify resies online...if different resort and/or UY you have to call in to MS to use and modify.

 

[drusba]

As to being able to get an AKV savanna view studio at 7 months out for late August, chances are virtually certain of success if seeking Kidani, more like 50/50 if seeking Jambo.

 

[TomBella]

I agree to make the initial reservation in 2 parts so you can modify the 3 nights to AKV. And that August shouldn't be an issue to get that away 7 months. Are you transferring points because you don't have enough to borrow?

Thanks for the info. We are borrowing our own points from Sept 2020 but we are taking friends with us and getting a 2 bed lock off while they are there so we don't have enough of our own points. We are then planning to stay an extra 3 nights after they fly home and thought we would try out a new resort go with a savanna view as our son is animal mad and wants to be a zoologist so he would love it there. Any thoughts on which house has the best views? This does mean that the 2 reservations would be separate as we would be booking a 2 bed for 2 weeks and then the studio for 3 nights. Then we would just modify the studio.

 

[TomBella]

BUT...when you make the 2 BLT resies, put one name on the first one and one name on the 2nd one. Don't put same names on both or MS will combine them into 1 resie. For example, say you are doing 4 BLT nights put your name and then 3 BLT nights that you hope to switch to AKV put DH's name (or mom or kid...whoever you are going with). Then at 7 months you modify the BLT to AKV and add the names needed as you modify and then go back and modify the 4 BLT nights to add the names you need to that.

Transferred points also need to be same resort and same UY in order to see them online and use them online and modify resies online...if different resort and/or UY you have to call in to MS to use and modify.

Thanks for the info. Is it straight forward then to modify over the phone with member services from a home resort to a non home? It wouldn't be a huge problem if we ended up staying at BLT but we would like to try AKV for our animal mad son who aspires to be a zoologist in a few years. Thanks.

 

[TomBella]

As to being able to get an AKV savanna view studio at 7 months out for late August, chances are virtually certain of success if seeking Kidani, more like 50/50 if seeking Jambo.

Thanks for the info. What are the main differences between Kidani and Jambo? We would mainly be concerned with the savanna view and how close the animals might actually get to our studio as that is the main reason we are looking to go there. Thanks.

 

[MICKIMINI]

We prefer Jambo House and love to hang out in the magnificent lobby by the firepit and the amazing animal viewing area. Photos don't do it justice! One year we had a giraffe family with a little one right outside our villa along with a warthog, zebras and other animals and birds. Early morning and early evening are the best viewing times.

There is an intimate (we were 8 guests) Lunch With An Animal Specialist at Sanaa at Kidani. We were served lunch by the chef while the animal specialist spoke about the animals at AKL, especially the giraffes and we were able to go out and meet the two resident tortoises. It was a special surprise for my hubby and he loved it. I think your son would be thrilled at the opportunity. You do need to call and make a reservation for this if you can fit it in your schedule. Kidani is a short bus ride, or brisk walk away from Jambo House. AKL is an unforgettable experience

 

[starry_solo]

Thanks for the info. Is it straight forward then to modify over the phone with member services from a home resort to a non home? It wouldn't be a huge problem if we ended up staying at BLT but we would like to try AKV for our animal mad son who aspires to be a zoologist in a few years. Thanks.

You can modify it online

 

[lovin'fl]

You can modify it online

Only if transferred points are same UY and same home resort...BLT and same UY that op has. I just had same resort but different UY transfer points resie I needed to modify and had to call MS to do it. Had to call MS to book it initially as well. No problem to do that...call MS...at all. You just have to wait until MS opens which is an hour later than online booking/modifying opens. If it were a tough room to get (like standard view studio at BWV or club level anything at AKV) then that hour might make a difference. But OP wants savannah view studio so that's not too bad to get (maybe end of Aug which is beginning of F&W and near Labor Day is a little tough...definitely Kidani is easier than Jambo).

OR...OP...you can book the days you want to keep at BLT with the transferred points and book the days you want to modify with you own points. Then you can easily modify online at 8am of 7 month window.

 

[starry_solo]

Only if transferred points are same UY and same home resort...BLT and same UY that op has. I just had same resort but different UY transfer points resie I needed to modify and had to call MS to do it. Had to call MS to book it initially as well. No problem to do that...call MS...at all. You just have to wait until MS opens which is an hour later than online booking/modifying opens. If it were a tough room to get (like standard view studio at BWV or club level anything at AKV) then that hour might make a difference. But OP wants savannah view studio so that's not too bad to get (maybe end of Aug which is beginning of F&W and near Labor Day is a little tough...definitely Kidani is easier than Jambo).

OR...OP...you can book the days you want to keep at BLT with the transferred points and book the days you want to modify with you own points. Then you can easily modify online at 8am of 7 month window.

Sorry about that, forgot about the request to transfer to have enough points for the 2 bd at BLT and the studio at AKV.