1 BR + Studio = 2 BR suite??? at AKV

[pbdeguzman]

I just traded with RCI and booked a 1 bedroom and a studio at AKV both for 12/12-12/19. There were no 2 bedrooms available so I decided to book these two units giving up of course 2 of my RCI weeks and paying 2 exchange fees. I felt like this was a good opportunity and didnt think a 2 BR would come up in the near future. A 2 BR in AKV? In December? probably not. So I went ahead and did the second best thing.

Now, I am stressing out...Will DVC be able to put these two units together? Technically a 1 BR with the studio equals a 2 BR right? I called DVC and they say they would not do that. They will try to keep the two units as close together as possible but cannot ajoin them to make a 2 BR.

What???!! I called the front desk at AKV and they too cannot guarantee anything. How much trouble can it be to have a 1 br and a studio ajacent to each other and open the lock off door in between??!! Now Im stressing out, thinking that our family will be split up and we'll be walking down hall ways in our pajamas to get to breakfast in the 1 BR unit.

Or am I just asking to much?? After all I really did book a 1 BR and a studio separately and thats what i will get. Wheather or not they are ajacent and have a lock off door in between is beside the point! Arrgh! Should I just cancel these units and wait for a 2 BR in December??

Help!? can someone help me ease my mind?!

 

[TSMIII]

These reason these two cannot be combined is the same reason there were no 2BRs available - All have either been booked as 2BRs or broken up and rented/reserved as the corresponding 1BR & Studio.

Evidently your dates of stay did not coincide with a 2BR reserved as such, or a contiguous 1BR/Studio reserved separately, being available - so you get a 1 BR and Studio that are not adjoining - there may still be a chance you can get them close to one another though.

 

[icydog]

I just traded with RCI and booked a 1 bedroom and a studio at AKV both for 12/12-12/19. There were no 2 bedrooms available so I decided to book these two units giving up of course 2 of my RCI weeks and paying 2 exchange fees. I felt like this was a good opportunity and didnt think a 2 BR would come up in the near future. A 2 BR in AKV? In December? probably not. So I went ahead and did the second best thing.

Now, I am stressing out...Will DVC be able to put these two units together? Technically a 1 BR with the studio equals a 2 BR right? I called DVC and they say they would not do that. They will try to keep the two units as close together as possible but cannot ajoin them to make a 2 BR.

What???!! I called the front desk at AKV and they too cannot guarantee anything. How much trouble can it be to have a 1 br and a studio ajacent to each other and open the lock off door in between??!! Now Im stressing out, thinking that our family will be split up and we'll be walking down hall ways in our pajamas to get to breakfast in the 1 BR unit.

Or am I just asking to much?? After all I really did book a 1 BR and a studio separately and thats what i will get. Wheather or not they are ajacent and have a lock off door in between is beside the point! Arrgh! Should I just cancel these units and wait for a 2 BR in December??

Help!? can someone help me ease my mind?!

The folks at the exchange desk at DVC are less than forthcoming. I too have a reservation using II for Sept at the VWL. I used my member points to book a studio. I too was worried because the exchnage guy told me they would not put them together but then another poster said that if the names are the same they would do it. I have faith in DVC. YOu should too. Do not cancel. Kidani is a very big place. They will do their best to get you either in the lockoff two bedroom or one close by.

 

[kristenrice]

Did you book at Kidani? I am wondering because when I booked our 2BR for spring break, I initially asked for "a standard 2BR". Later in the process, I asked that they put in a "request" for a lock-off. The CM said that the DEDICATED 2BR is the "default" when someone books a 2BR. The lock-off is a separate booking category and has to be specifically requested. She had to go back and change my reservation request.

I assume that if all of the dedicated 2BR's are taken that a 2BR request would default to a L/O, but perhaps they have to specifically check? Maybe all of the DEDICATED 2BR's were taken, but they had lock-offs? I doubt it, but you can always ask.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Did you book at Kidani? I am wondering because when I booked our 2BR for spring break, I initially asked for "a standard 2BR". Later in the process, I asked that they put in a "request" for a lock-off. The CM said that the DEDICATED 2BR is the "default" when someone books a 2BR. The lock-off is a separate booking category and has to be specifically requested. She had to go back and change my reservation request.

I assume that if all of the dedicated 2BR's are taken that a 2BR request would default to a L/O, but perhaps they have to specifically check? Maybe all of the DEDICATED 2BR's were taken, but they had lock-offs? I doubt it, but you can always ask.

But the OP didn't reserve a two bedroom. The OP got a one bedroom and a studio. So there is no guarantee that they will be next to each other.

If the OP is staying at Jambo House, all the two bedroom villas are lockoffs, so the chances of getting them closer or connected should be better. Kadani Village? Not as good a chance.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

It's very possible they will be able to get you units that could have been combined into a 2BR. They can't guarantee it. And they won't be able to set up the room keys so that all keys open both doors. But if they get you those rooms, you can obviously open up the connecting door.

Until you check in, there's no way to know what will be available. But if the worst thing that happen is you have to walk the halls in jammies - think of it as a good excuse to get fun new jammies.

 

[MouseMomx2]

I do think you need to prepare yourself for the very real possibility that your Studio and 1BR won't be right next to each other. DVC will do what they can to fulfill your request, but they cannot guarantee that you will get what you want. Better to prepare yourself for the worst and then be pleasantly surprised if your requests are met.

 

[klburns]

I would not recommend cancelling your current ressies, even if they can't put your two rooms together. I think it is highly unlikely you'll be able to get a ressie for a 2-bedroom in Dec....

 

[dianeschlicht]

The time period you are trading into is a VERY popular one with DVC owners. If there were no 2 bedroom units available, that means only lock offs remained, and there is no guarantee they will be close. Your best bet is to do what you have done and reiterate it when you check in to the resort. I do think you will also need to pay two $95 "transportation" fees as well.

 

[Dean]

There have been 2 BR for that time but they have come and gone. I doubt you'll see another unless it's very short notice. Here's what you need to do. Give them until Tues later in the day, assuming you just made the exchange in the last couple of days. Then call and see what each one is. If they are different unit locations (one Kidani, one Jambo) or different unit types (one standard, one savannah view) you will know for certain that they will not be together but could still request they be close if in the same building. If they are the same unit type AND building, ask they be together, essentially a 2 BR lockoff. They will not guarantee it but it's extremely likely it will happen, repeat your request at check in. If they are units such that they cannot be combined as I described above or even if they are the same parameters, you must decide whether you can live with the risks involved. MS can combine them into a 2 BR if they want but I've never known them to do this. They do seem to have a little more flexibility with RCI than they did with II though so it never hurts to ask. Just no reason to ask until they see both units with your name one them. If you decide you can't live with the risks, call RCI back and explain your predicament. I had a similar issue with getting 2 1 BR AKV units for Oct and wanted to b sure they were in the same building. I made the exchange and called DVC but it was too early for them to be able to tell me. I then called RCI who actually called DVC while I was on the phone. The end result was he made a commitment to a free cancelation and refund for one unit if they were NOT in the same building. They were both in Kidani but one standard and one Savannah view. Assuming your still within your 24 hour cancelation window, you may want to call RCI and see if you can get the same commitment I did. One thing that complicates this is that with II, they actually had the DVC reservation number and it was on the confirmation, this is not true for RCI so all you can do is wait until they run the report.

 

[pbdeguzman]

There have been 2 BR for that time but they have come and gone. I doubt you'll see another unless it's very short notice. Here's what you need to do. Give them until Tues later in the day, assuming you just made the exchange in the last couple of days. Then call and see what each one is. If they are different unit locations (one Kidani, one Jambo) or different unit types (one standard, one savannah view) you will know for certain that they will not be together but could still request they be close if in the same building. If they are the same unit type AND building, ask they be together, essentially a 2 BR lockoff. They will not guarantee it but it's extremely likely it will happen, repeat your request at check in. If they are units such that they cannot be combined as I described above or even if they are the same parameters, you must decide whether you can live with the risks involved. MS can combine them into a 2 BR if they want but I've never known them to do this. They do seem to have a little more flexibility with RCI than they did with II though so it never hurts to ask. Just no reason to ask until they see both units with your name one them. If you decide you can't live with the risks, call RCI back and explain your predicament. I had a similar issue with getting 2 1 BR AKV units for Oct and wanted to b sure they were in the same building. I made the exchange and called DVC but it was too early for them to be able to tell me. I then called RCI who actually called DVC while I was on the phone. The end result was he made a commitment to a free cancelation and refund for one unit if they were NOT in the same building. They were both in Kidani but one standard and one Savannah view. Assuming your still within your 24 hour cancelation window, you may want to call RCI and see if you can get the same commitment I did. One thing that complicates this is that with II, they actually had the DVC reservation number and it was on the confirmation, this is not true for RCI so all you can do is wait until they run the report.

Thanks Dean For all your info....And yes I did call and did all you recommended. Unfortunately, the studio is booked as a savanna view and the 1 BR is a standard view. And now the reality of us walking in our jammies across hallways is hitting me....!

I am considering calling DVC tomorrow and maybe bargaining with them. Do you think they would be amenable to changing my studio reservation to standard view. That way, I would be doing them a favor of opening up a savannah view. Also then, giving me 2 units with a standard view and giving me a greater chance of having these two units together.

Or do you think I should just settle for what i have now...Maybe just deal with it when I actually get there in December. What if when I get there, ill get lucky and and they get me a 2 bedroom lock off with a savanna view. (or is that really impossible and totally out of the question). When I get there, if our rooms truly cannot be ajoining, then i can always pull out my offer of downgrading my studio savanna view at the last minute and hopefully getting a 2BR standard view. But not unless i exhaust all hope of getting a 2 BR savannah view. After all, one can only hope till the end. What do you think? Call DVC and give up my Savanna view for a standard view and at least be almost sure that the 2 units be ajoining? Or wait till the last minute and see what happens when I get there.

I am past my 24 hour RCI reservation so I cannot cancel. i still may be able to buy insurance and cancel though....but that really is not an option.

 

[Dean]

I am considering calling DVC tomorrow and maybe bargaining with them. Do you think they would be amenable to changing my studio reservation to standard view. That way, I would be doing them a favor of opening up a savannah view. Also then, giving me 2 units with a standard view and giving me a greater chance of having these two units together.

Or do you think I should just settle for what i have now...Maybe just deal with it when I actually get there in December. What if when I get there, ill get lucky and and they get me a 2 bedroom lock off with a savanna view. (or is that really impossible and totally out of the question). When I get there, if our rooms truly cannot be ajoining, then i can always pull out my offer of downgrading my studio savanna view at the last minute and hopefully getting a 2BR standard view. But not unless i exhaust all hope of getting a 2 BR savannah view. After all, one can only hope till the end. What do you think? Call DVC and give up my Savanna view for a standard view and at least be almost sure that the 2 units be ajoining? Or wait till the last minute and see what happens when I get there.

I am past my 24 hour RCI reservation so I cannot cancel. i still may be able to buy insurance and cancel though....but that really is not an option.

No, I do not think you can bargain with DVC, even if you offer just to take all standard view for everything but it doesn't hurt to try. 2 years ago we were at VB on a 2 BR exchange. They said they didn't have the ability to just give us a 1 BR, which is all we needed. With what you have, you have NO chance of getting them together. Likely your only chance is AT checkin and even then I'd say the chance was no more than 2-3%, even if you offer to downgrade. Just ask they be as close as possible, I'm sure they'll accommodate that. Even if they were the same view, there would still be no guarantees and you'd still have two $95 fees. If you need cheering up, just look at the cash cost of those units. You still may want to call RCI if you want to cancel one of the units or they might have a duplicate unit that MIGHT be a different unit type or it might be a different building, you never know. They also still might allow you to cancel in this circumstance.

I don't think the insurance will help you unless you meet the criteria for not making the trip.

 

[icydog]

No, I do not think you can bargain with DVC, even if you offer just to take all standard view for everything but it doesn't hurt to try. 2 years ago we were at VB on a 2 BR exchange. They said they didn't have the ability to just give us a 1 BR, which is all we needed. With what you have, you have NO chance of getting them together. Likely your only chance is AT checkin and even then I'd say the chance was no more than 2-3%, even if you offer to downgrade. Just ask they be as close as possible, I'm sure they'll accommodate that. Even if they were the same view, there would still be no guarantees and you'd still have two $95 fees. If you need cheering up, just look at the cash cost of those units. You still may want to call RCI if you want to cancel one of the units or they might have a duplicate unit that MIGHT be a different unit type or it might be a different building, you never know. They also still might allow you to cancel in this circumstance.

I don't think the insurance will help you unless you meet the criteria for not making the trip.

We made a reservation on points and reserved a two bedroom at VB. Upon arrival we found that the two bedroom lock-off category villas were the only ones that got Oceanfront. We were placed in the back somewhere we could see the ocean if we stretched our necks out over the balcony. Now if we go we always ask for the lockoff. I wonder if this was the reason you asked for the one bedroom downgrade vs the two bedroom.

BTW, a trade into VB at a good time of year was really hard under II. How did you get it?

Is it better in RCI, I mean the availability and all for DVC units in Orlando and VB and HH? Do you have good RCI traders?

If I knew DVC's rationale for staying with RCI I might do the Points for Lease thing you mentioned. But I am not sure they will stay with RCI.. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Marylyn

 

[gkrykewy]

I am considering calling DVC tomorrow and maybe bargaining with them.

 

[icydog]

Thanks Dean For all your info....And yes I did call and did all you recommended. Unfortunately, the studio is booked as a savanna view and the 1 BR is a standard view. And now the reality of us walking in our jammies across hallways is hitting me....!

I am considering calling DVC tomorrow and maybe bargaining with them. Do you think they would be amenable to changing my studio reservation to standard view. That way, I would be doing them a favor of opening up a savannah view. Also then, giving me 2 units with a standard view and giving me a greater chance of having these two units together.

Or do you think I should just settle for what i have now...Maybe just deal with it when I actually get there in December. What if when I get there, ill get lucky and and they get me a 2 bedroom lock off with a savanna view. (or is that really impossible and totally out of the question). When I get there, if our rooms truly cannot be ajoining, then i can always pull out my offer of downgrading my studio savanna view at the last minute and hopefully getting a 2BR standard view. But not unless i exhaust all hope of getting a 2 BR savannah view. After all, one can only hope till the end. What do you think? Call DVC and give up my Savanna view for a standard view and at least be almost sure that the 2 units be ajoining? Or wait till the last minute and see what happens when I get there.

I am past my 24 hour RCI reservation so I cannot cancel. i still may be able to buy insurance and cancel though....but that really is not an option.

I have to agree, there will be NO bargaining with DVC. If the room classification says standard view Jambo house and you want a standard view Kidani they probably will not grant your wish. But on your check in day speak with the manager on duty. If he/she doesn't get you the room you want ask for the GM or Operations Manager or the highest manager that is present at the time you are checking in. They can make Magical things happen. It is, after all, Disney World.

 

[Dean]

We made a reservation on points and reserved a two bedroom at VB. Upon arrival we found that the two bedroom lock-off category villas were the only ones that got Oceanfront. We were placed in the back somewhere we could see the ocean if we stretched our necks out over the balcony. Now if we go we always ask for the lockoff. I wonder if this was the reason you asked for the one bedroom downgrade vs the two bedroom.

No, actually it was simply to offer them the extra space in case they needed it for someone else. I didn't know it was a dedicated or location issue at the time of the discussion but it would not have affected the discussion in any way. I would not have asked for more than best unit location available and hope for the best.

BTW, a trade into VB at a good time of year was really hard under II. How did you get it?

Actually when they changed to being able to reserve any resort for deposit, VB because fairly to very easy to get certain times of the year. I used a lowly MX week and did an instant exchange.

Is it better in RCI, I mean the availability and all for DVC units in Orlando and VB and HH? Do you have good RCI traders?

I think there is more available. Certainly being able to search up in unit size is a major plus. I have whatever type of trader I want in RCI due to being able to deposit what will get the job done but hopefully at the lowest cost possible.

If I knew DVC's rationale for staying with RCI I might do the Points for Lease thing you mentioned. But I am not sure they will stay with RCI.. Any thoughts?

To date most of DVC's deposits have been in RCI weeks, that could change though.

I have to agree, there will be NO bargaining with DVC. If the room classification says standard view Jambo house and you want a standard view Kidani they probably will not grant your wish. But on your check in day speak with the manager on duty. If he/she doesn't get you the room you want ask for the GM or Operations Manager or the highest manager that is present at the time you are checking in. They can make Magical things happen. It is, after all, Disney World.

DVC could do this, they simply choose not to. I doubt there is any chance of success and one must decide how much energy and emotion to put in to this to try to make it happen.

 

[Deb & Bill]

OP, are both units in the same location - meaning are they both Jambo House or both Kidani Village? That could make it even more of a problem. Half the family in Kidani Village and the other half 1/2 mile away in Jambo House.

 

[pbdeguzman]

OP, are both units in the same location - meaning are they both Jambo House or both Kidani Village? That could make it even more of a problem. Half the family in Kidani Village and the other half 1/2 mile away in Jambo House.

They are both in Kidani, thank goodness. And, yes, I did call DVC and as expected, they cannot and will not change my reservation for anything. A trade is a trade. The CM I spoke to was very informative and empathetic. She recommened that 10 days prior to my arrival I start calling AKV myself and make my requests. They will try everything to grant my requests. Its a magical place so things CAN happen. We'll see....

And I know Dean, maybe im stressing too much about this. As a famous Disney character sings....Hakuna ma tata!!

Thank you all for all your input. BTW,This forum is absolutely amazing!

 

[Dean]

They are both in Kidani, thank goodness. And, yes, I did call DVC and as expected, they cannot and will not change my reservation for anything. A trade is a trade. The CM I spoke to was very informative and empathetic. She recommened that 10 days prior to my arrival I start calling AKV myself and make my requests. They will try everything to grant my requests. Its a magical place so things CAN happen. We'll see....

And I know Dean, maybe im stressing too much about this. As a famous Disney character sings....Hakuna ma tata!!

Thank you all for all your input. BTW,This forum is absolutely amazing!

I don't think DVC is depositing Jambo much if at all right now, at least from what I've seen. All you can do is ask, I still think you have a chance, just a really small one. And if you get them together, it's almost certainly going to be standard and not Savannah view so careful what you wish for.

 

[Cee]

OP, are both units in the same location - meaning are they both Jambo House or both Kidani Village? That could make it even more of a problem. Half the family in Kidani Village and the other half 1/2 mile away in Jambo House.

This might work depending on the group. If traveling with grandparents or in-laws, the distance and having their own space might be a plus.