Advice Needed

[scotth84]

I am a new DVC member who will heading to WDW this summer. We are hoping to book a two bedroom for two nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Because we own at Poly we currently have booked two studios for those two nights. However, I am realizing that I don't think we will be able to modify the two studios into one 2 bedroom online. So, does it make sense to cancel the two studios at the Poly and so we can book a two bedroom when the 7th month booking opens? Even if we miss out on AKL, we will be looking for a two bedroom somewhere as we aren't really that interested in the two studios and want the whole family to be together and have laundry and a kitchen. I know things can be tough to book right now, so I'm nervous letting go of the two studios and then being stuck with absolutely nothing. What would you do?

 

[RoseGold]

You cancel one reservation, and then modify the other reservation online. It's easy.

I wouldn't worry about dropping the studios. You'll be able to get a 2BR at 7 months.

You can also "walk" the 2BR, that is book it a few days before your trip starts and then modify it every morning. Summer has been surprisingly open, I'm sure a 2BR Kidani won't be a problem. July and August are wide open for Kidani. Heck, even Beach Club 2BR has been open and Boardwalk, which is a lockoff!

 

[MICKIMINI]

Keep your Poly reservations just in case! If you get an opportunity for a 2 BR modify your studio reservation and then do the same with the second studio for the second night. Although it is a risk either way, if you get a chance to make this move late at night or very early in the morning there will likely be less DVC members competing for those villas. If it all falls apart hopefully you can get back on and rebook your two Poly studios just in case and try again!

You then can "chat" and ask DVC to link the two so you don't have to move. Good luck!

 

[JETSDAD]

A 2BR in the summer isn't going to be hard to get. I'd still probably just hold on to the Poly reservations as a back up (nothing to lose holding them) and then cancel once it comes time to book the 2BR.

 

[OPDman]

I would keep the studios and do a reservation modification at 7 months.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I agree that you should keep your current reservation and then make changes at the 7-month mark. Worst case, you'll have a reservation at Poly. I think you have a very good chance for the 2BR at AKL, and you won't be disappointed. But if you are new to DVC, I'd recommend a little homework on the AKL 2BRs before you go to book.

You probably know you can get standard view or savanna view overlooking the animals. We love the savanna views. But there are also 2 types of 2BR. There is a 2BR lock-off, which is essentially a 1BR connected to a studio. The setup will have 2 separate doors of entry - but more important, the studio side of the room has a queen bed and a queen pullout sofa for sleeping. There is also a 2BR dedicated, which is one large room and is ONLY a 2BR. The reason we like the dedicated 2BR so much is the extra bedroom comes with 2 queen beds - actual beds. It's so much nicer than the pullout sofa, if that might matter for your family group. Both 2BRs cost the same number of points, and this situation is true at many of the DVC locations, not just AKL.

Finally, know that AKL DVC rooms are available at both Kidani and Jambo - there are way more rooms at Kidani, but Jambo has a percentage of DVC rooms, as well. When you do your search at 7 months, it cannot hurt to search both locations. Given a choice for a dedicated 2BR, I would choose Kidani - but both would serve you well. Hope this isn't more than you needed to know, but it's part of our experiences staying at our favorite DVC resort - AKL! Good luck with your rooms and have an awesome trip!

 

[drusba]

What will be available at 7-months out in 2BRs at AKV depends on which AKV building and room category that you will be seeking. If club level or value at Jambo, you will have very little to no chance of getting it at 7 months out. Also Jambo standard view is more likely to be gone and savanna view has a more than a 50/50 of being open (the problem with 2BRs at Jambo is that all are lock-offs and thus they can be removed from supply as a result of a lot of the more common studio reservations). A Kidani savanna view, dedicated 2BR, is highly likely to be open while a dedicated standard view has a decent chance but somewhat more of a risk of being gone than savanna view. If desire is Kidani (larger and better rooms than Jambo with three rather than two bathrooms) whether you cancel one of your Poly reservations before 7-months out probably won't make a difference, i.e., if the rooms are shown as available at 7-months out, you should be be able to get one regardless of whether you need to first cancel at 7-months out one of your Poly reservations.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I am a new DVC member who will heading to WDW this summer. We are hoping to book a two bedroom for two nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Because we own at Poly we currently have booked two studios for those two nights. However, I am realizing that I don't think we will be able to modify the two studios into one 2 bedroom online. So, does it make sense to cancel the two studios at the Poly and so we can book a two bedroom when the 7th month booking opens? Even if we miss out on AKL, we will be looking for a two bedroom somewhere as we aren't really that interested in the two studios and want the whole family to be together and have laundry and a kitchen. I know things can be tough to book right now, so I'm nervous letting go of the two studios and then being stuck with absolutely nothing. What would you do?

Summer really isn't that difficult to book. Just look at the availability tool a day or two in advance and see if things are gone everywhere for 2BR's or if there are villas still available. If there's availability at places then make it easy and cancel at least one of the Poly studios and then you free up the points and can modify the other one. You probably could just cancel both though being some what dependent on the 2 dates you are looking for.

 

[scotth84]

Thank you everyone. It looks like I will be ok. We are looking for a savanna view either dedicated or lock off doesn’t matter and preferably at Kidani.

 

[zavandor]

Do you have enough points to book one night in a 2BR? If yes, then at 7 months book the first night. Then cancel one studios and modify the reservation to book a couple more nights. Finally cancel the last studio and book the final nights in the 2BR.
It's almost foolproof. Almost because there is a chance an owner can jump "in front" of your booking, but once you have the first night no one else can compete with you at 7 month.

 

[scotth84]

Do you have enough points to book one night in a 2BR? If yes, then at 7 months book the first night. Then cancel one studios and modify the reservation to book a couple more nights. Finally cancel the last studio and book the final nights in the 2BR.
It's almost foolproof. Almost because there is a chance an owner can jump "in front" of your booking, but once you have the first night no one else can compete with you at 7 month.

Unfortunately, we have a small contract and don’t have enough points to upgrade one studio to the two bedroom and keep the other studio. We would really need to cancel both to free up the points. I will check availability the day before the 7 months and go from there. I really think I’ll be ok.

 

[zavandor]

Unfortunately, we have a small contract and don’t have enough points to upgrade one studio to the two bedroom and keep the other studio. We would really need to cancel both to free up the points. I will check availability the day before the 7 months and go from there. I really think I’ll be ok.

One 2BR should be more points than 2 studios, aren't those extra points enough for one night 2BR booking?

If you don't, then modify the reservation of one of the studio to book the first few days of the 2BR. This way you cancel one studio only when you have your foot in the door. Then cancel the second studio and modify the 2BR reservation to extend it.