Best way to book with undecided party?

[WLodgeLizard]

Hi Friends,

Somewhat new owner with a planning question. We are looking to book a Dec trip at VWL and possibily bringing MIL and FIL along. If MIL and FIL can come, we would need a 2 BR, if not, we would just need a 1 BR. What would be the best way to reserve this:

1. Book the 2BR now, if the IL's cancel, can we "downgrade" to a 1BR or do we have to book a new 1BR?

2. Book a 1 BR and studio now. If the IL's cancel, just cancel the studio. Requires more points than a 2 BR, but guarantees the 1 BR. Would also probably switch this to a 2 BR just before the 7 mo window.

Any ideas, experience with this kind of situation?

Thanks,

WLL

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I would probably go for the 1 bedroom and a studio. You will be getting the exact same thing, except that YOU WILL PROBABLY NOT be right next to each other.

I've found that wishy washy family tend to stay pretty wishy washy with DVC. They don't own and don't understand, which just drives the DVC owner crazy. Plus, its not a problem to say "We'll meet you in the lobby at 8am," AND they get their own space.

HOWEVER, if you think they will like the 2 bedroom so that they can bring lots of food and save money, then you're stuck. You've got to get the 2 bedroom, or make sure THEY get the 1 bedroom.

I hope the trip is pretty early in your UY.

I treated DVC rooms for my 2 sisters and their families 2 years ago, and would never consider doing that again. Both sisters brought a house full of food with them. I did the best that I could and got a 2 bedroom and a studio. My sister in the studio was pretty far away from us, and was really po'd. I requested rooms close together, but had no luck. I found out that my sisters and I do not get along as well as we used to. The sister that got mad bought her own food TO COOK after my other Sis and I had gone grocery shopping and told her that we had. I really didn't want TO COOK at all. The outcome was that one of my sisters bought a lot of food that wasn't necessary and then wasn't able to cook it, and wasn't willing to go out of her way to cook breakfast. She asked that I give up the 1 bedroom portion for her studio, and DH freaked. My other BIL didn't want a house full of kids in the 2 bedroom, so I didn't change it. There are still hurt feelings. I specifically put them in the studio because they smoked. Well, Disney didn't even give them a smoking studio. (Irrelevant now.) Anyway, we ruined their world on purpose.

Everyone refused to plan, and got mad that it was confused.

Long story short...guest tend to not plan and not give you a definitive answer until the last minute. (Get a 1 bdrm and studio.)

Guest get mad if they bring a lot of food and aren't staying with you. (Get the 2 bdrm.)

Figure out which scenario fits your inlaws and go with it.

 

[DebbieB]

You cannot "downgrade" a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom unless there is a 1 bedroom available when you call (no waitlist). December is a popular time at VWL, I would go with the 1 bedroom and studio. If you have to, you can waitlist for a 2 bedroom later.

 

[Candace]

You cannot "downgrade" a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom unless there is a 1 bedroom available when you call (no waitlist). December is a popular time at VWL, I would go with the 1 bedroom and studio. If you have to, you can waitlist for a 2 bedroom later.

Yes, this is correct; I tried doing this once but was told that I couldn't drop the studio portion of the 2Br - as in I had to cancel and start over behind anyone waiting for a 1BR. I kept the 2BR instead. So, the "safe" way to do this is to book them separately.

 

[jamstew]

I treated DVC rooms for my 2 sisters and their families 2 years ago, and would never consider doing that again. ... I found out that my sisters and I do not get along as well as we used to.

I found that out the hard way when I decided to invite my sister, with whom I hadn't traveled since we were kids, on a trip to Florida (thankfully not Disney--I would've just had to kill her in that case). I remembered about the third day in that I hated traveling with her when we were kids, too

 

[Dean]

Family trips are a whole 10 different threads. I have lots of stories, most very positive and a couple of minor negatives. We do a family trip every other year on average. We get space with our timeshares (DVC, Mariott, Bluegreen) and invite people until all is full. We normally include my sister's family every time and rotate which side of the family (and the specific family) gets invited. We cover the lodging. It works great for us but that's partly because most everyone is considerate and appreciative. I take into account when people are likely able to go then I plan the trip. If you can't go or can't decide, too bad, I move on to invite the next family. If you cross MY line, you don't get invited again. Then I have a few simple rules for the trip itself that includes that you pay your expenses, one group meal out and I don't wait on you/you don't wait on me.

The BEST way to do this is to reserve a 2 BR and a 1 BR if you have enough points. If not, I'd reserve the separate units. Even if you have enough points to do both the 2 BR and 1 BR for most of the time, that might be better than nothing. If you reserve them separately and they do go, you could always try to change it later to the 2 BR and recoup the few points. Remember for separate reservation they may not be attached which can be a good thing in some cases.

 

[JimMIA]

The BEST way to do this is to reserve a 2 BR and a 1 BR if you have enough points. If not, I'd reserve the separate units.

I think Dean nailed it.

Inlaws are notorious for becoming outlaws where DVC is concerned. Our best trip ever was with inlaws, but there are too many anguished inlaw/outlaw threads here of the DIS to count! People figure you have the villa anyway and if they decide to go or not is no big deal. They don't understand DVC, and nothing you can do will make them understand.

If their plans change, you're not going to be able to "change" your reservations in December because the waitlists will probably begin in February. By the time your inlaws decide they're not going, you'll have no chance of canceling one ressie and getting another.

Dean's strategy gives you both of the units you might need and protects you. You will NEED to give the inlaws a firm drop-dead date and cancel if they haven't made a solid decision by that date. If they later decide to go, they can call CRO and book a cash reservation.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree with Dean. It will be much better to have them in the same 2 bedroom with you instead of risking being far away. I'd probably reserve both a 2 and 1 bedroom and give them a deadline of when you have to know. Make it so you can still bank the extra points from the unit not used.

 

[Dean]

To add, it's often better to do weekend nights on cash anyway so one way to stretch points if you need to for the above plan is to only reserve weekday nights taking the chance on the weekends that they can be later reserved on points. You may even be able to get the members cash discount so you can guarantee not to move those days. Worst case scenario is you have extra points left and have to move for those couple of nights.

 

[dianeschlicht]

To add, it's often better to do weekend nights on cash anyway so one way to stretch points if you need to for the above plan is to only reserve weekend nights taking the chance on the weekends that they can be later reserved on points. You may even be able to get the members cash discount so you can guarantee not to move those days. Worst case scenario is you have extra points left and have to move for those couple of nights.

Dean, I think you meant the bolded one above should be WEEKDAY instead of weekend.

 

[Dean]

Dean, I think you meant the bolded one above should be WEEKDAY instead of weekend.

Thanks, yes, I've corrected the typo.

 

[crisi]

Dean's strategy gives you both of the units you might need and protects you. You will NEED to give the inlaws a firm drop-dead date and cancel if they haven't made a solid decision by that date. If they later decide to go, they can call CRO and book a cash reservation.

Someone once said "I make my family book airfare by X. If they don't book airfare by X, they aren't committed and I cancel their reservation."

Another strategies people have used:

Have backup guests - this is often good friends who have some flexibility and understand "if my inlaws don't go, would you guys like to - but I won't know until much later." Its nice to plan on having your backup guests for sure at some point, people tend to get annoyed with perpetual status on the backup guest list....

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Someone once said "I make my family book airfare by X. If they don't book airfare by X, they aren't committed and I cancel their reservation."

Another strategies people have used:

Have backup guests - this is often good friends who have some flexibility and understand "if my inlaws don't go, would you guys like to - but I won't know until much later." Its nice to plan on having your backup guests for sure at some point, people tend to get annoyed with perpetual status on the backup guest list....

Since we drove, I TRIED to get mine to commit to tickets. Guess what? Traveling in April, they were waiting for Income Tax checks to buy tickets. Anyway, its a thought.

 

[dzorn]

Yes, this is correct; I tried doing this once but was told that I couldn't drop the studio portion of the 2Br - as in I had to cancel and start over behind anyone waiting for a 1BR. I kept the 2BR instead. So, the "safe" way to do this is to book them separately.

This is not necessary true. They did allow me to drop the studio portion for my Feb trip. We had a two bedroom lock off. Maybe I was just lucky. I did it by e-mail. I did not think it was possible and wanted to know the reasoning. In the e-mail I explained how it did not hurt anyone on the waitlist. If I was willing to keep the two bedroom if it meant I could not get a one bedroom. The waitlist would stay the same, but if they modified my reservation to a one bedroom someone on the studio waitlist would be very happy. They did say it was not possible if I would have booked a dedicated two bedroom.

Maybe I just got a little pixie Dust

Denise in MI

 

[Dean]

This is not necessary true. They did allow me to drop the studio portion for my Feb trip. We had a two bedroom lock off. Maybe I was just lucky. I did it by e-mail. I did not think it was possible and wanted to know the reasoning. In the e-mail I explained how it did not hurt anyone on the waitlist. If I was willing to keep the two bedroom if it meant I could not get a one bedroom. The waitlist would stay the same, but if they modified my reservation to a one bedroom someone on the studio waitlist would be very happy. They did say it was not possible if I would have booked a dedicated two bedroom.

Maybe I just got a little pixie Dust

Denise in MI

Most likely they had the other unit available so you never knew it was actually a cancelation and rebooking.