Booking Multiple Rooms -- Questions

[happydisfamilyof4]

We decided to use our points to host a family/friend reunion trip to Disney in May/June of 07. However, after compiling the guest list we realize that we need eight rooms – one 2 bedroom and 7 studios. Has anyone else ever booked so many DVC rooms at one time? How will this work with member services? Once I give names of those planning to be in each room can I go back and change them later if need be?

Any insight would be appreciated – as I am already stressing the reservation process and the invites have not even been sent!

Thanks

 

[1SickPupe]

You're going to have your hands full. If your stressed now, just wait.
We booked 2 studios at BWV's for this June, and MS was very helpful. The only thing we had a problem with, and you will too, is they wouldn't guarantee that the rooms would be close to one another. They said they would do their best to get us as close as possible. If we're in the same wing, on the same floor I would be happy.
I would also suggest to get in quick at the 11 month window. You can always make changes throughout the year.
Good Luck - You're going to need it.

 

[jekjones1558]

If you call near the 11 month window for your home resort the process will be just as easy as booking a single room. Add your request for rooms close together, but don't count on it. You can change names on ressies whenever you need to do so. Your biggest stress factor will probably be people changing their minds about coming or not coming. Hopefully any changes will be before the 30 day window to have points go into holding.

 

[lisaviolet]

I leave in less than two weeks and I am doing the same thing. Not quite as many rooms though....13 of us.

I've had no problems. Only very happy grateful family members. So excited.

Have added extra names, changed dates for some etc. and it has all gone very smoothly.

Have a wonderful time!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Eanie Meanie, Chili Beanie, the spirits are about to speak! (Insert best Bullwinkle Moose voice here):

I bet you will be changing your DIS name from happydisfamilyof4 in about one year. Suggested names: crazydisfamilyof4, neveragaindisfamilyof4.

Seriously, let us know how it goes. With that many rooms, it should be a real headache.

 

[happydisfamilyof4]

Thanks for the advice. I plan to make the ressies 11 months out - the very first day that I am eligible. We are also planning to give everyone a 90-day prior to the trip drop-out date and unless a true “unavoidable circumstance / emergency situation” charging them the going rental price for any points that we may loose. We are not charging for or renting the points to them otherwise -- It is a gift. However, we do not want to risk people changing their minds at the last minute and causing us to loose points needlessly.

I am not too worried about the rooms not being close together, and actually there are a few people I would not mind being a few floors and many hallways away from (MIL and DB’s wife). However, we are also going to register as a Grand Gathering (there will be approx. 35 of us all together). Do you know if that makes a difference in whether or not they try to keep the rooms close together? I think I read somewhere that the regular Disney Resorts try to do that, but am not sure about DVC.

Thanks again!

 

[ceejay13]

We have done 5 rooms at a time and it really wasn't that big of an issue if you book at the 11 month window. We actually called day by day and it was a very smooth process.

 

[MAO]

I had a total of four rooms in 2004 -- not a Grand Gathering, but we were all on the same floor and at least three of us were right next to each other. (The sister with 4 kids was separated from the rest of us, I think, by a couple of rooms -- not a big deal anyways since it was rare that we tried to all get together in one place at one time.) We all checked in at various times of the day, so they did a great job of putting us all together. Of course, we went in October so it wasn't quite as crowded as at other times of the year.

 

[BroganMc]

However, we are also going to register as a Grand Gathering (there will be approx. 35 of us all together).

I can't offer any other insight to MS but wish you lots of luck for arranging that trip successfully. I usually try to organize my group of 16 (including 4 families) with a few hangers-on every couple years. I don't book for more than 2 families as the two others have timeshares of their own and are best left figuring it out solo. Just getting that many people to agree being in the same city at the same time is a feat in itself.

Last trip was March 2005. With extra family, we ended up with 22 people total (8 kids and 14 very opinionated adults). I had so many headaches and so much stress I was ready to disown the whole family before the end of the first day. No one appreciates the planner. You'll be fielding all manner of complaints and they'll naturally assume you are on call to fix everything for them. Best day we had was when we finally broke into smaller groups of 2-3 people and gathered for the big events.

Still, I'm laying the groundwork for another family gathering October 2007. It's too much fun having everybody together. Now with DVC, I can plan on making that happen on property. (We have been staying offsite.) But our points only allow for doing that every 2-3 years, about when I can recover for the next invasion.

 

[Lora]

Wow. It sounds like a lot of fun to me! I can't get anyone to come along with us. I spoke to my sister today about going and she thinks she wants to get a quiet cabin somewhere for their family vacation. She's picturing everyone sitting around reading peacefully. I have nothing against reading a good book, but I want her to come to WDW!!

I hope you can get all of your rooms booked without a hitch!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Lora, your sister sounds like my SIL!
She says she went to WDW once 12 years ago, so she has "seen that already". I don't think so!

 

[n2mm]

Wow, what a big job. Just curious, what resort are you booking? I thought booking 2 rooms arriving on different dates was hard to keep track! Let us know how this works out.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Have fun! We had 5 rooms ( 1 2 bedroom, and 4 studios) for a GG in December '04, at BWV, and we were all on the same floor, and pretty close to each other. I adjusted the names in each room a few times, that wasn't a problem with MS. It all worked out and we have many many happy memories of that time. Don't forget to take pictures, and send some in to MS. Perhaps you'll be in the Vacation Magic magazine, we were!

Bobbi