how likely to get 5 studios all near each other

[ellenmiele]

My sister and I are in early planning stages for my parents 50th anniversary trip to WDW in mid-Nov 2012. Seventeen of us all together. I am going to do the rooms since I'm the one with DVC. My mom wants me to book 5 studios so each family has their own privacy but she would want the studios to be very near to each other. My home resorts are AKV and SSR but I would like to stay at BWV or BCV since most of the grandkids are teens and if we are in that area the kids could walk to EPCOT and HS. I plan to book SSR right at the 11 month mark and try to switch at 7 months (And yes, I do realize that it will be F&WF at that time so this may require a truckload of pixie dust.) But my question is more about the resort layouts and the possiblity of getting 5 studios in close proximity to each other. I have never booked multiple rooms with my DVC points. I'm hoping that the size of SSR and the fact tht I can book there at 11 months might make it easier -- am I right about that? And I know BWV has a lot of studios as well - and for now forgetting about the difficulty of the timing with F&WF - does the size of BWV make that more likely than BCV to get 5 studios?

 

[Alexander]

Eh--probably not great! We've booked 2 and 3 studios in the past and not been really close.

At VWL we were on different floors and different ends of the building. Another time we were directly across the hall.

At SSR they were able to get us in the same building, but not the same floors or too close together.

There are not a whole lot of studios lumped together at any of the resorts, as they often serve as lock-offs with a 1 bedroom to form a 2 bedroom. And the reality of finding 5 of them somewhere close together and empty is going to be very difficult.

BWV in generally have more villas. BCV is very small. I think I would book that SSR reservation and be sure they are all linked together. I don't know that you are going to be able to get 5 studios at any one of the other resorts during F & W. At least at SSR they can most likely get you all in the Paddock or the Grandstand, the Springs, etc. so you'll be somewhat close together.

 

[juncker]

My understanding of getting room requests is that these are done at the DVC property about 1-2 weeks before arrival. I don't think that getting reservations at the 11 month mark, 7 month mark, or even the 1 month mark would have any impact. Your reservations would just be grouped with other reservations at that time.

I do think that because of SSR size that you're going to have better luck at getting in the same building/area than at BCV or BWV. They would just have more areas/rooms to choose from when trying to keep you together.

The downside of SSR would be if they don't get your rooms together, that you could be a VERY long way from each other. BCV and BWV would be better in that regard.

Unfortunately, it really is a crapshoot. You won't know until it comes time to check in. Don't be disappointed if they don't get you all in one area. Sometimes, it is very nice to get away from the group on these large family trips. Whatever happens, I'm sure that you'll have a good time. Enjoy!

 

[Pakey]

First, I will send you pixie dust because I think your chances of getting 5 BCV or BWV studios for the exact same days during Food & Wine at the 7 month mark will require a miracle.

As far as getting studios close together, you can register as a grand gathering through member services and then they will link the room reservations and attempt to get them close together.

Our last grand gathering, at BCV, with 5 studios, we had 3 on the 2nd floor and 2 on the first floor. Since studios are not next door to one another, they were close but not that close. The three on the 2nd floor were not even close to the location of the two that were on the ground floor. BCV is not that big anyway so it's not a long walk/elevator ride from one end to the other.

 

[Deb & Bill]

First, I will send you pixie dust because I think your chances of getting 5 BCV or BWV studios for the exact same days during Food & Wine at the 7 month mark will require a miracle. ....

I totally agree. Especially with F&W going on. And to get them close to each other will also require a major miracle.

 

[Candace]

My sister and I are in early planning stages for my parents 50th anniversary trip to WDW in mid-Nov 2012. Seventeen of us all together. I am going to do the rooms since I'm the one with DVC. My mom wants me to book 5 studios so each family has their own privacy but she would want the studios to be very near to each other. My home resorts are AKV and SSR but I would like to stay at BWV or BCV since most of the grandkids are teens and if we are in that area the kids could walk to EPCOT and HS. I plan to book SSR right at the 11 month mark and try to switch at 7 months (And yes, I do realize that it will be F&WF at that time so this may require a truckload of pixie dust.) But my question is more about the resort layouts and the possiblity of getting 5 studios in close proximity to each other. I have never booked multiple rooms with my DVC points. I'm hoping that the size of SSR and the fact tht I can book there at 11 months might make it easier -- am I right about that? And I know BWV has a lot of studios as well - and for now forgetting about the difficulty of the timing with F&WF - does the size of BWV make that more likely than BCV to get 5 studios?

As others have said, chances are not great for the 7 month mark during Food and Wine. Wherever you book, tell them you want to enter all rooms as a Grand Gathering. That will help your chances of being closer together (even though not many will be that close)

 

[rlovew]

I think if you stay at SSR you will have a better chance of having them near each other. The probablitiy of getting 5 studios at either BCV or BWV during F&W will be slim and then beyond that since each are normally completely booked you will all be placed in whatever units come open on the day you check in - it won't matter where you want to be only what rooms are opening up so the likelihood you are getting rooms near each other is slim.

If having rooms near each other is the most important thing to you then stay at SSR and ask for rooms in Carrusel- which is the least requested area of the resort (although it will be near the knew pool and is very conveint to the 2nd bus stop. Since many people don't want this section it is more likely to have 5 studios in the same building possibly even a number of them on the same floor.

Another possibility to get more people together would be to pair up any couples with families of up to 4 and getting a 2 bedroom for 2 groups- if you do this for at least 1 set of people- maybe your parents and another family, you will also have an area to hang out together that isn't public. Each group will still have an area equal to a studio that they can be alone in.

 

[daisyduck123]

If being together is of great importance to you all, I would probably book a couple of 2 bedrooms, rather than so many studios....even if it means shortening your vacation by a night due to save points.

 

[PSC]

I know that this is slightly off topic, but here's my vote for just getting 5 studios at the same resort and letting the room assigners do whatever it is that they do. If you are close to one another thats fine. If you are not that close thats fine as well. In my experience with traveling with family, a little forced alone time is a good thing. Agree that everybody will meet everyday for some set purpose, say breakfast. Figure out any other common activities you might want to do that day, but don't expect the whole crew to hang out together all the time.

 

[CarolMN]

As others have already posted, the chances of getting 5 studios at BWV or BCV at 7 months for mid-November are small. I see a real potential for your group to end up at different resorts. Remember, you may ony have two active waitlists. What will you do for example, if you can only get 2 studios at BWV?

I agree that if you are lucky enough to get them, register as a Grand Gathering. They will do their best to accomodate your wish to be close together, but it will be difficult to do at BWV, especially during that time of the year.

 

[com_op_2000]

I have gotten four studios in one building at OKW before. It is possible but does require your hands-on phone calls to MS and finding a helpful CM. Back when I did my four rooms, they did not have grand-gathering so I had to do a lot of things myself. Lots of to you and your group.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We had 3 standard view studios and 1 preferred studio at BWV near the 2 bedroom standard veiw that we had booked. We were registered as a GG.

 

[gracelrm]

We had 2 - 2BR and 3 studios at BCV in June 2010 at the 7 month mark. We asked that they be close and they were all on the same floor. When I inquired about our request to be close - they explained that as far as they were concerned - they were close by being all on the same floor. We were disappointed - however, by having the 2BR units - we had some rooms to gather in. It worked out fine - but not exactly what we wanted. I would agree with others that needing it during F&W will make it highly unlikely.

 

[Kristineamb]

We have rented DVC points to reserve TWO standard studios in March 2012.
I have requested that the studios be adjacent (I know there are NO adjoining studios.) I was disappointed to hear that getting even TWO studios close together was a long shot. I like the Grand Gathering idea but there are only 7 of us and I don't think that qualifies as a GG. Any advice or suggestions regarding my predicament would be appreciated!

 

[Buckeye Fan]

...And to get them close to each other will also require a major miracle.

I have had rotten luck with this! My BIL and SIL are DVC members as well. They get a 2 BR, and we mostly book 1BRs. Each time, even though we've requested to be close, we have to beg, borrow and steal to make it happen once we're there. If this tells you how bad it's been, when we checked in at OKW, we were originally in the Miller's Rd section, and they were back in Turtle Pond. At SSR, we were in the Springs, and they were in the Carousel! Except for 1 trip, we were at least able to get in either the same building or buildings next to each other when we checked in.

Some folks may have suggestions for beating the odds. When we booked, instead of asking for a specific location or floor, we just requested to be close to the other family. We thought this would be MUCH easier for them. In the end, it may have been easier had we both made specific requests (e.g., Turtle Pond area).

Wishing you best of luck, and sending lots of pixie dust your way!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

It's crap shoot really, no guarantees! This June we had a GV, 2br and a studio, requested that they be linked, close together! (Added the studio seperately) We got Turtle Pond, #42, #38 & #32. It would have been easier for all to be near the GV but it didn't happen! Years past, we had better luck, so there's no telling, but 5 studios is highly unlikely!

Good luck booking!

 

[ljcrochet]

Our first trip we stayed at SSR on developers points. We did a studio on the first night, then on one bedroom for 5 night followed by a studio for the last night. My FIL was there most of the nights we were in the 1 bedroom. They were in the same building but not close.

Funny thing was my DD was sick the last full day and we were without a room. Front desk said the reason we didn't have a room was since we had to be in the paddock building since that is where the linked reservations were. Had to explain, nope they left we just want a studio anywhere that is ready.

 

[paults]

I do this quite often in OCT with diff size rooms (4/5) at BWV. sometimes we are on the same fl and sometimes 1 fl apart. either way it wasn't a problem for us. I think it was easier 1 fl apart and just use the stairs.
this OCT we have 1(2bed and 3 studios) will see what happens but at least where in the same building

 

[bobbiwoz]

I do this quite often in OCT with diff size rooms (4/5) at BWV. sometimes we are on the same fl and sometimes 1 fl apart. either way it wasn't a problem for us. I think it was easier 1 fl apart and just use the stairs.
this OCT we have 1(2bed and 3 studios) will see what happens but at least where in the same building

At least the stairs worked for you. When we were on different floors at VWL, the stairs won't open for the floor just below you, if it's not the ground. Trying to find a short cut didn't work for us!

 

[wdwfan1]

We own at BWV and could not get all our nights this year. I called at about the 9 month window. We now have a split stay between BWV and SSR. (We added another day at the beginning and had to change VWL to SSR because we could not get that extra dayand we did not want to move twice.) I am still on the waitlistfor both BWV or OKW instead of SSR. Obviously we prefer BWV, but I do not think it will come through.

Hopefully you will have better luck than we did! Enjoy