II trade into DVC

[spiceycat]

If only we could put 5 people in a 1 bedroom. I know they would fit, but Disney won't allow it, correct?

Thanks again!

the new AKV will allow 5 in a 1-bedroom - but until Kidani is finished don't expect to see it in II.

what 5 are you talking about - if one is 3 years old or under - then you are fine.

otherwise yes - DVC is definitely stricker with II exchanges, than DVC members or paying guests.

 

[Brian Noble]

Regarding 5 in a unit: if one of your kids is under three, they don't count towards the four-person limit---the 1BRs even have Pack & Plays in them, IIRC. If everyone is three or older, offiically Disney won't do it---and if you call CRO asking to book five on a cash reservation, they won't even discuss the possibility.

However, Member Services has been known to allow Members to book five into 1BR units from time to time, quite unofficially. Keep searching for a 2BR, but if you are offered a 1BR, put it on 24-hour hold, and then ask the II agent for the Disney reservation number. Then, call Member Services with the number and ask them if you could put a fifth person on the reservation. The worst they can say is no, and you can cancel the unit, resuming your initial search. But, you must cancel within 24 hours---not the end of the next business day, but 24 hours.

You don't want to put five in without telling them. You won't get a fifth KTTW card for EMH, and you won't be able to use ME.

 

[kkleiner]

Hi again,

Our search is actually in 2 parts:

last week in April 2009
mid June 2009 (school gets out here in mid June) until August 26th. We go back to school the day after labor day.

I think I have the Summer covered that way.

I will take your advice on calling Disney if they offer a 1 bedroom. That is good advice. Can't hurt, as long as I cancel!

 

[Lisa P.]

kkleiner, your dates are so flexible that I think you'll be fine. Include DAK in your request if II will accept it and don't worry about it otherwise. Even when it is added to II, V@AKL will be a rare sighting for some time, and not likely any 2BRs, just because DVCers will book up inventory while inventory is limited.

The suggestion to accept a 1BR if offered is a good one, so long as you make sure you call Member Services promptly to verify that they'll allow you all (w/3 children) to stay in the room. I have another tip for you about exchanging into a 2BR, though, so sending a PM.

 

[madelyn]

We had 5 ticket aged people in a 1 bedroom at Saratoga in July. We had done an II exchange. I called Member Svcs to ask them about our party size and they seemed to be fine. We actually had my family (which was 2 adults and 3 kids ages 9, 6 and 1) and my sister, an additional adult, so 6 total but one under 3. I was open about it since I made my dining reservations through Member Svcs and had to ask for tables for 6. I even requested that we add 5 of us to the dining plan. That day I got a call back from MS and they said the system would not let them input 5 for the Dining plan for a 1 bedroom unit. They were going to drop my youngest child from the reservation but then I thought it would be simpler just to have my sister pay for her meals separately so we had 2 adults/2 kids on the dining plan. So my sister was dropped from the reservation officially. They did say they were fine about having all of us in the unit though. However, at check-in we did have a problem because they could not issue a key for my sister. I was up at the check in counter for a long time and again, while they said it was fine that she slept in the room, they would not be able to issue a key. I asked if we would encounter problems at Extra Magic Hours or for bus transportation and they said we wouldn't. We never did have problems and if my sister needed a key if we had different schedules, we just gave her one of ours.

 

[kkleiner]

An update here, still no 2 bedroom luck into DVC, but I know we have the trading power based on the searches I've done for other times @ DVC resorts. I'm thinking about asking II to accept a 1 bedroom and then calling Member Services to plead my case.

Also, 'madelyn', if I may ask, how did you handle sleeping arragements? In our case, we would have 2 in the sofa bed (is it comfortable?) with a 3rd child (youngest is 7) on a blow up mattress we could bring with us.

I've heard people say I won't get the keys to the world pass if there are more than 4 though. Will I if member services @ DVC says Yes to my original request? Also, if I buy passes before we go, how do those get exchanged into the room passes? Do they take the tickets I have in hand and replace them?

Any comments? Thanks.

 

[madelyn]

I can't answer how comfy the sofa bed is for 2. My older sister slept in the sofa bed alone. I would think it should be fine since it is queen sized and from what I've read/heard, it is a good quality sofa bed. My then 20 month old daughter slept in the king sized bed in the master bedroom with my husband and I. Our sons are 10 and 6 so they shared the room with us. We fashioned a "bed" out of the sofa cushions and sheets we brought with us for my older son and the younger one wanted us to buy him an Igloo themed tent from Ikea before our trip so he ended up sleeping in that. But they are starting to complain about not having "real beds" so this arrangement won't likely work for our next trip. DVC Member Services was OK with the number of people in our unit but we were unable to add more than 4 to the dining plan since they said the computer system would not let them. And then at check-in, we were unable to get more than 4 room keys, so yes, that is probably a problem with getting tickets for your whole party on the room key. We had separate tickets purchased from Undercovertourist. We did not have problems using the Disney transportation or taking advantage of extra Magic Hours with the number of keys but it is always a possibility. No one actually counted the exact number of keys we had and just waved us through when I pulled out the stack.

 

[Brian Noble]

I still think it's a bit on the early side to give up on the last week in April, but I understand how hard it is to wait it out.

I just matched a couple 2BRs in late February in the past few weeks, so I think there is still time.

 

[kkleiner]

You are right, it is too early. I got excited today about it when I saw (using another week not under exchange request) a studio @ DWL for that exact week. I will be patient and wait things out. It would be very nice to have a bed for everyobdy, and we can always go off property if nothing comes up.

Did you match DVC 2 bdr units for late Feb? Wow, that's even school vacation week times, NH is last week in FEB like in April.

Generally speaking, how long would you wait until you just decide to can the DVC resort idea and just do another resort instead? Late March for us?

Thanks again

 

[spiceycat]

for april during spring break - I would say Feb.

otherwise yea March.

kept in mind that most people want to trade in spring or summer breaks - so may sure one of the other resorts that you want is still around.

when that gets down to just one or two units left - time to make a decision.

 

[molly2004]

An update here, still no 2 bedroom luck into DVC, but I know we have the trading power based on the searches I've done for other times @ DVC resorts. I'm thinking about asking II to accept a 1 bedroom and then calling Member Services to plead my case.

Any comments? Thanks.

I have personally traded a 2 bed, seeking a 2 bed at DVC and have failed. I got a 1 bed instead. I've called member services to no avail. They have indicated that they have no power to make a change that has already gone through II. They would also have no way of confirming that a "like" unit was traded for one of theirs.

Good luck, if you decide to plead your case. Let us know how that goes.

 

[Brian Noble]

Did you match DVC 2 bdr units for late Feb? Wow, that's even school vacation week times, NH is last week in FEB like in April.

Yes, a 2/21 check-in. Both were @ OKW. That week is the University of Michigan's "spring" break, and Ann Arbor schools have the same week off. It's not President's Week, though---it's easier to get.

Generally speaking, how long would you wait until you just decide to can the DVC resort idea and just do another resort instead? Late March for us?

Pat's got the right idea---keep an eye on your other options, and jump when they dwindle too far for your liking. Alternatively, book a cancellable back-up, and just ride it out. As long as that week isn't due to expire any time soon, you're not out anything.