Lock-off question

[Bexx]

Something has been puzzling me about the 2bdrm lock-offs. If you're sleeping in the studio part, do you have to open two doors to get to your room?!

 

[spiceycat]

no

the studio has their outside doors too - you have two outside doors - but my friends generally go through the 1-bedroom front door behind me.

now there are doors from the studio to the 1-bedroom and the master bedroom than can be closed - but you do what is right for you.

the only difference between a studio/1-bedroom and a 2-bedroom is the outside door on the studio, the studio has a microwave/refrigerator and a patio - generally the 2nd bedroom has none of this - it does have a bigger closet.

 

[Bexx]

now there are doors from the studio to the 1-bedroom and the master bedroom than can be closed - but you do what is right for you.

If the studio and 1 brdm were actually locked off, I'm assuming there would be two doors separating them - like when you have connecting rooms in a hotel. So if you are using it as a two bdrm, do you have to open two doors everytime you want to go in and out of the second/studio bedroom from the hall?

 

[Chadm]

Originally posted by Bexx
If the studio and 1 brdm were actually locked off, I'm assuming there would be two doors separating them - like when you have connecting rooms in a hotel. So if you are using it as a two bdrm, do you have to open two doors everytime you want to go in and out of the second/studio bedroom from the hall?

Yes, technically you would have to go through 2 doors. However, since the inside door is for the common area of the unit, I don't see why that has to be closed and/or locked. You could just leave that door open all the time and you would have the option of locking the other door from the inside of the studio portion for privacy.

I guess the answer to your question is no, you do not have to open 2 doors everytime you want to go in or out. You could leave one or both of them open all the time. That would be your choice.

 

[Bexx]

Thanks for the replies.

One last thing! If you do leave the door on the hall side open, will it obstruct the passageway, or can you just push it right back?

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by Bexx
Thanks for the replies.

One last thing! If you do leave the door on the hall side open, will it obstruct the passageway, or can you just push it right back?

From what I recall, it opens all the way back against the wall. At least at OKW anyway.

 

[spiceycat]

it goes back against the wall - there are 2 doors here - one on the studio side and the other on the 1-bedroom side -

 

[Bexx]

That sounds fine. Many thanks for all your help.

 

[Bexx]

The reason I asked this question was to confirm to myself that I wouldn't be bothered about whether I was assigned a dedicated 2 bdrm or a lock-off. But I have just read a post that says that if you are taking children then a dedicated is definitely preferable.

Can anyone tell me why and should I add it to my list of requests?

This was something that I really wanted to avoid as the list will soon be as long as my arm and I just wanted to be really laid back about it all - a "I 'm just happy to stay here I don't really care where I go", sort of thing. But what with needing "non- smoking" and "first floor" for various medical and child related reasons, and now wondering if I should add "dedicated", it's all getting a bit out of hand!! If I was to add "close to Hospitality House", which would have been a pleasant bonus, to the end of this list, is there any chance of it even being considered?!

I love my daughter and my friends, but this would be a lot simpler without them!!

 

[TandyR]

I ask for a dedicated two bed room when I am getting a 2 bedroom, because I don't want my girls to have a door to the outside world in the room they will be sleeping alone in. This is mostly because my oldest is a sleep walker and I don't want her to go out the door and wander the halls sleepwalking. I just feel better knowing she would need to go through the living room to get to the outside world.

 

[sgtdisney]

I still am not sure where you are staying but since you are requesting first floor and hospitality house location, I assume it is at OKW?? A lot of people prefer a dedicated 2 bedroom with children because in a 2 bedroom lock off you have a door in the 2nd bedroom which opens to the outside of the unit. Other people prefer them because, at OKW at least, you have more closet space in the 2nd bedroom in a dedicated unit. Unless your child is young and will be in the 2nd room alone then I personally don't see how it would be an issue whether you got a dedicated 2 bedroom or a lock-off. I will say in 10 years of OKW vacations, every one of them in a 2 bedroom, we have never been assigned a lock off except once, and that was when we requested it specifically. OKW is unique in that they have a large amount of dedicated 2 bedrooms. I really think it would be pretty unusual for you to get a lock off unless you requested it there. Remember to list your preferences in order of importance. Requesting a general area is better than requesting a certain building which is what it sounds like you plan to do.

 

[BarbaraMB]

On the subject of dedicated and lockoffs - 2 BR BCV - If you get a lockoff instead of a dedicated do you get two balconies?

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Bexx
The reason I asked this question was to confirm to myself that I wouldn't be bothered about whether I was assigned a dedicated 2 bdrm or a lock-off. But I have just read a post that says that if you are taking children then a dedicated is definitely preferable.

Can anyone tell me why and should I add it to my list of requests?

I don't think it is actually a "request". When you make a reservation, it is reserved as one or the other. That is what I was told when I requested a dedicated 1 bedroom at BWV, they said my reservation was already setup as dedicated, I did not need to request it. At OKW, they need to know how many 2 bedrooms have been reserved as dedicated and how many lockoffs they can split into 1 bedrooms & studios. I would call MS on Monday and find out how yours is setup. Chances are it is already dedicated, they reserve those first so that the lockoffs can be split if needed.

 

[BobH]

I only have experience at OKW but the 2 bedroom unit is so big you will want the second bedroom to NOT have a door to the outside if your kids are young. If they decided to leave through the door in the studio side (the second bed room) you wouldn't even realize they were gone if you were in the master bedroom or bath. In my opinion a 2 bedroom lock off unit is not for people with children too young to take care of themselves. When I recently requested a 1 bedroom lock off I was told that it wouldn't appear with my other requests but it was definitely on my reservation so I wouldn't think it would complicate your other requests.

 

[Nanajo1]

After reading a few posts about securing the "studio" outside door when little kids are staying in that room my BIL used the lock and put the suitcases in front of the door. They intended to only use the 'Front" door. One 2yo nephew is a dynamo and BIL felt this was the safest way to insure the 2yo escape artist stayed put. Somehow the 2yo closed the adjoining studio door locking everyone out of the studio portion! He thankfully was in the main area. So the dead bolt is on the studio door and there is no handle on the adjoining door, no way to get into the lock off! A quick call to maintainence and it was resolved. Another WDW memory!
BTW this was at BWV.

 

[erikthewise]

I suspect (but have no direct knowledge) that they systematically assign dedicated 2-BR units to 2BR reservations before the lockoffs, except for meeting special requests.

Why? Two reasons. The obvious one is flexibility. A lock-off in inventory allows them to meet a request for any of the three kinds of units. Less obvious is that using a lockoff as a separate 1BR and studio costs more points than using it as a 2BR. So if they can assign it as 1BR and studio, that essentially brings in more "cash" in the sense of points.