Long question on room request and points

[melk]

On our trip last month to VWL we really liked our room, a 1-br lock-off overlooking the pool. We thought we would request it on our next trip in the hopes we may get it again. The thing is my MIL thinks she would like to come along on our next trip, meaning we need a 2-br. And the problem is she's not sure she'll stay with us the whole week (she may head to the coast for a few days).

So my question is this: if we request the 1-br with it's adjoining studio as our 2-br for half the week, when my MIL leaves, can we "move to a 1-br" but actually just stay exactly where we are and just have them lock off the studio?
Also, how do they figure that point wise, will they charge us the points for a 2-br, then reduce it to the 1-br points after she leaves?(Or do we get charged points for a 1-br plus points for a studio, which adds up to more points as opposed to the points for a 2-br?)
I'm not sure if you can follow that last point, but for example, in the guidebook, a 2-br at VWL for week is 282 points. But if we had to rent it as a 1-br, plus a studio, it adds up to 320 points for the week.(But actually we wouldn't be renting the studio for the entire week).
Thanks in advance!

 

[RobDoc]

Yes, it can be done as you suggest. We've done exactly that on several occasions at OKW.

When you make the reservation, be sure that MS understands what you are wanting to do and have it noted on the reservation. You will actually be making 2 reservations- for the 2BR and then the 1BR. They will link them together so you won't need to move- although you may have to go to the desk to get new keys when you change reservations.

Don't get too hung up on a specific room, however- as you are already adding some complications with what you wish to do roomwise. You will have to request a lock-off for certain.

Just spell it all out to MS and let them take it from there.

Enjoy!

 

[TiggerFreak]

Hi Doc,

I posed the exact same request to MS two weeks ago, 2bdr for 3 days and a 1bdr for 3 days, requesting not to move in the middle.
The CM I dealt with was very adamant about "Not being able to guarantee" staying in the 1bdr side for the whole ressie.
She said that if they needed a 2bdr for a diferent ressie, I would have to move. So the impression I get, is this would be handled like a view request, no promises! As it turns out we did not need to do this, we just booked a 2bdr for the entire stay.
So was tne CM misinformed????

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Regina]

Sorry to disagree with my esteemed co-moderator, but MS was right.

When you make that type of change, it splits it into two different reservations. When that happens, the possibility of having to change rooms is a possibility.

There are some guests who split their reservations for other reasons. Say they have a package booked, but are arriving very late and don't want to pay for passes that they won't be using. What they'll do is book the first night as a "room only", and begin the package the following morning.

Whatever the scenario is, Disney never guarantees being able to keep you in the same room. They'll do their best, but to state it as a certainty, it doesn't happen that way.

 

[AKemel]

We are doing something similar in August and we were told that when the villas are assigned, they take that into consideration so we (most likely) won't have to move. Nothing is guaranteed, though.

 

[RobDoc]

It's always been done for me as two reservations and I've been able to have them linked together on several occasions at OKW.

Perhaps at some of the smaller resorts this poses a problem- or perhaps they've changed willingness to do this- it's been over a year since I've done it that way.

In most cases, I started with a 2BR and then went to a 1BR- which doesn't present any problem with scheduling the rooms. It might be tougher to do it the other way if the studio needed to be occupied on the change day- so there are certainly scenarios when they could not guarantee the process. Mine have always been linked together at the time of making the reservation. I've also started with a 1BR, added a studio and gone back back to a 1BR on the same trip. This was 3 reservations, but they were also linked together by MS.