Need help getting 4 BLT rooms

[ckdsnynt]

I'm planning a grand gathering next Dec 18-23 using our family's BLT points. However, qhat started out being a group of 22 has grown to 32 swo now I need 4 two bedroom rooms. Does anybody have any ideas that will help me swing this gift I want to give my family (most of whom have never been to WDW) without some having to go to another resort? Any tips for getting these rooms?

 

[disneynutz]

I don't understand your question. With enough money or points, you can get all the rooms you want.

Bill

 

[hellerjw]

We did a Grand Gathering a few years ago and once you register your party as a GG they give you a special number to call for ADRs, etc. I'm not sure if the GG folks could help with a DVC reservation or not but it would be worth asking. I wouldn't think you would have a problem reserving that many units at once if you have the points for it, but you may not all be together in consecutive rooms

 

[Sandisw]

If you don't have enough BLT points, then I would get a transfer of those points from another member so you can call and book exactly at the 11 month mark.

Doing that should give you a pretty good change of getting them all.

 

[arthur06]

I got a 2br SV at BLT for 193 points for the dates you requested. So as long as you have 772 points available with Current Year, banked and/or borrowed points in should be no problem at all.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When some of the 32 start backing out a few months before the start of the trip and you can no longer bank or use the points, you'll be pulling your hair out. Make sure they all have their flights scheduled, their tickets ordered and school dates aligned with the trip. So you won't come back here and ask what do I do now? I only have 16 people going and I have four two bedroom villas?

Good luck.

 

[dburg30]

When some of the 32 start backing out a few months before the start of the trip and you can no longer bank or use the points, you'll be pulling your hair out. Make sure they all have their flights scheduled, their tickets ordered and school dates aligned with the trip. So you won't come back here and ask what do I do now? I only have 16 people going and I have four two bedroom villas?

Good luck.

At that point it would sound like everyone could spread out

But that's a great point that you bring up. This would be a huge point investment. I would almost get a notorized letter from everyone swearing they are going

 

[Muushka]

At that point it would sound like everyone could spread out

But that's a great point that you bring up. This would be a huge point investment. I would almost get a notorized letter from everyone swearing they are going

Yup, a notarized letter and a kid or 2 for collateral! Good luck!

 

[ckdsnynt]

Yup, a notarized letter and a kid or 2 for collateral! Good luck!

I am the oldest of five kids and they are too scared of me to back out! They would rather pay someone to go in their place than tell me they couldn't go!


I was just afraid that I would not be able to get four rooms even tho I have the points because that is such a busy time of year.

Thanks for all your hep. I appreciate it. Seriousy, if some back out, I may be asking some of you if you want a free room at BLT next Christmas!

 

[tjkraz]

I was just afraid that I would not be able to get four rooms even tho I have the points because that is such a busy time of year.

The timeframe you are looking at isn't extraordinarily busy since the points are higher than Adventure Season. The first two weeks of December are extremely high demand due to the low costs, but rates start to go up after the 15th.

As long as you have the points you should be able to book. Just make sure you're prepared to call the morning that your 11 month window arrives (January 18th.) No sense waiting if you know the dates you want.

As some of the others noted, extended family are pretty notorious for canceling on short notice, not budgeting properly for the trip, expecting you to plan out their every move (or just let them go their own way) and generally not realizing what it costs to vacation at Disney or how much you are spending for the trip in the form of your DVC purchase and annual dues. Sometime over the next 2 weeks I would strongly recommend that you cover some of these items with everyone involved:

1. Explain to them what they will have to pay for the trip. (Air transportation, Park tickets, Dining costs, Souvenirs, Recreation, etc.)

2. Discuss how everyone plans to interact during the trip. Everyone touring together? Going their own way? Visiting waterparks? Visiting DisneyQuest? Getting tickets for MVMCP?

You'll need to know that in order to plan a basic agenda and book ADRs--which you are virtually obligated to do at 180 days. The ADRs will be exceedingly difficult to alter for that size group so you need to figure that most of your trip will be set in stone by June.

3. Make sure they realize that it's going to cost you a lot of money (perhaps lose points) if anyone backs out down the road. Relatives have a way of not understanding the timeshare concept, apparently thinking that the accommodations are magically free and nobody will be hurt when they casually announce over Thanksgiving dinner that they've decided not to go because airfare is too expensive (or the kids can't miss school, or it conflicts with an office Christmas party, or any number of other lame excuses.)

4. Cover other basics like how DME works, arrival times, departure times, who is staying with whom, the sleeping accommodations in each room (going to have lots of sofabeds for that group), how big Walt Disney World truly is (lots of walking), what the weather is likely to be then (cold at night, can be very cold during the day, too), and so on.

Don't just go into this on a wing-and-a-prayer and just assume everyone will eventually get on the same page.

Good luck!

 

[ckdsnynt]

Thanks Tim for all your pointers and tips. My DD has put together a notebook for each family group for our meeting next week. It has almost exactly all the issues you pointed out laid out for everyone down to the last detail about spending money and not being able to stay together as a group all day every day!! But to see you lay it out like that, I know we are on the right trail. Since most of these in our group have never been, they have no idea about the costs and the crowds or the amount of planning my DD and I will be doing in the next few months

 

[dburg30]

And also, just to C.Y.A., mention that even though you have 4 rooms, there is a chance they wont be right next to each other. Again, silly things, but things that probably need to be said. If you happen to get 3 real close and 1 far away, someone could feel 'left out' but that's not the reality of it. Or you could have all 4 spread out. LOL tell all of them they owe you $15-20 each for 'administrative expenses' you can get your park tickets and some food cash too

We are doing 'just' 10 of us (3 being kids) and that is driving me nuts trying to remember all these things.

 

[ckdsnynt]

Just thought I would give an update: booked our ressie this morning. Got exactly what we wanted. Got committments from everyone and understanding that anyone backing out eill no longer have a place at the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table (I host those!). Seemed pretty clear to everyone.

When it gets closer, anyone that doesn't have the money for thier park tickets and plane tickets, loses their room and we go to our back up list if friends that want to go. Problem solved!

Thanks for all the advice/suggestion. Handing out the books we made for everyone (outining all the details) was a huge help for everybody to see what they were getting into.

 

[vicki_c]

I would say that that is going to be some trip - 32 people! I hope you have a great time!

 

[ckdsnynt]

I would say that that is going to be some trip - 32 people! I hope you have a great time!

Thanks! I hope so too! To quote one of my nephews "It's the chance of a lifetime!" I hope he's right!

 

[Disneypubgal]

Have a great trip!!!

 

[ckdsnynt]

Have a great trip!!!

Thank you! We are sure going to try!

 

[flipflopmom]

Can I adopt you for my big sister? Seriously, good luck with all the planning. (some crazy part of me thinks it sounds like fun.)

 

[jboysen]

I would just have everyone let you know about the flights and park tickets by the begining on Nov. That way you can still cancel the rooms at 31 days out and not be out anything, depending on your use year.

Have a fun trip!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Sounds like a great trip!!

My tip would be, if you have enough points left over () to book a studio also. That way if you have someone that cannot go, you will be able to downsize at the 31 day mark or more and save some points.

You cant split a 2 bedroom lock off down so having a studio would be a good back up plan. Plus if your group grows, you have extra space.

When planning a group trip, I have found you can never have too many studios! 1 brother snores terribly and he ended up with a studio to himself!!

We hosted a family reunion with 1 Grand Villa and 9 studios for 42 at SSR in 2007. It was an awesome time and I would do it again in a heartbeat, but I highly recommend building in the flexibility from the beginning, because availability is only going to get tighter and Murphy's Law and all that