Should I call OKW ahead of time? Will that accomplish anything?

[Stitch1404]

We leave tomorrow for Disney! We are staying 2 weeks at Old Key West. My husband is attending a meeting for the first week so his company is reimbursing him for accomodations. Because of this we decided to pay cash the first week and points the second week. The member discount wasn't available so I booked using an AP rate. Should I call OKW today and let them know we are arriving tomorrow and ask if there's any way we can stay in the same room the whole 2 weeks? Or should I just ask at check-in? Thanks!

 

[dianeschlicht]

What size unit? If you are in a studio, I'm quite sure you will be able to stay the whole time in the same unit, because all of them are lock offs. The same might be true for a 1 bedroom. The 2 bedroom units might have a bit more difficulty, but I think as long as you mention it at check in, they will try to accommodate you. When we have had to check out and back in, they have always let us stay in the same unit, or part of a unit, but we have always mentioned it at the first check in. They will still tell you there are no guarantees, but they usually accommodate you. You WILL have to check out and back in though, even if they leave you in the same unit.

 

[Stitch1404]

Thanks for the encouragement. It is a 2 bedroom.

 

[paults]

why not just let them move you to another building . that way you can experience another location at OKW.

We could never stay in the same room for 2 wks. We go for 9 nts most of the time and always split resorts 3 nts at one OKW and 6 nts BWV or whatever is available.

 

[Dean]

In part it depends on what type of 2 BR you have. Most CRO 2 BR will be dedicated so if your points reservations is a lockoff, you may have to move. But it never hurts to ask. You'll certainly have to check back in again. Just reminding them at check in then again when you check in for the second week should be sufficient unless you're arriving late.

Since it applies peripherally to this situation, using points to pay for a room you could deduct on taxes or can be reimbursed for is not really acceptable. No one could legally deduct the room. Even if paid for by a company, they are planning to deduct from their taxes and must have something that is a definable deduction, which a points reservation is not.

 

[RobDoc]

I would call the resort directly and make the request and remind them again at check-in. In this case, since you are staying in the same room type - even though they were reserved thru CRO and MS, you should have no problem and they do have a week to look at the villa assignments. The room assignment for the 2nd week hasn't been made yet so I'm sure yuo'll be fine, but it never hurts to have the request made in advance and again at check-in.

Have a great stay!

 

[Stitch1404]

Since it applies peripherally to this situation, using points to pay for a room you could deduct on taxes or can be reimbursed for is not really acceptable. No one could legally deduct the room. Even if paid for by a company, they are planning to deduct from their taxes and must have something that is a definable deduction, which a points reservation is not.

I'm not sure what you're getting at here...we didn't use points for the portion of the stay we're being reimbursed for. The meeting is only 1 week long. We are staying 2 weeks. Obviously DH's company is only willing to pay for our room for the week of the meeting. Therefore the first week will be payed for by his company and is booked through CRO. The second week will be payed for by us and is booked through member services on points.

 

[Dean]

I'm not sure what you're getting at here...we didn't use points for the portion of the stay we're being reimbursed for. The meeting is only 1 week long. We are staying 2 weeks. Obviously DH's company is only willing to pay for our room for the week of the meeting. Therefore the first week will be payed for by his company and is booked through CRO. The second week will be payed for by us and is booked through member services on points.

Simply pointing out what you obviously already knew in case anyone else was reading the thread and got an idea. Someone might look at this and think they could reserve on points and either write off their taxes or get reimbursement from an expense account or similar. You cannot reserve on points and write it off or get reimbursement, at least legally.

 

[Disney Doll]

Why not? The points have a certain "value".

To answer the OP's question...when you check in the first time, explain to them that week one is a cash reservation being reimbrsed by DH's company, and week 2 is a points reservation for your personal vacation, and you'd like to be able to remain in the same room if at all possible.

My experience is that they do their best to accomodate you when possible, as we have been in similar scenarios through the years. Most of the time we have been accomodated...there was only one instance when we had to ove, and they actually do the moving for you, so it isn't awful.

You will need to re-check-in for the second week. The nice thing about it is that you will be right there, so you can pop in to the HH and talk to them in person. I have often found that things get done a bit more expeditiously.

 

[Sammie]

If you call the resort you are going to get the Disney Call Center not the actual Front Desk. They might connect you to the Front Desk and they might not.

I would call CRO and Members Services, ask them to link your reservations with a request on both to stay in the same room.

Since you leave tomorrow, the best thing might be to ask at checkin since your second room has not been assigned at this time.

 

[Dean]

Why not? The points have a certain "value".

Because it's against the IRS policy to allow deductions in this situation for what you already own, value or not. And in almost all cases, a company who will reimburse for business type expenses is also planning to deduct those payments against their taxes. Just like you can't deduct a donation unless you're donating the actual permanent ownership. Now if the company allows it, that's fine, and some may be flexible enough to do so but not many.

 

[rbuzzotta]

see you at OKW.........we arrive friday.