Two reservations, same resort?

[cigar95]

I posted the following earlier, buried in a longer thread in a sub-board. I's like toi get some feedback from a wider audience:

Right now, I have the general public discount for our four-night stay at CBR. The passholder discount is available only for the first two nights.

If I were to split the stay into two reservations to get the larger discount when available, what are the chances that I could keep my same room and not have to vacate it after the first two nights?

The difference is only around $20, so unless the chances of having to move out are very small, I'd rather pay the difference and be safe.

(I'm guessing the answer will be that it's better than 50/50 that I'm OK, but is it more like 70/30, or 95/5?)

Thanks much!

 

[trishadono]

I posted the following earlier, buried in a longer thread in a sub-board. I's like toi get some feedback from a wider audience:

Right now, I have the general public discount for our four-night stay at CBR. The passholder discount is available only for the first two nights.

If I were to split the stay into two reservations to get the larger discount when available, what are the chances that I could keep my same room and not have to vacate it after the first two nights?

The difference is only around $20, so unless the chances of having to move out are very small, I'd rather pay the difference and be safe.

(I'm guessing the answer will be that it's better than 50/50 that I'm OK, but is it more like 70/30, or 95/5?)

Thanks much!

For $20 I wouldn't risk it. If they don't have your room to keep and you have to move do you really want to have to wait for check in time to have a room? If it was a substantial savings I would risk it or go without a room for a while but $20???? I would stay and relax and enjoy the trip!

 

[mickeynut1]

I posted the following earlier, buried in a longer thread in a sub-board. I's like toi get some feedback from a wider audience:

Right now, I have the general public discount for our four-night stay at CBR. The passholder discount is available only for the first two nights.

If I were to split the stay into two reservations to get the larger discount when available, what are the chances that I could keep my same room and not have to vacate it after the first two nights?

The difference is only around $20, so unless the chances of having to move out are very small, I'd rather pay the difference and be safe.

(I'm guessing the answer will be that it's better than 50/50 that I'm OK, but is it more like 70/30, or 95/5?)

Thanks much!

Your chances are probably pretty good that you wouldn't have to move, but it is not guaranteed. If you do the 2 reservations, I would have them linked together with a request to keep the same room. Then when you check in for the first reservation, mention to the CM that you have a continuing reservation and would like to keep the same room if possible. The CM will do everything he/she can to accommodate you, but it is not guaranteed. With that said, I agree with the pp that for such a small difference, I would keep the 1 reservation and not take the chance of having to change rooms. Good luck.

 

[cigar95]

That's what I'm wondering - what *is* the risk? For instance, if the system is set up so that the risk is near zero, then I'll be happy to save the money.

 

[minnie mum]

I don't think anyone here can really give you a definitive answer. It completely depends on their vacancy rate and the number of people checking in and out on that particular day. Even the folks at the resort wouldn't be able to answer that question more than a few days in advance.

 

[cigar95]

I don't think anyone here can really give you a definitive answer.

Hence the value of the collective group experience.

If, for instance, no one here has ever had to move in such a scenario, and many have had a smooth transition, that would say a lot.

The odd thing is that the resort could handle it trivially simply by blocking the room from the beginning as a four-day stay. Apparently they don't, though.

 

[Amanda999]

Hi - I believe that you will have to re-check in for the 2nd reservation (I had to both times I've done this). I think it is very likely you will keep the same room. But, even if that could be guaranteed 100% (which it can't), the process of checking in again isn't worth $20 to me. Especially at CBR, where your room could be over a mile walk each way to the Custom House. And, if you have kids, you'll be juggling wake up, getting everyone dressed and sunscreened, pack for park day, breakfast, maybe rushing off to a park for rope drop - I wouldn't want to add check in to that morning.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[Kanga1]

Hi - I believe that you will have to re-check in for the 2nd reservation (I had to both times I've done this). I think it is very likely you will keep the same room. But, even if that could be guaranteed 100% (which it can't), the process of checking in again isn't worth $20 to me. Especially at CBR, where your room could be over a mile walk each way to the Custom House. And, if you have kids, you'll be juggling wake up, getting everyone dressed and sunscreened, pack for park day, breakfast, maybe rushing off to a park for rope drop - I wouldn't want to add check in to that morning.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Absolutely this. For a $20 savings...no way. Especially at CBR where you will have to take the shuttle just to get to registration.

 

[cigar95]

. Especially at CBR where you will have to take the shuttle just to get to registration.

With a car, it'll be a two-minute drive, or, from where our room will be, a five-minute walk if I really wanted to. (. . . and on a morning when there's nothing else going on.)

In any case, I'm still looking for actual experiences with this scenario, which was my original question. The "strategies" I'm already aware of.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Three times, we have had room only reservations followed by package reservations (all at the CBR) and we have never, once, had to change rooms. I called to ask that they make a notation on our room only reservation that the stay was "continuing". I also confirmed this information with the front desk when we checked in. For our 2014 stay, we have two nights which are room only followed by 12 nights on a package. I made the same "continuing" request and am fairly confident that we won't have to change rooms even though it's not guaranteed.

 

[fla4fun]

I have only had a split stay once (I stayed 17 nights, and the discount was a 14 night max). I booked the same room type for both stays, and when I checked in I told them I had a continuing reservation (that's the key phrase). They noted that and told me to come down and sign new paperwork the morning of the second check in. I went down about 7am, signed a couple papers, and was on my way. I didn't have to change rooms - they didn't even give me different keys.

The main thing is to be sure you book both reservations under the same room type. Don't book one standard view and one garden view - that will increase the odds that you will have to move. Also, if you can put the split later in the trip, that gives them time to get their ducks in a row before the room assigner start assigning rooms for your second check in date. In my case, I was letting them know I wanted the same room 14 days out, and the maximum I've heard of the room assigners starting to work on reservations is 7-10 days out.

 

[Marthasor]

We did an "accidental" split at BC two years ago due to a hurricane - we were able to fly in early and we were lucky to even get a room! As other PP's have mentioned, you have to re-check-in for your second reservation and I had to stand in a VERY long line on our second check-in day (this was around 7 am). It was time I could have spent doing something else. Plus I was sweating the whole time that I WAS going to have to switch rooms, which would have meant scrapping our plans for the morning and re-packing all of our stuff.

Chances are, you won't have to switch, but do you really want to spend your morning dealing with the hassle of re-checking in? If you were saving a substantial amount of money, I would do it, but not for $20!

 

[Simba's Girl]

Hi - I believe that you will have to re-check in for the 2nd reservation (I had to both times I've done this). I think it is very likely you will keep the same room. But, even if that could be guaranteed 100% (which it can't), the process of checking in again isn't worth $20 to me. Especially at CBR, where your room could be over a mile walk each way to the Custom House. And, if you have kids, you'll be juggling wake up, getting everyone dressed and sunscreened, pack for park day, breakfast, maybe rushing off to a park for rope drop - I wouldn't want to add check in to that morning.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

Only one adult would need to go down to re-check in, so the other could deal with the kids. This is making mountains out of molehills.

OP-I think your chances are pretty good of keeping the same room. Its all about how you value your time. Is the $40 worth it to you?

 

[maxiesmom]

Only one adult would need to go down to re-check in, so the other could deal with the kids. This is making mountains out of molehills.

OP-I think your chances are pretty good of keeping the same room. Its all about how you value your time. Is the $40 worth it to you?

I agree the odds are pretty good you will stay in the same room. We were able to do that, and we even had different room types booked for our stay!

OP--The thing is, no one can guarantee it. There is a small chance you would have to change rooms, probably a really small chance. Only you can know if it is one you are willing to take.

 

[tink15823]

We checked in the day before free dinning started . We had to able to check out and check back in keeping our same room. We asked them the morning of check in if we would be able to keep our room. The Cm put in the computer told us that we could and just had to go back in the morning . DH ran up while I got the kids up and ready he was back in a few minutes with our new key to the world cards.

 

[jcjen519]

its probably not likely you will be moved. while i don't think 20 is enough of a discount to bother it sounds like you want to try this. good luck.

 

[cigar95]

Plus I was sweating the whole time that I WAS going to have to switch rooms, which would have meant scrapping our plans for the morning and re-packing all of our stuff.

So, the thing that jumps out is that so far all the actual data points are that folks have not had to move. And all the pitfalls mentioned are issues that just don't apply to us. (Longest check-in wait I've ever stood in over 20+ years was about four minutes, as there just aren't many folks checking in at 0530 when we generally arrive, and when I would probably do the re-check-in.)

 

[Minniesgal]

The risk is not zero people have been asked to move rooms before due to a large group having booked rooms near each other but I think the risk would be fairly low.

 

[Alexander]

With a car, it'll be a two-minute drive, or, from where our room will be, a five-minute walk if I really wanted to. (. . . and on a morning when there's nothing else going on.)

In any case, I'm still looking for actual experiences with this scenario, which was my original question. The "strategies" I'm already aware of.

Yes we've kept the same room before and yes we've had to move before. Prior experiences aren't going to help you. It is $20 dollars! You are spending how much for a WDW vacation? For $20 do you want to pack all of your belongings, vacate your room by 11am and not get into your new until 3 or 4 and then unpack your belongings. Is that worth $20 savings? Only you can answer that. The general conscientious here is no, it is not worth $20. What more information do you want?

 

[JennyDrake]

Hi - I believe that you will have to re-check in for the 2nd reservation (I had to both times I've done this). I think it is very likely you will keep the same room. But, even if that could be guaranteed 100% (which it can't), the process of checking in again isn't worth $20 to me. Especially at CBR, where your room could be over a mile walk each way to the Custom House. And, if you have kids, you'll be juggling wake up, getting everyone dressed and sunscreened, pack for park day, breakfast, maybe rushing off to a park for rope drop - I wouldn't want to add check in to that morning.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

I did this at AK. First check in was over an hour long. So was second one. For two nights. So not worth it.