What should we do?

[rutgers1]

We had extra points and decided to invite another family with us in February. Great family, I'm sure we'll all have a lot of fun. Originally, I thought that we'd all arrive and leave on the same day, so I reserved a 2 bedroom lock-off at Animal Kingdom. The plan was for my family to stay in the studio and the other family to stay in the 1BR.

However, as it turns out, they are going to arrive a day late and leave two days early. Now I am not sure what to do:
1) I am afraid that if I try to cut off the first day of the 1BR (Remember, it is a lock-off, the 1BR and studio are technically 2 different places), then maybe I will have to actually just accept any studio for the first night and then move my stuff over to the 2BR lock-off the second day when our friends arrive.
2) At the end of the trip, I assume that I would have no problem simply canceling the 1BR for the last two days and simply reverting to the studio, but maybe not. Anyone know?......Also, would it be possible for me to instead drop the STUDIO those last two nights, pay the cleaning fee on the 1BR, and then stay in the 1BR? I am sure my wife would enjoy having some more space the last two days.

Thank you in advance for your replies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John

 

[vicki_c]

I think everything you're thinking of doing would be new reservations, so I don't see how any of that would be guaranteed to be possible. It might work, or you might find that there's no availability for the rooms sizes you now want. Since you've already committed to the points - I'd just keep the 2 BR and be done with it.

 

[DenLo]

You cannot just take over the 1 BR section of your 2BR lockoff as the current reservation is strictly for a 2 BR and it stays a 2 BR.

I would call MS and see what is available. I imagine you could have MS take a day off the front and two days at the back without any problem. However, whether you could get the villa you would want for your family for the first and last two days could be a difficult.
Here's some pixiedust to help you get the reservations you need.

BTW, if you are able to reserve a 1BR you can ask when you check in as to whether your family can continue to stay in the 1 BR portion of the lockoff so you won't have to move. Since there are no dedicated 1 BRs at AKV I would think you'd have a good chance of keeping the 1BR of your shared lockoff 2BR.

 

[Deb & Bill]

First of all, you can't just drop a portion of a two bedroom. You'd have to cancel part of your reservation and try to add those days in a totally separate reservation. A two bedroom lockoff is still a two bedroom and not a studio and a one bedroom. The only way to drop the one bedroom portion would be to reserve a one bedroom and a studio and request that they connect. But you may also be in the situation where they did not connect. Usually a studio plus a one bedroom requires more points than a two bedroom.

I'd keep the two bedroom villa. Enjoy the master bedroom for the entire trip and have your guests stay in the second bedroom. And have your family move over to the second bedroom portion for the three nights your guests aren't there (and launder the sheets and towels for them in your washer and dryer).

 

[bobbiwoz]

Me too, rather than risk having to move, I would keep what I have, and spread my family into that second bedroom when the other family leave.

Bobbi

 

[rutgers1]

Thanks for the input. I really like the idea of having more bedroom space for the days when the other family is there, but I think the difference in points is about 100 (comparing what we'd spend if we kept the arrangement with 2BR's or if we dropped down to just a studio for those three days), and it is hard to part with that many points for something I don't need.

I have to speak to the wife. She is the boss

 

[pnyltwk]

I'd keep the two bedroom villa. Enjoy the master bedroom for the entire trip and have your guests stay in the second bedroom. And have your family move over to the second bedroom portion for the three nights your guests aren't there (and launder the sheets and towels for them in your washer and dryer).

I like the way you think. Considering that I am the one that paid for DVC and pay the MF it would not have even crossed my mind to not be in the Master Bedroom from the beginning.

 

[DVCBrian]

Thanks for the input. I really like the idea of having more bedroom space for the days when the other family is there, but I think the difference in points is about 100 (comparing what we'd spend if we kept the arrangement with 2BR's or if we dropped down to just a studio for those three days), and it is hard to part with that many points for something I don't need.

I have to speak to the wife. She is the boss

Just to be clear, I think you are saying you would save 100 points by moving from studio-->2BR on day two and moving from 2BR-->studio on day five (assuming a seven night visit).

I would also consider the "cost" in terms of your vacation of the time necessary to move twice - time taken out of the prime days of your travel. What does it cost to actually be at WDW? Tickets? Enjoyment? What would your family be doing if not for having to move rooms twice?

There is also the "chance" that something could go wrong during the rebooking process - that is, that studios might not be available on the days you need them available. If you decide to go ahead with this, you might want to ask about studio availability before pulling the trigger on changes - just to minimize the risk. Unless you have enough points to book the studios first before dropping the days from the 2BR res, there's always the chance that studio availability could disappear in the minutes between dropping the 2BR days off that reservation, and creating the new studio reservations with the points freed up from the 2BR reservation adjustment.

 

[castleri]

I think I would just keep the 2 BR the first days and then change to a smaller unit the last two days. You could check with MS and maybe even try for a different resort for those days. You can have your luggage transferred by bell services and check into the new resort whenever it suits you. If you have a car it is even easier. I know some people don't like to move but it can be fun depending on your family circumstances. You do take a chance of not getting into a room until later in the day when you change but if you are planning a park day anyway it shouldn't be a problem. If you have a car someone can go to the new resort first thing in the morning and check in and then you can go about your day until they let you know a room is ready. When we have done this we have been very fortunate in having a room ready when we checked in at 7 or 8 in the morning. If the first day is a Friday or Saturday then I might consider trying for a studio to save those points and just have a piece of luggage packed for that night so you don't need to unpack everything until the next day. Again you may get lucky and not have to move if they have you in a lock off studio and you tell them when you check in that you will be checking into a 2BR the next day. You still have to check in but it may actually be the same studio and the 1BR next door if you get lucky.

Good luck with your trip - I had one once that went from 9 people who were supposed to be on the trip to 5 and we had a grand villa - One person we talked to asked who the crazy person was that was using that many points for so few people- It was Christmas week and there were no options for change - we really enjoyed all the room but if I could have gone to a smaller unit or units I would have to save those points.

 

[paults]

i would just rebook and get 2 studios for the days you need. Since you were going into the studio anyway just rebook and put your guests in a studio too.