What would happen....

[bsb]

I am trying to book a package for 5 at POR. I have talked to Disney several times on the phone and they said with my dated they have no rooms that accommodate 5 people available. Online it is letting me get as far as putting names in (with 5 slots) and asking for billing information. What would happen if I booked online and they really don't have any of these rooms available? Would they have to accommodate us by giving us two rooms or changing resorts? I am hesitant to book it online because I do not want them to say im screwed after the fact. I would think they would have to accommodate my entire party if it is allowing me to book it online. Does anyone have any insight into this?

 

[jhryb]

If you are able to book it online then I would book it. No reservation is absolutely 100% guaranteed to stay exactly the same .... but Disney always has a solution if they can not honor your original reservation. They may upgrade you to another resort that can accomodate 5 guests. They may also give you the option to split into two rooms.
My family was booked at AKL one time and they ended up moving us to the Poly because they could not accomodate us at AKL. This was a major upgrade for us but they did not charge us the difference.

 

[maxiesmom]

They are probably gambling on the fact that a room will end up available that fits your family. If one doesn't they may upgrade you, or put you into 2 rooms. Keep in mind that with 2 rooms, if they don't have the inner connecting door they will expect an adult to sleep in each room.

 

[AuroraRora]

I would book it. If they'll allowing bookings on the basis of getting some cancellations, they must expect there's a pretty good chance they'll actually get those cancellations. I think a lot of people do cancel/change given how flexible Disney's reservation policies are, particularly for room-only bookings. Worst case, they won't have the room available, but they'll fix it for you. Even if they tried to put you in two rooms, I'd imagine if you made it clear that wasn't acceptable at all, some kind of upgrade would come your way (and not unjustly, after all they were the ones that let you book a room they didn't have)

 

[sndral]

I am trying to book a package for 5 at POR. I have talked to Disney several times on the phone and they said with my dated they have no rooms that accommodate 5 people available. Online it is letting me get as far as putting names in (with 5 slots) and asking for billing information...
Does anyone have any insight into this?

Availability of rooms at WDW comes and goes, especially if you are trying to book under a discount, thus there may have been no 'sleeps 5' rooms @ POR when you talked to the phone operator, but when you checked online a room had become available.
Disney historically has accepted reservations at totally booked resorts when they are trying to up % occupancy and then moved people around if needed later - lately it's been via an email offer a week or 2 before the trip. I'd guess if it's one of these scenarios then SSR would be the upgrade, rather than 2 rooms at an already overbooked POR.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . What would happen if I booked online and they really don't have any of these rooms available? Would they have to accommodate us by giving us two rooms or changing resorts? . . .

1) If the on-line computer takes it, you are good.
2) Just do a screen print of the ressie/room/price/guests.
3) Then, print out the email confirmation.
4) The Best:
. . . you get the room you ordered
. . . you are in High Cotton
5) The Worst:
. . . you arrive sand there is no room available
. . . they have to give you an equal-or-better accommodation *
. . . at the same or different resort

* Should this happen, they may try to give you a lesser accommodation.
If that happens, ask to see the Guest Service Manager. If still is adamant,
ask to see the chapter in the Guest Service Manual. It CLEARLY states that a substitute room has to be as-good-or-better than the reserved room. If
there is positively nothing else available, even at Deluxe resorts or DVC, then
ask for monetary compensation in addition to the changed room.

 

[tinkbyday]

1) If the on-line computer takes it, you are good.
2) Just do a screen print of the ressie/room/price/guests.
3) Then, print out the email confirmation.
4) The Best:
. . . you get the room you ordered
. . . you are in High Cotton
5) The Worst:
. . . you arrive sand there is no room available
. . . they have to give you an equal-or-better accommodation *
. . . at the same or different resort

* Should this happen, they may try to give you a lesser accommodation.
If that happens, ask to see the Guest Service Manager. If still is adamant,
ask to see the chapter in the Guest Service Manual. It CLEARLY states that a substitute room has to be as-good-or-better than the reserved room. If
there is positively nothing else available, even at Deluxe resorts or DVC, then
ask for monetary compensation in addition to the changed room.

That's really interesting - when we had stayed at POR, they tried to move us to ASSp because they said they were oversold. i wish I had known that then lol - but will keep in mind if it ever happens again.

 

[veraletta]

I would say you would get a cot...

 

[Sue M]

1) If the on-line computer takes it, you are good.
2) Just do a screen print of the ressie/room/price/guests.
3) Then, print out the email confirmation.
4) The Best:
. . . you get the room you ordered
. . . you are in High Cotton
5) The Worst:
. . . you arrive sand there is no room available
. . . they have to give you an equal-or-better accommodation *
. . . at the same or different resort

* Should this happen, they may try to give you a lesser accommodation.
If that happens, ask to see the Guest Service Manager. If still is adamant,
ask to see the chapter in the Guest Service Manual. It CLEARLY states that a substitute room has to be as-good-or-better than the reserved room. If
there is positively nothing else available, even at Deluxe resorts or DVC, then
ask for monetary compensation in addition to the changed room.

Good advise as always!!

 

[maxiesmom]

Good advise as always!!

It is good advice, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you will get that compensation for being downgraded right away. Unfortunately I know that from experience.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Alligator Bayou rooms sleep five, with two queen beds and a murphy bed. But the guest staying in the murphy bed needs to be short, about 5 feet tall or slightly taller. The bed is about as wide as a crib mattress and a little bit longer.

 

[mmmears]

Book it online. There are times where the room availability online isn't exactly the same as when you call. Things open up all the time, and the "system" has to be updated... As long as it lets you book the room you should be fine.

 

[bsb]

Thanks everyone for your comments! I booked yesterday!! Fingers crossed for an upgrade!! My mom called immediately after to book the same room (same dates) and they said they were all booked again. She even explained that I had just booked online and they said they had nothing available. I went online for her and booked hers as well. It's really strange that there is such a difference between calling and doing it online.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I would say you would get a cot...

That is exactly what happened to my friends family of 5. They put them in a mansion building and brought them a cot.

 

[nkereina]

I would say you would get a cot...

Some rooms in the mansions may not allow for a cot due to fire codes.

OP, are you trying to book over the phone under a discount? They may not have any rooms available under that promo but have rooms outside of the promo.

 

[bsb]

I did book with the spring room discount online but when I called I didn't even get as far as to mention a discount.

A cot would not really work for my family as we have a wheelchair and a stroller along with 5 peoples luggage. If that is what they offer would I have to take it??? A cot would make things practically impossible to move around in a regular sized room. Are the rooms that are meant to sleep 5 larger than a standard room? I know the extra bed is a murphy so that would allow us to keep it stored unless we are sleeping.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I did book with the spring room discount online but when I called I didn't even get as far as to mention a discount.

A cot would not really work for my family as we have a wheelchair and a stroller along with 5 peoples luggage. If that is what they offer would I have to take it??? A cot would make things practically impossible to move around in a regular sized room. Are the rooms that are meant to sleep 5 larger than a standard room? I know the extra bed is a murphy so that would allow us to keep it stored unless we are sleeping.

Rooms are the same size no matter what.

 

[Tink415]

I am trying to book a package for 5 at POR. I have talked to Disney several times on the phone and they said with my dated they have no rooms that accommodate 5 people available. Online it is letting me get as far as putting names in (with 5 slots) and asking for billing information. What would happen if I booked online and they really don't have any of these rooms available? Would they have to accommodate us by giving us two rooms or changing resorts? I am hesitant to book it online because I do not want them to say im screwed after the fact. I would think they would have to accommodate my entire party if it is allowing me to book it online. Does anyone have any insight into this?

Yes, I booked BW Inn room for 5 and when we arrived we were given a BW Villa studio that slept 4. The manager brought us an aerobed for our 5th person. I was told they were over sold, that was that, nothing else was available. Most likely you're room will work out ok. Don't assume if it doesn't 2 rooms or an upgrade would be offered.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The sleeping space for the 5th person in Alligator Bayou rooms is not a Murphy bed, it's a trundle bed.

It is a small, thin surface that slides under the bed; it is not a bed that pulls down from the wall.

We did stay in an Alligator Bayou room with the trundle bed. DS slept on it for one night but it was pretty uncomfortable.

We also stayed in a Casitas suite at CSR that had a Murphy bed. They put us there for one night when we checked in (had added a day on to the beginning of our trip on a separate reservation, IIR) but moved us the next day to a regular room in the area we'd requested. The suite was two rooms put together and felt really huge. It had a King bed in one room and the Murphy bed in another and I think a chair that folded out to a twin bed. (I could be wrong about that but I know for sure there was a King and a Murphy.)

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

The sleeping space for the 5th person in Alligator Bayou rooms is not a Murphy bed, it's a trundle bed.

It is a small, thin surface that slides under the bed; it is not a bed that pulls down from the wall.

We did stay in an Alligator Bayou room with the trundle bed. DS slept on it for one night but it was pretty uncomfortable.

We also stayed in a Casitas suite at CSR that had a Murphy bed. They put us there for one night when we checked in (had added a day on to the beginning of our trip on a separate reservation, IIR) but moved us the next day to a regular room in the area we'd requested. The suite was two rooms put together and felt really huge. It had a King bed in one room and the Murphy bed in another and I think a chair that folded out to a twin bed. (I could be wrong about that but I know for sure there was a King and a Murphy.)

It used to be a trundle bed, but now they are Murphy beds. This was changed during the last refurbishment.