11 month booking and you still don't get the room you want!

[Biddler]

Does this happen to anyone else? I just don't get it. You book a room 11 months in advance requesting something like top floor standard. You get there and all they have in 1st floor due to the fact that it is sold out. I know they make the room assignments the week before, however it just gets me so frustrated when you request something 11 months ago and someone can book a room a month before and end up getting the room I requested almost a year ago. Just venting. Thanks for listening.

 

[OneMoreTry]

 

[tjkraz]

Just be certain to send your comments to DVC. Unfortunately the program we all bought into stipulates that things like room location and smoking preference are requests, not guarantees. If enough people voice the same concerns, hopefully DVC can do something about it.

The squeeky wheel gets the grease.

 

[mikesmom]

Some of it has to do with time of year. Some of it has to do with who was there before you were. Example: People who checked in the week before you did also requested top floor standard. They are still in their rooms! Ya can't kick 'em out! I don't think that scenario is too far-fetched either as we know that the Standard View rooms are very few and much requested. It's very possible that they were still sold out to folks whose 11 month window was the week before yours!

And if you are referring to a recent trip, I'm not too surprised. We just got back. Originally wanted more days than we stayed. Rooms all around the Epcot resort were totally sold out ( and in much of the other DVC also). There were many corporate conferences there. While I don't think the conferences took up the DVC rooms, I do think that people might have extended their stays at meetings and booked the DVC rooms for days before and after the meetings.

 

[DebbieB]

Be sure to e-mail member services with your comments. DVC usually uses a room assignment policy called "room ready" where rooms are not assigned in advance or are not assigned in order of date of reservation.

 

[Granny]

Be sure to e-mail member services with your comments. DVC usually uses a room assignment policy called "room ready" where rooms are not assigned in advance or are not assigned in order of date of reservation.

Actually, I think "room ready" is not being used as widely as originally advertised. OKW seems to use it, based on reports from this board. But many others at VWL, BWV and BCV continue to post that their "designated" rooms are not ready when they go to check in early (before 4:00), and they have to continue to check back to see if it is available.

My personal experience at VWL and BWV is that the rooms are definitely pre-assigned.

Personally, I'd prefer that they go to the first request, first served so that the resort owners who book 8-11 months out have their requests met before anyone who reserves closer to the vacation dates than that.

We keep our requests pretty minimal (non-smoking) and so far we've been fortunate.

 

[VMS]

We were at VWL in December and had our choice of rooms. Could have taken some rooms that were ready, or waited to get what we requested. We wanted a lake side view on a higher floor. We decided to wait and get it, so the rooms were not "pre-assigned".

 

[pplasky]

I don't know, after reading these boards on a regular basis, I think people go a little crazy with requests. We always request NS, but that is a health issue. We don't request NHA, but I can see that request if staying in a studio. The request for specific rooms in specific locations is beyond me. People expect too much from MS in this regard and unless there is some kind of definite problem with the room, I don't see the need to complain. Sorry is this offended some of you, but JMHO.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I think if assigning rooms based on date of original reservation were easy, DVC would be more accomodating. There are so many unexpected factors.

What if something goes wrong with your assigned room? A broken pipe? A broken AC? An unexpected smoker in a NS room? Or a room trashed by guests that needs repairs? Do they then reassign every single room again at the last minute based on date of reservation? So we can get our preference. It seems that if all the rooms had been preassigned, moving someone will then affect everyone else's assignment-- a domino effect.

What if you change a request one month out? Should that receive your 11 month priority? Or should it receive a one month priority?


My opinion is that DVC should make it clear how requests are honored and what we can do to improve our chances. Should we show up early in the day? Should we send chocolates a week beforehand? I might be willing to get my nose a little dirty.

 

[Mike_in_FL]

I happened to meet a "room assigner" during check-in to BCV a couple of years ago. We had a very nice conversation in which she told me that they would indeed use the reservation date as their guide when attempting to meet room requests. We were staying on fairly short notice at the time and she happened to overhear the person handling my check-in that they could not meet the Epcot view request, which was fine and not unexpected. She explained the process a little and told me that we would be in good shape for our December trip (booked 11 months out...). It could of course have changed by now...

Biddler, are you sure you are not on the "naughty list" Sorry, couldn't resist - just kidding.

FWIW,
Mike

 

[Dean]

I happened to meet a "room assigner" during check-in to BCV a couple of years ago. We had a very nice conversation in which she told me that they would indeed use the reservation date as their guide when attempting to meet room requests. We were staying on fairly short notice at the time and she happened to overhear the person handling my check-in that they could not meet the Epcot view request, which was fine and not unexpected. She explained the process a little and told me that we would be in good shape for our December trip (booked 11 months out...). It could of course have changed by now...

Biddler, are you sure you are not on the "naughty list" Sorry, couldn't resist - just kidding.

FWIW,
Mike

Unfortunately, all the rules and guidance to the room controllers has changed since then. They no longer formally consider when the request or reservation were made.

 

[DebbieB]

"Room ready" started mid 2003. I talked to the member satisfaction manager at the time, Jackie Leuders. If they are using it (which many have found they don't always), only rooms with medical requests are pre-assigned. The rest are assigned at check-in. When you check-in, they look at the rooms ready for immediate occupancy and try to match at least one of your requests. The goal was to get as many people as possible into ready rooms when they arrive. They also started the separate boardwalk view category at BWV around the same time, recognizing it could be a free for all trying to get those rooms under this new system. Since it was implemented, many have found that they do sometimes pre-assign rooms, it seems to be at the discresion of the front desk. I've found our rooms at BWV were always pre-assigned. OKW not always. When they do pre-assign rooms, I don't know if they still use the date of reservation method.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I don't see the need to complain either but they should either do away with "requests" that can't be guaranteed or set up categories at each of the resorts that can be, like they did with the Boardwalk view.

IMHO the more complaints they get regarding unfilled requests, will only lead to DVC eliminating them like they did with the EPCOT view at the BCV. I'll wager a lot of DVCers were angry at not getting that. It's easier for DVC to eliminate it up front than deal with it afterward.

HBC

 

[one_cat]

I know from my own experience that Member Services tries honor requests. I've never not gotten something I requested. However, I also know it's impractical to think that everyone is going to get the rooms they requested. After all, someone has to have that first floor room. I've never had the understanding that the people who put in their request first would get the first choice though maybe I'm misinformed about that. I always figure that the room requests are a lottery and as long as I have a non-smoking room I will be happy. I may get flamed for this but the contract you signed says that requests are just that. Don't complain unless the contract is being violated.

 

[dyingtodisney]

We called on the drive into Florida a few hours out from VWL to see if our room had been assigned and it was already.
In June when we stayed at SSR we had a choice of a few different rooms they offered us at check in.
I definitely think all resorts should get on the same page with this system as people sort of expect to get the same service at each resort.

 

[PamOKW]

Time of year can make a difference. Yes, you booked at 11 months out....but so did almost everyone else in line with you during Christmas or Easeter weeks. As mentioned, the flow of people in and out also has a lot to do with what's available. If the type of room you requested is fully occuppied on the day you check-in, it's not going to be available. They aren't going to keep a room vacant to "hold" it for someone checking in later in the week.

I know it's disappointing not to get what you want but remember you're not the only one who is disappointed.

 

[lenshanem]

I got one for ya -
Earlier this week we checked in and were preassigned to a room already. On our confirmation it had with stars - request non-smoking for medical reasons.
Our preassigned room was a smoking room! YEP. Luckily, this was around 4:30 and they were able to move us, only after accidentally giving us a room someone else was already in.

Long story short, the room was great and so was the resort!

I do think I'm jinxed, though...

 

[CapeCodFam]

Other than 'non-smoking', we don't make requests. The room location does not matter to us and a smoking room wouldn't really bother us either. We are happy just to be there.

Managing a first-come first-served request list seems alot to effectively manage for DVC. It could result in more disappointments than what people experience now with requests. I definately don't like being around DVCers when they lose a gasket at check-in. It's just a room....

 

[CarolA]

Remember you "requested" a room, you weren't guranteed anything. Logisitics just don't always work the way you want.

You called at 11 months and requested top floor epcot view. The week before the hotel was full and people were put in those rooms, they have not checked out when you arrived. They are NOT going to be evicted for you. Unless you are willing to pay MUCH MUCH higher dues for lots of vacancies to gurantee that a room of your choice will be available.....( and I am not!)

If I were a front desk CM at a Disney resort I would campaign daily to have all requests except HA and NS removed. Since all of us have seen the guest who ruins the magic for everyone in the area when their "requests" were not met. WHy should the CM be expected to put up with being YELLED at over a view!

 

[lenshanem]

I just made a ressie for next year and I only requested non-smoking for medical reasons for my daughter and non-handicap (studio) so the kids can have a bath.
Other than that, I don't care. Give me the room with a dumpster view and ten mile walk down the hall.

I'm over it.