We took our 4 young kids to WDW over Easter....it was very clearly notated in every available location in my room ressies the words "Guaranteed Connecting Rooms." Our rooms did not have a connecting door. We fought (our rooms had been blocked for several months already, apparently incorrectly, because of dd6's special needs), and were moved to inappropriate rooms.
I did complain, and emailed a complaint upon my return home. The highest-up person I could ever reach explained that connecting rooms are NOT guaranteed, etc. She saw in the ressie that our connecting door WAS stated as guaranteed (tried to tell me it dioesn't matter what it says, it still is not guaranteed). I told her all THREE people I double checked with, who looked at our room assignments, CONFIRMED connecting door for me. Any one of those people could have CHECKED and the mistake prevented before it got so out of hand.
I spoke with this woman again the next day. ........and she reiterated that connecting rooms are NOT guaranteed. I tried to pin her down...said that my first ressie said Connecting Rooms Request. But after going through spec svcs, it said "Guaranteed Connecting Rooms for Families." I asked, hypothetically, if I take the next trip without dh -- just me and 4 small kids (he might be mad at the $123.17 and NOT come, lol) will several of my kids maybe get their own non-connecting room? She would NOT give a definite. She said ""Everyone wants connecting rooms." So maybe I will have to pay for 2 rooms, and squeeze us all illegally into one so none of my kids are sleeping in a separate hotel room illegally? she promised that they "try no take each situation individually. They would list the reservation as Guaranteed Connecting Rooms for Families, and TRY to make sure it happens."
So just know that you shouldn't bank on those rooms connecting, even if it is guaranteed.
Beth
p.s. My story above was taken from my trip report, just in case some of you read that and thought it sounded familiar, lol.