Anyone ever been "walked: from a Disney hotel property?

[tzeitel]

I've only stayed a couple of times at GCH. I had no problems with the room assignments there.

I have stayed many times at DLH, pretty much always in premium view rooms. I've never had a problem being "walked" as you put it, but I have had one instance where they tried to put us in a standard double room because they were out of premium double rooms. Also, if I request a theme park view the odds are I won't get it without asking to speak with a manager and possibly spending one night in a room with a different view. I usually arrive in the evening. Maybe in the morning check-in would be easier?

In the one instance where they wanted to send us to a standard double room instead of the premium room that I had booked, I asked to speak with a manager and had an almost surreal experience (for the DLH) where she actually fixed the room assignment problem without me having to argue about it further. She listened to my story, typed furiously at the computer for a few minutes (I've never seen a faster typist, and I've seen a lot), then told me she had resolved the issue, asked me if there was anything else she could assist me with, and turned me back over to the regular staff to complete the check-in process. I asked the CM how the manager had found us a room when supposedly there were none available and she told me that the manager had switched rooms with another party. It seemed kind of weird to me since they had never offered to do this before. Then, we got to our room and it was AMAZING! The best premium view room I've ever stayed in at the DLH! It didn't make sense to me at first why they had taken such good care of me when they usually don't, but then I realized that I had recently booked a weeklong vacation at WDW Polynesian Resort, club room, for Easter week. My suspicion is that they saw my expensive WDW trip in the computer and went out of their way to assist me. Or, maybe I just got the best manager ever?

So I would say, arrive early if you can, ask to speak with a manager if you don't get what you paid for, and as a last resort book an expensive WDTC vacation for a future date before you arrive.

DLR does not know what you booked at WDW and vice versa. The resorts do not share that kind of info either. It might say repeat guest if you mention it when booking or if you had a serious issue on a previous trip it might have a note attached (but those are few and far between).

Rooms are blocked ahead of time - especially if it is a busy season. Think of it as playing Tetris, you put reservations where they fit. On sold out situations the blocks are even more important so the minimum amount of guests are affected. If something is blocked for a reason FD agents cannot change room categories or even room #s. It takes rooms control or a manager and then they have to find a ressie like yours to swap with. The advantage of gettng there early is that the manager has more rooms to work with and hopes that there are enough no-shows at the end of the night that the downgrades are not used. Nights are hell on walk times

gabeoak thanks! there are many guests who are walked that are not as put out by it. We've even had to walk from the Beach Club to the All Stars and not all have been a problem. They are taken in the resort's sedan and their luggage is taken care of, they get a refund for the night and many other little perks mentioned already, plus I always gave them an upgrade if possible.

 

[iheartdisney]

The only time I have ever had that happen was at wdw during spring break a few years ago. When we arrived to check into the Coronado Springs, the cm was typing for quite awhile. More than usual for a check in. Then she looked up and asked, "How would you like to stay at the Yacht Club?" I was confused and told her there was no way I could afford that. She reassured me that since Disney made the mistake, it was covered. Apparently, some Osmonds showed up last minute and wanted to stay at the Coronado.
Since then, I have been trying to justify the price at the yacht club... The pool was awesome!

 

[mydisneymoney]

The only time I have ever had that happen was at wdw during spring break a few years ago. When we arrived to check into the Coronado Springs, the cm was typing for quite awhile. More than usual for a check in. Then she looked up and asked, "How would you like to stay at the Yacht Club?" I was confused and told her there was no way I could afford that. She reassured me that since Disney made the mistake, it was covered. Apparently, some Osmonds showed up last minute and wanted to stay at the Coronado.
Since then, I have been trying to justify the price at the yacht club... The pool was awesome!

That is AWSOME! I am never lucky enough for an upgrade. If anything it is just what I paid for and about as far away from the elevators as you can get.

 

[kiwitravel]

Prepay for the room a week or so before you go.... Once you have paid fully for the room it becomes a binding agreement.... If you get there and they do not have your room they will bend over backwards to keep you happy knowing they will be required to accommodate you by law.... A deposit does not guarantee you a room...

 

[gabeoak]

Kiwitravel. The room is fully paid already. So that's a done deal. And yes, they are bound to provide a room they technically do not have to bend over backwards. All hotels have walk policies. And as one of the previous posters said, sometimes it is easier to accommodate and appease than others. There are nights where there just aren't the rooms needed It is rare. But it does happen. It looks like next fri and sat may be those type of nights.