Are Room Location Requests Really Considered?

[DisneyFamily123]

Do people think room location requests are really considered?

I had room location requests noted on the reservation on our last 2 trips (Sept. and Dec.). I know requests are not guaranteed... but I'm guessing that the computer is just assigning whatever room is ready at the time we checkin. Requests were noted by calling the resort reservation phone line and I verified that requests were noted. Did online checkin. At checkin (at the resort), we asked for a different room location and it was granted. Seems like it's best to arrive early, make a request when checking in at the resort, and be willing to wait instead of taking a room that's ready right away.

Sept. - Requested to be close to Old Port Royale's main pool (did not pay extra for preferred location). Arrived 11am to checkin, was assigned a room in Barbados that was ready but about as far away as possible from the main pool. Asked for a closer room in Jamaica and we were willing to wait (were heading to the parks right away anyway). Got a great room right by the bridge to the pool.

Dec. - Requested Hippy Dippy Pool View (paid for preferred location). Arrived 7pm, assigned room was not near pool. Asked if anything closer, given a room near the pool but not facing it.

 

[dansdad]

The more I read the boards the more I am realize that every trip to the World is different. Some people never get their requests, some people get them every time and some are 50-50.

We went the last week of October, made 2 room requests, did online check-in, got into our room when we arrived at 11:00AM and got both room requests.

I think if you could come up with a sure-fire way to get your requests every time no matter what, you could sell that info and retire very soon!

 

[DisneyFamily123]

The more I read the boards the more I am realize that every trip to the World is different. Some people never get their requests, some people get them every time and some are 50-50.

We went the last week of October, made 2 room requests, did online check-in, got into our room when we arrived at 11:00AM and got both room requests.

I think if you could come up with a sure-fire way to get your requests every time no matter what, you could sell that info and retire very soon!

So true! I guess it still doesn't hurt to make a request.... We always got great rooms each trip even if it wasn't the one "assigned" at first. Any room at Disney is a better room than mine at home!

 

[bytheblood]

Yes. Our requests are always honored.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Mine were never honored, not even one time. It was quite clear to me they were never read. The computer just picks the room, plain and simple. The only time I ever got any sort of request was by asking politely when I checked in, and got switched from my original room assignment. And that always depended on whether the CM was nice enough to want to help you. Many don't want to and just give the "sorry we are full and there is nothing else available" line (even in the off-season I heard that).

Funny, there was a time on the DIS where the general consensus of many posters were that requests were just about always granted; and there were humans ("room assignors") looking at EVERY single reservations and assigning them by hand. If you didn't get your requests at check-in, it was always your own fault since obviously you were rude, unrealistic, and overly demanding. I still remember some poster telling me "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" along with some condescending smiley, implying I must be horrible and demanding at check-in to never get my requests. No one would believe the computer simply assigned rooms for a great many of us.

I am glad to read threads like this one, since finally I can know of the existence of other posters who didn't get every single request every single time! For a long time on these boards, I thought I was the only one!

Nowadays, I never bother with requests since nothing ever comes of it. I just take whatever and always expect the worst! Least I won't be dissapointed.

 

[eeyoreamour]

We have always gotten our room request- for the last 10 years now and we visit at least twice a year! I think the clue is to be extremely nice and patient when checking in. CM are trained to go out of thier way to make your experience what you expect. Once, I even jokingly asked if they were giving any free upgrades and the CM disappered for a few moments and returned with a prime room facing the pool (we had booked a standard woods view at Wilderness Lodge)... Good luck!

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW 4-5 times a year and find my requests are met about 70% of the time. Sometimes they are met before I check in, but frequently I simply ask very politely at check in if anything is available that more closely meets my requests. Sometimes I get moved and sometimes I get the "We're full" spiel. I never go during the crowded times of the year though. My requests are also fairly simple.

 

[Missytara]

I had my requests honored every year (and I arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving) except last year when I was upgraded.

I never do online check-in and tell the CM I am willing to wait for my room when I check-in (usually around 10:30 am). Only once have I had to wait for my room until about 1:30 pm; usually my room is available.

 

[RMulieri]

I have 27+ trips ...ONLY ONCE did i ever get my requests..and I travel early,late.Peak season,value season and regular season..I don't take it personally.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

With computers doing everything these days... it's hard for me to imagine a human being is actually reading the request I asked to be noted. I'm guessing the computer just assigns a room based on what the computer says was done by housekeeping. And then I can request something different at checkin. Maybe a resort CM will see this thread and give us the "inside scoop"!

 

[Selket]

I've pretty much never gotten requests honored - these are ones made through reservations like "ground floor" or "close to main building. Honestly I seem to get the opposite - LOL!

I usually can get something better by requesting in person but not always. I tend to travel during peak times (summer) but not always.

 

[Sugardimples]

I have no inside information but here's how I "think" it works. The rooms are assigned by computer and only the requests that are possible to make during online check in are considered by the computer. Then at check in the CM can change the previously assigned room to honor the request.

 

[janabananas]

I have been very lucky with my last three trips: Sept, Nov, Dec 2011.

Sept trip-I got my most important requests: king bed, lake facing but didn't get 4th floor.

Nov: got king bed (my only request)

Dec: got the exact building I wanted (solo trip so I only worried about what I wanted, not about what dbf would have wanted)

I would say it never hurts to put in your requests. Just remember that you may not get them. I always go in expecting to get none of my requests fulfilled and if they do, I consider it pixie dust.

In addition, I have done all online check-ins and have been very happy with the end result.

 

[BNM]

I have no inside information but here's how I "think" it works. The rooms are assigned by computer and only the requests that are possible to make during online check in are considered by the computer. Then at check in the CM can change the previously assigned room to honor the request.

A suggestion: At check in, slip the CM a hundo.

 

[luvdumbo]

Everytime I do online check-in my requests are never honored, even if I pay for a preferred room I have yet to actually get a preferred room! I always say something when they pull out the map to show me where my room is and everytime I just get refunded the difference between the two never offered a different room.

When I don't do online check-in I always get asked if I have a preference for location. So I have stopped doing online check-in.

 

[Lynn57]

I do not do online check-in so I can talk about my room request with a person during the check-in process. I usually arrive early (between 10 and 10:30), so I tell them I do not need a room right away and share my requests. I don't expect them to be met, but am happily surprised if they are. Usually they try to get something close, but I think spending some time with the CM checking you in is the best strategy.

 

[nkereina]

On my last trip to POR in September, I had requested ahead of time a high floor refurbished room in the mansions. I was given a first floor non-refurb room in Alligator Bayou. I did do online check-in. I politely asked if they could honor my request. While the CM was looking for a new room to switch me to, we chatted and after our conversation, I concluded that they try to get online check-in people into rooms that will be ready when they arrive - whether or not it meets their request. Turns out none of the rooms that met my request were ready at my arrival, so we did have to wait another 3 hours. But that was fine by me. I won't be doing online check-in again.

 

[maxiesmom]

Everytime I do online check-in my requests are never honored, even if I pay for a preferred room I have yet to actually get a preferred room! I always say something when they pull out the map to show me where my room is and everytime I just get refunded the difference between the two never offered a different room.

When I don't do online check-in I always get asked if I have a preference for location. So I have stopped doing online check-in.

I've had that happen to me twice! Glad to know it isn't something I did that they are punishing me for!

To the poster who think it all hinges on you being nice and patient, nope. I am always as nice as can be to the CMs. I work retail and know how unappreciative some people are, so I always make sure to be nice to them. It is more just dumb luck. Sometimes they can honor your requests, and sometimes they can't.

I have been told too by CMs that if you arrive later in the day it makes the odds of getting your requests met smaller. Heck when the last time I didn't get my PAID FOR preferred room location at the Music they told me that that was due to my "late" check in time of 7pm. Even though I had done on line check in at 10 days out.

 

[aubriee]

I have been told too by CMs that if you arrive later in the day it makes the odds of getting your requests met smaller. Heck when the last time I didn't get my PAID FOR preferred room location at the Music they told me that that was due to my "late" check in time of 7pm. Even though I had done on line check in at 10 days out.

Not necessarily. I once paid for a preferred room at Pop. I checked in around 10:30am like I always do, and still got stuck in a Standard room. The CM wasn't even going to tell me either. Once I reminded him I had booked a preferred room he just continued to check me in, as he said they had apparently overbooked and they had to downgrade me to a standard room. I even had to insist that the price difference be refunded. When I mentioned it, he got a little irritated and told me he'd have to call a manager to do that and they were all busy.

 

[bear_mom]

I have made some pretty specific room requests at Pop: floor and building and they have been met each time (three trips).

Emily