Are rooms assigned before check in? (online check in vs check in when you arrive)

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Do you know if rooms are assigned before you arrive? Does it matter regarding what you requested, if you check in sooner (online) vs later (when you arrive)?

 

[dansdad]

Do you know if rooms are assigned before you arrive?

Yes, 2-3 days before you arrive.

Does it matter regarding what you requested, if you check in sooner (online) vs later (when you arrive)?

No it doesn't.

 

[maxiesmom]

While rooms are assigned ahead of time it is worth noting that if you are unhappy with your location you can ask for a new one. Just as it is worth noting that your room number can change between being sent it and arriving at the resort. Your room is truly your room once you enter it.

I have fond that the later I arrive the less desirable the room location. I think it may be in part due to other guests taking the more desirable locations. Even if they were not assigned one, they may have been moved if they wanted something else. Just my experience.

 

[PSUGuy]

We wanted, and requested, what's known as a Courtyard View room at the Board Walk 2 years ago, we arrived on a Wed for a 10 day stay. None were available at check in but the CM handling us offered to switch us to one on the 3rd day for the payment of a cleaning fee and we happily agreed. Last year we got the room right off the bat and we've requested the same for this Oct. If we don't get it on check in we'll request a switch as was offered to us previously.

Bill From PA

 

[loves to dive]

I always do on line check in and if my room number hasn't been texted to me before I arrive, I still go to the front desk. I've found if I let them know I'm physically there, I have a better chance of getting a room a little quicker. Mind you, we don't ask for anything specific, we just ask for early check in. If they say the assigned room isn't ready yet, I'll tell them I'll take anything. A lot of time this ends up with me getting a slight upgrade to a water or garden view that I didn't ask for.

 

[Alabama Minnie]

Do you know if rooms are assigned before you arrive? Does it matter regarding what you requested, if you check in sooner (online) vs later (when you arrive)?[/QUOT

We never do online check-in. Last trip we arrived at GF at 10 am and she gave us a choice of 3 different buildings/room choices, even got a MK upgrade. I think maybe the less requests you make the better, although I have requested that I DO want a "sitting balcony" at BC this upcoming trip. I will say that when we arrive if I'm assigned a patio again (like last stay, hated it!) I will ask to be moved.

 

[rwdavis2]

We rented DVC points to stay at Boardwalk Villas in 2016 and requested via online check in a room close to the elevators which we got. It was not ready early but got texted the room number while at EPCOT.

 

[Magrathea]

Will they text a Canadian number when the room is ready?

 

[rwdavis2]

Probably as long as your phone can receive it here in the USA.

 

[Bobb_o]

My last stay at the Poly out room was not texted to us even though we checked in online. However, that may have been because it was noted that we were on our honeymoon and they gave us the leis at check-in in the lobby. Our room was available immediately.

 

[disneyinthespringtime]

"Just as it is worth noting that your room number can change between being sent it and arriving at the resort. "

If you get your number and like it (but plan to actually get into the room later since doing a park first), is there anything you can do to up your odds of holding onto it? I'd be pretty irked if they told me my room was X and then I got there and it had changed w/o me asking for a switch.

 

[BillFromCT]

We checked it to YC last August, and were assigned a room via text. Unfortunately I needed a two queen bed room, which was the one request I had attached to the reservation. They assigned us a king room. After much back and forth, we ended up in a two queen room with a view of the quiet pool. I know we were given a room that was already reserved for someone else. The manager said she would deal with that issue when the people came to check in. I learned the lesson that earlier check in is better.

 

[Sunelis]

Will they text a Canadian number when the room is ready?

My first post here... From my experience (I'm from Montreal,Qc). They've never texted me in 7 trips (and yes I can receive text in the US)... but they've always sent the e-mail with the room number.

 

[maxiesmom]

"Just as it is worth noting that your room number can change between being sent it and arriving at the resort. "

If you get your number and like it (but plan to actually get into the room later since doing a park first), is there anything you can do to up your odds of holding onto it? I'd be pretty irked if they told me my room was X and then I got there and it had changed w/o me asking for a switch.

Not that I am aware of.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Will they text a Canadian number when the room is ready?

My first post here... From my experience (I'm from Montreal,Qc). They've never texted me in 7 trips (and yes I can receive text in the US)... but they've always sent the e-mail with the room number.

Another Canadian here, and this is our experience too. We never receive a room ready text on our yearly trips, but we also get the e-mail. We can receive texts in the US, but for some reason, no room ready texts. Now we just know to pay attention to our e-mail.
And to Sunelis

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Update = I chcked in online, got my email room number at check in time. It was mostly what I requested, but I had an issue with the room. I called front desk up from the room and they switched us no problem!!

 

[AngiTN]

"Just as it is worth noting that your room number can change between being sent it and arriving at the resort. "

If you get your number and like it (but plan to actually get into the room later since doing a park first), is there anything you can do to up your odds of holding onto it? I'd be pretty irked if they told me my room was X and then I got there and it had changed w/o me asking for a switch.

Not likely because if they switch your room out after it's been sent to you then it was probably because something happened and the room didn't clear inspection for some reason.
In all our stays though, we've never had a room number change after we got our notice. I think it's pretty rare and takes pretty extenuating circumstances for them to take away an assigned AND notified room. Assigned and NOT notified yes.

 

[nkereina]

I have fond that the later I arrive the less desirable the room location. I think it may be in part due to other guests taking the more desirable locations. Even if they were not assigned one, they may have been moved if they wanted something else. Just my experience.

This is true. I used to work front desk in a hotel (not Disney), and all the rooms were pre-assigned in advance. If a guest checking in asked for a room change for whatever reason or had some kind of issue we needed to remedy, we would often swap their room for someone else's who hadn't arrived yet.

 

[Miffy]

I did online check-in for our most recent trip--last month--and we were not texted the room number. Furthermore, all of my phoned-in room requests had been ignored, although I was able to get my requests met at the front desk after seeing the room they'd assigned us. And, crazily, after we'd checked in at the front desk, I got a text message saying our room was ready . . . at an entirely different resort from the one where we were staying. Yes, I did go back to the front desk, since I was concerned that there was a chance they would charge us for this nonexistent reservation. Weird. And the last time I'll do online check-in.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

I always do online check-in. We usually get the email and/or text when we are driving in. We usually arrive around 1:00 pm. If the room assigned is not what I want, I stop by the front desk and ask for a different room. They have always been able to accommodate me with the request. Usually the only request I have is to be in a certain area or building at the resort. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!