Are rooms assigned by reservation date or time you get there in the morning?

[karebear1]

I've read several posts that lead me to believe that your room assignment is based on not only your request (as bet they can do that) and not only by the day you reserve, but more so by the time you arrive to check in. Is this true?

 

[danjulia]

I've read lots of threads re: this issue and was under the impression that requests when making the reservation ahead of time took precedence. WELL, we recently returned from our first trip home to BCV (an addon; we also own BWV). The reservation was made exactly 11 months in advance with requests of top floor, Epcot view. When we checked in we were assigned to a 3rd floor room overlooking the valet area in front of Beach Club hotel!! What a disappointment. To top it all off, it was one of the 1 BR's that doesn't have a balcony off the master. The CM at the desk was not very helpful, the best they could do was move us to a pool view. Not the best experience my first time home.

Now in contrast, we also moved over to the Poly for the last 3 nights of this trip (used our free nights from when we purchased the addon). My husband faxed the room controller there prior to leaving MA and we got exactly the building, floor, and general location we requested! At least we ended on a high note!

 

[erikthewise]

Nooooobody knows!

Seriously, this issue gets raised a lot, and no definitive answer ever seems to result. I doubt that it is always done the same way, or we would've figured it out by now.

Last year at BCV we got in off the wait list about 5 months out. When we checked in at noon on Saturday, much to my surprise we were given just what we requested. But I am not so foolish as to believe that one experience explains all.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I agree, I think they keep changing the system just to keep us guessing Still, I am going in 18 days and I will be at the check in desk bright and early, just to be sure.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by danjulia
I(used our free nights from when we purchased the addon).

Dan & julia -

Guess I'm like everyone else and don't want to miss out. What kind of deal did you get with your add on to get free nights at the POLY??

Thanks in advance

 

[Crissup]

I don't believe there is any single answer. I believe there are many various factors that come into play. One of those factors is the front desk modifying room assignments at check in time to accomodate people. For this particular reason alone, I believe it is good to check in early before they've had a chance to give someone else your awesome room and stick you with an outhouse view.

 

[EAP'sDAD]

Just to show you that it doesn't matter, the first time i stayed at the BWV I did not know you could ask for special views, I simply booked a perfered 1 br. When i arrived at about 3:30 pm I was asked if I would like a BW view. I loved it and the next three times down there I requested a BW view. once I got it the other times I didn't. the last time down we arrived at 8:00 am and told the CM that we would be willing to wit for a BW view. I was told that none were available and I got a a view of the Swan. so I don't think it matters what you request or when you request I believe it all has to do with luck.

 

[SimbaNoodle]

I can say from experience, I checked it at OKW last Sunday. I arrived at 7:30 am, stayed at Courtyard in Downtown Disney area the night before. When I got to the counter was asked where I wanted to stay. CM then went over each building in the areas that I was interested in. Also, I booked this stay at VWL 11 months out, then moved it to OKW 5 months out.

I had read many threads about how it was first come, first serve. That was why I went so early. I think another factor was that OKW was only 50-60% booked.

Have a great day.

 

[Chadm]

Here's another weird situation:

We took a very last minute trip to the BCV last week. We made the reservation 5 days before our arrival date of March 2nd. Our only requests were non-smoking & high floor. Well, we got those and also got a fantastic EPCOT (4th floor) view that we didn't request.

This view was much better than last time when we actually did request an EPCOT view. How weird is that?

P.S. We didn't check in particularly early, either. Sometime around lunch. It seems we got around both room assigning systems somehow.

 

[eva]

I think that they are still trying to honor the request by the date you make the reservation but there is a lot that comes into play on getting the request, even at 11 months out. First of all, you probably are not the only one making reservations at 11 months out with special requests. Also, there may be people that have asked for the same requests and they check-in a day or so before you. Therefore when you check in there just may simply not be a room that meets your requests available. Another problem is what I call the squeaky wheel. If someone checks in before you and makes a fuss about their room or location the front desk will ususally try to move them. Unfornunately this may kick someone else out of a room that meets their requests. I do think that checking in early does have an advantage over arriving late when it comes to requests. One reason may be just to avoid someone else getting your assigned room.

 

[PamOKW]

What kind of deal did you get with your add on to get free nights at the POLY??

I'm not Dan & Julia but I can give you the info. People who purchased an add-on at BCV prior to the resort opening were offered a special deal to compensate for the months when they would own points at a resort that was not yet open. They had the option of either taking a cash discount or being able to book nights for free at WDW resorts. The number of nights depended on the number of points purchased.

 

[danjulia]

The free nights were awarded during the pre-sale period of BCV. They didn't have MB program at that point (I think), but depending how many BC points you purchased, you got so many nights stay at any Disneyworld hotel (except Grand Floridian) that were good through this June. For our 100 point add-on, we got 3 nights. LOVED the Poly but won't be spending points for it anytime soon since it costs as much (or more) than a 1 BR!

Sue

PAMOKW - we answered at exactly the same time!