Best method to make room requests?

[erinch]

I get a solo trip for my Bday! I’ve booked a King Savannah room at AKL Sept 14-18. My last Savannah room stay several years ago was Uzima. It was fine, but I would really like Arusha, 3rd floor or above, the further from the lobby the better.

How best to ask?
Text chat in app?
Phone call?
Touring plans?

And when? Now?
2 weeks away?

 

[Dave006]

It was fine, but I would really like Arusha, 3rd floor or above, the further from the lobby the better.

How best to ask?

Call the General reservation numbers 407-934-7639 or (407) 939-5277 from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time. There is no need to wait do it today.

Then in a few weeks give them a call again, and ask the CM to read back your reservation notes which should indicate your requests.

Dave

 

[erinch]

Call the General reservation numbers 407-934-7639 or (407) 939-5277 from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time. There is no need to wait do it today.

Then in a few weeks give them a call again, and ask the CM to read back your reservation notes which should indicate your requests.

Dave

Thank you! That would back is what I missed in previous requests.
I know it isn’t guaranteed at all, but it would be good to at least have the request in the mix of room assignments.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I’ve heard the most effective way to get what you wish is an old fashioned letter in the mail. The request stands out as it’s so unique. Have not tried it myself but plan to try in a few weeks.

 

[Darklord77]

I've had pretty good luck with Touring Plans the last 3 or 4 reservations.

 

[Craig Larson]

I’ve heard the most effective way to get what you wish is an old fashioned letter in the mail. The request stands out as it’s so unique. Have not tried it myself but plan to try in a few weeks.

Where does one send the letter? Is it to the resort itself or is there a central location? And I would assume you would put in ATTN: Room Assigner as the addressee

 

[Wood Nymph]

I usually call to make room requests. The phone lines aren't too busy first thing in the morning.

I used the chat feature one time, and it was not fast. They asked for all kinds of information that took longer to type than it did to say it to someone. I never used chat again.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Call the General reservation numbers 407-934-7639 or (407) 939-5277 from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time. There is no need to wait do it today.

Then in a few weeks give them a call again, and ask the CM to read back your reservation notes which should indicate your requests.

Dave

I totally agree this approach gives you the best chance.

If the location is really important to you, I'd also head to the front desk as soon as possible the morning of your check-in. The cast member won't tell you the room number, but they can see it. If it's not in an area you're happy with, there are times they can make a last-minute adjustment to another room. That doesn't always work, but it's worth a try if you're there early enough. We've found the front desk has given us better results than an actual room request before the reservation begins!

 

[Dug720]

It's also best to limit your requests to just a couple of things - and put them in priority order so that the assigner knows which is most important.

For example, my request for my upcoming stay at Sports in the Preferred section is:
1st priority - Surfs Up section
2nd priority - 3rd floor
3rd priority - corner room
So the assigner knows to first look for available rooms in Surfs Up, then see if any of those are on the 3rd floor, then see if any of those are corners.

 

[_19disnA]

If by 'best' you mean which method improves your odds of getting what you requested, I don't think it matters, your chances are the same whatever way you choose. I seem to recall that online with the Disney website there are selected drop-downs of room choices (or at least there used to be). Whatever way you choose, make sure to do it prior to the time when the room gets assigned by Disney. Sooner than later would be the way to go.

Making VERY specific choices likely decreases your chance of getting what you requested.

 

[JayMass]

I've never done a room request before. This year, though, for my upcoming stay at Riv, I used Touring Plans and also indicated my preference (high floor, close to skyliner) during check-in on the app. I'll update after I get back!

 

[bluezy]

I've used Touring Plans for probably our last 6 or 7 trips. I also have our TA add our request to our reservation. I do both of these things months before we arrive (I've been told -- by a former front desk CM -- that room assignments are started about 4 days before arrival). I make sure both requests are the same and I keep it simple. On the TP request, I'll pick a room number that fits our request but always add a note that says something along the lines of "While room #XXXX would be perfect, the things that appeal to us about this room are (in order of importance): 1. It's a first floor room; 2. It's close to the main building." The note I ask my TA to put on our reservation is: "Would like to request a room on the first floor and close to the main building." I've always been assigned the exact room requested or one that is next door or across the hall. The specific room isn't important to me, it's more about the general area of the building that our room is located in (specifically first floor).

ETA: While I've been very successful using TP and a note on the reservation for my room requests, I know I'm more of the exception than the rule. Many people don't get their requests. Maybe I'm just lucky or maybe I tend to get my requests because they're very simple and easy to accommodate. Who knows? When we needed connecting rooms, we always stayed at Pop Century because I knew that resort had the most connecting rooms available so my odds increased dramatically over staying at a resort that has a very limited number of connecting rooms. And I would make "connecting rooms" my only or number one request (we always got them). The important thing to remember is that these are *requests*. Some can be met, some cannot. If your room assignment isn't what you were hoping for, you can always go to the front desk to ask if they have a room available that will work better for you. Sometimes they'll have something available, sometimes they won't.

 

[JayMass]

@bluezy Thanks! Just updated my TP request!

 

[Dug720]

The important thing to remember is that these are *requests*. Some can be met, some cannot. If your room assignment isn't what you were hoping for, you can always go to the front desk to ask if they have a room available that will work better for you. Sometimes they'll have something available, sometimes they won't.

This is the most important thing to remember. They generally try their best to accommodate the requests, but sometimes they just can't.

As stated above, making the request as simple as possible - keeping them to 2, 3 things max - and letting them know your priority order helps.

For example, my upcoming stay is at Sports in a Preferred room. My request sent via Touring Plans includes:
"I would like to request a room...
1st priority - Surfs Up section
2nd priority - 3rd floor
3rd priority - Corner room"
That way the room assigner can look if there are any available rooms in Surfs Up, then if any of those are on the third floor, then if any of those are corner. Ideally there would be a room that met all 3 of those. If there are no corner rooms but there are 3rd floor Surfs Up rooms, ideally one of those. If there were no third floor rooms but rooms in Surfs Up, then ideally one of those would be assigned. If by some chance there are no rooms in Surfs Up for whatever reason, they would go to the Touchdown preferred rooms and see if any of those were on the third floor and if any of those were corner. And so forth.

But I still understand it is just a request. Well, not the Preferred part - that I paid for so if there suddenly is no Preferred room, I'll be politely discussing options with the front desk.

 

[JayMass]

OK, so I just got back. My room requests were through Touring Plans and MDE app. I stayed at Riv and requested a high floor, west facing room (toward the Skyliner, DHS, and EP). They gave me a ground floor, west facing room (toward the skyliner, DHS, and Epcot). We were at Blizzard Beach when the room was ready so I used the chat feature of MDE to request a different room. They had me fill out a form and ended up giving us a high floor on the west side of the hotel but it faced the pool rather than the skyliner, DHS, and Epcot that I had originally requested. So, I definitely got the higher floor and side of the resort that I wanted, but it ended up facing the wrong way. It ended up not being a huge deal because we could see the quiet pool and scope out open lounge chairs!

I'd say that they likely looked at and tried their best to meet the room request through TP and MDE. However, we arrived at the resort at 9 am and they likely gave us the first available room that met some of our criteria. I think that using the chat feature was certainly helpful. I'll also add that we had a studio and, while there are many of them at the Riv, they are also used in 2 BR lock-offs which may impact the number available at any given check-in day.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

I will add, that based on your requests, to skip the online check-in room request feature. They are very basic and I have seen them override any call in requests etc.

 

[Dave006]

OK, so I just got back. My room requests were through Touring Plans and MDE app. I stayed at Riv and requested a high floor, west facing room (toward the Skyliner, DHS, and EP). They gave me a ground floor, west facing room (toward the skyliner, DHS, and Epcot).

If you used Touringplans.com, and they sent a request for your room preference. Do not use MDE Online check-in to make any requests. If you make any selections during Online check-in these requests will over-right any requests on your reservation.

It was not exactly clear based on your post if you did this specific sequence of actions or something else by your reference to Touring Plans.

Is it possible that you just used Touring Plans to find a sample Studio location bases on reviewing the Rivera DVC building maps, did you provide your request to a reservations CM to add to your reservation?

Dave

 

[Dave006]

I will add, that based on your requests, to skip the online check-in room request feature. They are very basic and I have seen them override any call in requests etc.

Actually it is an issue where the last method used is what wins out since it over-write the previous selections.

Dave