Better chance of Getting requests if I check in early?

[DisneyGirl]

Hi everyone--

I was wondering if anyone had any experiences they can share. I have not in the past had too much luck getting my requests when I finally check in. I am the one that always seems to get the handicap accessible room (even though I don't need it), on top of not getting my requests!

This trip, I'll be coming in the night before, so I can check in super-early in the morning (even though I know I won't get my room yet). I have a 1-bedroom reserved at SSR (on points), and I'd really like (and requested) a downtown Disney room on an upper floor (not ground). If I check in early, do you think I have a greater or lesser chance of getting the requests I'd like? Also, if I mention it at check-in, do you think they would accomodate me if I say that I am willing to wait longer for a room if it means getting the requests I'd like as opposed to getting the first room available? I'm afraid that if I check in early, they'll give me the first room available just because I checked in so early!!

Thanks for your input!!

 

[Daitcher]

Hi everyone--

I was wondering if anyone had any experiences they can share. I have not in the past had too much luck getting my requests when I finally check in. I am the one that always seems to get the handicap accessible room (even though I don't need it), on top of not getting my requests!

This trip, I'll be coming in the night before, so I can check in super-early in the morning (even though I know I won't get my room yet). I have a 1-bedroom reserved at SSR (on points), and I'd really like (and requested) a downtown Disney room on an upper floor (not ground). If I check in early, do you think I have a greater or lesser chance of getting the requests I'd like? Also, if I mention it at check-in, do you think they would accomodate me if I say that I am willing to wait longer for a room if it means getting the requests I'd like as opposed to getting the first room available? I'm afraid that if I check in early, they'll give me the first room available just because I checked in so early!!

Thanks for your input!!

For starters I must confess that I hate requests and all the problems they lead too. Everyone cannot be made happy and have all requests honored. This is the reason that I feel a room ready system should be used at all resorts and no requests other than HA or NS be taken. You would then get a choice of any room that was available at your time of check in. Only those free rooms would be in the system. If what you wanted wasn't available your only option would be to check back later. Now on to your question. Based on all the whining and complaining that many DVC Members do, CM's usually cave to demands and or requests if they can. Sometimes your room is pre-assigned but even then with enough persausion they will change it. If you arrive early and let them know you would be willing to wait they probably will help you out. It can't hurt to try. My wish is simple, I wish all resorts would use the same system and stick to there guns. No amount of complaining and saying " I am a DVC Member" should change the rules. If they choose to use room ready the only rooms available at that moment should show up in the system. You could then choose from that lot. There would be no "I'm willing to wait" for a certain room location. The only option would be to check back later and see what is available then. If they choose to assign rooms then whatever you've been assigned is what you get. NO EXCEPTIONS, PERIOD. I feel much of the frustration comes from the changing of policies and misunderstandings. If we all know the rules we would just learn to enjoy the great locations and say better luck next time to the bad ones. I hope you get what you want.


DAVE

 

[Tamar]

The last 2 trips we took to BWV, we were originally assigned a room that did not meet our request (quiet, away from the elevator), but when we asked to wait for a room that did, they switched us. So, I'd say checking in earlier is better, at least at Boardwalk

 

[debbie in Seattle]

I'm just as picky (if not more) than anyone else, but I'm starting to feel rather bad for these poor CM trying to check folks in. With all the posts I've read, I can imagine a CM starting their shift at 7am and having a line out the door of folks trying to get 'that perfect room'. I think there should be a check in time and leave it at that. I once was told I could check in early down in Scottsdale at a resort, but since I had come in earlier than housekeeping had a chance to clean all the rooms, got a 'bad' room. I had the poor bellman take me to 5 rooms prior to having to settle! Lesson learned. I'm just happy to be in WDW, happy I have the money, time and health to be there and hopefully will get the two requests I've made, no smoking and a quiet area. If not, I'll make do. I'm not going to ruin my vacation over getting 'that perfect room'. If it's meant to be, it'll happen.
Can't control all in life.

 

[DisneyGirl]

Thanks everyone for your comments!!

I am not the type of person to complain (I've been to Disney numerous times, have never once gotten a request I made (outside of non-smoking, which I need for medical reasons), but I've never complained becuase it's, to be honest, not that big of a deal in the long run when I'm on vacation.

But, I have to admit, I get a little jealous when I see all of the requests that people get here, so I'd really like to try to get what I requested this time, rather than just take what is given to me-- I'll go early and just talk to the cast member, and hopefully they will work with me (I've never encountered a rude cast member at Disney EVER, but I'm never rude myself-- whether or not I can get what I want-- I know what I'm guaranteed to get, and I could never bring myself to "demand" something that I have just requested, but am not guaranteed to get!!)

 

[caroljean55]

We just returned from Saratoga. We had checked in late (7P.M.)for reasons I won't go into. The only rooms they had left, we were told, were in one of the "just finished" buildings. The CM made it sound like it would be special since we would be one of the first ones in the room. Well, it still smelled of paint. We had not made any special requests other than non-smoking. So my complaint was, if a smoking room was going to bother me with my allergies, what do they think a paint fume-filled room was going to do? So after two days' travel, and carrying up all our stuff, we opted to just stay put and I took sinus/allergy pills every night for the whole time we were there so I wouldn't wake up each morning with a sick headache. So in our case, it might have been better for us had we arrived earlier.

 

[Tamar]

I've been in the service industry (including working as a hotel night manager), and I disagree with Debbie and Daitcher. If you're going to be spending 3,5,7 nights in a room, and waiting for a different room that meets your request(s) to be cleaned would make your vacation more pleasant, why shouldn't you ask? It is the CM's job to check you into a room...that's what they do. It is not at all complicated with today's computer systems to see what rooms are currently available and which will be available later.

If you went to a restaurant and didn't like green peppers, would you hesitate to ask that the green peppers be left out of your salad? Yup, it's a little more work for the chef to do something special for you, but it should not be considered an inconvenience. Now, if you want green peppers, and the kitchen doesn't have them, that's a different story....(and late in the day they might be out of green peppers).

 

[LIFERBABE]

I have found it is better to check in early (noon is fine for me) than to check in late. The one time we checked in late (after 4pm) and sure enough, all that was left was smoking or HA.

I know many people don't like to pay extra, but we like to stay 12 nights, and if the room assigned at checkin isnt acceptable, I will pay the $25 clean fee to change rooms the next day. They can pre-assign a new unit that will meet most requests so paying to change rooms, is like checking in a day early and staying elsewhere.

We did this in June, and it worked out great and there was no way, I could have slept in the HA unit we were originally assigned (albeit, the location was GREAT!) because the bed was EXTRA firm (and that's a nice way of putting it).

For longer trips it is worth it to us to be as comfortable as we can be. For shorter trips we probably will not bother, but a comfortable bed is still very important so next time, I will take the smoking unit and have them spray.

 

[Tamar]

Lifer....I was thinking about the late day check in...I wonder if you made 2 different reservations (one for the first night, and then a second for other nights) if you could move for no charge. What do you think?

 

[cristbaby]

I was thinking about the late day check in...I wonder if you made 2 different reservations (one for the first night, and then a second for other nights) if you could move for no charge. What do you think?

Sounds like a great idea to me!

 

[DebbieB]

Lifer....I was thinking about the late day check in...I wonder if you made 2 different reservations (one for the first night, and then a second for other nights) if you could move for no charge. What do you think?

Although unlikely, it could backfire and they could make you move the second day even if you didn't want to.

 

[caskar]

Just back, my experience was interesting that my room wasn't ready when I called 2 times at 1 then at 2. When I went back to BCV to personally check the CM got me a room. I did not ask him to do that. I simply asked if my room was available yet. He typed in many things, took him a few minutes, never said anything to me about what he was doing. Then he said ok throw away your keys you already have and here are some new ones. I did not tell him what my request were but he got all of them. I was suprised but happy to be in a room.

 

[JimMIA]

But, I have to admit, I get a little jealous when I see all of the requests that people get here, so I'd really like to try to get what I requested this time, rather than just take what is given to me-- I'll go early and just talk to the cast member, and hopefully they will work with me (I've never encountered a rude cast member at Disney EVER, but I'm never rude myself-- whether or not I can get what I want-- I know what I'm guaranteed to get, and I could never bring myself to "demand" something that I have just requested, but am not guaranteed to get!!)

That's the strategy I follow anywhere I go. My experience is that people in the service industry will usually help you if a) they know what you want (which starts with ME knowing what I want!), and b) they can. I've always found that people will do more for you because they want to than when they feel they have to.

On the other hand, there are a ton of hysterics out there. I'm sure there are plenty of people who pitch their little hissy-fits and get what they want (At Miami International Airport, they even have a code for them -- "2-1-2", as in "2-1-2 at Gate D9." I'll let you guess where that came from.). But my guess is they get the minimum necessary to shut them up.

 

[Disney Doll]

We just returned from Saratoga. We had checked in late (7P.M.)for reasons I won't go into. The only rooms they had left, we were told, were in one of the "just finished" buildings. The CM made it sound like it would be special since we would be one of the first ones in the room. Well, it still smelled of paint. We had not made any special requests other than non-smoking. So my complaint was, if a smoking room was going to bother me with my allergies, what do they think a paint fume-filled room was going to do? So after two days' travel, and carrying up all our stuff, we opted to just stay put and I took sinus/allergy pills every night for the whole time we were there so I wouldn't wake up each morning with a sick headache. So in our case, it might have been better for us had we arrived earlier.

That must have been some paint if it smelled for an entire vacation!!!!!! Usually when we paint our house the smell is gone within a day or so, if it takes that long.

To the OP...the only request I generally make is NS. I am not particularly fussy about room location...we have no trouble walking etc, so it doesn't matter if it is close to or far from the elevator. We are sound sleepers, so if it is close to the elevator, the noise won't wake us. If it is far from the elevator, the quiet & the long walk doesn't bother us. I like a nice view, certainly, but I have never had what I would consider an awful view in WDW anyhow. Even when we stayed in the WL hotel, in a room (which we got for a FABULOUS rate) overlooking the smokehouse, it was still an interesting view, if not a picturesque one. Plus, I don't spend a heck of a lot of time sitting in the room or on the balcony looking at the view. Maybe a bit of time in the AM while eating my breakfast and a bit of time in the PM to "unwind" and that's about it. I also don't mind a handicapped room.

When we check in, we generally talk to the CM and determine where we'd like to be based on what is currently available or what we can wait for. When we are at OKW, we like the Southpoint or Turtle Pond area better than the Miller's Road area...just a personal preference. So when I am checking in, I will ask if there is something available in Southpoint or Turtle Pond. If there is, I take it. If there is going to be something, and waiting isn't an issue, then I'll wait. We also don't travel at the really busy times of the year, so there tends to be more general availability.

I try to request in order of importance, with non-smoking being #1.

 

[CarolA]

I do feel very sorry for the CMs. I have personally witnessed some just HORRID treatment of them from DVC members who seem to think request equals DEMAND! One man was cursing and threatening to sue the CMs.(Security was actually called to escort this man outside with his ORIGINAL room key in his dirty little hand!) Sorry, but in that case you should get the dumpster view and the truck should clean it EVERY morning at 2 am!


My only request is non-smoking. I have always gotten it.

I will take any view or "gasp" a HA room! (As a matter of fact I checked into the Marriott here in Nashville last night. I have the HA room... I am surviving just fine)

 

[dianeschlicht]

People these days seem to have a strong sense of entitlement. I only request non-smoking for medical reasons, and have occationally needed a room at OKW that was accessible with an ECV. Never had any trouble getting it, and I have never had to make a fuss (nor would I anyway). We have been placed in lots of different locations at OKW, and while I have my favorites (South Point and Miller's Road), I like everything I am given. Sure some are not as good a location or have quite as nice a view as others, but nothing I can't live with, and who says I need the premium view every trip anyway? As long as it's clean, has all the amenities it should, it is non-smoking and I can get to a bus, I'm happy.

 

[DisneyGirl]

People these days seem to have a strong sense of entitlement.

Yes! That's my thought exactly!! It's why I never let it bother me if I *don't* get what I want-- I'm just interested in seeing if there are any non-nasty ways to get a good view/location/etc. I know that my problem is not even asking (and I do think that if you don't ask, some (not all) people will give you an "undesirable" room because they know you won't say anything.) I'm going to ask nicely this time, and see what happens, but if it doesn't work out, I'm still going to enjoy my vacation!

I really hate this entitlement syndrome people seem to have (and it's not just at Disney, and it's not just DVC-- it's everywhere). I understand you paid a lot of money-- so did everyone else. It's the same thing with lawsuits-- everyone is trying to get as much as they can out of every situation, whether they deserve it or not-- I think we'd have less stress more happiness if everyone would relax and see the good in things, rather than the negative!

 

[EdTreo]

Here was my experienced that I posted earlier:

I checked-in last weekend at OKW. The guest ahead of the line got their rooms early and I was hopeful that I will too. I requested for a villa that is close to the HH and she told there were few and are now available. She then proceded to check me in. After she logged my info in she told me I can't have those rooms and that I was already assigned to the 4000's villa which is close to the farthest unit and won't be available until 4pm, she also verified this with someone inside the office as well. I inquired further on why I'm not allowed to transfer to available units. She didn't answer me and instead asked me if I was a member. She handed me the welcome folder and told me to check back later when room becomes available. I later got a 5400 room which is the farthest from the HH.

I decided not to let this ruin the day so I stopped inquiring further and took the folder and rearranged all my plans with the family for that day.

 

[Danthesand]

Let me add to the confusion here!!!

Historically, checking in as early as possible and being gracious to whatever CM was at the desk at the time was the best way to raise the likelihood of getting a villa that met your requests.

However, the introduction of Magical Express (ME) has turned that on its head.

Because of all the problems ME has had, Disney is doing everything possible to raise the "guest satisfaction" of ME users, and that includes given them priority in room assignments.

How so?

Currently, guests who book ME are put into a database the includes their flight info. The moment their flight lands, the system sends a message to the room assigner at the resort the guest is expected at. That CM then reviews the rooms (or villas if the ressie is for the latter) that will be coming available within the next few hours. WDW policy is now that the CM must give priority for those rooms/villas to the incoming ME arrivals. The rather transparent agenda here is to try and make ME guests "happy" by getting them into their accomodations the moment they arrive at the resort.

In other words, even if a DVC member checks in early, they will be shoved to the back of the room assignment queue if ME guests are scheduled to arrive with the next few hours.

Even more importantly, the "ME priority" strategy has the effect of lowering available room/villa inventory by the hour as given day goes on, which means that non-ME DVC arrivals have less to choose from, raising the likelihood of ending up with the "leftovers" (ergo, the less choice villas).

The only work around is to "beat Disney at its own game," by doing what we are doing for our upcoming August trip to the Boardwalk:

arrive early in the morning -- via ME.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I agree Disneygirl with your sentiments. I request what I want and hope for the best. There's nothing wrong with the "requesting" part, as far as I'm concerned...it's the sense of entitlement that often goes with it...but it's not coming from us.