Connecting Rooms...How often does this REALLY happen?

[ancestry]

As others have mentioned connecting rooms are only a request. They are not guaranteed. Disney is much more accommodating when the number of children outnumbers the number of adults. For example - a group of two adults and five children would be give preference for a connecting room and accommodated before four adults and two children would be.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Once we got connecting (at Beach Club), and once we did not (at WL).

We wanted 2 rooms - I woud be in one room (I love my own space!) and my brother, his wife, and my nephew in the other. At Beach Club, we got connecting rooms, and it was great! My nephew could go back and forth, and it was so convienent as we were close, but not isolated from eachother. Worked great!

But at WL, we got rooms next to each other, but not connecting. I wish we got connecting, as I could see how much better the connecting Beach Club rooms worked better for us in comparison. But I find WL is very strange with their room assignments, as I am ALWAYS placed in a handicappped-assessible king bed room, and I never ask for one. So it limits where we can be placed (since now you have to find a king bed that connects, since I am ineligible for getting a room with 2 queens as a solo). So I wasn't surprised at all when WL didn't give connecting rooms.

So it's hit or miss for us.

 

[WantToGoNow]

We are travelling with my cousin's family in November. We had them put in the reservation that we want adjoining not connecting rooms. This is one time I hope we don't get connecting.

We stayed at POP 2 years ago and requsted connecting - it was dh, myself, dd5, ds7 in one room and dd25 and her best friend in the other. We did not get connecting or even adjoining - there was 1 room between theirs and ours and it actually worked out great.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

We have always gotten our connecting rooms. I cannot remember a single time when we didn't. And we take about 3 trips a year. I guess it just depends on when you check in and if your CM wants to be nice that day. I guess I would be sad if we didn't although there have been times where not having a connecting room would have been nice too!

 

[maxiesmom]

Guarentee in the hotel business does not mean what people think it means. I've shown up many times on business trips for my "guarenteed king non-smoking" room to end up in a smoking room, or a double.

Your right. In fact, if people would take the time to read everything on their reservation they would realize the ONLY thing Disney is guaranteeing them is a room. Not even a room at the resort you have booked, just a room.

I have even exprienced paying for a prefered room and not getting it. According to the CM at check in, many families had decided to extend their stay so there were no prefered rooms available. And Disney won't make people leave if they will pay to stay. So I kind of feel sorry for those who have a reservation that states "Guaranteed connecting rooms". Cause Disney will do their best to give you just that, but it sure isn't "guaranteed". I would rather know there is a small chance of not receiving what I requested and then be able to have a plan for not getting it.

 

[RMulieri]

We have always gotten our connecting rooms. I cannot remember a single time when we didn't. And we take about 3 trips a year. I guess it just depends on when you check in and if your CM wants to be nice that day. I guess I would be sad if we didn't although there have been times where not having a connecting room would have been nice too!

Some it depends on that, but some of it is simply they can't give you what they don't have. I remember before the hotels were completely Non smoking and I requested non smoking ( I have asthma)at the all star movies well over 10 months in advance, On arrival ,there was not a single non smoking room to be had anywhere at the all star movies.

 

[cdrn1]

We have asked 3 times (AKL, Pop, and POFQ) and gotten connecting three times. Two of the three times we were not assigned connecting at check-in but persistance got them for us.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We have asked 3 times (AKL, Pop, and POFQ) and gotten connecting three times. Two of the three times we were not assigned connecting at check-in but persistance got them for us.

We have been to WDW numerous times and have always requested connecting rooms and have always been giving connecting room. Usually, when you hear about a family not getting their room request is during busy times like holidays during the busy summer months. If you aren't going during a really busy time, then I wouldn't even worry about it.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Some it depends on that, but some of it is simply they can't give you what they don't have. I remember before the hotels were completely Non smoking and I requested non smoking ( I have asthma)at the all star movies well over 10 months in advance, On arrival ,there was not a single non smoking room to be had anywhere at the all star movies.

What happened? Did they upgrade you to another resort? Just curious, I have asthma too, and always request non-smoking, not sure what I would do if I didn't get it.

 

[Princess Roo]

We're another family who didn't get connecting rooms one of the times we requested it. It's not guaranteed, but they do the best they can. We were a few doors down the hall from each other. They could have moved us all into two other connecting rooms starting the 3rd night of the trip, but we decided not to have the hassle of changing rooms and messing up the little kids naps that day. (It was NOT a peak time and we did have the reservation all together and sent a fax to the room assigner 5 days in advance to remind them of the request. They just didn't have enough inventory of connecting rooms the day we checked in.)

BTW, the other 2 times we requested connecting, we were able to get it.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Are most of you that have not gotten them because the other room was for additional family members? your parents, siblings, etcs and Not your kids?

I have a trip coming up this summer and we have 2 rooms at pop because of the 4 kids. It could be a miserable 10 nights if hubby and I have to split up in different rooms.

 

[hopefor4]

Never been a problem...4 kids, 2 adults that must be why.

 

[MyCathryn]

We requested on our last trip and they had no record of it when we got there. He made a stink about it but he did get it for us. The first time he tried they were adjoining but not connecting so we had to take the bus all the way back!!! It was like a 3 hour check in process. We have me, DH, DD, and my Mom and Dad. We will see what happens in 21 days. We plan on checking in before noon, so I hope it wont be an issue.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Are most of you that have not gotten them because the other room was for additional family members? your parents, siblings, etcs and Not your kids?

I have a trip coming up this summer and we have 2 rooms at pop because of the 4 kids. It could be a miserable 10 nights if hubby and I have to split up in different rooms.

That's basically what I want to know, also. Are husbands and wives and young children getting split up? I mean I can't believe they would split up a husband and wife. It seems like children have to out number the adults, but even that can't be guaranteed. I would be very upset and really fight for connecting if that were the case.

 

[timzagain]

Last year we stayed at All Star Music during Free Dining - a party of 11, including my parents, sis, bil and her kids, DH, me and our 3 girls.

I don't know if our travel agent specifically requested adjoining rooms, but I certainly didn't. On checking in, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my parents and I had adjoining rooms. One of our girls was assigned to the grandparents room. My sister's family of four had a room immediately next to mine, though not connecting. I guess the convenient room assignment was one of the perks of being a Grand Gathering group.

The adjoining rooms made life so much easier - it was possible for my parents to keep an eye on them, if DH were out late in the evening. Of course, it made it possible to share bathrooms if necessary. Getting out of the resort early would have been impossible otherwise. (If you've ever travelled with 2 teenaged girls and a tween girl, you'd understand exactly what I mean)

 

[drinkme]

We were standing in line to check in at AKL 2 years ago. There was a mom arguing with the CM at check in at the resort. Apparently, she asked for adjoining rooms and they weren't getting it. It was a family of 5, but the oldest child was 18, the younger children were very young. They were in a double stroller, so probably about 2 & 3, maybe a bit older. The CM said the 18 year old was considered an adult, so they couldn't guarantee adjoining rooms and there was nothing they could do. I felt so bad for this family, because you know the mom & dad would have to be split up.

We got a free upgrade then, so I was too excited to hear that family's outcome.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Last year we stayed at All Star Music during Free Dining - a party of 11, including my parents, sis, bil and her kids, DH, me and our 3 girls.

I don't know if our travel agent specifically requested adjoining rooms, but I certainly didn't. On checking in, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my parents and I had adjoining rooms. One of our girls was assigned to the grandparents room. My sister's family of four had a room immediately next to mine, though not connecting. I guess the convenient room assignment was one of the perks of being a Grand Gathering group.

The adjoining rooms made life so much easier - it was possible for my parents to keep an eye on them, if DH were out late in the evening. Of course, it made it possible to share bathrooms if necessary. Getting out of the resort early would have been impossible otherwise. (If you've ever travelled with 2 teenaged girls and a tween girl, you'd understand exactly what I mean)

Just to clarify, adjoining rooms are beside or near each other, connecting rooms have a door in between two rooms. If you request "adjoining" rooms you will not get connecting rooms.

 

[Haganfam5]

Last year we stayed at All Star Music during Free Dining - a party of 11, including my parents, sis, bil and her kids, DH, me and our 3 girls.

I don't know if our travel agent specifically requested adjoining rooms, but I certainly didn't. On checking in, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my parents and I had adjoining rooms. One of our girls was assigned to the grandparents room. My sister's family of four had a room immediately next to mine, though not connecting. I guess the convenient room assignment was one of the perks of being a Grand Gathering group.

The adjoining rooms made life so much easier - it was possible for my parents to keep an eye on them, if DH were out late in the evening. Of course, it made it possible to share bathrooms if necessary. Getting out of the resort early would have been impossible otherwise. (If you've ever travelled with 2 teenaged girls and a tween girl, you'd understand exactly what I mean)

I just booked our free dining Grand Gathering for August too and the CM told me that they do look at the Grand Gatherings when making the room assignments a day or two before arrival. He said they assume that since you are all coming together that you would want to be near each other. He said they get you as close as possible.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Just to clarify, adjoining rooms are beside or near each other, connecting rooms have a door in between two rooms. If you request "adjoining" rooms you will not get connecting rooms.

Exactly

 

[maxiesmom]

Are most of you that have not gotten them because the other room was for additional family members? your parents, siblings, etcs and Not your kids?

I have a trip coming up this summer and we have 2 rooms at pop because of the 4 kids. It could be a miserable 10 nights if hubby and I have to split up in different rooms.

I would say that families not getting connecting rooms when they ask for them are more the exception than the rule. Disney wants happy guests, and they will do what they can to make you happy. Having said that, there are only so many connecting rooms at each resort. So it is possible, if not probable, that you will end up with 2 rooms that do not connect.

At least knowing ahead of time that connecting rooms is just a request, you can prepare for what you would do if you don't receive them. Would you be willing to switch resorts? Could you deal with non connecting rooms for a day or two? Have a plan going in on what you will do if you receive the dreaded non connecting rooms, and it won't be such a pain.