Connecting rooms

[maxiesmom]

Surely ya'll realize this is in every hotel reservation ever, right?
Please don't act like Disney does this an no one else ever does it

No one has said that. But no one should ever think they are guaranteed the room type they request or book. I've been downgraded twice at a Disney resort. And not gotten my requested connecting room too.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

No one has said that. But no one should ever think they are guaranteed the room type they request or book. I've been downgraded twice at a Disney resort. And not gotten my requested connecting room too.

Geez, my only point was until recently, have you ever seen Disney put it in writing? I sure haven't
They do now
Does it mean anything
I guess to you it doesn't
Not more than booking a King room does (for instance)
Others, maybe it does
I was just sharing.

I do maintain that no hotel makes a habit of giving a room different than what is booked in writing when they can avoid it. It's very bad press. Does it happen, sure. Does it happen all the time? No. But whatever, I was only trying to be helpful to show what can happen since many say Disney will not even put it in writing.

Carry on folks
I'm out. Folks just don't want help

 

[lanejudy]

my only point was until recently, have you ever seen Disney put it in writing?

It has been in writing on some reservations in the past. I don’t recall the details of how those guests booked. Some were assigned connecting, but I do recall at least a couple posters who were upset they did not get connecting or even same floor until a couple days after check-in despite a “guarantee” notation on the reservation.

That said, I do believe WDW tries to grant requests for connecting rooms.

 

[sponica]

I do think one reservation number with 2 rooms has a higher chance of being connecting, provided it's a resort where the room types do connect.

 

[RoseGold]

I thought the Disney fine print was that guaranteed doesn't mean guaranteed? Or is it actually guaranteed now? This was one of the more important reasons people stay off-site, so makes sense Disney actually got it together. But, Disney IT...

 

[Mle8308]

The problem with that is your room is not your room until they assign it to you. And I've actually arrived at the resort, been told I had one room, and given another.

Disney does not block out rooms as we book them. We get whatever is available that day, when we check in. Disney tries to give us what we ask for, but sometimes even paid for room categories are not available

Chances are good you will get connecting rooms if you ask for them. But will you be ok on the off chance you don't? What is your plan B?

That's not actually true. It is true that rooms are not assigned at booking. Reservations get downloaded from the central reservation system to the actual resort a few days prior to arrival date (about 5). At that point, the room assigner's at the resorts will go through all the room requests made and try and preassign rooms if needed. Connecting requests are one of the things they look for. They will attempt to honor the requests whenever possible. Now the more specific you get, it gets less likely that all requests can be honored. And, your rooms may not be ready upon arrival, even if you get there after 3pm. Rooms are usually available after 3pm (and most of the time before), however specific requests may take longer. That "connecting rooms guaranteed" shown above is a new one for me! If the two rooms are not under the same reservation, call Disney and make sure it is noted in the reservations that the two are together and request connecting. They will look for those notes when assigning rooms. And unlike a lot of hotel chains, Disney is geared to families and have a large number of connecting rooms.

 

[mmouse50]

I just made a reservation on the Disney website and it asked me on the reservation whether I wanted connecting rooms or nearby rooms during check out. I didn't need any but I am wondering if this is how to get connecting rooms.

 

[Ross Kratter]

I ask about others’ experiences because I’ve had multiple CMs tell me connecting is guaranteed with one reservation. So I’m trying to decide if it’s worth the extra $900.

Yes, DVC would be ideal, but unfortunately, we cannot do DVC this trip. Keeping this in mind if we ever return.

The only way connecting rooms are guaranteed on one reservation is if there are 2 or less adults and any number of children. Anymore than 2 adults has to be done as 2 reservations with a request for connecting rooms that is not guaranteed.

 

[HopperFan]

I just made a reservation on the Disney website and it asked me on the reservation whether I wanted connecting rooms or nearby rooms during check out. I didn't need any but I am wondering if this is how to get connecting rooms.
View attachment 726424

Were you booking more than one room that would have triggered this? Or did it show up with just one room? I've never seen anything like this come up but I've never booked more than one room. As a single room booker I'd rather have other room request options.

If this is something new I will be interested to follow how well this will work out for them. I think they are opening a can of worms if the final receipt says "guaranteed" like the poster above showed yet this clearly states NOT guaranteed ... this is likely going to end up with "overbooking" of a amenity and upset customers.

The only way connecting rooms are guaranteed on one reservation is if there are 2 or less adults and any number of children.

Why would that guarantee with two adults? One adult in each room with kids is not any different than one adult with kids in a single room reservation.

I think you are thinking 1 adult and enough kids to require two rooms which most feel guarantees although we have seen multiple reports of a parent arriving to non-connecting rooms.

AND bottom line Disney wants those folks to book suites, one reason they added these family suites.

Anymore than 2 adults has to be done as 2 reservations with a request for connecting rooms that is not guaranteed.

I think you can book two rooms on one reservation no matter who is in the room.

 

[Ross Kratter]

I think you can book two rooms on one reservation no matter who is in the room.

I am a CM at the Disney Reservation Center; I book reservations like this all the time. The rule is that 1 or 2 adults plus any number of kids can do 2 rooms on one res with guaranteed connecting rooms. More than 2 adults has to be 2 reservations with a request for connecting rooms that isn't guaranteed.

 

[HopperFan]

I am a CM at the Disney Reservation Center; I book reservations like this all the time. The rule is that 1 or 2 adults plus any number of kids can do 2 rooms on one res with guaranteed connecting rooms.

I appreciate the job you do and this is not directed at you but .... the information we get from Disney reservations is inconsistent and all over the place. I know most trust nothing they are told because call 3 and you get 3 different policies. How many times do we tell folks on here to just call back when given wonky info? I have called at times and I have to help the CM!

The fact that so there are reports of a single parent not being give connecting rooms and it not being fixed night one in contrary to that policy. One thing Disney has proven over and over is that we can't trust most information given, AND on the ground CMs have the final word anyway to override everything which diminishes anything we are told on the phone.

More than 2 adults has to be 2 reservations with a request for connecting rooms that isn't guaranteed.

What does this mean?

 

[Ross Kratter]

I appreciate the job you do and this is not directed at you but .... the information we get from Disney reservations is inconsistent and all over the place. I know most trust nothing they are told because call 3 and you get 3 different policies. How many times do we tell folks on here to just call back when given wonky info? I have called at times and I have to help the CM!

The fact that so there are reports of a single parent not being give connecting rooms and it not being fixed night one in contrary to that policy. One thing Disney has proven over and over is that we can't trust most information given, AND on the ground CMs have the final word anyway to override everything which diminishes anything we are told on the phone.


What does this mean?

What it means is that if you have 3 or more adults in the party, with a room type not sleeping as many people as are in the party, rooms have to be booked as 2 different reservations with 2 different lead guests. We will link them with a Travel With number and request connecting rooms, but in this case, connecting rooms are not guaranteed.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I am a CM at the Disney Reservation Center; I book reservations like this all the time. The rule is that 1 or 2 adults plus any number of kids can do 2 rooms on one res with guaranteed connecting rooms. More than 2 adults has to be 2 reservations with a request for connecting rooms that isn't guaranteed.

I was able to book two rooms on one reservation and we had three adults and two children. I didn't ask for connecting rooms but I received them.

 

[Ross Kratter]

I was able to book two rooms on one reservation and we had three adults and two children. I didn't ask for connecting rooms but I received them.

That should not have been permitted per our policies.

 

[HopperFan]

What it means is that if you have 3 or more adults in the party, with a room type not sleeping as many people as are in the party, rooms have to be booked as 2 different reservations with 2 different lead guests. We will link them with a Travel With number and request connecting rooms, but in this case, connecting rooms are not guaranteed.

That makes no sense because many families going to Disney these days are all adults according to Disney. If I went with my family we would be over room capacity with all adults but I would be the one booking and paying. I expect ONE reservation for two or three rooms. I can do it at every other hotel brand.

I was able to book two rooms on one reservation and we had three adults and two children. I didn't ask for connecting rooms but I received them.

Yes, this makes sense, why in the world would your family require two reservations when you can book two rooms under one reservation?! I know if my whole family went I would do the booking and we would need more than one room.

That should not have been permitted per our policies.

And here is a problem with Disney, policies that make no sense or are not enforced. It makes no sense to make a family hold two reservations, and if there is a policy then the system should be written to not allow it. So many policies they have in hotels and parks, some even written down, are not supported by the IT or the on the ground CMs. That is why so many people come here for help. I always believe that we should answer the possibilities of what might happen and be prepared - because nothing is guaranteed at Disney, not even shift to shift. We are not being helpful to tell people things are "fact" and have them arrive disappointed. It is best to look at all possible outcomes.

 

[CarolynFH]

@Ross Kratter , how long have you been a CM at the DRC? Maybe some of these are new policies that are just now being implemented? Having read some of the stories of one adult with several children arriving to find their "guaranteed" connecting rooms didn't exist, I hope Disney is making an honest effort to resolve that problem. I do think that if connecting rooms is so important, non-essential room requests (location) shouldn't be submitted.

 

[Ross Kratter]

@Ross Kratter , how long have you been a CM at the DRC? Maybe some of these are new policies that are just now being implemented? Having read some of the stories of one adult with several children arriving to find their "guaranteed" connecting rooms didn't exist, I hope Disney is making an honest effort to resolve that problem. I do think that if connecting rooms is so important, non-essential room requests (location) shouldn't be submitted.

I’m coming up on six months. That said, the guaranteed connecting room policy/multiple rooms on one reservation thing is definitely not new.

 

[maxiesmom]

That's not actually true. It is true that rooms are not assigned at booking. Reservations get downloaded from the central reservation system to the actual resort a few days prior to arrival date (about 5). At that point, the room assigner's at the resorts will go through all the room requests made and try and preassign rooms if needed. Connecting requests are one of the things they look for. They will attempt to honor the requests whenever possible. Now the more specific you get, it gets less likely that all requests can be honored. And, your rooms may not be ready upon arrival, even if you get there after 3pm. Rooms are usually available after 3pm (and most of the time before), however specific requests may take longer. That "connecting rooms guaranteed" shown above is a new one for me! If the two rooms are not under the same reservation, call Disney and make sure it is noted in the reservations that the two are together and request connecting. They will look for those notes when assigning rooms. And unlike a lot of hotel chains, Disney is geared to families and have a large number of connecting rooms.

What part of my post wasn't true? Your post confirmed everything I said.

Btw, different resorts have different amounts of connecting rooms. My Disney TA told me to avoid the Contemporary if connecting rooms are important, as they have a smaller number of connecting rooms.

 

[cjlong88]

FWIW. I booked one package, two rooms at YC. Just got our room assignments now and they are connecting, and we didn't ask for connecting. Doesn't mean anything...but it's nice!