You will only get a preferred room if you have paid for a preferred room. You can put in a request for a certain building, but they are only requests and may not he honored. We were lucky and got Martinique, it was the building right next to the preferred building. If your dd has mobility issues, it may be worth it to pay for preferred, but I suppose you could always switch rooms if your initial room does not work for you, I find they really try to work with you if you do not like your room location.
Last year we requested Jamaica and got Jamaica. We were so happy since Jamaica is just a quick walk and over the bridge to OPR. After we finished with check in, the lady told us the bridge was out. We would have to either take a shuttle which we did not want to do, or walk up a hill around a bridge, down a hill and then walk the entire length of the lake. We tried the walk once and said "no way" it was just too much for us. They switched us to Martinique, but we had to wait until the next day, which was not a problem, but they were good at working with us and showing us all the rooms that would be available over the next couple of days.
Thank you for your advice
,i'm thinking its sounding best if we do upgrade and pay for a preferred room then,at least we know its deffinately guaranteed.That's great that they moved you,that sounded like a long old trek.Ive always found CM to be so acommadating in all the Disney resorts we have stayed at.
While there is no guarantee that you will be upgraded, it has been known to happen. As a matter of fact, we have been upgraded three times without requesting closing to OPR. Having said that, you will not be guaranteed a preferred room unless that is the category that you actually book. However, you can call and have the cast member make a notation on you reservation that your daughter has mobility issues and you would like to be as close to OPR as possible.
**Edited to add: I'm so jealous that you'll be there for three whole weeks! We stay for two and I could stay for several more.
Thanks for your advice
,Lucky you,three times.I think I would be worried that we wouldn't get close enough especially since we don't usually arrive till about 4pm,others could have gone to their room,not liked it,gone back to reception and our room may get given to them and we end up with their room they didn't want(I don't know if that's what could happen?),but its something I thought about last night.
We are very lucky that we holiday every 2 years in August and in actual fact we stay for 28 nights in total,we spend so many nights on International Drive,then we move to a Universal Resort,then we move to a Disney resort.Next year we are doing 5 nights at Rosen Inn Pointe,2 nights at Royal Pacific Resort then moving to CBR for 21 nights.We started off going in April for 2 weeks,then 16 nights,then 3 weeks,before changing to August for 4 weeks and we have done that ever since,I would hate to have to go back to a 2 week holiday now.
Yep, we did end up doing a split stay. We are staying at Pop Century for 6 nights and then move over to CBR for 8 nights. I'm nervous as heck because we've never stayed in a value but I'm sure that we'll be fine.
We have stayed at POP and loved it!!!.The bus service is great,it doesn't share with another resort and it has individual bus stops for each park.The food court is excellent,lots of choice.The pools are great,we used all of them for a change of scenery.The only thing we could fault was the size of the beds,they were a little on the small side,but wouldn't hesitate on staying there again if free dining ever stopped.
and have booked a standard room.Am I right in saying that even if i request 'close to OPR/Main Pool(because of daughters mobility issues),we will 'not' be placed in Trinidad North or Martinque 24 25 26 unless I specifically book and pay for a preferred room?.Or do people get lucky and get placed in those parts even if they haven't paid?.Thank you.x. 
