DLH Renovated Rooms ?

[disneymum58]

Today I called to ask to have a renovated room request added to my reservation. I was told that this could only be requested at check in and only if I paid an extra fee of around $45 per night. I couldn't ask or pay for this in advance.
Has anybody stayed here recently and were you charged an extra fee to stay in a renovated room?
I just wish they had told me earlier that if I wanted to stay in the Dreams Tower that I would be asked to pay extra.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

The renovated rooms are now classified as "preferred" and a higher room rate than standard.

 

[disneymum58]

I was told a preferred room can only be requested at check in. Is this true?

 

[goldies 5]

I would call back. Seems to be lot of different information floating around from different CM's. I would suspect you would need to pay in advance to guarantee your preferred room. They can't gaurantee something that might not be available at check in.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I paid for a renovated room in advance (for our November trip)--it is called a preferred premium room in my case. It was more expensive than a standard or a room with a view. So your information was NOT correct--unless you are going soon and there are no more "preferred" rooms left, in which case you take your chances on hoping that there will be one left when you check in and can pay for it then.

Look on the disneyland website (www.disney.com) and plug in your dates, and see if any preferred rooms pop up. That is how I booked mine.

 

[disneymum58]

Yes, I am getting the impression that there are no more preferred rooms left to reserve. I guess I will stay with my original reservation which will be one of the older rooms with the pool view. The only unfurbished rooms are in the Magic Tower. I have never stayed in this tower. What are some of the advantages of this tower? I guess I will just have to hope for some Disney Magic to happen if I want to stay in the Dreams Tower with a DTD view?
Thanks for helping me understand this more clearly. When I first booked there was no such thing as a "Preferred Room" and I kind of thought I had an equal chance with everybody to get a renovated room.

 

[DahliaRW]

Yes, I am getting the impression that there are no more preferred rooms left to reserve. I guess I will stay with my original reservation which will be one of the older rooms with the pool view. The only unfurbished rooms are in the Magic Tower. I have never stayed in this tower. What are some of the advantages of this tower? I guess I will just have to hope for some Disney Magic to happen if I want to stay in the Dreams Tower with a DTD view?
Thanks for helping me understand this more clearly. When I first booked there was no such thing as a "Preferred Room" and I kind of thought I had an equal chance with everybody to get a renovated room.

They changed it after I made my reservation (ours is for February). I'm going to wait until we firm up dates and for specials, but if I can't be guaranteed I won't be in a tower currently being refurbed I'm switching hotels for sure. We want a renovated room as well, and requested one when making reservations. But for the dates we're looking at there is ONE night in the middle that the hotel seems fairly booked and the only thing available are the premium view rooms. So I'm not sure what's going to happen (we may change our dates).

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I don't know when you made your reservations, but once upon a time *most* guests didn't know about the renovated rooms. Unless you were a dis-er or someone with inside information about the Disneyland Hotel, you just stayed where they put you or the room you booked (standard, view, etc...).

I stayed in a freshly renovated room last year in the Dreams Tower (brand new--we were the first to stay there in that room)--and only got it because I called ahead of time requesting it, and when we checked in saw that we got it. At that time, I think lots of guests were clueless about the renovations. When went again in July, I called ahead and requested one of the renovated rooms and they put the request on the reservation, but there was no "preferred" room option at that time. When we got to Disneyland Hotel, we found out they didn't assign us a renovated room. I asked if there was anything they could do, and they said that since we paid for a upper view/pool room--that is what they had us in. They offered to give us a "downgrade" to a lower tower view in the dreams tower 3rd floor in order to get a remodeled room. We took it, because that is what was important to my girls--to get one of the new rooms. The CM told me that now that so many people were requesting the renovated rooms, that they were going to change the way they did reservations, and have people pay more to stay in those remodeled rooms. They hadn't done it yet, but I knew it was coming.

So this visit (in November) I wasn't surprised when I saw the option for Preferred Premium View Room cost more than a Standard or View Room. I forked over the money to get the dreams tower in a remodeled room, because I knew it would be worth it to us.

So that is how the timeline worked out. We have stayed in the Disneyland Hotel a few times a year for at least 10 years now, and never have gotten upgraded to a better room then we paid for. I have heard stories and know it must happen, but if we book a standard room or a lower tower view room, then that is what they give us.

 

[DisneyParkFan]

And now there is a Preferred Standard room rate and a Preferred Premium View room rate.

I called today to make the final payment on my reservation for Thanksgiving and was able to "upgrade" to a Preferred Standard room. With the Fall discount also applied, the remaining amount I owed was minimal (<$15). The CM was so nice and helpful. I am looking forward to my trip in November.

 

[cpster]

Does anyone have any pics of the renovated rooms? Thanks a bunch!

 

[Nala83]

And now there is a Preferred Standard room a rate and a Preferred Premium View room rate.

Of course, soon there will be no non-preferred rooms (all will be renovated), and the DLH will have cleverly raised the rates on all of their rooms.

Sad, but I suppose expected.

 

[Always Dream]

Hi All!

So I really really wanted a renovated room at the DLH when I booked a while ago, but switched to paradise peir when they couldn't guarantee a renovated room (I didn't really like the looks of the old ones).

I just called to try and change my reservation - and they said nothing was available, but when I check online a "preferred standard room" comes up. Does anyone know what's up with this? The price also goes up about $150, even though it says it's giving me the "fall" discount. After I called I thought maybe they would only have so many at a discount, but I guess that's not it.

I think I can just reserve online, and then cancel the other reservation. That's right?

P.S. Could the "preferred standard room" be a preferred room for reasons other than the renovation? I'd hate to book and then not know what I'm getting!

 

[Mom2m&k]

I don't know if this helps but we stayed in the Magic Tower with pool view a couple years ago and it was great! I was worried as we had never stayed in that tower before and was very pleasantly surprised. I think either way you will have a wonderful time!

 

[disneymum58]

Thanks Mom2m&k! Now that I know we will be in the Magic Tower I can get used to the idea and perhaps in a few years, we will be able to stay at the DLH again in a renovated room. I'm just a little bit frustrated that when I called to have a Dreams Tower preference added to my reservation, they said ok, knowing full well that there was NO WAY I would get in that tower, since I hadn't paid for a "preferred" room. Now the preferred rooms are sold out for my dates.
But, we are getting so excited for our trip in a few days, so I decided to just improve my attitude and plan to have a great time no matter where they decide to put us.

 

[Mom2m&k]

A cute story from that trip...we woke up to find my then 4 yr old sitting under the curtain wrapped in a blanket watching the pool and the morning crew start working. It was the cutest thing!

 

[DisneyParkFan]

P.S. Could the "preferred standard room" be a preferred room for reasons other than the renovation? I'd hate to book and then not know what I'm getting!

When I called to pay and got the upgrade, the CM told me that my Preferred Standard room was a renovated room with the new headboard and to press the button on the side of the headboard for some Disney magic.

 

[ORDisneyfans]

We stayed in a DTD view renovated room in August. It was beautiful with a great view and easy access to dtd. However, we also stayed at PP concierge 14th floor park view for less money. I would do PP again concierge for less than DLH renovated nonconcierge. Not sure what current rates are. DLH room was definitely nicer, pool was great (larger and more themed) but we were treated like royallty at PPH concierge! PPH room was bigger though a little dated. Pool was nice though more standard with a large seperate water slide. Special glass elevator that hardly anyone else used. Great turn down service, rice krispy treats on our first night, free computer use and business services in lounge. (This really came in handy as we were selling a home and had to fax a buch of documents back and forth!)

FWIW hubby preferred DLH ( room only)but he is not really into going to the lounge like us girls!

 

[justliketink]

I booked my DL hotel package through Disney Travel back in August for our trip coming up on Nov 10. When they emailed my receipt, I saw that we were in a Standard room. I called the hotel directly and requested a renovated room and the CM said they would put it on my reservation and I should inquire during check in. Well after reading this thread, I just called back. The hotel transferred me to Disney Travel and the travel agent told me that in Sept they began charging for renovated rooms and called them Preferred Standard or Preferred Premium. It is an extra $40 a night. Unfortunately all the rooms are sold out at this point in all three hotels, so I can't get into a renovated room or change hotels. I don't think requesting at check-in will help, but will try anyway. Anyway, if you want a renovated room, I wouldn't wait until you get to the hotel.