Does check-in time influence what room you get?

[invalid_char]

... OR is it only the seniority of your reservation?

We booked our reservation within the first few minutes of the opening of the 11th month window and were therefore hoping to atleast get our highest priority room request honored (non-smoking for health reasons)

However, our flight does not get in until 3:20 and, with grocery shopping and car rental involved, I suspect we may not check in until 6PM. Will this effect our ability to get our room requests refilled.

One other thing I'm wondering about... with all of the cheap options to stay off park, would it make sense to come down the evening before (there are very cheap flights available if you fly down in the PM) and then do go over to the resort in the morning? We could get a cheaper flight down and also enjoy a full first day. If we did this, would we be able to hang out at SAB before our check-in time?

Thanks!

 

[Eeyore2U]

It has been stated that when your ressie was made will determine room requests. From my experience it seems to be true.

As far as flying in the night before. If it's worth it to you, then it's worth it. we get an early flight so we don't deal with that issue.

 

[niks81]

I personally feel like the earlier you check in the better chance you get. There have been many people on this board say that they've booked at 11 months out every time yet they never receive their room requests. We booked our one bedroom at the Boardwalk at less than 7 months out and I requested Boardwalk view, top floor, and open balcony. I checked in at 8:30am and I got Boardwalk view and open balcony and that was fine by me I'm sure that in some cases it is about when the reservation is made, but I truly think that the early bird gets the worm.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

If a specific request is made, they do try to honor those requests and the rooms are pre-assigned.

However, the front desk can and sometimes does bump a pre-assigned room for whatever reason. I talked to a former room assigner at Vero Beach a few years back, and this type of bumping frustrates them no end because it usually screws up other assignments down the line, but there's nothing they can do if the CM at the front desk chooses to bump someone.

Now, I have no idea how often people get bumped from pre-assigned rooms - the impression I got was that it didn't happen often, but could happen. So, if you're worried about bumping, then clearly the best thing to do is check-in early.

By the way, medical reasons are usually given the highest priority for room requests.

 

[JudithM]

From my DVC experience, CMs do a very good job of trying to meet as many requests as possible for each guest/member. Health requests do seem to be honored.

Now if I had the opportunity to have an extra day/night in FL, I'd go for it!

Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[nops]

We drive to WDW, but always arrive in town the afternoon before, and we stay nearby for cheap. That way , we are rested and ready to go the first day-we hate to waste time when we can be in the magic. We usually check in in the morning, go to the parks and go back to the resort in the afternoon to get our room.

 

[Terry S]

The room assignors assign rooms based on the date the reservation is made. BUT.... I also know that if someone checks in and they are not happy with thier room, the front desk will bump someone from a pre-assigned room who is not there yet to keep the person standing in front of them happy, even though the person standing in front of them, who is not happy with their room may have made their reservation after the person who gets bumped. This happens often and really annoys me. We have now got in the habit of checking in either to a budget type room on the first night or a studio and then checking into our room first thing the next morning. Even if our room isn't ready, as long as they know you are there and have checked in, they won't give away your pre-assigned room.

 

[DVC1996]

Reportedly, they are doing a TEST RUN at OKW on assigning rooms FIRST COME FIRST SERVE. This may be why the original poster on this thread was asking this question.

 

[Niagara2]

Two weeks ago we checked into BCV and my request, made on the first day ressies were accepted was not met. I questioned the wonderful CM if anything could be done. She tried and tried, but found that a room empty that day with my request was booked by someone who made their ressie 8 MINUTES!! prior to me and got the room. They were all laughing at the desk as the closest time frame prior was two...so I set a record (LOL) I was so shocked that I didn't think to ask if the same request was made and maybe it wasn't and they just called in 8 minutes earlier. I was on hold that day 32 minutes...so who knows! We were happy with our room and they got us as close as possible but we were as surprized as the desk on the 8 minutes. I totally agree - first ressie should get their request! Keeps us on our toes!!

 

[SueM in MN]

If you have a medical need, make sure it is listed on your confirmation as being for Medical Reasons.
I don't think you will hjave mcuh trouble getting a non-smoking room. From what I have seen and heard, the more specific requests you have, the less likely it is that you will have them met. If you really only care that the room is non-smoking, there are lots of rooms that fit that criteria. Each thing you add to you requests limits the number of rooms that meet your criteria. If you add that it needs to be close to the pool, a specific view, on the second floor, with a certain type of balcony, there may not be that many rooms that meet all your requests.

 

[Dean]

I would like to emphasize that time of arrival does make a difference. If you get in late and they don't have anything reasonable for you they will have no options. If you get in earlier, there will be other rooms to chose from. We always request NS for medical reasons and this request is a higher priority than all else except Handicapped rooms. So if you resquest NO for medical reasons, it probably doesn't matter as much when you made your reservations.