Does the early bird get the best room?

[Jilliank1]

I know you can "check in" to your resort anytime and go to the parks but does anyone have any idea how to do this and still get the best possible room? Do I have a better chance of getting the room I want if I "check in" at 7:30 a.m. or after others check out at, say, 11:00 a.m.? We've checked in at "check-in" time (mid-afternoon) before and all the best rooms were gone. There must be a resort policy on how to prioritize the room requests. Of course we make our requests known when we reserve, but I'd love to know if any of you have any tips! Thanks!

 

[jaseyandmallorysmomm]

My answer prior to my last trip would have been in all our trips the express check in (7-8am) has always gotten us a nicer room.

This last trip (CSR) that did not prove to be true BUT If you do express check in you can park at the resort and take a Disney bus and get in early if there are extra magic hours that day.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Not always. We were doing a split stay and the day we moved from POP to Poly I got up early, went to rent a car onsite then we went early to check in at Poly and the room we got was about the furthest thing we requested. We were told there was nothing available even close to what we asked for - the resort was full. Checking in early may increase the odds - this was just one example - but it doesn't always help.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I don't think it really matters. We have no idea how the rooms are actually assigned, however I do think that priority is given to people using Magic Express as I believe their rooms are assigned first so bell services knows where to bring the luggage.

Your best bet is to check-in, see where your room is located, and ask very politely when a room would be available in a more preferred area if you're not happy with the original location. It's always been hit or miss for us and I usually just go with the flow as we spend such little time in the room that it really doesn't matter to me that much.

 

[shellybaxter]

I don't know when the best time to check in is - I really think its the luck of the draw. When we've checked in in the morning and the room was already available those rooms weren't great. Far away from the lobby or with a not great view. The best room we've ever received (Beach Club Villas - high floor - Fireworks viewing excellent) we checked in about 10:00AM and the room wasn't ready until 2:30PM. Who really knows???

 

[Mrsjvb]

about a hundred years ago I worked at a Hotel near the VA Beach Boardwalk.

when it came time to assign rooms, I started with stipulated requests first( first floor, , certain wing, etc.) then I went with what ever was projected to be empty that day. It would not surprise me in the least that ME patrons will not be moved from their assigned room even if they don't show up til 8 pm and you are there at noon and their room is clean and yours isn't.

but the reality is far different. first, you will have people who check in early, who naturally would very much like to drop their stash. so they get whatever room is listed as being vacant and clean. If it is before noon, the housekeeping staff probably hasn't dropped off a list yet of what rooms have actually been turned over. and on large turnover days it can take laundry until well after mid afternoon before clean linens are available to provide to the rooms. or you get the ones requesting late checkout even though their room has been tagged for a new arrival. or the ones that stay over unexpectedly, or the ones that will leave their luggage in the room but run off traipsing about,so the HK don't know if it is a S/O or a C/O.

 

[pudinhd]

I am finding this a very interesting post. We will be flying into MCO around 4:00, and who knows how long it will take to get to CBR. We have a specific village and set of buildings we would prefer. Is this where people faxing requests comes into play? I told our travel agent our preference, but is it also recommended that we send a fax to the hotel the week before our arrival? Please let me know what you think. Thank you!

 

[BamaFan121s]

I have found that the eariler we get there, the more likely we are to get the requests we made...I assume because the earlier in the day, the more rooms there are to choose from if they need to move you around. (Just because they may assign rooms a few days prior does not mean they are set in stone and cannot be tweaked.) And yes, we have ALWAYS faxed our request a few days prior in addition to making the request when we make the ressie and have always managed to get what we asked for. Some say they don't accept these, my experience (and the check-in CMs) tells me they do, I say it's not going to hurt anything.

 

[LoveKermit]

I don't think it really matters. We have no idea how the rooms are actually assigned, however I do think that priority is given to people using Magic Express as I believe their rooms are assigned first so bell services knows where to bring the luggage.

Your best bet is to check-in, see where your room is located, and ask very politely when a room would be available in a more preferred area if you're not happy with the original location. It's always been hit or miss for us and I usually just go with the flow as we spend such little time in the room that it really doesn't matter to me that much.

This was our experience at the Poly in August. The lobby was packed with people checking in and out. It was about noon. We got put in a "parking lot view," because "it's ready now." We had requested Tokelau. Went back (all sweaty) and talked to a different CM who called someone and got us put in Tokelau. Two doors from the end so we could sneak out (with baby sleeping) and see fireworks and it too was already ready. We figured we got someone else's room. BUT we were EXTREMELY polite. "Don't know if you could help us...." "Special occasion..." "Okay if you can't" And viola! They could and did!

Good luck.

 

[Shir Kahn]

I'm kind of worried about this, as our flight doesn't arrive until 11:30pm, so we're not likely going to get to our resort until at least 12:00-12:30am. Kind of wondering if that means that we're going to be put into the room that nobody else wanted.

 

[Gymbomom]

I'm kind of worried about this, as our flight doesn't arrive until 11:30pm, so we're not likely going to get to our resort until at least 12:00-12:30am. Kind of wondering if that means that we're going to be put into the room that nobody else wanted.

I am worried about this too. We arrive late...I only requested 4 different buildings, (view & floor do not matter) so I am not sure if that helps me or hurts me.

 

[LoveKermit]

I hate to say it, but we've not gotten very good rooms when we've arrived late. However, you can take what they have for the night, you're only going to be sleeping, and then see if they'll move you in the morning. Again, if you're VERY nice, you'd be surprised what you might get.

We were supposed to arrive late at WL and instead had to drive all night and got there at 7:30 AM. The CM let us "borrow" a room that faced the pool (Courtyard view), but was handicapped (I like tubs)--she thought we were going to sleep. Instead, we brushed our teeth and changed clothes. We "checked out," gave our luggage to the bell hops, and took off for the parks. When we got back in the afternoon, we got a 5th floor I-don't-know-what view, but we could see the pool and the lake. But we kind of lost a night that we had paid for, so we wonder if the CM took pity on us.

 

[Princessbaby]

We checked in at POR at 8 am this past August and did not receive any of my requests. I was a little disappointed but did not say anything because my thought was "we'll enjoy it because we are at Disney". Well, our room was not ready until after 3pm and when we finally arrived, we were pleasantly surprised by our room! It was perfect-even if it was not anything I had requested. We have NEVER been lucky with our request so we have decided from now on just to requested the view we want and pay that extra and then see where we are placed. OUr next trip we are aiming for the Poly, and if that is not doable we will be heading back to POR!

 

[mickeybrat]

We checked in very late last year on our trip. (after 12:00am) We did not get what we requested, but they moved us the next morning.

 

[distherapy]

I'm kind of worried about this, as our flight doesn't arrive until 11:30pm, so we're not likely going to get to our resort until at least 12:00-12:30am. Kind of wondering if that means that we're going to be put into the room that nobody else wanted.

We just returned from a vacation at the Grand Floridian and arrived on the ME at almost 1:00 AM. Our room was fabulous and I wouldn't have traded with anyone. The resort was also booked completely full, so I don't know what made us so lucky, but don't worry that you'll be stuck in a room that everyone else rejected.

 

[stacy6552]

We have been many times and generally gotten what we have hoped for. That said we have had two experiences with the extreme check in times. Once we checked in about 9am. Having requested medical non-smoking, we were put in a smoking room adjoined to the biggest chain smokers in history (we did get moved but it was after bedtime for the kids and we had to really make a stink aout it). Another time we checked in at midnight and got the very room we had requested to be nearby. I think if you fax your request abour 4 days in advance of your arrival, they are pretty good about accomodating you, no matter when you arrive.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The best selection - if not the best room - I was ever given was a few years ago, when I checked in to POR about 11 PM. I was the only Guest in the lobby, and the CM actually gave me a list of rooms from which I could choose!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I find that no matter what time I check in, my requets are always ignored and clearly never even viewed by anyone. It's become a running joke with me.

My recent stay at WL was predictably very typical of my luck. I paid for a courtyard view, and requested a balcony (a non-ground floor room). I was traveling solo, and didn't want ground floor, partly for safety reasons, and partly for privacy. A balcony sounds like a simple request, right? I checked in early at 11:00 am, and guess what? I got assigned room 1165 or something - very end of the hall, ground floor, closest room to the pool bar, and directly next to an entrance and exit!!! I almost cried at check-in. Last time at WL, I got a ground floor room next to the loading dock. This time didn't sound like much better!

But fortunately I was prepared with a map of WL's rooms, so I knew right there that this room was a ground floor room near a major door, so I started politely begging for a better room - pleading that I was alone and didn't want a ground floor room. The lady CM went in the back, and then returned with a different room - a 3rd floor balcony room overlooking the inner courtyard and the spring, and near the lobby. And it was ready, even! I happily took that, and it was a GREAT room (even got towel animals every day!), and loved my 7 nights there.

But I just couldn't believe that a simple request of a non ground-floor room could be ignored - it leads me to believe that requests are ignored in general, and the computer just spits out a random room. I pretty much have had it with requests after that experience. What's the point? They make no difference. Seems better to beg at check-in. Oh well!

EDITED TO ADD: I believe I get these ground-floor rooms at WL because I am solo, and my theory is that they assign solos the unusued & left-over king bed handicapped rooms - basically whatever is left that isn't used by a family truly needing a handicapped-assessible room. I bet anything that my original room 1165 was king/handicapped-assessible.

 

[themilesfamily]

I requested a particular room at Animal Kingdom Lodge when the reservation was made -- and then I sent an e-mail reiterating that. Here is what concierge wrote back:

"Room assignments are mostly based on how the check outs and arrivals
match up but I see there is a comment already in your reservation."

My understanding is that room assignments are made days before you check in. In fact, I remember reading in someone's trip report that they were told this when they checked in -- their room was preassigned.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

All of our recent trips have had us arriving late afternoon to late evening and it has truly varied. It seems that no matter what, if you really ask nicely or mention an area .....there is a good chance a room is open. We have never demanded or requested in advance ... but sometimes if you mention a previous stay that you enjoyed, it can only help