Don't want to pester WDW res. but...

[vasoccermom]

We have a flight that won't get us into MCO until midnight so I'm thinking by the time we get our luggage and rental car it will be after 1am when we arrive at AKL.

I've already spoken to reservations (I forget what the acronym is for them) a few times with our requests so I don't want to call and pester them anymore, however my great concern is when we arrive at o'dark hundred, we'll be left with slim pickings for our room. Is there any way to avoid this?

Karen

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

You have reserved a room, there will be a room for you when you arrive.

You won't lose the room until after 6:30am or so the next day, and not even then if you call and let them know your status.

As long as you have had your room requests noted on your reservation, the room assigner will do their best to accomodate you.

-Joe

 

[micks]

I'd say, stay at the airport the first night (Priceline?) and check in bright and early the next day to be the first one there. That's what we're planning for the next trip!

 

[vasoccermom]

Thanks Joe and Micks for your quick replies.

I"m not concerned I'll lose my ressie but in hoping for a particular savanna or trail or a room w/a queen and a bunk, I think what I'm really assuming is that I'll just have to settle for what's left when I arrive since I don't think they set aside a particular room for a guest arriving that night, correct?

As for staying near the airport, we did consider that for about 2 seconds but since we're only there 5 nights and I wanted the kids to be able to wake up the first morning at WDW and be able to see the animals from our room, I decided to go directly to the resort, regardless of the late hour.

Hey, can I ask another question? If you tip mousekeeping, do you leave the tip in the morning when you head out to the parks and do you leave it in an envelope or just on the desk???

Karen

 

[2vets]

This is a valid concern - a story for you:

I reserved a BC water view room under a code a few years ago, Iwanted a standard view, but none were available. Since the room was reserved under a code rate, I had requested a standard view under the same code (about $30 cheaper per night) if one became available. When I arrived at midnight, they tried to give me a standard-view room that had obviously been made up for someone else - it had a king bed and a crib in it (it was DH, DS and I, no babies) and overlooked the front of the building. When I went back downstairs to ask what had happened, the CM tried to tell me that as I had requested a standard view, that was what I'd been given - and he knew nothing about the codes or the rate difference, so not only could we NOT fit our party into the room, we weren't saving any money.

I was nice, but firm - and I knew my codes, my res info, and everything inside-out. I smiled, asked for a manager, and made sure that they knew the room they put us in was lovely, but unacceptable for our party...and that we'd happily take ANY code-rate standard or water-view room with 2 beds at YC, BC, or BWI...there were none available, but I was insistent. After about 20 minutes of standing my ground, we wound up in a 1-bedroom villa at BCV.

I must say - I always arrive late, and after about 20 onsite visits to WDW, this was the only time this has happened...

So - I'd fax and call ahead and be sure they know you''l be late - and go in with your res info, codes, etc ready. And should you wind up having to haggle, be nice!!

 

[lap3]

Originally posted by vasoccermom
Hey, can I ask another question? If you tip mousekeeping, do you leave the tip in the morning when you head out to the parks and do you leave it in an envelope or just on the desk???

Karen

I found this thread regarding this topic. You can print some of these envelopes and bring them with you on your trip. I imagine that you would leave the tip on the desk when you leave to the parks.

 

[brentalex]

When we went to the AKL in April, we did not get there quite as late as you, but we did get there after 9 pm. we got everything that we had requested, savannah room with queen and bunk beds, on the floor we had requested and the savannah we had requested. The resort was quite full too. we also thought about staying at a cheaper hotel on the first night, but wanted to be there in the morning, not have to pack up one room and move to the AKL. goodluck.

 

[NCombs]

You will get a room but it might not be the requests you made. We arrived at 7PM on Saturday evening during the Memorial Day weekend and got exactly the opposite of our requests. We ended up in a smoking room overlooking the lower roof with a standing room only balcony. I had requested exactly the opposite but it's first come first serve. We did stay there the first night but after talking with the front desk they had a room that met all our requests ready for us the next day so it worked out fine.