Ever Hated Your Room and Switched???

[MJS]

What happens if you get a crummy room (say, overlooking the dumpster - my nightmare ) and you want to change. Assuming there are rooms available, what is the procedure for switching? Is there a charge?

 

[Pa@okw95]

There is a procedure for changing rooms once you take it. I believe there is a charge for doing so. At OKW I never had a room that I did not like. The worse room view wise was a GV which had almost no view at all. The dumpster view that I have read so much about I believe happens at BCV & WLV. One thing you have to careful of is making sure they don't give you a handicap room. AT OKW with the exception of some studio rooms that are placed on the ends of buildings I would think there would be no reason you would want to change rooms. At any rate there is some fee for changing.

 

[MJS]

Thanks for the response. What is the difference between a regular room and a handicapped one? We are staying at the BCV in a 1 BR villa. Is there a thread that list the handicap room numbers at the BCV?

Thanks again!

 

[Pa@okw95]

Well I would not concern mywself to much with this situaion but it never hurts to ask at the check in counter if the room is handicapped. many things are lower and the showers are different from what I understand-can have a water situation on the floor in the bathroom from what I understand. I see you are staying at BCV, I can not help you with what rooms are handicapped.

 

[Lori in CNY]

While anyone with children may have loved this room for it's convenience, my DH and I were not happy with our room at the BWV. We had a studio reserved at 7 mos. out and they gave us a preferred view handicapped room 2 doors away from the elevator on the 3rd floor. Great view of the pool and the water way but because of the accessibility needs, all the cabinets were gone and there was a roll in shower. We had absolutely no place to store anything and the actual cabinet with the tv was different too. We were not very happy and we did switch.
Our 2nd room could not have been any further away from the elevator but it had all the regular cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen as well as the regular bathtub, etc. I would rather walk down the long hall than have to live out of my suitcase for a week. There was a back door to a staircase that we ended up using and were already part way to MGM so we walked over.
We were told there is a $25 fee to change rooms once you have touched or "dirtied" anything but they did waive it for us. I personally think you should be told about your room accomodations at the time of check in by the cast member.

 

[vernon]

I've had an argument (or two) over rooms, but if you want to sort a problem out you need to do so pretty much immediately. I've been issued a handicap accessed room that wasn't suitable and then issued a smoking room that STANK Again I phoned immediately to get it changed. If you try to change things a couple of hours later you may get more problems.

 

[DebbieB]

They will usually make you pay for a full cleaning if you want to switch rooms, unless you do it immediately.

Studio $25
1 BR $30
2 BR $40
GV $60

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by MJS
Is there a thread that list the handicap room numbers at the BCV?

Though far from complete...I created a sheet that just has some highlights of rooms that may not work for everyones needs. You might find that helpful:
http://members.aol.com/InstImpres/dvcsummary.pdf

The files arein adobe acrobat and which can be downloaded from this site for free:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Happy travels,
Sandy

 

[Simba's Mom]

Someone on these boards said that they asked at the front desk of VWL if the room they were being assigned was handicapped, and the front desk said "We don't have access to that information"! I certainly hope that's not true-that just the CM was new and couldn't figure it out. Also, we were given a handicapped-accessible room once without being told, called within 5 minutes of getting to our room (just long enough to figure out that our room was HA) and yet, we were told we'd have to pay the move fee. As we learned, HA studios have several differences: shower only, no tub, and water on the floor issue since shower has no side to keep water in; sink in the same room as bathroom; bathroom sink has no ledge to store toiletries so we ended up having to put our toiletry items on the floor (this we really didn't understand); microwave is on the main counter of the kitchenette, no high shelf(this I understand-wouldn't be accessible up there) but this means you have very little kitchenette counter space; because of bathroom configuration, there is no separate closet-closet area to hang clothing is only the area on the sides of the armoire, very limited space. Finally, we had no light switch next to the bed-so if we were reading before we fell asleep, we'd have to get out of bed to turn off the light. It was extremely annoying and we kept looking for a light switch (or something on the bed lights themselves) all week. The studios we stayed in OKW, BCV, BWV, and HH did not have this problem, so I hope this was just an oversight in our studio at VWL-what this might have to do with HA is beyond me. If anyone knows about this, please "enlighten" me (pardon the pun-unintentional).

 

[jarestel]

Views aren't that important to us, but we did request a move on both occasions that we found we had been assigned a handicapped room. At VWL, the front desk CM said we'd have to pay the fee, I said I didn't care, just move us to an acceptable room. We ended up not getting charged, so maybe that's just something they say to discourage moves. At the BCV, they just moved us without any mention of fees at all.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Regarding changing rooms, we did this once at AKL; but I imagine it would apply to any WDW resort. The important thing is to request the change immediately and also make sure you tell them you did not touch anything in the room. You basically entered the room, saw that it was unsuitable for whatever reason and then left. At AKL we had one of the Savannah rooms that was overlooking one of the people holding areas and had no possible views of animals. We immediately went back and said we were not satisfied with the room. They asked if we had touched anything in the rooma and we responded no and they then changed us with no charge.

 

[AmyTags]

After reading some of the post I am concerned about getting the wrong room. We will at the BCV May 9-18 and will have a 22 month old so a handicapp room would not work for us (no bathtub, dd doesn't like the shower) should I call now and request a non-handicapp room or just wait until we check in?

 

[paulh]

When we checked in this last Xmas we where looking forward to staying 11 nights covering New Years Eve. We were looking forward to staying at the Boardwalk Vilas when we got to our room we were dismayed to find that the room smelled of stale cigarette smoke and as we booked it 11 months out and requested non-smoking. So when bellboy came with luggage we sent him back and went to front desk where after we pointed out that as youngest had asthma e could not stay in that room>As it was Xmas the whole place was fully booked they could change us the next day this we informed them was unacceptable could they try to get us in at Beach club villas. After a bit of towing and frowning we were told that there was also no room at Beach club but there was room at OKW. As we were planning on walking to epcot and to enjoy the nights around the boardwalk this was also unacceptable then we were asked if we would mind staying in the Inn side in the concierge section as I did not Know what concierge was I said it was ok as long as we got the same things in that room as our DVC room i.e. fridge coffee machine ect They said this would be ok. Well you can imagine our surprise when we got to the room when we found out that concierge meant free breakfast in the morning free pop for the kids and free wine in the evening and free brandy and cognac and coffee on tap all day. So while we where in there we had an elecelant time and when people asked how long we where staying and we just told them 11 nights (did not tell them we where transferred from DVC side) they always seamed impressed it was only when we checked out and I enquired who much the cost would have been that I saw why and it did not cost me a thing.
Paulh

 

[Mary Ellen]

Yes, we've had a room I HATED. However, we kept it because we aren't any 'better' or more deserving than other members. We figure we own part of the resort as a whole and this was our turn to stay in this location. We've had our turn and won't stay in that area again.

Now, something wrong with the room itself is another matter. I can certainly understand members with small children not accepting rooms without bathtubs (assuming the children don't shower yet) or those with allergies (like me) refusing 'smoking optional' units.

 

[CRobin]

I'm with you Mary Ellen. Somebody has to get the bad view, but people with little kids need a bathtub and asthmatics can't be put into rooms that smell of smoke

In fact, a crummy room at the BC is what got me into DVC in the first place! DW absolutely hated it (I really couldn't have cared less), and, after years of wonderful rooms at the YC (we couldn't get in there that time around), she said once was too much at the BC.

Then we meet a guy on the flight home wearing a DVC shirt and the rest is history.....

 

[jmminarik]

We've never requested a room change at any of the resorts. We did get a handicap cabin at Ft. Wilderness, but without 2 legged children, it's not a big deal for us. I'm always more worried that I'll be checking in 1 day earlier than someone who needs a handiapped room and can't get one because we got the last one, but I suppose the people who wrote the room assignment software aren't total Bozo's.

We did change rooms once staying off property the night before check-in but that room was just ripe with mildew odors.

-Joe
who is wondering if using a non-Disney character reference in a post is legal.

 

[Lexxiefern]

Yep. We don't like first floor rooms (but some people do!) and our first two trips home we were given first floor rooms. The first time at BCV, we checked out the room and DH said no way. We walked back to the front desk and no problem.

The 2nd time was at BWV and I asked at checkin. Our room was not ready yet, so I did not know the room #. But based on our previous experience, I asked if it was first floor - and it was. So that was taken care of at the front desk.

We just got back from AKL yesterday. The first room we were given was right off the lobby on the lobby level (we were concerned it would be loud due to foot traffic) so we were switched to another room that we loved.

 

[MJS]

Thanks for all of the great responses! We will be sure to speak up at check-in about the room to ensure that it meets our needs (medical nonsmoking, etc.). I would not hesitate to ask for what I want. If it is not available, so be it.

I do not think that I am "better" than any DVC member, nor am I more deserving. My definition of crummy may not be the same as another persons, and their ideal room might be my nightmare.

Thanks again!

 

[Mary Ellen]

Originally posted by MJS
What happens if you get a crummy room (say, overlooking the dumpster - my nightmare )

Originally posted by MJS
My definition of crummy may not be the same as another persons, and their ideal room might be my nightmare.

I haven't heard 'dumpster view' being at the top of anyone's requests. My bad. We take the good with the bad.

 

[Mario]

I agree with MJS. By the way, if I can see Epcot a dumpster is fine with me.

MJS, ask for what you want. Don't be a martyr