Experiences with family of 5?

[zoo2tycoon]

Connecting rooms are not a bookable category and cannot be guaranteed.

A CM or travel agent saying they are guaranteed are giving out wrong information. They are only a request.

Just because someone on disboards says they were told they were guaranteed doesn't make it true. There is no way a travel agent can guarantee something even Disney doesn't. Maybe it is under request but it can't be stressed enough that or is a request only.

There are only do many connecting rooms - they can't magically make rooms connecting for someone if they are already filled.

Just like the misinformation on children can't be separated from parents on airplanes! Connecting rooms are not guaranteed!

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes, but all of this is the same at any large chain, with a central reservation system, yet connecting rooms can be guaranteed and planned for by the room assigners in the days leading up to a stay which usually happens 4 to 5 days ahead of time.

Of course at times Disney goofs up, or has an unexpected situation, just like any other hotel.

All those same scenarios could happen and suddenly they don't even have a room for you. Although like most large hotels they hold a few back just for this type of situation.

The problem some guests experiencing is that instead of the manager saying, hey we made a mistake or had this happen and yes we promised you guaranteed connecting rooms for families and will compensate you for your inconvenience or make it right and if it's a long stay try to fix things in the next day either at their own resort or a different one, some managers are arrogant.

Yep that happens everywhere too.

Sometimes it's all in the customers demeanor too.

That doesn't change the fact that they guarantee connecting rooms for families anymore than it changes the fact they guarantee you a room on site at all.

That doesn't change the fact that 99% of the time that request for families will be met and the ones we hear about are the 1% that experience something different.

Like I said we've done this starting way back in 2004 and we've never had an issue and I'd never lose an ounce of sleep over it unless I was traveling alone with children and honestly, I know I read above that somebody said somebody booked two rooms with one adult, but I'm almost positive that Disney doesn't even allow that situation. There has to be an adult on every room, but there's always exceptions in life and Disney is known to make them occasionally too.

Even with all of this, Disney's OWN WEB SITE STATES CONNECTING ROOMS ARE A REQUEST ONLY, AND NOT GUARANTEED.

And that if there are cases where a request is not met, than that in itself means it is a request and not a guarantee. And posters should stop insisting it is guaranteed. Because it sucks to be the family that ends up in the percent where they can't give them what they have requested.

 

[simplymama]

Even with all of this, Disney's OWN WEB SITE STATES CONNECTING ROOMS ARE A REQUEST ONLY, AND NOT GUARANTEED.

And that if there are cases where a request is not met, than that in itself means it is a request and not a guarantee. And posters should stop insisting it is guaranteed. Because it sucks to be the family that ends up in the percent where they can't give them what they have requested.

Personally, I was very grateful for those here years ago who explained to me how to get a guaranteed connecting room for families and pass the information along the same way it was passed to me because in the end, when booked properly with two rooms (no more than two adults) on the same reservation number I'd bet 99% of people get the rooms connected.

It's like saying if there are cases where a family books a resort, shows up and they are moved because of some unforeseen circumstance to a different view then then they booked or to a different resort all together should we stop insisting or encourage those to get excited by their upcoming resort stay because something might go wrong and it sucks to have that happen?

I think anybody reading can see that sometimes things go wrong no matter what you are booking. But the majority of the time Disney does what they say they will do and what they say they will do is guarantee connecting rooms for families with children and only two adults traveling and they put this on the reservation.

I can call right now and book two rooms for my family and I can bet you the CM will tell me that it's guaranteed for families to get connecting rooms.

So I believe Disney and book with the same assurance I do when I book any reservation that my rooms will be what they say (connecting) but know that life isn't always perfect.

 

[simplymama]

Connecting rooms are not a bookable category and cannot be guaranteed.

A CM or travel agent saying they are guaranteed are giving out wrong information. They are only a request.

Just because someone on disboards says they were told they were guaranteed doesn't make it true. There is no way a travel agent can guarantee something even Disney doesn't. Maybe it is under request but it can't be stressed enough that or is a request only.

There are only do many connecting rooms - they can't magically make rooms connecting for someone if they are already filled.

Just like the misinformation on children can't be separated from parents on airplanes! Connecting rooms are not guaranteed!

It's posted right on the reservation "guaranteed connecting rooms for families " and two rooms are posted on one reservation number.

As soon as you add a third adult, those two rooms can no longer be booked on one reservation number. Why do you think that is? Because it is booked in a special way, as a special situation.

Why fault the CM or those here, who have done it now for decades for what it actually has said right on the reservation paperwork.

BTW. Just because somebody on the Dis board says it isn't true, doesn't make it not true.

Obviously every person will call and speak to a CM to book this kind of reservation because it can't even be booked online. So they can hear it with their own ears from the CM at Walt Disney World that they guarantee connected rooms for families when there are two rooms, only two adults and all children are under 18.

 

[gwynne]

It's posted right on the reservation "guaranteed connecting rooms for families " and two rooms are posted on one reservation number.

As soon as you add a third adult, those two rooms can no longer be booked on one reservation number. Why do you think that is? Because it is booked in a special way, as a special situation.

Why fault the CM or those here, who have done it now for decades for what it actually has said right on the reservation paperwork.

BTW. Just because somebody on the Dis board says it isn't true, doesn't make it not true.

Obviously every person will call and speak to a CM to book this kind of reservation because it can't even be booked online. So they can hear it with their own ears from the CM at Walt Disney World that they guarantee connected rooms for families when there are two rooms, only two adults and all children are under 18.

Some helpful and very reliable posters have weighed in on this thread. It's perfectly fine to feel comfortable that you are all set. It's also good for others that read this thread to carefully consider that the plan may not be guaranteed smooth sailing.
I can tell you from my own personal experience that unfortunately phone CM's can vary tremendously in terms of their knowledge, experience and (sometimes) forthrightness.

That said, still, WDW is a very fun place to vacation. I wish you and yours a wonderful time.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It's posted right on the reservation "guaranteed connecting rooms for families " and two rooms are posted on one reservation number.

As soon as you add a third adult, those two rooms can no longer be booked on one reservation number. Why do you think that is? Because it is booked in a special way, as a special situation.

Why fault the CM or those here, who have done it now for decades for what it actually has said right on the reservation paperwork.

BTW. Just because somebody on the Dis board says it isn't true, doesn't make it not true.

Obviously every person will call and speak to a CM to book this kind of reservation because it can't even be booked online. So they can hear it with their own ears from the CM at Walt Disney World that they guarantee connected rooms for families when there are two rooms, only two adults and all children are under 18.

Then how do you explain a single parent with multiple children under the age of 18 booked in two connecting rooms and not getting them? How do you explain guests not getting the room they booked at the resort they booked? It's just a request and requests are not guaranteed. You are dealing with two different companies who don't know what the other is doing and don't know when they book guests what is happening at the resort. The room assigner will try to put every guest in connecting rooms who requested connecting rooms, but it doesn't always happen.

 

[mullii5]

We just stayed at the Yacht Club with our family of 5 (DD 21, DD 19, DS 15). Obviously, two rooms with grown daughters would be best because it can get snug but they didn't care a bit....they were at Disney!

As others have said, the room, for the most part, is a place to sleep and rest after spending a majority of your time at the parks.

 

[simplymama]

Some helpful and very reliable posters have weighed in on this thread. It's perfectly fine to feel comfortable that you are all set. It's also good for others that read this thread to carefully consider that the plan may not be guaranteed smooth sailing.
I can tell you from my own personal experience that unfortunately phone CM's can vary tremendously in terms of their knowledge, experience and (sometimes) forthrightness.

That said, still, WDW is a very fun place to vacation. I wish you and yours a wonderful time.

Very true!! Everybody has their own comfort level and that's why we can tell of our experiences as well as share the information we have been given. Then each person will have to do with that what they will.

I've been booking two room connecting reservations for our large family at Walt Disney World since 2004. I've spoken to literally dozens of CMs during this time (I often have called to change buildings or dates because I sometimes struggle justifying in my head the extra for the main building but we do so enjoy it) and there is no doubt that some CMs are clearly more knowledgable then others especially when trying to make changes to reservations with two rooms on one number. They often have to call Guest Services, but the old pros know how to do it.

We've definitely had a hiccup or two over the years, but nothing that couldn't be resolved with a little pixie dust and pleasant attitudes.

 

[simplymama]

Then how do you explain a single parent with multiple children under the age of 18 booked in two connecting rooms and not getting them? How do you explain guests not getting the room they booked at the resort they booked? It's just a request and requests are not guaranteed. You are dealing with two different companies who don't know what the other is doing and don't know when they book guests what is happening at the resort. The room assigner will try to put every guest in connecting rooms who requested connecting rooms, but it doesn't always happen.

The same way I explain any misfortune. Something went wrong.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

It's posted right on the reservation "guaranteed connecting rooms for families " and two rooms are posted on one reservation number.

As soon as you add a third adult, those two rooms can no longer be booked on one reservation number. Why do you think that is? Because it is booked in a special way, as a special situation.

Why fault the CM or those here, who have done it now for decades for what it actually has said right on the reservation paperwork.

BTW. Just because somebody on the Dis board says it isn't true, doesn't make it not true.

Obviously every person will call and speak to a CM to book this kind of reservation because it can't even be booked online. So they can hear it with their own ears from the CM at Walt Disney World that they guarantee connected rooms for families when there are two rooms, only two adults and all children are under 18.

Please show on the Disney site where it states they can guarantee connecting rooms OR is this from known travel agency who guarantees.

 

[maxiesmom]

The same way I explain any misfortune. Something went wrong.

How do you explain Disney's very own website stating connecting rooms are a request only?

If you want to believe they are guaranteed fine. But in no way should you be telling others they are guaranteed. Not unless you add that they are guaranteed until you don't get them.