Furor over Room Requests

[BobH]

There have been several threads here stating the DVC may be going to a system of taking care of room requests on a "first come first served" basis on the day of arrival rather than taking care of the rquests in the order the reservation was made. I feel that the requests should be honored in the order received when at al possible but I also wondered if any of the longtime members here are in the habit of asking the desk people what rooms are open and whether guests actually have any choice of location when they arrive. For example if I requested a non-smoking 2 bedroom unit will the desk clerk possibly say "we have 2 that will be open - one in building 20 and another in building 62." Will they allow you a choice? Will they even offer this information?

 

[Richyams]

I have never had any indication of any choice. My room is usually ready on arrival...we arrive on Sundays for an OKW GV. These are often vacant Saturday night, I would think that if there were ever choices offered, we would be in a likely position to get one. We never have.

 

[ralphd]

We never have been offered any choice, but have always received good villa locations (views). Normally we make our reservations well in advance.

ralphd

 

[Zimbubba]

People get too obsessed over location. Why the fuss? There are excellent spots all over the resorts. Location should not be an issue. Smoking/Non-Smoking, Handicapped, etc. Those are isses that should be focused on.

 

[BobH]

I have only made 4 trips so far, my daughter has made one, our family have never been offered a choice of acomodations upon check in. We have stayed at OKW, HH, Vero. I just never thought to ask. I am usually so happy to be on vacation I guess I never considered asking whether we had any choice of buildings. All the commentary on this board finally led me to wonder about the possibilites. I find there is a great deal to be learned from the combined experiences of fellow DVC members. I will be returning to OKW in February. I may see what happens upon check in and ask if to see if they will offer more than one accomodation.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Yes, I have received choices. If the location I have requested is not quite ready they have offered other alternatives. I usually opt to wait. This was a long time ago, however.

 

[Chuck S]

Like Gail, it has been a long time since I have been offered choices at check-in...usually during a non-busy season when our assigned room wasn't ready.

 

[Regina]

I've been offered choices.

We've been asked if we wanted a room that is ready but is not exactly what we requested, or if we'd rather wait for a room that was more of what we had in mind.

There have also been times when we've been shown the room location on the resort map (sorry, I don't memorize where each room is), and we've asked if something else is available.

It's always been a very polite exchange between the CM's and ourselves.

 

[Towncrier]

We have always taken what was offered to us. Believe it or not, we actually enjoy the suspense about where we will be staying. Always an adventure. Our only request has been (and will continue to be) for a non-smoking room. The year that we took my sister and her family, we requested a handicap accessible GV at OKW (and got it) due to her needs.

I figure that it's tough enough for the room controllers at the various DVC resorts that I personally don't want to add to the hassles of their job.

 

[DaveH]

This will be ourr second trip home. The first was last year the week after Thanksgiving and we are doing the same thing again this year. DVC is fuull. I ask for non-smoking medical,this is a must for us and then I ask for a higher floor. My concern is the medical ones, are they being placed then first comme-first serve?

 

[WOW]

Our request is usuallly only near the Hospitality House and we generally get it I was disappointed last year when my 88 year old Aunt came and I requested 1st floor or elevator and when we checked in NOTHING but 3rd floor was available. Thank God she is in really good shape and it wasn't a problem for her, but I was not happy about that. We booked about 9 months out.

 

[Pa@okw95]

When we first joined I was told that there would be a computer put in shortly that would allow guests that check in to see what is available and then make a choice. This never happen. When I first joined I checked in at 10 o'clock and got my room right away for about the first 5 visits, then everything changed. Now we get handed a card with a telephone number on it and told to call back to see if room is ready. It usually has been at 4 o'clock when we get our room. I don't care much about where the room is just as long as it is non-smoking and on the top floor.

 

[DeeP]

I have been offered choices quite a few times, most recently this past May. The CM told me which villas were opened and which ones were available right then for check in and which ones would be available later. Most of the time we take what is available right away unless we are getting a preferred view at BWV and a boardwalk view villa is available later in the day then we ALWAYS wait for that villa. I just LOVE the boardwalk views! We are pretty easy though with our requests because a smoking room is fine with us (I have never had a villa that smelled like smoke) and if we are staying in a standard view we actually prefer the villas that are located down by the tennis courts because you have a great view for standard pts. Many people do not want these villas because of the 4 minute walk from the elevators to the room, which makes me laugh--you are walking tops 4-5 minutes in a nice air conditioned hallway- that even provides entertainment during your walk in finding all the hidden mickeys in the carpet- to get to a beautiful villa with a great view, but to each his own!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

(I have never had a villa that smelled like smoke)

You know, neither have I. I know, we smokers are reported to have lost our sense of smell, but, trust me not all of us have.
Also, we have had non smoking guests with us and they have remarked how the villas do not smell at all like a smoking unit.

And, for the record, when I am not at Disney I specifically request a non smoking room because I have had way too many experiences with smoking rooms reeking, pillows, curtains, etc. I can totally understand why non smokers want to avoid smoking rooms. For the most part (except for extream medical reasons) I would think smoking rooms would be ok for even non smokers.
JMHO and I don't want a debate.

 

[DeeP]

I would think smoking rooms would be ok for even non smokers.

Shhh don't tell everyone that, then those of us who are prefectly fine with a smoking villa wil have more competition for these rooms and will have to wait longer for our villas. I change my opinion--the smoking rooms reek of smoke, they are terrible, cigarette burns and ashes everywhere! Avoid smoking rooms at all costs! LOL!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
You know, neither have I. I know, we smokers are reported to have lost our sense of smell, but, trust me not all of us have.
Also, we have had non smoking guests with us and they have remarked how the villas do not smell at all like a smoking unit.

And, for the record, when I am not at Disney I specifically request a non smoking room because I have had way too many experiences with smoking rooms reeking, pillows, curtains, etc. I can totally understand why non smokers want to avoid smoking rooms. For the most part (except for extream medical reasons) I would think smoking rooms would be ok for even non smokers.
JMHO and I don't want a debate.

Gail,
I rather not take that chance, our No 1 request is always non-smoking. Believe me "non-smokers" can smell if a smoker was in the room.

 

[DaveH]

Wait until you follow a cigar smoker. Then your mind will change. I agree WDW housekeeping do a great job. I think there are less smoking in rooms even in smoking rooms than years ago.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by DaveH
Wait until you follow a cigar smoker. Then your mind will change. I agree WDW housekeeping do a great job. I think there are less smoking in rooms even in smoking rooms than years ago.

I agree....

 

[DeeP]

How about the pipe smokers and those tobacco chewers! Yuck! As I said, avoid smoking rooms at all costs, especially the smoking villas that have a boardwalk view, they smell the absolute worst!!!!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Believe me "non-smokers" can smell if a smoker was in the room.http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/family/smokin.gif

Perhaps some can, but our friends, rabid anti smokers could not smell any.