Getting room requests....or not!

[MJ6987]

Hi,
We have stayed onsite three times and have never got our room request - are we doing something wrong?

I have put it on my online check in (60 days) and also faxed it to the resort a few days before

The POFQ one didn't make much difference as it is a small resort - but we requested close to the lobby and got the second furthest away building

POR - we requested Alligator Bayou area and got the Mansions (a totally different theme!)

Coronado - can't remember what we requested but we were basically put as far away from our request as was physically possible!

The only thing I can think of is that, coming from the UK, we dont arrive until mid to late afternoon. But if it is "first come first served" that sort of makes prior room requests pointless. Also, we have already checked in 60 days before.

Any ideas or tips?

Thanks

 

[Disneylover99]

We've had the same experiences as you in the past. We've phoned in requests, made requests with online check in, and faxed in requests. It took us about 7 or 8 stays until we actually got any of our room requests met. Our arrival times ranged between 7am - 6pm with most of our arrival times between late morning and early afternoon.

The good thing, is that if you're not happy with your room assignment for any reason, just speak up. The CM's will work with you to find a more suitable room if there is availability. Of course, there is more availability to make the switch, the earlier you arrive.

 

[dansdad]

No, you are not doing anything wrong. Please realize that requests are just that, requests. Whether your requests are granted is 100% dependent on occupancy and how many others requested the same thing as you. How you made your requests, how you booked your stay and when you arrive all have zero affect on getting your requests granted.

 

[Eastern]

Hi,
We have stayed onsite three times and have never got our room request - are we doing something wrong?

I have put it on my online check in (60 days) and also faxed it to the resort a few days before

The POFQ one didn't make much difference as it is a small resort - but we requested close to the lobby and got the second furthest away building

POR - we requested Alligator Bayou area and got the Mansions (a totally different theme!)

Coronado - can't remember what we requested but we were basically put as far away from our request as was physically possible!

The only thing I can think of is that, coming from the UK, we dont arrive until mid to late afternoon. But if it is "first come first served" that sort of makes prior room requests pointless. Also, we have already checked in 60 days before.

Any ideas or tips?

Thanks

I have had the same experience, so don't feel bad. I usually make a request (one, not several), and most times it has not been granted. I don't usually mind, until the last time, when they put me as far away from my request as possible! That time, it really annoyed me. They did offer to change me later but it was too much trouble to move so I stayed where I was.

 

[krm222]

We asked for connecting rooms at Pop and didn't get them. We were really bummed because we wanted to be able to move between our room and my parents' room without going outside. We asked a few different CM to look for alternatives but they only offered something in the 90s section which we didn't want.

We also asked for 70s and didn't get it. Apparently the enormous tour group that arrived the day after us had gotten priority in reserving the connecting rooms because they were all teenagers.

 

[Dug720]

My best "not my request" thing was Marathon Weekend 2015. Staying at CBR and knowing I was going to get in late - like after 9 - I requested Barbados as that island is easily walked to from the Customs House (as the check-in at CBR is in a totally separate building). It's further away from the food court and main pool, so it is usually not as requested (at least by people on here). Figured I'd have no issues (only worried they might try to "upgrade" me to a Pirate room - which, just no to those beds on Marathon Weekend). Got there and discovered that I'd been put in Jamaica 45 - probably the most requested standard-view of all. I kept it - it felt weird to "complain" about that - but it does make me laugh that I requested probably the least requested section and got probably the most requested section.

(And no, Barbados was not one of the sections being renovated - that was my first thought.)

OP, regarding POR, it's possible that all the available rooms in the AB section were taken up by parties of 5 - that is the only section of that resort that can accommodate parties of 5.

 

[Hopefully]

As Dansdad said, a request is just a request. There are many factors that play into it. The primary one is whether your request is available upon your arrival. We are DVC owners and we go more than once a year. I seldom if ever get my request. But I don't plan on it, so I am not disappointed. I once had a Villa the exact opposite of my request and found I liked it. We arrive early in the day so I don't think that matters either.

 

[disnut8]

Hi,
We have stayed onsite three times and have never got our room request - are we doing something wrong?

I have put it on my online check in (60 days) and also faxed it to the resort a few days before

The POFQ one didn't make much difference as it is a small resort - but we requested close to the lobby and got the second furthest away building

POR - we requested Alligator Bayou area and got the Mansions (a totally different theme!)

Coronado - can't remember what we requested but we were basically put as far away from our request as was physically possible!

The only thing I can think of is that, coming from the UK, we dont arrive until mid to late afternoon. But if it is "first come first served" that sort of makes prior room requests pointless. Also, we have already checked in 60 days before.

Any ideas or tips?

Thanks

It's not first come, first served. Requests are, as others have said, just requests. I've had positive experiences with requests and not so great ones but at the end of the day, I've had a room at the resort I was booked at. That's what was important.

You are in the UK so a phone call to Disney probably won't work for you but it might help to explain WHY you NEED a certain request. If there's not a need for something (like first floor because of having a person with limited physical capabilities), then your request is like everyone else's and the computer will assign the room.

 

[MJ6987]

Thanks all. Yes, I realise these are just requests and not guaranteed. The responses on here though make me wonder if they actually even look at the requests and whether when people get their requests it's just a coincidence.

 

[MJ6987]

Oh, by the way, I did explain the reason for my requests (by phone - I forgot that) which is that our youngest daughter is autistic and has some mobilities issues with this, but still no luck!

 

[ellie05]

We get our request more often that not. I always check with the front desk when I am check in. Most time they are accommodating and we get what we want.

 

[gwynne]

Oh, by the way, I did explain the reason for my requests (by phone - I forgot that) which is that our youngest daughter is autistic and has some mobilities issues with this, but still no luck!

Calling in a request is certainly an option, but no guarantee as posted above.
Sometimes, too, it's easier overall to try to book preferred areas if they are available. I realize they aren't always available when booking.

 

[aaarcher86]

Oh, by the way, I did explain the reason for my requests (by phone - I forgot that) which is that our youngest daughter is autistic and has some mobilities issues with this, but still no luck!

They can't add the medical specifics to a reservation, but in the future you can usually get what you're looking for by booking it. They just say it's a medical or mobility reason.

AB section of POR can be booked by getting a preferred room, etc.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm at a less than 50% success rate when it comes to getting my requests. I think there are many factors in play--what day of the week you arrive, how busy the resorts are in general, how early or late you arrive, what requests you make, so many things that can make it hard for even a simple request to be met.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I don't request much anymore. Usually just upper floor and I've been getting that most of the time. I didn't put anything down as a request on my Grand Floridian stay and ended up upgraded to Main Building Club Level - that was a very exciting surprise!

I don't have any requests made for my upcoming trip - I just decided to wait and see what I get.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I try to prioritize my requests as well. For our upcoming trip at POFQ we have two rooms, river view, so I told them my highest priority was connecting rooms. Next, my inlaws arrive part way through the trip as well, so I provided their confirmation number and said my second priority was having them as close to us as possible, same building and floor preferred. My next priority was building 5 or 2 and finally first floor. I figure it's best to let them know what you hope for, but if they can't meet all those requests, at least they know what is most important. If they are looking at their rooms and the choice is, building 7, 3rd floor, connecting or building 5, 1st floor, non-connecting, I want them to know that despite the second one meeting two of our requests, we would rather have the connecting rooms in the end.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I never make a request that way I'm not disappointed.

 

[Disneytam]

In past years we never got any of our requests, but that has slowly improved. Others have said that you can just go back to the desk if your not happy with your room and the CM will help you. That has never worked for us and we always arrive in the morning and are willing to wait for the room that we requested. This trip for the GF we booked TPV in the main building so I just requested higher floor. When we switch to the BWI CL I requested boardwalk view and inside the Innkeepers door as I do for every visit. We have been about 50/50 on that so far.

 

[Dis703]

I've stayed onsite 6 times now and received my requests each of those times. Last year at CBR I requested Jamaica 45 Ground Floor and I didn't want to be near the water/pool. When I got there I was in 42 I think on the ground floor. I asked if there was anyway we could be moved to 45 or 46 and they moved us as well as my MIL who was arriving the next day.

We will see if my luck holds out again next week.

I do think your room at POR was likely not given because alligator bayou is the only section families of five can stay. And it's very popular for that reason.

 

[jcemom]

I think it's just luck of the draw. I have only put my requests on my reservations, no calls or faxes. I have NEVER gotten a request met at Pop Century. All other resorts have met or come close to meeting my requests... except for POR, where I didn't get close to the food court as requested but I did get upgraded to a Royal room (or whatever they're called) so that definitely made up for it!