Guaranteed Connecting Rooms For Families

[momof3+twins]

Disney tells me that my reservation has guaranteed connecting rooms. I have had experience with this and never had a problem. I always get the connecting rooms. Someone on another discussion board says they are not really guaranteed. I believe Disney. Has anyone had experience with this or even have some inside info. I really don't want my hubby and kids in the 80's building at Pop while the rest of my kids and myself are in the 50's. That is not how I see our vacation!

 

[Sammy]

Each time I have made a reservation for two connecting rooms, the CMs have told me it is "guaranteed" because there are children. I have never had a problem with getting the connecting rooms.

 

[whitneyNC]

Same as above! People on here ALWAYS say there is no guarantee, but I have always been told we are guaranteed connecting because of more kids than adults and ALWAYS have gotten it! They don't want the liability of someone saying "we tried to supervise our kids, but WDW wouldn't let us!"

 

[crisi]

There have been several people who have reported having more adults than children, having guarenteed connecting rooms, and ending up without them. It does not happen often, but unless other DISBoarders are lying, it does happen. Disney will simply tell you to put Mom in one room with three kids and Dad in the other room with three kids. They will not upgrade you to meet the guarentee. I tend to believe other DISBoarders more than I believe Disney CMs - who have, in my experience - not a great track record of being 100% right.

In the hotel world 'guarentee' does not mean what you think it means. I've had guarenteed non smoking rooms, and ended up switching hotels because one wasn't available (and paying a lot more at a different hotel). I had a guarenteed two queens with one bed (kids slept on the floor). None of these at Disney - but Disney is not immune from the hotel guarentee issue.

 

[momof3+twins]

I would not be a happy camper if they did this. I think they would probably find a way by the time I was done throwing my tantrum!!
I love the people at Disney because they all try really hard to make it right.

 

[MouseKTeer]

I asked this question on the forum before we left for our stay at the Contemporary last month. In our case, the adults outnumbered the kids, unlike you. All that the Disney folks would tell me was that "the request for connecting rooms is in the reservation" -- they wouldn't go any further than that. Not even 4 days before we left, when most hotels would have this information ready for at least their staff. They would not use the word "guaranteed" with me. I think they are vague on purpose until you actually arrive there, and that they will do whatever they can to accommodate you. Just MHO.

 

[karliebug]

we have asked for connecting rooms 3 times and received them twice. the last time we had adjoining rooms, not connecting.

 

[momof3+twins]

The last two posters didn't have only 2 adults?
They won't even say guarantee until there are only 2 adults. They actually explained it to me as there has to be only 2 adults, so if my mom came then the guarantee is gone. I never asked either they just offered.
I am kind of getting that these days Disney is trying to hold the connecting rooms for families that only have 2 adults and they have to get two rooms. I couldn't even imagine trying to take shower with three kids bouncing on the beds and no other adult there to supervise them. I think that Disney is trying to take this into consideration, maybe why it is guaranteed connecting.

 

[crisi]

I would not be a happy camper if they did this. I think they would probably find a way by the time I was done throwing my tantrum!!
I love the people at Disney because they all try really hard to make it right.

That may get security to invite you to find accommodations offsite.

Disney cannot make connecting rooms appear out of thin air. If they have all been taken by other guests at the resort you are booked at, they will simply and firmly tell you they are not available. A tantrum will bring a manager. A further tantrum will bring security.

Disney will probably help you rebook a room at a different resort, onsite or off, if you are reasonable. But unless Tinkerbell is hovering over you with a wand of pixie dust, you'll pay for it - it won't be their dime.

 

[bratmomma]

I am sure Disney does their very best to give families traveling together connecting rooms, but being that there are only a handful in each building, and MANY families with 5 or more members, they have no choice but to put families in non-connecting rooms at times.

As far as being in separate buildings, I think that is EXTREMELY unlikely. I am sure you would have adjoining rooms, if not connecting. Disney doesn't want to separate families who are on vacation together.

 

[RMulieri]

I can tell you that they are NOT guaranteed despite what they tell you.Now they do almost always provide.BUT there has been instances where people have been told they were" guaranteed connecting" when and in fact they were not.In fact if you read fine print, the only thing you are guaranteed is a room, and not neccessarily even at the resort you booked.Problems and issues are rare, but they DO happen.My SIL's family is prime example.They requested connecting rooms to allow the kids to be in one and them in the other...guess what.Didn't happen the rooms they got were on opposite sides of the hall.The resort was booked and there was no way to make it right that night.

 

[starann]

When I spoke with a CM yesterday about 2 room connecting, he did say they would do what they could, but there is no gaurentee! I think the only time it will be is when 1 adult is with 5 or more children (so 2 rooms are needed, but there is no adult to stay in the other room.


When we went last Oct we did ask in our ressie for connecting rooms. When we got there we were told they had none. DH told them that it was unacceptable...suddenly there were connecting rooms available, we did have to wait an additional hour for the rooms to be cleaned (we were checking in early, so we were fine with that).

 

[maxiesmom]

You will find if you try to book a room on Disney's own web site it states that things like room locations and type are not guaranteed.

I think that Disney will meet a request for connecting rooms whenever they can. But even Disney magic cannot make connecting rooms availabe when they are not. Heck, I was bounced out of my prefered room at ASMu because according to the CM, many people had decided to extend their stays. And Disney won't make them move.

Having said that we have only not gotten connecting rooms once when we requested them. And it was no big deal, because we had a lot of adults along on that trip.

My advice would be to be willing to switch resorts if the one you have booked does not have connecting rooms available, and they are an absolute necessity.

 

[crisi]

When I spoke with a CM yesterday about 2 room connecting, he did say they would do what they could, but there is no gaurentee! I think the only time it will be is when 1 adult is with 5 or more children (so 2 rooms are needed, but there is no adult to stay in the other room.


When we went last Oct we did ask in our ressie for connecting rooms. When we got there we were told they had none. DH told them that it was unacceptable...suddenly there were connecting rooms available, we did have to wait an additional hour for the rooms to be cleaned (we were checking in early, so we were fine with that).

Even then, they'll call it a guarantee, and they'll make every effort to meet the request - but if you get there and there is no connecting room available, they will not kick a guest out of an occupied room to meet the need.

 

[momof3+twins]

That may get security to invite you to find accommodations offsite.

Disney cannot make connecting rooms appear out of thin air. If they have all been taken by other guests at the resort you are booked at, they will simply and firmly tell you they are not available. A tantrum will bring a manager. A further tantrum will bring security.

Disney will probably help you rebook a room at a different resort, onsite or off, if you are reasonable. But unless Tinkerbell is hovering over you with a wand of pixie dust, you'll pay for it - it won't be their dime.

I think that is overreacting a touch! But, I do agree that can't make them apear out of thin air.
And I will make if very clear that I am not happy. I don't ever complain but I will complain in that case!! I will not spend my vacation apart from my family. This is a reasonable request in my opinion. Disney needs to accomodate the fact that I have to put out the money for two rooms (I am not sharing with another family this is MY family).

 

[momof3+twins]

When I spoke with a CM yesterday about 2 room connecting, he did say they would do what they could, but there is no gaurentee! I think the only time it will be is when 1 adult is with 5 or more children (so 2 rooms are needed, but there is no adult to stay in the other room.


When we went last Oct we did ask in our ressie for connecting rooms. When we got there we were told they had none. DH told them that it was unacceptable...suddenly there were connecting rooms available, we did have to wait an additional hour for the rooms to be cleaned (we were checking in early, so we were fine with that).

This is exactly what I am talking about. They will tell you this and then when you make it clear that this is not acceptable they make them appear out of thin air ( even though I agreed that this can't happen with a previous poster). I will let them know that we expect the rooms and I think that we will get them. I don't think it will be a problem.

 

[momof3+twins]

Even then, they'll call it a guarantee, and they'll make every effort to meet the request - but if you get there and there is no connecting room available, they will not kick a guest out of an occupied room to meet the need.

Totally agree with this!! And it scares me!! I really have 3 crazy little kids that need constant supervision!!
But, I will switch resorts if they can find it somewhere else.

Totally off the subject of this: This is how I have seen Disney action. My FIL is a big complainer. So, he is at a mod resort and noticed the fan blade was a little bent. He went down to the front desk and complained( which I don't agree with). And they sent a basket to his room and to my BIL's room also. I thought it was crazy and I was glad to not be on that trip. I get so embarassed when he acts that way. But, just to say : Disney is awesome and they do strive to accomodate!!

 

[natenapril]

Each time I have made a reservation for two connecting rooms, the CMs have told me it is "guaranteed" because there are children. I have never had a problem with getting the connecting rooms.

This is my experience too

 

[maxiesmom]

I will not spend my vacation apart from my family. This is a reasonable request in my opinion. Disney needs to accomodate the fact that I have to put out the money for two rooms (I am not sharing with another family this is MY family).

And Disney will give you two rooms. Which is what you are guaranteed to get. Read all of the lingo in your reservation, and it will tell you that is the ONLY thing you are guaranteed. You are not even guaranteed two rooms at the resort for which you made the reservation.

If you want a 100% guarantee of being all together, you nned to book a DVC resort or a suite of some kind. That is the only way to be positive of being together.

I totally understand being unhappy if you end up with 2 rooms that don't connect, but know going in it is a chance that is what you will end up with. As you stated you requested two connecting rooms. Reqested. There is no guarantee that you will get them, though the odds are good. Know that ahead of time and be prepared with a back up plan if you don't receive them.

 

[crisi]

Totally agree with this!! And it scares me!! I really have 3 crazy little kids that need constant supervision!!
But, I will switch resorts if they can find it somewhere else.

Totally off the subject of this: This is how I have seen Disney action. My FIL is a big complainer. So, he is at a mod resort and noticed the fan blade was a little bent. He went down to the front desk and complained( which I don't agree with). And they sent a basket to his room and to my BIL's room also. I thought it was crazy and I was glad to not be on that trip. I get so embarassed when he acts that way. But, just to say : Disney is awesome and they do strive to accomodate!!

Sometimes it works that way - I've seen it work that way too. We got cupcakes for a plumbing problem last trip.

I've also seen the tantrum that ended with security removing the guest from premises.

My own experience is that Disney is very good at listening, and good at correcting when its reasonable - they, however, won't be blackmailed into action.