Has the age old room request debate ever been settled?

[Farro]

Is it better to have your request noted on your reservation, or note it when you check in online?

We have first request Fiji with a marina view as a second request noted on our reservation (I got the confirmation, so I can see it's there).
Should I leave that and do no requests online? Do they even have the longhouses as a request?

Also, does the second request negate the first? Say they can give us Fiji, but not the marina view, will that knock out Fiji altogether?

The things I concern myself with....

 

[Lynne M]

Neither one is better. Both methods add the request to a field on your reservation record. Doesn't matter how the request gets written to the database, just that it's there when they go to assign your room.

Whether or not you get your request depends on factors like the number of rooms at the resort that meet your criteria, and how many guests are checking out of rooms that meet your criteria on your arrival date.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think it's best to do both. I've had it noted on my reservation and when I've checked in was told no requests were made. I've also done online checkin and checked off my requests only to find out a few weeks later when I went online to make a change, that no requests were checked off. Now I phone it in, check it online and fax it in. I figure at least one method should make it through.

 

[Farro]

I know requests aren't guaranteed....from experience! I have yet to get a request granted, but I keep trying!

I'm just wondering if I put Fiji and a marina view if that's limiting myself too much - perhaps I'll just put Fiji as I'd be happy with either view.

 

[Disneylover99]

I know requests aren't guaranteed....from experience! I have yet to get a request granted, but I keep trying!

I'm just wondering if I put Fiji and a marina view if that's limiting myself too much - perhaps I'll just put Fiji as I'd be happy with either view.

I would put Fiji, Marina View. But that's just me. I like to ask for exactly what I want. Sometimes I get it. Sometimes I don't. As you say, you'll be happy with either view, but it sounds like you'd prefer Marina view. I say go for it!

 

[Dug720]

I know requests aren't guaranteed....from experience! I have yet to get a request granted, but I keep trying!

I'm just wondering if I put Fiji and a marina view if that's limiting myself too much - perhaps I'll just put Fiji as I'd be happy with either view.

If you WANT to request both, there is no reason not to. But if the view really doesn't matter, I would say something like "First priority is Fiji. Second priority is Marina View." That way the assigner knows which is more important to you. As opposed to just "Fiji Marina View" bin which case the assigner wouldn't be clear which was more important - so you could end up with a Marina View in a different longhouse, even if there was a room available in Fiji but it wasn't Marina View.

Does that make sense?

 

[Farro]

Yes it does! Marina view is listed as second request, so I think it's good.

I know not to get my hopes up.

 

[Dave006]

Is it better to have your request noted on your reservation, or note it when you check in online? Always be consistent in requests regardless of how it gets into your reservation.

We have first request Fiji with a marina view as a second request noted on our reservation (I got the confirmation, so I can see it's there).

Should I leave that and do no requests online? Yes. Do they even have the longhouses as a request? Not currently for Fiji.

Also, does the second request negate the first? No. Say they can give us Fiji, but not the marina view, will that knock out Fiji altogether? No you might get Fiji but no marina view.

The things I concern myself with....

Short answers in Bold in your quoted post.

First always be consistent in your requests regardless of how you make them! Noting your requests in the actual reservation and via FAX are the only ways to get your two specif requests noted currently before you actually arrive at the resort.

I also add another step if my requests are really important to my stay. Stop by the Front Desk ASAP on Check-in day and ask the Cast Member to verify that your assigned room matches the requests as noted in your reservation. If the assigned room is not a match, ask if there are rooms available that might match your requests. In your example even if you had already done online check-in, got a room text, already have your MBs and would normally just go directly to the room at your leisure. Yes it takes more work but sometimes you really have to work to get your requests. As a reminder for others, "requests" are just that, requests and are not guaranteed. Not to cause a panic but even your booked view is not really "Guaranteed" or even a room at any specific resort if you read all the fine print...

The key to is to make sure the room assigner and you are speaking the same language. Many terms that are used here on DIS sound very Disney like but are really just terms that are thrown around the internet. The best way is to let the room assigner know what you are really requesting, for example: Fiji building, East facing room, view of marina in your case.

I would suggest that you request: Bldg Fiji,Flr 1-3,E-facing room.Exmple:x311,x312,x313,x314,x315,x316,x317,x318. For example: this is what the touring plans site suggests. Substitute the small x in the example with your favorite floor: 1, 2, or 3 so the room assigner has a clear understanding of what you are requesting.

Note: The online check-in tool for a short period had specific longhouses building and many other requests for the Poly that was a little optimistic since the requests were not limited to your actual "Reservation" view as confirmed in the reservation system. Now it is back to a very limited set of "requests".

Note: Let's see what inventory might meet both of your requests. There are only 36 rooms on the East side with a minimum of one ADA room so we are down to maximum of 35 possible matches if everyone in this group of rooms are available on your check-in day. These two requests really limits the flexibility / chances that your request(s) can be met on any given day when the room assigner is assigning your room.

Dave

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

You usually actually have a pretty good chance of getting your requests. There's no reason not to submit them any or every way that you want to. And if you don't get what you requested, you can always just make your requests in person at the front desk. You can even march down from your room five minutes after walking into it for the first time, tell the front desk it's not what you wanted, and ask to be changed. Unless it's so crowded that there is no availability whatsoever in terms of the requests that you made, you'll get them.

 

[Hopefully]

You usually actually have a pretty good chance of getting your requests. There's no reason not to submit them any or every way that you want to. And if you don't get what you requested, you can always just make your requests in person at the front desk. You can even march down from your room five minutes after walking into it for the first time, tell the front desk it's not what you wanted, and ask to be changed. Unless it's so crowded that there is no availability whatsoever in terms of the requests that you made, you'll get them.

The bolded statement may or may not be true. There are far more reports of unmet requests and even booked and paid for categories not being granted, than one bloggers opinion. It depends on the resort, the time of the year, the day of the week, the mood of the assigner, etc. I do agree with the unstated premise that Disney does try to make guests happy and to grant requests when possible. But to say "Unless ... you'll get them" is too optimistic and misleading. I fear folks who read this will end up disappointed.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

The bolded statement may or may not be true. There are far more reports of unmet requests and even booked and paid for categories not being granted, than one bloggers opinion. It depends on the resort, the time of the year, the day of the week, the mood of the assigner, etc. I do agree with the unstated premise that Disney does try to make guests happy and to grant requests when possible. But to say "Unless ... you'll get them" is too optimistic and misleading. I fear folks who read this will end up disappointed.

I don't think there's anything misleading about my comments. The resort boards have plenty of posts from people who say they didn't like their room but were afraid to speak up about it. Disney would much prefer that you are happy from the minute you get to the resort then that you show up at the front desk a couple of days later raging about how awful your room is.

 

[Hopefully]

@mikedoyleblogger Sent you a PM

 

[GrammyJudy]

My requests on reservation and online checkin are ground floor and close to transportation. I also use touring plans and chose a room they suggested with the same criteria. So I'm hoping to get what I want when I check in to Pop on 2/21

 

[disneyfor3]

Okay I booked a standard view at AKL through Orbitz. I just put down 2 queen beds as a request. I am hoping for one of the partial savannah views that is listed as a standard view on Touring Plans. Should I just check off Kudu trail on online check in or should I join Touring Plans and request one through them?

 

[Leelo]

So I am wondering if anyone has any insight on this but I have read on several websites that when you book a hotel (not talking about Disney hotels) through a travel site like expedia, orbitz, etc. that you will automatically get less desirable rooms than those that book rooms directly through the hotel. I guess basically those less desirable views are sort of set aside for travel site bookings and better views/rooms are given to direct bookings. Does anyone know if this is true or have any related experience? If yes, would Disney do this as well?