Preferred rooms are not all in front of a pool - believe me! We paid for a preferred room in September 07 & got stuck on the back side of the 60's with a view of nothing, far away from the pool, elevator, food court & busses & it stunk! Not what I paid the extra $$ for. They're really spread out now as far as what Disney considers a preferred room.
This is so true. When you request a preferred room at Pop, request the area you want and the view.
The last three years I always stayed at the preferred room overlooking the sixties pool. Too me the view was worth it. However, if they put me in the back of the building, I would not want to pay preferred prices.
You have to request a pool view, but it is not guaranteed. So far, they have accomodated me.