Help, First time renter.

[hookedonears]

In January, we put a deposit down to rent points for a Studio Villa at the Polynesian through a reliable 3rd party dealer, for our trip this coming December, and I just got an E-mail yesterday evening saying that they've got one and we must except by 6:00 PM today.

We also in January put a deposit down for a Villa through Disney, at a considerable higher price. 3rd party rental savings of 1390.87.

Where our room is located within the resort is a pretty big deal to us. When we booked the Villa through Disney, we made a room request that I know they may or may not honor. If we rent through a 3rd party, and make a room request through Disney, are we pretty much guaranteed to be last in line for room request?

Also, is there anything else that I should know about this whole process of renting through a 3rd party vs. booking through Disney?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If we rent through a 3rd party, and make a room request through Disney, are we pretty much guaranteed to be last in line for room request?

No, not how it works. The third-party can submit your room request. It has as much chance of being honored or ignored as the Disney request. There are only 3 buildings available for Poly villas no matter if you rent or book via Disney, so how far off on the request you are is pretty limited.

If you book via a third party, it is likely paid upon booking 100%, and cannot be canceled or refunded. Disney bookings have standard Disney package or room-only terms for cancel.

 

[RobDoc]

You are no more (or less) likely to have requests honored when renting from Disney or from a DVC Member. If you make the reservation through a broker, be sure to ask them to have the member making the reservation make your request for you.

 

[hookedonears]

You are no more (or less) likely to have requests honored when renting from Disney or from a DVC Member. If you make the reservation through a broker, be sure to ask them to have the member making the reservation make your request for you.

Thanks!

 

[wench]

I've only rented points once. I asked the broker to have the points owner make a room request for me, but it turns out they didn't. But, while calling the hotel to have another note put on my reservation, they were happy to add the request for me. MS will not add a request if you're not the points owner, but you can put one on if you call the front desk of the resort directly. As everyone else said though, they're no more likely to honor your request if you book direct, than they are if you rent points. They try their best, but they can't always honor them all.

 

[Dean]

In January, we put a deposit down to rent points for a Studio Villa at the Polynesian through a reliable 3rd party dealer, for our trip this coming December, and I just got an E-mail yesterday evening saying that they've got one and we must except by 6:00 PM today.

We also in January put a deposit down for a Villa through Disney, at a considerable higher price. 3rd party rental savings of 1390.87.

Where our room is located within the resort is a pretty big deal to us. When we booked the Villa through Disney, we made a room request that I know they may or may not honor. If we rent through a 3rd party, and make a room request through Disney, are we pretty much guaranteed to be last in line for room request?

Also, is there anything else that I should know about this whole process of renting through a 3rd party vs. booking through Disney?

As noted, DVC does not formally prioritize requests at this time. However, they tend not to put a lot of effort into them. If view type or location is that important, you might have more luck with the direct reservation. IMO the risk using DVC is worth it but it might not be for you. And there are no guarantees with cash either other than (almost 100%) to get the view type reserved.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I've only rented points once. I asked the broker to have the points owner make a room request for me, but it turns out they didn't. But, while calling the hotel to have another note put on my reservation, they were happy to add the request for me. MS will not add a request if you're not the points owner, but you can put one on if you call the front desk of the resort directly. As everyone else said though, they're no more likely to honor your request if you book direct, than they are if you rent points. They try their best, but they can't always honor them all.

DVC has asked members (and thus renters) not to call or fax the resort. Everything must be done through DVC.

 

[wench]

DVC has asked members (and thus renters) not to call or fax the resort. Everything must be done through DVC.

In my case, I just wanted a note put on my two reservations (one with my points & one with rented points) that I was staying, so that I hopefully wouldn't have to change rooms. It was actually a CM from MS that recommended I call the resort directly. Then while on the phone with them, they asked if I had any other room requests. I imagine it's the same as it is with many other things, in that some CMs will offer you a work around to the system when they know it exists, & others follow the policy more strictly.

I honestly never heard before that you couldn't place a room request with the resort directly, but even having heard it now, I would probably still do it. But, that is all I would have them do, or maybe better put, trust them to do. I would never call a resort to change my reservation or points around, or anything like that.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I suspect you were helped by the fact that you ARE a member. You were able to call MS in the first place. Renters generally don't have that option.

 

[Lynne M]

I honestly never heard before that you couldn't place a room request with the resort directly, but even having heard it now, I would probably still do it. But, that is all I would have them do, or maybe better put, trust them to do. I would never call a resort to change my reservation or points around, or anything like that.

The reason that you can't is that you can't call a resort directly. The published numbers for the resorts all go to the same call center. Using caller id, they can identify which resort number you were calling and they'll answer "Disney's Old Key West Resort" or "Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort", but they're not located at that resort. I don't think they're even located in WDW. Even if you call the front desk from your resort room, the call goes to the call center, and they dispatch whatever services are necessary.

This was done in part because the resorts do not want to deal with calls about room requests. Many of the Disney resorts have more than a thousand rooms. They'd have to hire a significant number of people at each resort to handle that call volume. It's much more efficent to centralize the call reception and let CMs handle calls for multiple resorts.

The fact that a CM told you to call a resort tells me that they're very new, and/or under-informed.

 

[wench]

The reason that you can't is that you can't call a resort directly. The published numbers for the resorts all go to the same call center. Using caller id, they can identify which resort number you were calling and they'll answer "Disney's Old Key West Resort" or "Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort", but they're not located at that resort. I don't think they're even located in WDW. Even if you call the front desk from your resort room, the call goes to the call center, and they dispatch whatever services are necessary.

This was done in part because the resorts do not want to deal with calls about room requests. Many of the Disney resorts have more than a thousand rooms. They'd have to hire a significant number of people at each resort to handle that call volume. It's much more efficent to centralize the call reception and let CMs handle calls for multiple resorts.

The fact that a CM told you to call a resort tells me that they're very new, and/or under-informed.

Well that particular resort call was to the Grand Californian, which is very easy to reach. When you call a specific hotel at DLR, you actually get the hotel. But, before I was a DVC member I had been transferred by the reservation line to the resort to ask a questions they didn't know the answer to, on more than one occasion. Although that isn't their go to response to things, you can get put through to the hotel.

I wouldn't automatically assume that a CM in MS that helped a guest solve a problem was new or under-informed. As I'd said before, the note I wanted to put on my reservation (that the CM recommended I call directly about) was simply that I wasn't checking out of my room on the day my 1st reservation ended. I don't think there is anything wrong with a CM being helpful in that situation & recommending something that would easily solve my problem without hurting anyone at all. It was only once I was on the phone with front desk that they asked if I had any other room requests I wanted to add. I replied that I should already have one placed by the points owner that I had rented from, but they told me there was nothing there.

 

[bumbershoot]

MS will not add a request if you're not the points owner, but you can put one on if you call the front desk of the resort directly.

At WDW there is literally zero way to do that.

Well that particular resort call was to the Grand Californian, which is very easy to reach.

Ah, important info when telling others that they can call the front desk.

 

[skier_pete]

I just wanted to say from our experience, room requests are extremely hit and miss. Last summer we had a split stay, and we didn't get our request at Beach Club, but then DID get it at the Poly. As others have pointed out, it matters not if you rent from a 3rd party or room Disney. It also doesn't matter WHEN you make the request. From what I understand, the resort don't see the requests until about 5 days before arrival. They try to accommodate those they can, but aren't always able to. In particular, the broader the request, the more likely it gets filled. (Asking for a 1st floor room is more likely to happen than asking for Room 1135, for example.)

If a room location is TRULY important to you, if you are not happy with your room when you arrive at the resort, you can go to guest services and being polite but insistent request that they change your room to another location. While you may have to stay in the first location for the first night, they will usually try and work it out for you. Just remember, there are 100s for guests checking in and out each day, and it is nearly impossible for them to give every one of them exactly what they would like.

 

[CarolMN]

.........(snip)........If a room location is TRULY important to you, if you are not happy with your room when you arrive at the resort, you can go to guest services and being polite but insistent request that they change your room to another location. .........

If a DVC member (or a renter) does that, they should be prepared to pay the cleaning fee.

 

[skier_pete]

If a DVC member (or a renter) does that, they should be prepared to pay the cleaning fee.

Hmmm...good point - that very well could occur. Disney is pretty good about trying to satisfy their customers though - not 100% sure they would charge you.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hmmm...good point - that very well could occur. Disney is pretty good about trying to satisfy their customers though - not 100% sure they would charge you.

We were charged at VB. My mother was along and both of the rooms we were assigned had high, solid walls. At best she used a walker to move around but could not stand long and was going to be in the room most of the time and wanted to watch the activity and ocean. We were in OVIR's. DH went down to see about getting a room with a slatted balcony for Mom. They had one the next day. And they added the cleaning charge to our bill. The CM also accepted a nice tip from DH too. I had not informed him of the probability of a charge to move - which was fine - but the tip and the charge did not really set well with either of us.

 

[supersnoop]

Hmmm...good point - that very well could occur. Disney is pretty good about trying to satisfy their customers though - not 100% sure they would charge you.

I'm pretty sure that's actually a written policy on the member website. If you enter the room and then ask to change, you'll be charged the cleaning fee.