Help with OKW online check-in issues

[roadtripper]

I can just see the face of the CM who gets my online check-in room request form. Long story short, we invited Dad, 73 to join us at OKW. By the time he agreed, there were no studios or 2 BR lockoffs avail for pts, so he is sharing a 1 BR with DS, DH and me. DS uses a w/c, so we booked a HA room 11 months ago. Suddenly, the dual bathroom entrances has become more of a priority. DS will use the whirlpool tub rather than the shower, so we don't really need the roll in shower, but I get nervous booking "1st floor for medical reasons" since that is only a request, not a guarantee, and we absolutely need the first floor or an elevator. When I tried to update the room requests online, it wouldn't let me deselect anything, so now it reads 'ground floor' 'peninsula rd' 'upper floor' and 'dual bathroom entrances" (even though you can usually only select 2 or 3, correct?) along with a request for Bldg 62. These people are going to think I've lost it, since most of these requests cancel each other out.
When I called MS she said that OKW had already "looked at" my reservation, but I don't know if that was before or after I made the changes (and she couldn't tell). Then I called OKW directly to ask for 62, 63 or 64, but I am feeling very un-Zen about this situation. We will be checking in this Sunday at about noon. Besides my usual big smile, any advice for trying to insure that we get some Disney magic with room requests? TIA!

 

[Donna M]

That big smile and attitude can go a long way. By arriving early and having your son there in a w/c with your father, I think your chances should be good to get what you need. I would suggest calling both places, but you already did. Your best bet would have been to keep the HA room though.

 

[disneynutz]

In the future don't do on-line check in.

If you do on-line anyway, don't make any room requests.

Send your requests to MS by using the contact form on the member website.

On Sunday just tell them what you need and be prepared to wait for a room.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[roadtripper]

Thanks for the advice! We kept the HA room, and I totally plan on wheeling my boy in with me--he LOVES check-in. Dad comes in a few days later, so he won't be able to work his considerable charms.

Thanks to FP+, we are prepared to wait all day for our room--hanging out at Epcot and actually getting to ride Soarin!

Would the room request form be overkill at this point?

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks for the advice! We kept the HA room, and I totally plan on wheeling my boy in with me--he LOVES check-in. Dad comes in a few days later, so he won't be able to work his considerable charms.

Thanks to FP+, we are prepared to wait all day for our room--hanging out at Epcot and actually getting to ride Soarin!

Would the room request form be overkill at this point?

Too late for the form, OKW has already assigned your room. You could press MS to contact the resort assigner for you due to medical reasons, That's what I would do.

Bill

 

[roadtripper]

I sent an email through the DVC website, just in case that will help (before I saw your post, disneynutz) My concern is that if OKW has already assigned a room, they may have assigned it based on our old request (Peninsula Rd) vs our new priority with Dad (dual bathroom entrances). I was still able to modify my online check-in, so I am hopeful. When are you unable to modify online check-in? We arrive Sunday.

 

[disneynutz]

I sent an email through the DVC website, just in case that will help (before I saw your post, disneynutz) My concern is that if OKW has already assigned a room, they may have assigned it based on our old request (Peninsula Rd) vs our new priority with Dad (dual bathroom entrances). I was still able to modify my online check-in, so I am hopeful. When are you unable to modify online check-in? We arrive Sunday.

MS can take several days to respond to emails. I would call MS and ask they to contact the room assigner since your requests are so screwed up. If the room assigner can't figure out what you want, they may just pick the first request on your list or worse give you just any room.

To us the room locations mean something, to the CM assigning a hundred rooms a day it's just another day at work.

Bill

 

[roadtripper]

Well, check in was a little less than magical. The CM tried to be helpful, but her hands were tied. She told me which bldg we were in, which met none of our requests at all. She got the manager over, who was not moved by my friendly smile and my cute kid in the wheelchair. It seemed like she really wasn't listening to me, since she tried to move us to bldg 26--still no dual bathroom. Finally, we decided to do the 1st night in our original room, which was the worst location we've ever had at OKW. I don't want to prejudice people who might like being at the bus stop turnaround with people yelling from the pool which sounds like it's in your unit, but it was pretty bad.

Yesterday we moved to our new room, which has a much better view but still a lot of bus noise. I am at a loss for what to do when booking next year. We really don't need a h/c room since DS hates showers, and we hate to keep it from someone else who does but we do need the ground floor or an elevator. I booked 11 months out, but changed from a GV to the 1 BR at about 9 months, so I wonder if that's why none of our requests were initially met. Any advice?

 

[disneynutz]

Well, check in was a little less than magical. The CM tried to be helpful, but her hands were tied. She told me which bldg we were in, which met none of our requests at all. She got the manager over, who was not moved by my friendly smile and my cute kid in the wheelchair. It seemed like she really wasn't listening to me, since she tried to move us to bldg 26--still no dual bathroom. Finally, we decided to do the 1st night in our original room, which was the worst location we've ever had at OKW. I don't want to prejudice people who might like being at the bus stop turnaround with people yelling from the pool which sounds like it's in your unit, but it was pretty bad.

Yesterday we moved to our new room, which has a much better view but still a lot of bus noise. I am at a loss for what to do when booking next year. We really don't need a h/c room since DS hates showers, and we hate to keep it from someone else who does but we do need the ground floor or an elevator. I booked 11 months out, but changed from a GV to the 1 BR at about 9 months, so I wonder if that's why none of our requests were initially met. Any advice?

If you don't need a HC room then don't book one. Next year use the contact form on the member website to request ground floor due to medical reasons and the second request would be which buildings you would like. Make the request as soon as you book the room.

Bill

 

[bumbershoot]

If you don't need a HC room then don't book one.

I'm following you around agreeing with you today.

And in our experience, every time we've used the online checkin form to request ground floor for medical reasons (when my aunt is with us, she really prefers to not do stairs) we've gotten it. And when we have a split stay moving rooms inside of the same resort (I'm talking OKW here) they keep that request and give us ground floor again, even without her there.

 

[roadtripper]

If you don't need a HC room then don't book one. Next year use the contact form on the member website to request ground floor due to medical reasons and the second request would be which buildings you would like. Make the request as soon as you book the room.

Bill

Member services has given me the opposite advice, which is why we book a HC room--they say otherwise it's just a request. We always book 11 months out and make the requests then.

 

[disneynutz]

Member services has given me the opposite advice, which is why we book a HC room--they say otherwise it's just a request. We always book 11 months out and make the requests then.

I would contact member satisfaction to verify. Things may have changed but requesting a ground floor due to medical reasons was a valid request that took priority.

Bill