How to get the best rooms!

[cstraub]

I have booked Disney hotel rooms through both the Disney Travel Company and Expedia. It has been my experience that I have gotten rooms with better views and in better locations through the Disney Travel Company than with Expedia. When I stayed at WL and got a woods view with Expedia I overlooked some trees and a dumpster. When I booked CR through the Disney Travel Company we had a perfect, beautiful lake view even though I booked the standard view. When staying at AKL I booked a pool view through the Disney Travel Company and got not only a view from the 5th floor of the pool but of the Savannah as well. The room was very close to the lobby too. The rooms through Disney are almost perfect, the ones through Expedia leave a lot to be desired.
Has this been everyone's experience?

I would love to know if having an AP or how many times/often you have visited would factor in to the room you get. Does Dsiney really takes things like this into account when choosing a room for you?

It would be neat to make a survey on the DIS about this and see if these factors do make a difference in the room you get. Depending on the response to this I may persue that.

 

[safetymom]

It's basically the luck of the draw. You could always put a request in your reservation for your next visit.

I didn't notice any difference when I booked through Expedia or WDW or AAA as far as room choice.

 

[bev r.]

In a recent Budget Travel magazine, there was an article called "confessions of a hotel exectutive". In the article it stated that some hotels do treat clients who book through third-party internet sites (expedia, travelocity, etc) worse than those who book reserve directly. It commented that third party reservation clients are the first to be downgraded or relocated if rooms are oversold. They said they may even pull room amenties for the third party clients. The article went on to say that these policies were openly discussed at staff meetings.

I don't know if Disney does this or not.

 

[mmeb144]

My experience with the rooms has been that the earlier your arrive in the day, the better the room location. Basically, it's just luck of the draw.

I've always reserved directly with Disney.

Marie

 

[Rattat]

I have noticed the two times that we stayed at WDW, that when I booked
thru Disney I received a very nice room. I booked thru another agency the 2nd time and our room at the POFQ was not one I would exactly brag about.
The room had some problems with it. Well to say the the least I booked our trip for June at AKL thru Disney. I will see if my hunch serves me right about going thru Disney instead of another agency.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I have only booked through Disney but, we have had great luck with room locations. I always make a request when I book. We always check in early,usually about 8:00-8:30am and repeat the request. We have gotten great rooms except for once. On that occasion I phoned the front desk and explained the problem and we walked back to the desk and were given a new room with a great view! No arguing, no anger, no irritation.