how to use touring plans/room request

[WhitneyMB]

I leave it with their generated text for 2 reasons
1 it's in "Disney Speak" using the terminology the room assigners know
2 it gives them the same info, main building, 5, NW facing, etc. Room numbers are just examples to illustrate the parameters.

I only include text in the fax if I want to reiterate a feature, like I would love a King bed in this building, that type of thing.
Or when I used it for connecting rooms. I selected connecting rooms, provided both confirmation numbers and in the body of the fax I put that we wanted connecting rooms above all else, no matter floor, building or view

Thanks, I had heard that simpler is better, and the "Disney speak" looks like gibberish to me, so I wasn't sure--especially if I didn't really care about getting a specific room number. Also, some of the rooms that are listed are not in my booking category. For example, I booked a "garden view" and the list of rooms includes some garden view and some pool view. While I certainly wouldn't mind getting those, I don't want to look greedy in requesting rooms outside what I booked.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks, I had heard that simpler is better, and the "Disney speak" looks like gibberish to me, so I wasn't sure--especially if I didn't really care about getting a specific room number. Also, some of the rooms that are listed are not in my booking category. For example, I booked a "garden view" and the list of rooms includes some garden view and some pool view. While I certainly wouldn't mind getting those, I don't want to look greedy in requesting rooms outside what I booked.

It's very possible the parameters they give on the room breakdown are wrong. Their layouts are right but sometimes the info on the room isn't. Like they'll have one identified as King that isn't or as HA and isn't. Views are usually easy to figure out on your own, like it's easy to see which rooms face a pool or which rooms face a garden, that type of thing. Still, I leave what they generate alone. It has worked well

 

[d-train]

We used the service last summer - although we did not get the exact room - it was two doors down - a success in my book!

 

[Dashcomplete]

Just to add another data point, we were assigned a room at AKL with no semblance to requested parameters on touring plans fax: requested 3rd floor Zebra trail and assigned 5th floor Ostrich trail.

 

[AngiTN]

Just to add another data point, we were assigned a room at AKL with no semblance to requested parameters on touring plans fax: requested 3rd floor Zebra trail and assigned 5th floor Ostrich trail.

Good point. While it can help it is not a fool proof method.

 

[Dug720]

Just to add another data point, we were assigned a room at AKL with no semblance to requested parameters on touring plans fax: requested 3rd floor Zebra trail and assigned 5th floor Ostrich trail.

Good point. While it can help it is not a fool proof method.

Exactly. Bottom line is there are a finite number of rooms that meet each set of parameters AND the assigners have to play room tetris with people coming in and leaving on different days. Which is why though I'll make requests, I don't let myself get tied to that location and make that the focus of my vacation.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

So I have a touring plans membership and can see the "room request" option on that site.
It brought up a couple of rooms, do I then request that room/building doing my on line check in on MDE or is there a way for touring plans to fax/send that request to CBR? thanks

Touring Plans can send it in for you, I'm fairly certain, if you want a specific room.

 

[Dug720]

So I have a touring plans membership and can see the "room request" option on that site.
It brought up a couple of rooms, do I then request that room/building doing my on line check in on MDE or is there a way for touring plans to fax/send that request to CBR? thanks

When you look at the "Room Finder" in touring plans, you put in your parameters (room type, floor) and it shows you the rooms that meet those parameters (understand that there are some errors in bed type but it gives you an idea anyway). You can click on the highlighted room(s) to see the view, and when you find one you like, click the link to request that room or one like it. Then on your dashboard you can configure the fax - adding in any details you want (example, I prioritized why I'd requested the room I had at A0A - "1) 4th floor, 2) Lake View, 3) Building 7; I would prefer a King bed as it is only me, but the three numbered requests are most important". I think I led with how excited I was to be coming to Art of Animation for my birthday celebration trip, then I closed with thanking them for their consideration. Short and sweet.

Then Touring Plans will "attempt to fax it to the resort beginning 5 days before your stay". We'll see how it goes in August.

In terms of online check-in, there is no reason not to do it - just make sure that none of your requests contradict what you have requested via phone and/or will via Touring Plans. (Unless they change it, I know 4th floor and Lake View are requests for online check-in, so I'll click those to reiterate my requests. Then the fax shall be sent notating those requests for the third time.)

 

[Choppygirl]

I am using Touring Plans for our trip to Port Orleans Riverside in August and picked the room I want but noticed that the fax request included the room next door which had a view of a pillar but was classed as a river view which we have booked. I would be disappointed to get that room so edited the request to take that room out and actually added a note saying we don't want that one

 

[Dug720]

I am using Touring Plans for our trip to Port Orleans Riverside in August and picked the room I want but noticed that the fax request included the room next door which had a view of a pillar but was classed as a river view which we have booked. I would be disappointed to get that room so edited the request to take that room out and actually added a note saying we don't want that one

I would be very cautious about negative requests. They are working with a lot of requests and rooms and the whole Tetris so it is very easy for them to not see the "not".

 

[Deb & Bill]

I rented a Lake View DVC room at the Poly for our trip coming up in April. I already made a 3rd floor request through my rental company but will I be able to do it through touringplans.com since it is rented through DVC and I am not the owner of the points?

Just be aware that DVC had requested owners/members not to bother faxing in requests because they pretty much toss the out. The broker should have passed your request on to the owner of the points to add it to your reservation. When you are 60 days out you can click boxes on MDE if you have linked the reservation there. But be aware, anything you add at this point not through Member Services will discount your request added by the owner.

 

[AngiTN]

I am using Touring Plans for our trip to Port Orleans Riverside in August and picked the room I want but noticed that the fax request included the room next door which had a view of a pillar but was classed as a river view which we have booked. I would be disappointed to get that room so edited the request to take that room out and actually added a note saying we don't want that one

Some things to consider, check carefully on the notes on the image you see when you click on view on TP. Often it's a room near that room, not from that room. It tells you if it is. Also, the images are sent from other guests. They may have taken a bad shot. It may not be what you see when you look out.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I would be very cautious about negative requests. They are working with a lot of requests and rooms and the whole Tetris so it is very easy for them to not see the "not".

In December, on our second stay at Coronado Springs in four months, we faxed in a TP request for the same range of rooms where we had stayed and which we had liked on our previous trip. But we noted on the fax that we did not want to be assigned the exact same room as before because the phone didn't work in that room. (In other words, we requested a range of rooms, but asked that one specific room within that range be excluded from our request.) And when we got our room text, they had put us in the room directly below our room from last time. I laughed out loud when I saw that text on DME, because it was pretty clear that they had read our notation.

 

[lentesta]

Just be aware that DVC had requested owners/members not to bother faxing in requests because they pretty much toss the out.

Is there anything in writing from DVC saying this? I ask because we have literally thousands of examples of DVC honoring the exact room request sent in.

It's hard to believe that a customer service-centric company like Disney, whose members are paying a premium to stay on site, would willingly ignore a customer's stated preference, over something as insignificant as the method of communication used. I just don't think Disney's doing that.

 

[AngiTN]

Is there anything in writing from DVC saying this? I ask because we have literally thousands of examples of DVC honoring the exact room request sent in.

It's hard to believe that a customer service-centric company like Disney, whose members are paying a premium to stay on site, would willingly ignore a customer's stated preference, over something as insignificant as the method of communication used. I just don't think Disney's doing that.

Funny you say that. I know nothing about DVC procedures but for the longest word spread here was all the resorts, except for PO resorts, threw away all faxed requests. Not sure where that word came from but it is clear that they do not throw away the ones sent from TP. Does TP have a unique method that only works for them or was that word wrong, I'm not sure. But it could be the commonly spread info about DVC is as wrong as it was for regular resorts

My best guess is the resorts never threw out requests and they fill those from sent from TP and those from the guest the same, when possible. I don't believe they ignore or throw out any of them

 

[cindym]

I just filled out my requests for POR on TPs form. We really want Alligator Bayou so I put that first , then put murphy bed and close to lobby. In the comments I put the reservation # of the people going with us. I put the same requests down for them. I also included the name on the reservation. I added murphy bed as the handicapped rooms don't have them. Both rooms are linked on MDE. We made no request on the online check in form on Disney's site. We don't care what floors. We will be arriving early that morning so hopefully we can wait on the rooms we want if we need to. But the resort is sold out! Ignore my ticker that is from the last trip. We arrive on Feb. 25.

 

[Choppygirl]

I would be very cautious about negative requests. They are working with a lot of requests and rooms and the whole Tetris so it is very easy for them to not see the "not".

Good point, I'll go and edit it

 

[siskaren]

I just filled out my requests for POR on TPs form. We really want Alligator Bayou so I put that first , then put murphy bed and close to lobby.

It wasn't necessary to request Murphy bed in addition to requesting Alligator Bayou - all Alligator Bayou rooms have Murphy beds.

 

[AngiTN]

It wasn't necessary to request Murphy bed in addition to requesting Alligator Bayou - all Alligator Bayou rooms have Murphy beds.

Do the HA rooms? We got a king room in AB without a Murphy bed. Only figured out it was a HA room because the bathroom layout it's different. Don't know if they are only king rooms or not

 

[siskaren]

Do the HA rooms? We got a king room in AB without a Murphy bed. Only figured out it was a HA room because the bathroom layout it's different. Don't know if they are only king rooms or not

That I don't know. I only know that the regular King rooms have them.