Is it unwise to list multiple room requests?

[99mkw]

We just rented a 1 bedroom savannah view villa in Kidani Village for September through a DVC agency. Based on many helpful threads on this site, I was going to request being close to the lobby and being on a lower floor. I have a strong preference for the sunset savannah but I understand that being close to the lobby covers that. When I emailed the agency contact about this, I got this reply:

"We recommend being as vague as possible with your request. Disney will accept 2 requests but there isn't a specific order with how they work, so if you say lower floor, they may give you a lower floor at the opposite end of the resort instead a room closer to the lobby. If the lobby location is your preference, then I wouldn't put a floor request."

This doesn't seem consistent with many of the things I've read on this board, but maybe things have changed since some of those older posts. It's true that the lobby request is much more important to us and I'd probably be fine with an upper floor as well. I understand there may be no definitive answer, but do experienced folks think that having a second request could set you up to get the second at the expense of the first? I would appreciate any and all tips.

 

[BillPA]

Good luck, I think everyone request near the lobby and lower floor.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yep. Near lobby is what everyone requests at Kidani. Most, obviously, do not get it.

 

[supersnoop]

If you have a car, "near lobby" is unnecessary.

 

[99mkw]

I had read that "near lobby" is so commonly requested that some view it as a wasted request. I understand this drops the odds of getting it but would think that if you didn't request it you would wind up quite far from the lobby. Does it make more sense to make a less popular request like "near transportation" as a surrogate (we'd prefer to be closer to Jambo)? We will probably have a car but are more concerned about walking to pools and dining. All I really want to avoid is the last four beads near the Pumba elevator.

Any comments on the basic question of one room request vs two?

 

[disneynutz]

Room assigners are human and they try their best but it's just another day at work. Matching requests to vacant rooms for the same dates, category, location, floor, savanna, there is only so much that they can do. In addition you run the risk if checking in late that during the day they gave your match room to someone banging on the front desk counter wanting a different room.

Bill

 

[Dean]

We just rented a 1 bedroom savannah view villa in Kidani Village for September through a DVC agency. Based on many helpful threads on this site, I was going to request being close to the lobby and being on a lower floor. I have a strong preference for the sunset savannah but I understand that being close to the lobby covers that. When I emailed the agency contact about this, I got this reply:

"We recommend being as vague as possible with your request. Disney will accept 2 requests but there isn't a specific order with how they work, so if you say lower floor, they may give you a lower floor at the opposite end of the resort instead a room closer to the lobby. If the lobby location is your preference, then I wouldn't put a floor request."

This doesn't seem consistent with many of the things I've read on this board, but maybe things have changed since some of those older posts. It's true that the lobby request is much more important to us and I'd probably be fine with an upper floor as well. I understand there may be no definitive answer, but do experienced folks think that having a second request could set you up to get the second at the expense of the first? I would appreciate any and all tips.

I'd keep it simple. I'd request the savannah rather than floor or near the lobby. The more difficult you make it the more likely you won't get what you prefer.

 

[drusba]

I had read that "near lobby" is so commonly requested that some view it as a wasted request. I understand this drops the odds of getting it but would think that if you didn't request it you would wind up quite far from the lobby. Does it make more sense to make a less popular request like "near transportation" as a surrogate (we'd prefer to be closer to Jambo)? We will probably have a car but are more concerned about walking to pools and dining. All I really want to avoid is the last four beads near the Pumba elevator.

Any comments on the basic question of one room request vs two?

I do not know where the agency got its comment but when I have asked before, including hotel managers, I was told they try to meet requests in order given, i.e., first request listed is considered the priority request.

If you want Sunset savanna that should thus likely be your first request and if you want a better shot than close to lobby to avoid being in the next county, request close to pool or close to Rafiki elevator if you want to be close to pool, or request close to community hall or close to Timon elevator if you want near the bus stop.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I also would list 2 or 3 requests in order of greatest preference. I feel our experience is that they do go down the list and most often our request met is the top one. Sometimes nothing matches but that's just the way it goes at times.

 

[Dean]

I also would list 2 or 3 requests in order of greatest preference. I feel our experience is that they do go down the list and most often our request met is the top one. Sometimes nothing matches but that's just the way it goes at times.

My info suggests that after you get more than 2 REASONABLE REQUESTS, the chances of meeting any of them, especially the main ones, are far lower.

 

[Wakey]

I think what agency is telling you makes sense. If you put 'lower floor' first that may be seen as priority. As nearly everyone puts that, chances are those rooms lower floor near lobby are gone. So then they stick you further away, as lower floor is your top priority. I'd request Sunset Savannah first, Lower floor second or maybe not lower floor at all, then you're more likely to get SS (possibly. In theory). Personally I'd do it on online check in. The last time I called my requests in, despite the fact they were on my confirmation they emailed me, they were all missed off on the hotel confirmation and I didn't get anything (nothing was on the system at all) . I wrote a letter of complaint and they apologised saying it should not have happened, and gave me very generous compensation, but I would never trust ringing in again. If you do it online it is automatic. If you ring in even if someone adds it to your invoice, it also looks like you are relying on someone manually putting it on the system. I know the advice is to ring on the boards, and I know this was probably a rare error, but it is my experience.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

The only time I didn't get a bomb location was the one time I made a request (asked for a high floor and got the ground floor). Now I just keep my smiley mouth shut and my fingers crossed and its been working out well. Not now that I've just jinxed myself no doubt. hahaha

 

[drusba]

The only time I didn't get a bomb location ...

So Disney has been adding some real excitement to your trips. Don't you just love Spellcheck.

 

[CarolMN]

The only time I didn't get a bomb location was the one time I made a request (asked for a high floor and got the ground floor). Now I just keep my smiley mouth shut and my fingers crossed and its been working out well. Not now that I've just jinxed myself no doubt. hahaha

So Disney has been adding some real excitement to your trips. Don't you just love Spellcheck.

Don't think spell check messed with this. I'm pretty sure bomb is slang for "really good".

 

[n2mm]

I was always told to request in order of importance. I always ask for a high floor as my normal first request. I get it about 50% of the time.