Is there a Room Request FAQ somewhere on DIS?

[HatboxHaint]

Is there a Room Request FAQ somewhere on DIS?

 

[dansdad]

Is there a Room Request FAQ somewhere on DIS?

Not a general room request FAQ Thread. But just about each resort specific FAQ Thread has a post/section concerning room requests.

 

[Lynne M]

What kinds of questions would you want to have answered in a Room Request FAQ?

 

[HatboxHaint]

What kinds of questions would you want to have answered in a Room Request FAQ?

Would be nice to see the various methods laid out, which method is the most tried and true at this point, which methods can conflict with each other and the possible gotchas.

 

[HatboxHaint]

Of course it would also be neat to have data on what people requested, how they requested it and what they got.

 

[Lynne M]

Well, it's really not very complicated. There are only a couple of "official" methods. Calling 407-W-DISNEY, and using online check-in. If your request is fairly generic and there's an option for it in online check-in, there you go. If it's not one of the choices in online check in, call. Faxes have never been Disney's preferred method of receiving requests, because of the extra work involved for the staff. They're really a creation of fan sites like this one...someone sent a fax, got their request and figured that it was the fax that got them the request, and then made the (probably erroneous) assumption that they wouldn't have gotten their request if they hadn't faxed. Some CMs at some resorts will go to the effort of matching up a fax with a reservation, other resorts go through periods where they don't accept them at all.

No one method is inherently better or more effective than another. For example, sending a fax doesn't get you special treatment, or get your request prioritized over someone else. My personal choice is to call 407-W-DISNEY, because I know a person is typing it into the request field in the reservation record while I'm on the phone with them.

There's always a lot of discussion and speculation around requests, and it gets made out to be a lot more complicated than it is. The CMs do try to grant everyone's requests, but that's not always possible. Just about everyone wants to be near transportation, and everyone can't have a room close to transportation, so some people will be left out. The biggest single determining factor of whether you get your request is whether a guest who happens to have the room with the criteria you want happens to be checking out on your arrival date. Pure luck. If the request is on your reservation record, no matter how it got there, and there's a room available that meets your criteria, you will very probably get it.

Tracking who got their requests, and the method they used, would be a whole lot of meaningless data. As mentioned above, it's more dependent on who was checking out, how many other guests requested the same thing, etc. Factors that are totally out of your control, and unknowable to guests. Not to mention, we DISboards members are such a tiny fraction of the millions of guests who check into Disney resorts each year, that any such tracking wouldn't be a statistically valid sample.

So....is there anything at all you can do to increase your chances of getting your requests? Yes, there is, and here are some things that seem to help.

1. Instead of requesting a particular room, tell the room assigner what you want. Meaning, instead of studying room charts and figuring out that rooms 402, 406, and 408-412 have a nice view of the lagoon because they're high up and facing the right way, just say "upper floor, facing lagoon." Because if no one is checking out of those specific rooms on that day, the room assigner is going to have no clue why you wanted them. Don't try to out think the room assigner. Left to their own devices, they often come up with a room that's even better than the one you picked out.

2. Keep your request short and simple. "Upper floor, view of pool." Try to avoid contradictory requests. At some resorts, the pool and the bus stop are in opposite directions. So "near pool and bus stop" isn't going to work.

3. If you have one request that's most important to you, list that one first. If it's really, really, really important, make it your only request. Connecting rooms, for instance.

As I said, it's really not complicated. Just call, tell them what you want in simple, clear terms, and your work is done.

 

[Hopefully]

Excellent summary @Lynne M Thank You

 

[HatboxHaint]

Well, it's really not very complicated. There are only a couple of "official" methods. Calling 407-W-DISNEY, and using online check-in. If your request is fairly generic and there's an option for it in online check-in, there you go. If it's not one of the choices in online check in, call. Faxes have never been Disney's preferred method of receiving requests, because of the extra work involved for the staff. They're really a creation of fan sites like this one...someone sent a fax, got their request and figured that it was the fax that got them the request, and then made the (probably erroneous) assumption that they wouldn't have gotten their request if they hadn't faxed. Some CMs at some resorts will go to the effort of matching up a fax with a reservation, other resorts go through periods where they don't accept them at all.

No one method is inherently better or more effective than another. For example, sending a fax doesn't get you special treatment, or get your request prioritized over someone else. My personal choice is to call 407-W-DISNEY, because I know a person is typing it into the request field in the reservation record while I'm on the phone with them.

There's always a lot of discussion and speculation around requests, and it gets made out to be a lot more complicated than it is. The CMs do try to grant everyone's requests, but that's not always possible. Just about everyone wants to be near transportation, and everyone can't have a room close to transportation, so some people will be left out. The biggest single determining factor of whether you get your request is whether a guest who happens to have the room with the criteria you want happens to be checking out on your arrival date. Pure luck. If the request is on your reservation record, no matter how it got there, and there's a room available that meets your criteria, you will very probably get it.

Tracking who got their requests, and the method they used, would be a whole lot of meaningless data. As mentioned above, it's more dependent on who was checking out, how many other guests requested the same thing, etc. Factors that are totally out of your control, and unknowable to guests. Not to mention, we DISboards members are such a tiny fraction of the millions of guests who check into Disney resorts each year, that any such tracking wouldn't be a statistically valid sample.

So....is there anything at all you can do to increase your chances of getting your requests? Yes, there is, and here are some things that seem to help.

1. Instead of requesting a particular room, tell the room assigner what you want. Meaning, instead of studying room charts and figuring out that rooms 402, 406, and 408-412 have a nice view of the lagoon because they're high up and facing the right way, just say "upper floor, facing lagoon." Because if no one is checking out of those specific rooms on that day, the room assigner is going to have no clue why you wanted them. Don't try to out think the room assigner. Left to their own devices, they often come up with a room that's even better than the one you picked out.

2. Keep your request short and simple. "Upper floor, view of pool." Try to avoid contradictory requests. At some resorts, the pool and the bus stop are in opposite directions. So "near pool and bus stop" isn't going to work.

3. If you have one request that's most important to you, list that one first. If it's really, really, really important, make it your only request. Connecting rooms, for instance.

As I said, it's really not complicated. Just call, tell them what you want in simple, clear terms, and your work is done.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!

 

[dansdad]

Well, it's really not very complicated. There are only a couple of "official" methods. Calling 407-W-DISNEY, and using online check-in. If your request is fairly generic and there's an option for it in online check-in, there you go. If it's not one of the choices in online check in, call. Faxes have never been Disney's preferred method of receiving requests, because of the extra work involved for the staff. They're really a creation of fan sites like this one...someone sent a fax, got their request and figured that it was the fax that got them the request, and then made the (probably erroneous) assumption that they wouldn't have gotten their request if they hadn't faxed. Some CMs at some resorts will go to the effort of matching up a fax with a reservation, other resorts go through periods where they don't accept them at all.

No one method is inherently better or more effective than another. For example, sending a fax doesn't get you special treatment, or get your request prioritized over someone else. My personal choice is to call 407-W-DISNEY, because I know a person is typing it into the request field in the reservation record while I'm on the phone with them.

There's always a lot of discussion and speculation around requests, and it gets made out to be a lot more complicated than it is. The CMs do try to grant everyone's requests, but that's not always possible. Just about everyone wants to be near transportation, and everyone can't have a room close to transportation, so some people will be left out. The biggest single determining factor of whether you get your request is whether a guest who happens to have the room with the criteria you want happens to be checking out on your arrival date. Pure luck. If the request is on your reservation record, no matter how it got there, and there's a room available that meets your criteria, you will very probably get it.

Tracking who got their requests, and the method they used, would be a whole lot of meaningless data. As mentioned above, it's more dependent on who was checking out, how many other guests requested the same thing, etc. Factors that are totally out of your control, and unknowable to guests. Not to mention, we DISboards members are such a tiny fraction of the millions of guests who check into Disney resorts each year, that any such tracking wouldn't be a statistically valid sample.

So....is there anything at all you can do to increase your chances of getting your requests? Yes, there is, and here are some things that seem to help.

1. Instead of requesting a particular room, tell the room assigner what you want. Meaning, instead of studying room charts and figuring out that rooms 402, 406, and 408-412 have a nice view of the lagoon because they're high up and facing the right way, just say "upper floor, facing lagoon." Because if no one is checking out of those specific rooms on that day, the room assigner is going to have no clue why you wanted them. Don't try to out think the room assigner. Left to their own devices, they often come up with a room that's even better than the one you picked out.

2. Keep your request short and simple. "Upper floor, view of pool." Try to avoid contradictory requests. At some resorts, the pool and the bus stop are in opposite directions. So "near pool and bus stop" isn't going to work.

3. If you have one request that's most important to you, list that one first. If it's really, really, really important, make it your only request. Connecting rooms, for instance.

As I said, it's really not complicated. Just call, tell them what you want in simple, clear terms, and your work is done.

Fantastic reply! Could not have said it better myself!

 

[Scott MC]

Nicely put Lynne.
Another thing I do is google a map of the resort with all restaurants, transportation etc. labeled, and I think about what might be good for us, then I turn on "satellite view" on Google Maps, and look at the resort as well. This helps if the view from the room is coming into play. I'm sure at certain resorts there are some requests that EVERYBODY makes, and by EVERYBODY, I mean people on these boards. For example, we're big fans of YC/BC, and I'm pretty sure that everyone on this board who has ever stayed at YC/BC has requested "Full balcony, daybed, close to lobby."

 

[Serenebean]

Someone posted a very nice form letter that they faxed to the resort 5 days ahead of check in which I then used. I got exactly what I asked for. I agree not to ask for a certain room, because if it isn't available they dont know why you wanted that room. Use Touring Plans room finder to find what you want. They tell you what to request for that room or one like it. You can also pay for their service and use their room request which they will send a fax to the resort for you. They advise to use things like North Facing, floor 5 type things since generally a block of rooms facing the same way have what you want if you are looking for a particular view. I wanted a view of Epcot from the Boardwalk from a standard room. I had a lovely view of the eiffel tower and spaceship earth from my room.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's the issue with faxing. Some resorts pay no attention to faxed requests. And that can change, with no warning.
So, most people seem to request the same type location. Then you get 5 groups checking in, same day, with the same, or similar, requests only so many people will get their requests met.

I figure I'm not buying the room...just staying there for a bit. If it's not perfect, oh well. Maybe the next time. Now, if I had someone that had a mobility issue, I would everything in my power to get a room close to an elevator.

 

[DopeyDad68]

Last year at check in at AofA, had made request for ground floor room in Bldg 1 or 2. They did not have any record of request, but CM gave us even better that what we had requested. Was in Bldg 1 with a pool view.
Have just phoned in request for CBR next week. Had requested ground floor in Jamaica in doing online check in. Called to ask if that could be in Bldg 45 or 46. Will see how that works. Was reminded that requests are just that, request.

 

[Deb & Bill]

But if you are "renting DVC points", you can't make any request. Only the member who owns the points can make requests to Member Services. All you can do is wait for online check in and check the best boxes that are available for you. Plus, if you add a request before you do online check in and then check the boxes during online check in, your request you made earlier may be deleted. DVC has requested members not fax in requests in the past.

Better to be very general with requests.