Jackie at MS confirmed that most room requests will be granted only at check-in

[RoutemanDan]

Originally posted by Disney1fan2002
...SNIP...... Maybe I missed something, but I was never under the impression that an 11 month window gave you a leg up on getting a specific room request. I thought the 11 month window at your home resort afforded you A ROOM before other DVC owners from other resorts.....SNIP....

This is also what I thought.

 

[zurgswife]

Still glad that I typically book at the 11 month window for a standard view...i don't care what my view is as long as I'm at WDW....

 

[JudithM]

Married @WDW, your explanation is very good! From chatting with front desk management CMs at OKW in May, this is pretty much how I understand the "room ready" procedure to work.

Originally posted by Disney1fan2002
In order to be an owner of DVC, one has to be 21 years or older, so we are all adults here. In the grand scheme of things, is THIS really worth all the fuss?

Good perspective - thank you! Having spent much of the last two weeks with two friends in the critical care unit of the local hospital & with three other friends in the ER, I would take any view at WDW right now!!

 

[elgerber]

In general, this policy does not bother me too much. It would be nice to have them honor requests, but being at Disney is good enough for me. However, on our next trip, we are meeting our former neighbors (who have moved across country from us) and both staying at the BWV. We will be on property the night before, but they don't even land until 5 pm on check-in day. If we check in in the morning, and they don't check in until 7 pm, is there anyway of us getting rooms near each other? If I tell them when we check in do you think they can block two rooms near each other, or do we have to wait until 7 when they check in to be together (of course by that time, it may be too late to find 2 rooms together, although it will be a Saturday)??

Erika

 

[Eeyore2U]

I just got off the phone with Jackie.

Hi Jackie!!!

She did confirm that they were using the room ready policy to assign rooms. She said that since it was implemented their rating have gone up dramatically. She stated that if your requests are general it seems to work better but not 100%. She also said that since the resorts are 94-96% nonsmoking and nonsmoking is your main request you have a great to get it. She did say at one point the resorts were only 80% nonsmoking. She did qualify it by saying nothing is 100%.

Her last comment was that when they tested this a number of people complained and then liked the room they got. She asked that members give this system a chance and then give feedback. I'll do that. She was honest and concerned about our feedback.

I got a call back within 3 hours so they must be listening.

 

[ajmckee]

I just booked @ OKW today and needed a HC studio and HC 2 bedroom. Last night when I called they said they would put that on the request line, but did not say for sure we would get it. In my case I need a HC room for disability reasons. So when I called back today I told them it was mandatory for a HC room and they had to go into the ADA to book it. So if you are requesting a HC room be very specific or it may not get granted.

 

[Terry S]

I do understand the feedback when they tested this was positive. BUT, who would complain about getting into their room early????? So yea, they heard positive feedback about getting into a room early. No one told them that that it was a tradeoff, you get into a room early, but you don't get priority on your requests, did anyone say "so, which would you prefer"?

They are telling people to give it a chance, well, it has been implemented since the beginning of BCV so I have already given it a chance and it stinks for those who arrive late!

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by Terry S
They are telling people to give it a chance, well, it has been implemented since the beginning of BCV so I have already given it a chance and it stinks for those who arrive late!

I'm curious. What were your requests? Where they general or very specific?

 

[Terry S]

Eeyore2U... My requests were Epcot view, higher floor. The first time I checked in I received a Woods view, 2nd floor. (There are 5 floors at BCV).

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

My question is, once you've checked in, will they block a room for you?

 

[Terry S]

Cali, it sounds as if they won't. What they are saying is that you have to accept a room that is already ready (cleaned) or you can opt to just not check in and check back later and see if one is available. From what people are saying is that they won't check you in, block a room for you and let you call back later to see if it ready. In practice though, I am not sure it this is how it will happen at the resorts though!

Has anyone specifically asked Cali's question to Jackie??

 

[Dean]

This topic amuses me. The system as implemented is at least as good overall as the old system. Remember folks that under the old system, many didn't get what they wanted even if they booked early. And that those that arrived late were always at risk of not getting anything they wanted due to the inevitable reshuffling that occurred. The current system has advantages and disadvantes but should work farily well. The only variable is that it will only work as well as the CM who checks you in. At least with a preassigned room, you had an experienced person making decisions, now you likely will not. It boils down to the initiative and training of the desk CM. I do agree that home resort and time of booking should come into play but far more for home resort with time of booking only a tie breaker. I'm certain though that the current reservation system is so complicated as to make it a nightmare for the desk people. If DVC had full week reservations like most timeshares it would be easy.

Having attended a number of owners meetings at timeshares that book for a week at a time, I've witnessed a number of unit assigment and other similar complaints. At HH this summer staying at Grande Ocean, I heard a woman blame the resort for her personal situation of not being able to book, plan and use her II exchnges. She told the assistant manager that she should have gotten special consideration for her personal issues. I was amazed he could keep a straight face while listening to her.

 

[timC]

In a way I think these forums cause part of the problem because we tend to drive up each others expectations that ...if you do this...do that... ask for this... call at this time...check in then... you will get the view of your dreams.

I've never seen a resort system be so tightly scrutinized by the guests as we do on these boards. Your vacation will not be ruined if you can't see the fireworks from your baloncy!!!

If everyone would just settled down, follow the process, be reasonable with requests, we'll all be happy.

I like the new BWV view; not having a "special view" at my VWL resort doesn't bother me in the least....and I think having a formal non-smoking catagory is not necessary if we give MS a break.

 

[PamOKW]

If people should grow up and not be concerned about view, why did DVC find it necessary to institute a special boardwalk view category?

I'm always willing to let a system work but my one frustration with DVC from the beginning is that it's always a gut wrenching crap shoot at the check-in desk. I'm sorry but location at OKW is important to me. Being able to be on the golf course is a large part of why I bought there and why I stay there. Having to stand by the front desk all day until a room with a golf course view becomes available seems insane. I don't mind waiting to get into a room if I know they are trying to mee t my request. Having to physically be there doesn't make sense. I have no idea how a group that wants rooms together will work if they have no rough pre-assigning. Will they all have to wait and grab rooms as they become available? A majority of the rooms aren't cleaned until late afternoon. Could get kind of crowded in the lobby.

Maybe my concerns will prove unfounded. We'll see how the system works and, hopefully, DVC will adjust it, as they have for BWV, if it does not.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

I'm not happy with any of this! I bought into DVC because I liked the idea of being able to reserve at my home resort 11 months in advance and make specific requests such as non-smoking or pool-view. Now, it appears if Jane Doe who doesn't own at my home resort calls 2 mos prior to her arrival date and requests the same thing that she will be told it's available and then it's first come, first served!! That's not fair!! Also, why should BWV be different than other resorts? I have been told there could be a number of view options at each resort but that DVC would not get that precise! Why is there a difference? To be honest, the smoking, non-smoking, smoking-optional issue (which I discussed in another post) is really bothering me and this just adds to my frustration!!!! Annmarie

 

[DVC Grandpa]

I also got a call from Jackie regarding the procedure of assigning rooms. I wasn’t exactly happy with the response, (getting a “ready” room with at least one of your room request).

Is the only advantage given those making reservations at their “home” resort the eleven month reservation window? It seams to me that reservations made up to the last minute can, and will at times, receive a more desirable location, (depending on the availability at check-in time) than members who had the foresight to planned eleven months in advance to the trip.

Seeing that they are trying to satisfy one of the room request, can anyone tell me what is considered a “standard” room? If the “standard” room is a non smoking and a non handicap room, then I only may have one request. I would think that those who require such rooms would request them, therefore, they must consider that request something other than a “standard” room. If everyone had to request smoking or non smoking then that may be the only request that is satisfy. It seems to me the “standard room” should be publicized so that non essential request need not be made.

If anyone can tell me what is considered a “standard” room please do so.

 

[married@wdw]

As far as the chances of getting rooms assigned close together, if my understanding is correct, they will occassionally assign rooms ahead if you have linked reservations so that you are close together. So first and foremost, make sure your reservations are linked, meaning MS puts your reservation number on their reservation and vice-versa. My second recommendation is, since you're checking in a day ahead of your friends, ask the check-in CM to see if a manager can pre-assign a room for your friends for the next day. It shouldn't be a problem since they're checking in after 4 p.m. and could always dump their stuff in your room for a bit if by chance their room still isn't ready when they get there. I'm sure it will work out fine.

We had an adventure with this in June. For my SILs wedding we had 5 studios for two nights, then moved 3 of the studios into a GV the day before the wedding, two more studios checked in the day of the wedding, then one more studio checked in the night after the wedding. We had few requests on these rooms, but we did need a HC studio for the first two nights on the first floor with at least one other studio near it.

OKW was amazing -- they preassigned the GV on a cul-de-sac, with the HC studio and another studio close to it and close together, then they easily placed the rest in the GV building or the next one over as we checked-in. And with "room ready" we all got into rooms right away. Very well done.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Disney1fan2002
THANK YOU Leanne! My thoughts EXACTLY. I keep reading these room request posts and I don't get all the fuss. Maybe I missed something, but I was never under the impression that an 11 month window gave you a leg up on getting a specific room request. I thought the 11 month window at your home resort afforded you A ROOM before other DVC owners from other resorts. All this fuss about room location, and what time people check in, and whether or not the guest is a DVC member or renting from a room hoarding member, quite frankly sounds like a bunch of kids and one of them got a hot fudge sundae while the rest had to settle for an ice cream cone.

In order to be an owner of DVC, one has to be 21 years or older, so we are all adults here. In the grand scheme of things, is THIS really worth all the fuss?

I completely agree!!!! Requests are just that, requests. I ask for smoking and do tell them that I would prefer two buildings.
That is it. I don't need the "best unit" or the "best location" or any "best". I would just like a smoking unit. The location request is just that, if I happen to get it, super, if not, oh well.

 

[CRobin]

Unfortunately for Gail, me, and maybe 3 other posters, this policy would probably become a non-issue if the rooms went 100% N/S. That probably won't happen, but it would sure make a lot of people happy and do a lot to defuse this "Room Ready" policy anger.

Don't get me wrong, I always book smoking optional, but never smoke in the room. The smell can be annoying to us smokers, too.

I think that a good chunk of the members would breathe a sign of relief (NPI) if they could be guaranteed that, even with the "Room Ready" policy, they would get a N/S room, even if none of their other requests were granted. JMO.

Otherwise, as already posted, MS is going to see a rash of "N/S for medical reasons" ressies, which appear will continue to be pre-assigned. All out of fear for checking in too late and getting saddled with a smoking room. And I wouldn't wish that on any non-smoker.

Time will tell.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by DVC Grandpa
Seeing that they are trying to satisfy one of the room request, can anyone tell me what is considered a “standard” room? If the “standard” room is a non smoking and a non handicap room, then I only may have one request. I would think that those who require such rooms would request them, therefore, they must consider that request something other than a “standard” room. If everyone had to request smoking or non smoking then that may be the only request that is satisfy. It seems to me the “standard room” should be publicized so that non essential request need not be made.

If anyone can tell me what is considered a “standard” room please do so.

I don't think there is a "standard room". If you want non-smoking, I would list it. They are trying to satisfy AT LEAST one of your requests. I would think if they had several non-smoking rooms available, they would go to your next request to narrow it down. If you didn't list non-smoking and they had a smoking room available that meets some of your other requests, you might get it. I have a friend who got outsmarted this way. She wanted a boardwalk view so she didn't list non-smoking because she didn't want to narrow her chances. She ended up with smoking over the main pool.

I always verify that a room is not handicapped when I'm at the front desk. Don't forget you will be standing there when they assign the room, you can say what you are looking for, what is on the reservation isn't carved in stone.