Just curious -- Has anyone just gotten a really LOUSY room...

[DisneyFreaks]

I totally agree with WolfPackfan in thinking that Disney pays little or no attention to room requests and the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Every trip all we ever ask for are connecting rooms on an upper floor. You would think we were asking for the moon. We always have to beg and plead until they finally give us what we requested. Last trip at WL we paid for a courtyard view and they put us in a woods view room. When we told them we had "paid" for the better view they told us they would mail us a refund check for the difference! I finally asked to see the manager and beings by this time I was in tears she "found" us two connecting rooms on the sixth floor over the courtyard that were absolutely beautiful. But I felt completely worn out by that time from all the hassle at check in.

 

[Gillian]

From what I've read & experienced, it does seem like at AKL they don't pay much attention to requests. Luckily, the CMs there were very nice. We were there when Arusha savannah was closed. I knew ahead of time, but was still a little upset at check in. We went up to our assigned room & it was a lovely view of the people pen. I called down to the front desk & was able to look at a couple of rooms with a CM.

It's funny because we ended up at the far end of Zebra trail, and I had really wanted to be closer to the pool. But the CMs knew the rooms better than I did & found us a great one!

 

[Bob NC]

2 years ago we stayed at CSR, we had a large party with 4 rooms. I had faxed a request for Cabanas, (9B, I think?). When we checked in they gave us rooms in Ranchos 7B....Our rooms were RIGHT next to the deck for the quiet pool. After getting these rooms we couldn't imagine having a better location. In the mornings we would go just a few steps out our doors and have coffee at the tables by the pool. The Dig Site was maybe a 1 minute walk. Bus stop was just across the parking lot around the other side of our building.

Last year we stayed at AKL and requested an Arusha Savannah view, 3rd floor. When we checked in they put us on Kudu Trail with a Sunset Savannah view, 4th floor. We saw more animals from our balcony than we EVER saw on the Arusha Savannah. Sunset Savannah has 3 giraffes, while Arusha only has 2. 4th floor turned out to be MUCH quieter than the third floor as the 3rd floor has a TON of foot traffic from sun-up until midnight with kids, (and adults), yelling, screaming, and bouncing off the walls.

My point being.....Don't let it ruin your day when you don't get all your requests met upon check-in. In these instances we were much happier than we would have been if we HAD gotten all our requests met!!!!

 

[pooh6890]

We have pretty much gotten our requests met. Our BWI room had this really musty smell when we checked in. They kept spraying poupourri in the room each day and my daughters thought the smell went away. I never did. The last day of our vacation we were awakened at 7:00 a.m. by hammering and banging RIGHT ABOVE OUR HEADS! I get up that early, but my teens do not. Anyway, we were checking out at 11:00 anyway but I feel sorry for the next people in that room. Other than that, we got a great room at the GF (upgrade to lagoon view) and all the deluxe rooms have been terrific. Best room yet......YC waterview concierge. I could see Illuminations and the Eiffel Tower from my BED!

 

[DisneyMim]

We've been tons of times and most times we were very happy with our rooms, but there have been some instances that we did not get what we wanted.

Once at ASMO we asked for Toy Story or something near there, third floor, non smoking. We got Mighty Ducks, second floor, non-smoking. Couldn't have been farther away, but it turned out we enjoyed it anyway.

At Dixie Landings, (I know I know it's not called that anymore, but it is to me!!) we asked for a particular section, got another and had a horrible experience. Ended up getting some $$$ back and haven't stayed there since.

At Poly we wanted first floor with patio, got second floor no balcony, but still had a wonderful time.

I think Disney does try. We try not to ask for too many things. For us the big thing is non-smoking. They tried to put us in a smoking room once and I walked back to check-in (didn't even bother to call) and asked very nicely (albeit loudly) for another room. Two seconds later we had a non-smoking room. I think if you are not too unreasonable you can get what you need.

 

[minster22]

Great thread!!!...JLS, we must have had the same room at the Boardwalk Villas. Last fall we were celebrating a 50th BDay with a trip at WDW . Seven women, and we requested a Boardwalk view,and a higher floor (paid for a preferred view)myself and Pooh's Pal from these boards were making all the trip arrangements so the pressure was on us for a good room location. And Pooh's Pal has a family member working at the Boardwalk who very often had upgraded us to some kind of fabulous room. Well when we checked in all he could get us was ground floor right behind the pool bar. It turned out to be a great room, such easy room access and all the women loved being able to take 20 steps and be at the pool bar and the pool. I am always torn between making the room request or taking a chance and maybe experiencing something better which always contributes to the "Magicalness"!

 

[PamNC]

Well, we were booked a standard view room at the Beach Club and we specifically requested NOT to be facing the construction. (Beach Club Villas). We get there and sure enough they had put us facing the construction. So, we very politely said we would prefer not to take that room because we did relax a lot on our vacations. Guess what? The CM upgraded us to a nice room facing a lovely courtyard, and actually it sort of faced Crescent Lake (just farther back).

Other than that close call, I don't think we've ever gotten a lousy room. Right now I'd settle for a lousy room at WDW since I don't know when we'll get to go this year.

PamNC

 

[daannzzz]

I have stayed at Disney resorts 14 times and have almost always gotten everything I asked for. I have never had a "bad" room with a terrible view. Depending on the circumstances I might go request a different room. When I arrived at CSR on morning at 7:00A.M. I did get assigned a room that the ket didn't work and I kept trying when all od a sudden the door was pulled open by a very sleepy looking woman!!! I apologized and returned to get a new room assignment that was still in the Ranchos but had a much better view.
If Disney has changed their policy of not paying attention to requests than I will take what they give me and return to the front desk only if the room is in terrible condition or not a veiw level I beleive I paid for.

 

[blanq]

I try not to be too demanding when making requests. We do always ask for non-smoking, and we really prefer that our room does not have a connecting door. Other than that...hey we're at WDW!! How cool is that! Once we did reserve a woodsview room at WL, and we had a nice (dripping with sarcasm here) view of the WLV's being built. The sight was, well, unsightly and the noise was annoying. But, we did not request a room change. I figured that everyone on that side of the resort was in the same boat as we were, and we really weren't going to spend much time in our room anyway. We kept the curtains to our patio drawn the whole vacation, so we didn't have to see our "woodsview".

 

[Snoozan]

On my recent trip I requested non-smoking, Toy Story at ASMo. I was given a SMOKING room at Mighty Ducks, as far away from the food court as possible. I had them change the blankets and bedspreads the first morning, but didn't bother to change rooms as I was there only 2 nights.

However, the resort gods made up for it as when I checked into the BWV, as I was upgraded to a 1 bedroom villa with a pool view as I had requested a studio plus with Boardwalk view. I could have kissed the nice CM that checked me in!

 

[BethC1952]

I don't make any requests except non-smoking, and I insist on that (I've never had a problem at WDW).

On my visit last December, we were staying at two separate times at PO Riverside. I thought about asking for different sections each time, but decided to go with "the luck of the draw".

The first time we were assigned to Oak Manor, and it was lovely. On our return trip, when I went to check in, the CM asked if I wanted to stay in AB since I had been in the mansions the week before. Then he saw that I had my elderly father-in-law with me, and he asked if we wanted a ground-floor room with a parking lot view or a second floor room right near the quiet pool with a garden view. Since stairs weren't a problem for FIL, we chose the second offering and loved it (Bldg. 17, Room 1754).

I'm making reservations now for late April at All Star Music. Once again, all I'll ask for is non-smoking. Anything else is fine with me, since I'm still on vacation whatever room I'm in!

Beth

 

[DisneyFan09]

We will be staying at the Poly for the first time in October and I've decided to not request anything specific. Without knowing the resort and with all of the varying opinions on which building is the best, I'd have a really hard time making a good choice. If they do give me a choice at check-in are first floor rooms with patios more desirable than upper floors with balconies?

 

[DisneyFreaks]

The first time we stayed at CBR we paid for three rooms with a water view and asked that our rooms overlook the Lake rather than one of the quiet pools. We had a beautiful corner room with a view of the lake and the lighthouse. My nineteen year old son on the other hand had a terrible room all the way around the building from us. It was so dark he had to turn the lights on during the day. And no way could you see the lake, pool, or even a puddle from that room unless you climbed up one of the huge palm trees that blocked everything. My DH called the front desk to see if he could be moved to a room with the water view we had payed for and they told him according to their computers that room was definitely a water view room. Then they said the hotel was full with no other rooms available. While we were taking our luggage to the car on check out day I passed a man next door to our son's room who was just checking in. He looked at me and said in a very angry tone "No way in h*** is this room a water view room!" I just smiled and chuckled to myself. I hope he had better luck than we did solving that problem.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Last august we thought we would really go all out and get the "studio suite" well we requested a high floor and epcot view. We wound up on the side facing the back of the boardwalk construction, on the 3rd floor, (over looking the smoking area of the kitchen staff). No balcony (should of had one). and no view all windows covered in fir trees.

They made no attempt to move us, or change the room anywhere, we got out the of the ressie the next day and called disney, moved to the beach club and got a great room with a great view!

MKY

 

[grumpyandbashful]

We've had 2 unacceptable room experiences. One was with a water-view reserved at CSR. We ended up with a room facing a small pond on the backside of building 9B (great building, wrong side!), with the bus traffic and parking lot just past the pond. Room also had a tuxedo over one of the chairs , and even though it was non-smoking, it smelled like the stuff they spray to cover up cigarette smell. We were unhappy and called the front desk. We were unable to change rooms that night, but got moved to a nice room on the other side of 9B the next morning.
2nd time was a water-view room reserved at the Beach Club - we were in a room with a tiny balcony with a bare glimpse of one corner of Stormalong Bay if you leaned out the balcony! Would have been fine as a standard view, but not worth the extra expense of a water view. That was back before I learned to be assertive at WDW , and we stayed in that room and paid the extra bucks.

 

[Poohbear123]

and always have a great room. I fax 4 days in advance, and remind them of the Fax when I arrive...I usually get what I want, except one time I got a Smoking Room, but, it was not too bad, so I stayed. The BEST room I ever had, was in Nov. I asked to be place in Building 10 (Football) and they put me on the first floor, a few feet away from the food court! You can bet, I wrote down that room number, and the ones on either side, for next time.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Um, poohbear? Can you PM me the room number so I can ask for it on my next trip? (paying for preferred building but touchdown would be great if it's first floor close to the food court like you said! *wink*) pretty please? I'm sure we aren't going at the same time?

Well, at ASMu I requested either Calypso or Jazz, first or third floor. I got Broadway second floor

Uh yeah, same here. I requested atleast Jazz if Calypso was not available (as I realize that is "preferred" building) because of knee problems I have and how they swell up and hurt with a lot of walking. I got Broadway, way on the other side at the end, 3rd floor. This was Jan 19th- value season. The place was practically dead the entire time... I can't imagine all those rooms being filled UNLESS they were the ONLY buildings filled. I did check in rather late. Makes me wonder if I should have camped out in the lobby for 6hrs and check in early the next morning and then head to the parks and wait for a better room to become available for me.

They did offer to try to get me closer "in a couple days" if I checked back with them- but at that time I received no help with my luggage (which was considerable since I was staying 9 nights and didn't want to wash clothes during my stay.. bringing clothes for any weather... so it was a lot of luggage for one person) and I didn't know they would help me with the luggage if I changed rooms! They didn't offer it either, which they could have done when I declined that offer SAYING TO THEM: No, I don't think I'll do that because I don't want to have to pack up again and bring all this luggage to another room.

That would have been a good time for them to mention they'd move the luggage for me, right? You would think.
I found out after my trip that they could have done that -and the long walk really caused some problems on my trip (knees hurting, not doing as much because I just didn't want to do that long walk, totally wasting my money on a refillable mug buying $1 12oz sodas from the machine instead, etc.)

Learned my lesson. I just don't have the good luck some others seem to have. Our next trip I paid for preferred building!!!!!

 

[idontknow]

The only bad room I can remember is one that I take the blame for. It was a couple of years ago. We stayed at ASMu and I had requested a "specially cleaned room", because we had just found out why DH had been sick for 2 years. (allergic to everything including dust mites) I thought specially cleaned ment just that, cleaned a little more thouroughly than other rooms. (hence, less dust) I was wrong. First off, I had requested smoking, specially cleaned room, on the 3rd floor. (I know, how stupid of me ) When we checking in, I was given the rolleyes from the person at the desk because I said we needed a smoking room. He gave me a major quilt trip telling me the room had been specially cleaned for US and that they didn't have any other rooms available because of the cheerleaders. We took the room and agreed to be moved the next day. When we got to the room, there were cobwebs on the walls, dust 1/2 inch thick on the sprinkler and woodwork and curly hair on the bathroom floor and in the tub. I called the front desk to tell them that there was no way the room had been specially cleaned. I was informed that the term ment there was a special filter in the furnace/airconditioner and that was all the term ment. I was livid! (I had been lied to) We were moved the next day to a smoking room on the other side of the building and the room was much cleaner and even smelled fresher than the first room. The kicker to the story is, they had filled the smoking optional rooms with cheerleaders! This could have been avoided if the person who took my room request had explained the "specially cleaned room" to me, but I still take the blame since I requested it.

 

[CarrieAP]

These boards are great in that they demonstrate the uniqueness of each individual's perspective! I can't imagine the challenge the CMs have trying to meet everyone's needs, as everyone has such different taste. For example: I had to chuckle when reading grumpyandbashful's post as the back of 9B is one of my absolute favorite locations and I am tickled everytime I get to stay there! Imagine if we tried to reach consensus on what the ideal room location would be!

 

[Luv2Roam]

BibbidyBobbidyBoo -- We stayed at ASMu almost the same time!
We arrived January 10 (left January 18).
The first weekend we were there it was wall to wall cheerleaders. All seemed to be in the Jazz buildings. I had requested Jazz, but certainly was glad we didn't get it! We were placed in Rock Inn.
The cheerleaders vacated Sunday and Monday.
Like you, the first two buildings, Calypso and Jazz were barren of guests that entire week.
We almost wondered if they were cleaning or doing maintenance in those rooms at that time. But we never saw any activity what so ever.
Then by Thursday and Friday the soccer teams were moving into Jazz. (And only a few rooms taken at Calypso.)
We didn't mind Jazz Inn. Even that is a shorter walk than staying almost anywhere at a mod.