Keeping same room for 2 reservations

[Hezzy04]

we had a 6 night stay booked at POR and decided we wanted to add a day to the beginning of our trip. We could not simply add it to that stay bc rooms weren't available under the discount we used. So I booked the extra night seperately.

Our 6 night stay is a garden view room, our 1 night stay is a standard room.

I am looking for any advice about getting to stay in the same room the whole trip. I don't mind downgrading to standard for the whole trip, if it means we won't have to switch rooms.

I tried calling POR today but it wasn't much help. One person had to transfer me but she said I should wait to check in to get the best chance of that happening. Then the next person I talked to said to do online check in and just talk to them when we get there. I really don't know what is best...

I guess I was expecting her to make a note in my reservation about it or something...but now I suddenly feel like I am being a pain. I prefer to stay in the same room (if not possible, I would understand. Just want to optimize chances), and I also prefer a first floor room (we will have 2 strollers). I also would love to be near West Depot! But that seems like a lot of requests...so will probably leave the last one off...

Sorry I am rambling....and feedback would be great!

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Unfortunately no guarantees can be made ahead of time in this situation. When two separate reservations are involved at the same resort you might just have to move. The fact that you are in two separate booking categories doesn't help your situation and any further requests will likely also only hurt your chances. Is there any way you can book both stays in the same category, either way?

 

[PeasandCarrots]

You might want to try faxing your request 4 days before you leave. It's no guarantee, but it gives the room assigner some advance notice of your request. However, if both room types are fully booked then they may not be able to help you.

Here's a list of the fax #s.

http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/misc/phonelist.asp

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Since they are different room categories, and you want to stay in the higher category room, you won't have as much luck as you would if you had booked the same room type. You can ask when you get there and check in, and you'll need to talk to somebody at the desk. Sorry, but they won't be able to do anything about it now other than make a note of your request. They might be able to do it, but as long as you have two separate reservations, it can't be guaranteed.

 

[Hezzy04]

Unfortunately no guarantees can be made ahead of time in this situation. When two separate reservations are involved at the same resort you might just have to move. The fact that you are in two separate booking categories doesn't help your situation and any further requests will likely also only hurt your chances. Is there any way you can book both stays in the same category, either way?

I was unable to make it the same category. If I got rid of my Spring discount I maybe could, but it's not worth that amount to me! It isn't the end of the world if we have to switch rooms, but it would be so much easier if we didn't have to...

Since they are different room categories, and you want to stay in the higher category room, you won't have as much luck as you would if you had booked the same room type. You can ask when you get there and check in, and you'll need to talk to somebody at the desk. Sorry, but they won't be able to do anything about it now other than make a note of your request. They might be able to do it, but as long as you have two separate reservations, it can't be guaranteed.

I don't care about staying in the higher cateogry. I'd stay in the lower one in an instant I wish I could have booked them in the same category, but it wasn't an option when I booked.

 

[MsThumper]

Several years ago, the same thing happened to us. We had a courtyard view booked at WL, then decided to add a night to the beginning of our trip. We couldn't get the courtyard view room for the first night, so we booked standard view and assumed we would have to move after the first night. When we checked in (this was before magic bands and by-passing the front desk) they just went ahead and let us have the courtyard view room for all nights. So it can happen. Probably all depends on how full the hotel is at the time. We were checking in on Sunday afternoon and it was probably during one of the slower times of the year.

 

[Hezzy04]

I'm thinking it sounds like we can either prioritize being in the same room and check in on site (I'm assuming no chances will be better this way....? Instead of online check in, then talking to someone about it when we check in!?) OR we can prioritize our first floor preference, and just do online check in. Then deal with changing rooms...

If we have to switch rooms, I assume early (before going to the parks) we can bring all our belongings to Bell Services and have them hold onto them for us? Then pick them up and move them to our new room once we are done at the parks that day?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Where you check in won't matter. You can do the online check in if you want. But you should still go to the desk and explain that you want to keep the same room (you can do that even if you have done the online check in). There will not be any guarantees though, especially since you want to stay in the higher category room.

it's going to depend on how important each request is to you. Once you start narrowing things down, then your odds grow shorter. Do you need the first floor room enough to put that priority first?

Yes, if you have to move Bell Services will store your luggage. (personally I don't recommend leaving valuables in the luggage, so you might have to carry something. Not sure if POR has a front desk safe for valuables).

 

[Hezzy04]

There will not be any guarantees though, especially since you want to stay in the higher category room.

I don't want to stay in the higher category room. I would be more than happy to stay in a standard room for the entire stay.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It'd be kind of difficult to ask them to switch you to a lower category room, although you can ask when you get there. Really, all you can do is go to the desk and tell them you would like to stay in the same room on your one-day. If they can do it, they will, but they won't guarantee, and the biggest factor at work against it is that you booked two separate room categories.

 

[Hezzy04]

I understand that there are no guarantees. I just wanted to know if anyone had advice for what would help my chances most likely. Especially regarding online vs in person check in.

I also didn't book two different room categories by choice. Unfortunately, since I added the extra night later, there was not an option for me to select the same category. I assume that category was full. If I had switched my original reservation to the same room as the one night stay, I would have lost hundreds of dollars bc I wouldn't have my discount anymore. So the different categories definitely wasn't something I wanted.

Thanks all for the replies. I'm thinking I will do online check in and then see what they say once we actually get there. Worse case scenario is that we are switching rooms...which isn't the biggest deal, just a little inconvenient.Either way, in 50 days I will be getting ready to travel to Disney World with my family!!

 

[Tigerlulu]

Fax them about 3 days in advance and let them know you have two reservations and want to keep the same room. Happened to us once and it wasn't a problem. Our first night was separate. We did have to go by the front desk and let them handle whatever checkin/out process they needed so our magic bands would continue to work on our room. But it wasn't a problem at all and they were very nice and helpful.

 

[AngiTN]

Have you tried to go in and use the Change Reservation feature on your original reservation? Sometimes it can facilitate a change, sometimes it can't.
What it won't hurt to do it check it and see.
It's possible you can downgrade your existing reservation right there.
Then you can ask to have the reservations marked as a continuing reservation.
It won't guarantee you get to stay put but it does increase your odds.
We have added days to beginning and end of trips a lot. Knock on wood, so far we've been able to remain in our original room each time. We have always booked the same category though. And I've always called ahead and asked to have the 2 reservations noted.
Most recently I did it on Monday night. I moved from CSR to Poly a day early. When I went to make the move they specifically said they made sure I was able to remain in our room for both nights. Though this was a more unique situation as I was on property and we did it in person

 

[Hezzy04]

Have you tried to go in and use the Change Reservation feature on your original reservation? Sometimes it can facilitate a change, sometimes it can't.
What it won't hurt to do it check it and see.
It's possible you can downgrade your existing reservation right there.
Then you can ask to have the reservations marked as a continuing reservation.
It won't guarantee you get to stay put but it does increase your odds.
We have added days to beginning and end of trips a lot. Knock on wood, so far we've been able to remain in our original room each time. We have always booked the same category though. And I've always called ahead and asked to have the 2 reservations noted.
Most recently I did it on Monday night. I moved from CSR to Poly a day early. When I went to make the move they specifically said they made sure I was able to remain in our room for both nights. Though this was a more unique situation as I was on property and we did it in person

I did try to change my original reservation online, but it wouldn't let me switch to the type of room needed. Maybe I will double check, though!!

Thanks!

 

[linana514]

We did this last May. Had booked 6 nights at CBR, and later added 2 nights to the beginning of our trip. Both bookings were for standard rooms, and we still couldn't get a guarantee that we'd be able to keep the same room. Even when we checked in the first night, the CM said they would do everything they could to keep us in the same room, but they couldn't guarantee it. We didn't know for sure until we checked out/checked in on day 3 that we got to keep our same room.

I don't know your situation, but another thing that we had to consider was that our park tickets were "attached" to our second reservation, so we wouldn't be able to visit the parks until day 3. But, I found out from a helpful person on disboards that we could go to a guest RELATIONS office and get our tickets activated early. I capitalized relations because apparently that's different from guest services, and their locations are only at the 4 parks and at Disney Springs.

We also ended up with 2 sets of armbands. I still don't entirely understand why, lol.

Either way, in 50 days I will be getting ready to travel to Disney World with my family!!

Yippee!!! I'm jealous! Have fun!

 

[AngiTN]

I did try to change my original reservation online, but it wouldn't let me switch to the type of room needed. Maybe I will double check, though!!

Thanks!

Yes, check daily. People cancel trips all the time.

We did this last May. Had booked 6 nights at CBR, and later added 2 nights to the beginning of our trip. Both bookings were for standard rooms, and we still couldn't get a guarantee that we'd be able to keep the same room. Even when we checked in the first night, the CM said they would do everything they could to keep us in the same room, but they couldn't guarantee it. We didn't know for sure until we checked out/checked in on day 3 that we got to keep our same room.

I don't know your situation, but another thing that we had to consider was that our park tickets were "attached" to our second reservation, so we wouldn't be able to visit the parks until day 3. But, I found out from a helpful person on disboards that we could go to a guest RELATIONS office and get our tickets activated early. I capitalized relations because apparently that's different from guest services, and their locations are only at the 4 parks and at Disney Springs.

We also ended up with 2 sets of armbands. I still don't entirely understand why, lol.

Because they issue bands for every resort stay, unless you have been in the past year and then you can decline them. But this is a new option. Even then you can always decline them at the resort when you arrive. Or you can collect one of each color

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The best thing you can do is talk to somebody at the front desk during your first reservation just so they realize that you want to stay in the same room. (Even if you have already put in the request). They will do it if they can. It has nothing to do with when or where you check in. Just let them know. You can send a fax if you want to but it's still better to actually talk to somebody while you are there.


Yes, you get magic bands for each separate reservation. Even though you have consecutive reservations at the same resort, the Disney system sees this as two completely separate reservations.

 

[seashell7290]

I've done this twice at pop century and I addressed the issue upon check in and they noted it on the reservation. The night before the first reservation ends check with the front desk to see if your request was made. My request was met both times even though I booked different room categories. It does happen but it's not a guarantee.