Preferential treatment at resort for those using ME?!?

[lacy1101]

I just read this on another board:

According to another poster they are giving room assignment preference to the ones coming using ME. If you're using ME your chances are a lot better in getting a room when you get there because they seem to be assigning by the CM's at the airport when you check in with the Welcome Center. I hope this is true because I'll be using ME also this July.

Can someone confirm this? This doesn't work good for us at all. We will be taking a limo from the airport to POP this trip because on our last trip in 2002, I booked a limo and there was mix up on our return trip to the airport. As a result, the driver is giving us a complimentary round-trip limo ride for our October trip. I don't want to give up the limo, but I don't want to be treated differently at the resort because I'm not using ME either.

 

[CarolA]

This rumor keeps appearing, but I think what is really happening is that the hotel is getting notice that these folks are coming and starts assigning them thier rooms and getting things ready for check in. My impression is that it really is to speed the check in process. It's not like they are saying they get thier rooms assigned the day before or anything.

I think it can impact you. If they have 20 rooms ready and they get notice that 20 folks are coming on ME and then you show up you might not have a room since all of those would be assigned. It's probably just the luck of the draw however. It could be that they get 20 folks on ME and only have 10 rooms clean. Then at least half of the ME folks would be waiting too.

Of course I would be leary of using a limo company that had already messed me up once!

 

[Daxx]

We used ME on the first day they introduced it (May 5). When we got to the ME check in desk (we had to haul our own luggage b/c we didn't get the ME tags in time), they did not take our luggage nor tell us anything about what room we'd be in. We didn't receive our room assignment until we arrived at the resort.

My guess is that, when you make your ressies, your room number has been assigned and put into the computer. It's probably there before you even arrive at the resort or at the ME check in. Regardless of whether you take the ME or your own transportation, that's the room you're going to get. Therefore, when the CM checks you in at the airport, they input your confirmation number and the hotel room # comes up b/c it's been there long before your arrival. So, as to getting preferential treatment, I don't think so. So my guess is that they've issued your room before you've arrived to the resort, regardless of what transportation you're taking.

I just checked our ME tags for our July trip and the room # area is blank. Therefore it leads me to believe that my above theory is accurate. Therefore, they write in your room # when they pull up your confirmation number.

When we booked our resort for our May vaca., we requested a certain area of our resort (Mighty Ducks), so they prob. had the room number in the computer when we placed the ressies.

If you're concerned about what area you might be placed in, I'd call CRO and request the area you want in advance!

 

[lacy1101]

Of course I would be leary of using a limo company that had already messed me up once!

You may have a point, Carol! The same thing happened to us on our 1999 trip (we only go every 3 years), but with a town car company instead of the limo (2 totally different companies). What are the odds this would happen to the same family twice (and on the return trip to the airport to boot, when you can't really afford the time for a mistake!). Maybe we just need to go with Disney transportation. When you use ME, do you have to let them get your luggage or can you get it yourself if you desire?

 

[DebbieB]

We used ME on the first day they introduced it (May 5). When we got to the ME check in desk (we had to haul our own luggage b/c we didn't get the ME tags in time), they did not take our luggage nor tell us anything about what room we'd be in. We didn't receive our room assignment until we arrived at the resort.

My guess is that, when you make your ressies, your room number has been assigned and put into the computer. It's probably there before you even arrive at the resort or at the ME check in. Regardless of whether you take the ME or your own transportation, that's the room you're going to get. Therefore, when the CM checks you in at the airport, they input your confirmation number and the hotel room # comes up b/c it's been there long before your arrival. So, as to getting preferential treatment, I don't think so. So my guess is that they've issued your room before you've arrived to the resort, regardless of what transportation you're taking.

I just checked our ME tags for our July trip and the room # area is blank. Therefore it leads me to believe that my above theory is accurate. Therefore, they write in your room # when they pull up your confirmation number.

When we booked our resort for our May vaca., we requested a certain area of our resort (Mighty Ducks), so they prob. had the room number in the computer when we placed the ressies.

If you're concerned about what area you might be placed in, I'd call CRO and request the area you want in advance!

They don't assign a room when you make your reservation. That would get too complicated with people coming and going on different dates. They also would not know what time the prior occupant was leaving to start cleaning it for it to be ready when you arrive. The idea of giving ME participants a room assignment when they arrive at the airport is to get the luggage into their room faster. If you arrive on ME at 10:00 and they can give you a clean room right away, when your luggage arrives at the resort they can take it straight to your room. They are trying to make the ME program look good.

 

[abline]

I recall rooms are assigned usually 3 days in advance. Remember the old reccomendation to fax your requests to the hotel three days prior to arrival. There is no way they can just wing like that. Maybe ME people are getting upgrades a little faster but that is probably it.

 

[Mears_Driver]

When you use ME, do you have to let them get your luggage or can you get it yourself if you desire?

A lot of people take their luggage with them on the bus. You don't have to check it at the airport.

 

[Daxx]

They also would not know what time the prior occupant was leaving to start cleaning it for it to be ready when you arrive.

Of course they know when the prior occupant leaves to start cleaning the room -- check out time is 11:00 am day of departure.

Likewise, check in time isn't until 3:00 pm. Big window of opportunity to clean those rooms. So, even if you arrive at 8:00 am, you're not going to be able to get into your room until 3pm.

 

[CleveRocks]

Likewise, check in time isn't until 3:00 pm. Big window of opportunity to clean those rooms. So, even if you arrive at 8:00 am, you're not going to be able to get into your room until 3pm.

That's just not true. If rooms are ready, they get assigned. It's not like no one gets a room until 3:00 p.m. I arrived at CBR at 10:30 a.m. with 2 connecting rooms reserved, and they were ready then. We got lucky. It's nothing you can count on or even request, it's just luck.

I spoke with 2 separate CMs at CBR in the weeks leading up to my arrival, and they both told me the same thing. There are CMs who work at the property who serve as "room assigners." Even though it sounds unbelievable for a 2112-room hotel, the room assigners assign rooms by hand, not by computer. They described it to me like putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle. They said it takes place 2-3 days in advance on the graveyard shift, when they have ample time for that sort of activity.

-- Eric

 

[CarolA]

Your chances of an early room ready are much higher in slow periods. I have checked in very early and gotten a room which was not occupied the night before. Of course, my requests are acutally pretty limited (non smoking only) which probably helps. The room assignment person can just stick me anyplace! LOL! Now if the place was 100% booked the night before it will just depend on when the last folks leave and the housekeeper indicated room ready. So... if everyone stays until 11, you could wait!

Also, they can move things around especially if they are not 100% booked. So if you arrive early and your assigned room is not ready but an unassigned room is they can move you.

 

[safetymom]

Just make sure you have any room requests in your reservation. Most resorts are ignoring faxes these days.

 

[DebbieB]

Of course they know when the prior occupant leaves to start cleaning the room -- check out time is 11:00 am day of departure.

Likewise, check in time isn't until 3:00 pm. Big window of opportunity to clean those rooms. So, even if you arrive at 8:00 am, you're not going to be able to get into your room until 3pm.

I once got 2 connecting rooms at CSR at 8:30am. If the resort was not full the night before, they have clean rooms that went unused the night before. Also, they start cleaning at 8:30-9:00, some people check-out early so those rooms are ready long before 3:00pm. The question is for the rooms that are available early, are they giving priority to people coming in on ME.