Procedure for Room Requests

[buck0086]

I'm just wondering what the procedure is for having the best chance to get your room request? We will be staying at BLT MK View at the end of March. I've requested "as high up as possible." But what should I do or say when checking in? What if I don't like my room location or the room itself? Thanks.

Buck

 

[DVCconvert]

Sounds like you've done what you should at this point.
At checkin I would just (nicely) ask if you could be on the highest available floor. If you don't like the room you maybe able to be moved, but there's a charge for that unless there's a problem with the room (other than you just don't like it). Avalibility will also come into play on this.

HTH

 

[Kidanifan08]

I get the sense that it is all quite random, and there is not much you can do to get a specific location. My theory is that it has more to do with which rooms are clean and ready to go at the time of your arrival than anything else. On our last stay, we did ask for a specific location at the time we were checking in, but they were not able to accomodate our request. They did appear to make an effort. When we got to our room a few minutes later, they were just finishing vacuuming the room -- thus my theory!

Enjoy your trip and your view of the Magic Kingdom!!

 

[Granny]

I'm just wondering what the procedure is for having the best chance to get your room request? We will be staying at BLT MK View at the end of March. I've requested "as high up as possible." But what should I do or say when checking in? What if I don't like my room location or the room itself? Thanks.

The resorts operate at nearly full capacity year round. So someone will get the various available rooms...sometimes it's just the luck of the draw. Over the course of your DVC ownership you will certainly get "magical" views and not so great ones. If you get one you don't like, I'd just go with it unless the room itself is in unacceptable condition.

 

[Granny]

I get the sense that it is all quite random, and there is not much you can do to get a specific location. My theory is that it has more to do with which rooms are clean and ready to go at the time of your arrival than anything else. On our last stay, we did ask for a specific location at the time we were checking in, but they were not able to accomodate our request. They did appear to make an effort. When we got to our room a few minutes later, they were just finishing vacuuming the room -- thus my theory!

Your theory is the "room ready" process that the front desk uses at some resorts. Other times when we check in the room is clearly pre-assigned. The more specific the request, the less chance of getting it fulfilled. We've had so-so luck with room requests, but we keep them very general.

 

[hcb]

So, does that mean that non DVC members may actually get better rooms than DVC members, i.e., those with the real estate interest and paying annual assessments?

 

[OKW Lover]

So, does that mean that non DVC members may actually get better rooms than DVC members, i.e., those with the real estate interest and paying annual assessments?

I don't know how you could reach this conclusion.

 

[RobDoc]

So, does that mean that non DVC members may actually get better rooms than DVC members, i.e., those with the real estate interest and paying annual assessments?

At this time the resort is owned both by those who have purchased there as well as the developer. The inventory owned by the developer is being rented to non-members thru DRC and only the % of villas in the member inventory is available to members uisng points.

Once the resort is completely sold out members will be competing with each other for 'highest' floors as well as with cash reservations made using the points used by DVC members for other non-DVC reservations (like cruise, Concierge Collection, other Disney resorts, etc.).

No location requests are guaranteed so the best way to get the highest floor is to reserve a GV.

 

[jelwallace]

Request are just that-requests. I ahve always gotten my request until this year when I requested as high as possible at Bay lake for a 1 bedroom magic kingdom view and got the third floor. Not exactly very high. In the event of a fire I could practically jump to safety. When I tried to switch they said they could give me the 4th floor and that room wasn't ready. Oh well I went on with my vacation and I did enjoy the room. It was Disney world (which is a lot better than at home). Maybe pixie dust will happen the next time.

 

[WDWMom]

So, does that mean that non DVC members may actually get better rooms than DVC members, i.e., those with the real estate interest and paying annual assessments?

I wish

All the rooms at a given resort are exactly the same based on room type. The view may vary though. Most DVC resorts are booked by view. You are guaranteed the view you booked. OKW is the exception.

 

[Greysword]

So, does that mean that non DVC members may actually get better rooms than DVC members, i.e., those with the real estate interest and paying annual assessments?

You seem kind of jittery about getting hosed by Disney (from this post and the one regarding Disney renting rooms and using our annual dues for the additional services). Is everything ok?

 

[Maryland_Mommy]

Our first trip, I did not make any request and we were assigned all the way at the very end of the hallway at WL. After that, I have made room requests on every trip (close to HH at OKW, Epcot view at BCV, etc.) and was ready to take what I could get. We have been very lucky at getting our request. On our last trip I asked to be close to the walkway to the Contemporary at BLT (we had a lake view, so I figured if we couldn't get a MK view, the next best would be close to the walkway). We checked in at around 7 pm at night and was assigned the room right next to the walkway. Perfect! So, I would go ahead and ask because someone was reviewing my requests.

 

[Sammie]

So, does that mean that non DVC members may actually get better rooms than DVC members, i.e., those with the real estate interest and paying annual assessments?

Better rooms no, better views, yes it is possible.

 

[Sandisw]

Request are just that-requests. I ahve always gotten my request until this year when I requested as high as possible at Bay lake for a 1 bedroom magic kingdom view and got the third floor. Not exactly very high. In the event of a fire I could practically jump to safety. When I tried to switch they said they could give me the 4th floor and that room wasn't ready. Oh well I went on with my vacation and I did enjoy the room. It was Disney world (which is a lot better than at home). Maybe pixie dust will happen the next time.

This is one of the main reasons why I don't think I will ever take the chance to splurge for MK view. To pay all those extra points to end up on floor 3 or 4 is just too risky, IMO

I will always book SV rooms and just hope for the best. I really do hope that next time you get some for having such a great attitude about it! Someone who books MK view is going to get those lower floor rooms so it is nice that you didn't let that taint the trip.

 

[hcb]

Jittery? No. Frustrated as a member that Disney may be giving equal preference to those non-members they sell rooms to yes. (And frustrated too because answers seem hard to come by) What are the benefits of membership then? While I know it is just a request, a DVC member request should always be given preference over reservations by non-DVC members. Why shouldnt that be the case for those who pay the assessments to maintain the resort?

 

[Granny]

What are the benefits of membership then?

The benefit of membership is the ability to stay in deluxe accommodations at a significant discount compared to paying cash for the same accommodations.

Really, that's DVC in a nutshell. Yes we get perks and such, but if you think of DVC as a way to lower room costs (or upgrade them at a lower price) then you won't have frustrations.

If you joined DVC because you think Disney will treat DVC owners like VIP's, then you are looking at many years of frustration.

I guess that sounds harsh, but if expectations align with contractual obligations it should make for a much happier ownership.

As far as best chance to get a "good view", you should check in early and politely repeat your requests. Tell them you are willing to wait for a room if it would improve your chances of getting your requests met. Aside from that, its a roll of the dice.

 

[jngwright]

So, my question is:

Should you not do online check in-does if you have made a room request? I thought I read somewhere that rooms were assigned a day or two before, not at check-in.