Renting DVC points; when will our reservation be at actual resort?

[ptrbryant]

I know that at this point, all our DVC info is at Member Services. I just noticed on our copy of the VWL reservation that it has requests listed as non-smoking guaranteed (DS has severe asthma), top floor requested and pool view requested...the only problem is I just didn't want to be on the ground floor, but I don't want the top floor, either. From photos, it looks like the balconies are set back from the roof tiles and, based on the roofline, it seems the rooms would be less spacious? We're only renting a studio, so don't want it feeling more cramped! I really don't want to bother the DVC owner we're renting points from about this, so wondered how soon I could call VWL to alter the request. If I;m correct, as a renter, I can't call DVC Member Services directly.

Thanks!

Karla B.

 

[eliza61]

Hey Karla,

The problem with any type of request, no matter how or who makes it, is the Disney will alway put in the old standard line of "While we try to accomadate all request, it is not a guarantee". I would call once a month until the month of the trip, then I would call the week before. Be especially firm about the no-smoking detail since this is a health issue not just a personal preferance.
Your request for a specific view may be a little harder to guarantee. I think I'm averaging about 80% on my view request, most of the times I get in, a few times I have not. Never really bothered me enough to request a room change.

August 2006 Villas at Wilderness Lodge
August 2004 Old key West
August 2003 Beach club villas
August 2002 Beach club villas

 

[ptrbryant]

Hi, eliza61,

But, as a DVC renter rather than owner, am I allowed to call DVC Member Services? I think I heard the reservation doesn't get sent over to VWL until 1 week - 2 days before arrival...

Thanks!

Karla B.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't understand the purpose of calling once a month if the requests are in the system, they transfer to the resort with the ressie...calling has no effect upon that and MS can not "pre-assign" a room. The resorts usually get the ressies a few days to a week before arrival.

 

[MareQ]

The studio size should be the same as any other floor. You cannot call MS - you also cannot/should not call the hotel directly with room requests- you will have to have your owner change your request to upper floor or just deal with it at check-in.

 

[eliza61]

Hey Karla,
You got me on that one, as I'm a member. Sorry about the misleading information. The reason I call so often is that member services does keep a track of when you call and what the purpose of the call was. I have gotten to my home resort (beach club villas) many times and had the Cast member pull up a record of these calls especially when I needed connecting rooms. Maybe Chuck suggestion may work better for you. Calling WL directly.

 

[ptrbryant]

Chuck's suggestion was my original plan, actually...I'll try calling VWL a couple days out.


Thanks again,

Karla B.

 

[Sammie]

Based on conversations with friends that work at Disney resorts, do not call once a month, you will only be perceived as a pest.

Reservations will not be downloaded into the resort computer until a week or so before your arrival.

However DVC resorts are instructed not to take requests over the phone or fax and requests all guests make their requests known with Member Services.

If you have done this, doing anything else is really not improving your chances of getting what you want.

If you don't want top floor have Member Serivces change it to certain floors, like 3 or 4.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You will need to contact the member and ask them to call MS to make any additional requests on your reservation. The member has full control over the points until you check in. You have zero control over these points since you are not the owner.

Do not call, do not fax. Call the owner and ask them to make your requests. And other than the non-smoking for medical reasons, they are all just requests. You might be the lucky one to get the dumpster view. You never know.

If you attempt to call VWL, where there actually is no one in attendance, you will only get an operator who is not at the resort. You will be checking in at WL check-in and they have requested no phone calls or faxes.

 

[Stitch1404]

...The reason I call so often is that member services does keep a track of when you call and what the purpose of the call was...

WOW! If they can see when the last time I called was and why every time I call them they probably think I am crazy!

 

[crisi]

Even non-smoking for medical reasons is a request. More than one person has made that request and not gotten it. Or gotten it and discovered their non-smoking room has been smoked in!

 

[kristenrice]

We stayed at the WL on our honeymoon and requested a king bed room when we made the reservation. They said that the only one's they had were the handicap accessible rooms. We didn't think that would matter so we took it. After the first night, we didn't like the fact that there was no door to the toilet area and we weren't fond of the roll-in shower. We went to the front desk and asked if we could have a non-handicap room. It took them about 5 minutes to change our keys! We even ended up with a nicer view. Maybe it was because it was the "off-season" (weekend after labor day) but they seemed to be VERY accommodating with the last-minute change in room preference.

 

[crisi]

We stayed at the WL on our honeymoon and requested a king bed room when we made the reservation. They said that the only one's they had were the handicap accessible rooms. We didn't think that would matter so we took it. After the first night, we didn't like the fact that there was no door to the toilet area and we weren't fond of the roll-in shower. We went to the front desk and asked if we could have a non-handicap room. It took them about 5 minutes to change our keys! We even ended up with a nicer view. Maybe it was because it was the "off-season" (weekend after labor day) but they seemed to be VERY accommodating with the last-minute change in room preference.

That's the hotel side, which is a whole different beast than the DVC side.