Request a room or roll the dice?

[GoofyDisneyDaddy]

Maybe I am wrong, but don't the Theme Park views at GCV cost more points? They really don't have many rooms there.

No. There are no view categories.

 

[Don Duck]

Years ago they formally prioritized requests by when they were made. They removed this process a number of years ago, I believe at the same time they moved check in from 4 to "after 4". Now it's hit or miss depending on the resort and personnel involved.

20+ years ago, rooms and requests were fulfilled / assigned when the reservation and requests were made. Over time, that would change to have rooms assigned close to, or upon check-in ... with priority provided first to members, then to guests and developer points.

Years ago, we realized our chances of obtaining a request were impacted, based upon our check-in time. The earlier we checked-in, the greater the chance we had of receiving our request. In this scenario, if I (as a member) had a reservation and request in place for 11 months - and checked in at 3PM ... a guest who had a reservation and request in place for one week - and checked in at 2PM ... would have likely been awarded our request.

 

[dcfromva]

I was so disappointed at the Grand Californian a few years ago. We booked 11 months in advance, asked for high floor, Park view and didn't get the Park view. I thought that booking early got your requests, but later found out that that just isn't so.

Several folks have had good luck at the Grand Cal by specifying room numbers in order of preference. This probably would not be a good approach for any other DVC property, but VGC is so small that I think it helps. I didn't used to make a room request at VGC, but then found we were quite often getting assigned the same couple of rooms time after time --one of which was a handicapped access room on the 1st floor. If my nephew will be visiting with us, I put in a request for the rooms with the best park view followed by some other rooms with views that I want to try. I don't always get my request, but I think they try.

 

[Murron]

We always ask for 3001, 4001 or 5001 in BWV (a 1 bedroom) and 99% of the time we get it. why? (1) I suppose it's because it's a Boardwalk View and more points (2) its usually September low season but more so (3) it is the longest walk all the way to the very end of the resort (Crest O Wave) to a room and nobody wants to walk that far! When we get standard at BWV, I just ask to keep me high and away from the airline check in desk and I've never had a problem with them fulfilling that. I might be awfully lucky or just easy to please, but I've only had one horrid room and that was a studio in BCV.