Room assignment: when to call

[Sophie_2003]

Hello,

I remember the UG says you can/should call your resort directly x number of days before arriving as they are assigning rooms and you can reiterate your request.

has anyone done this, and how many days prior would you call?

tks,

 

[Taja]

I don't think WDW resorts are accepting telephone or fax requests any more. Too many people were requesting too many things!

You need to be sure your reservation has your requests in order of importance. Consider yourself fortunate if the CMs are able to grant at least one of them--and you've won the jackpot if all of them are granted!

When you check in, verify your requests with the CM and ask what is available within your request parameters. They usually will work with you--it depends on the resort census.

 

[helenk]

Calling is probably not a good idea. The information from Deb Wills site indicates that you can fax in your request to the resort, except for Wilderness Lodge. It should be done 4 days prior to your arrival date.

 

[TammiMcMan]

It depends on the resort you're staying in. Many of the deluxes don't pre-assign rooms, they simply pull from available inventory when you physically arrive on site. For those resorts that do have rooms assigned, it's done 3-4 days prior to your arrival.

Calling and/or faxing reminders is hit or miss. It definitely helped out a few years ago, when room assignors had the time to read through and match up faxes. Now, some resorts simply toss the faxes and calls don't go direct anymore, but through a call answering service.

Bottom line though, I don't think it hurts to try and call and make sure your requests have been noted. In my experience, it's more helpful to arrive early. That's when they have the biggest inventory of rooms and if you aren't happy with what you've been assigned, chances are you'll be able to switch it for something else.

 

[JennyDrake]

Calling won't help, but you MAy get your request by faxing 4 days in advance. Keep it very simple and short. I go to WDW 3x/year and I have gotten over 50% of room fax requests. BTW, I only stay in values or moderates--don't know if that makes a difference or not.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I have gotten 100% of my requests in the last 3 years by simply putting my requests on my reservation at the time I make it.

Also my requests are simple and easy to deliver on... usually ground floor, corner room.



Knox

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I've never called or faxed my requests in. Either I've put in my request at the time I made the reservation or have had my TA do it. So far about 90% of the time I've gotten what I wanted. The only time I didn't get my request is because the longhouse I wanted at the Poly (Tahiti) for my Lagoon View was completely booked up. The CM at the front desk let me know which longhouses were available and I was able to pick from what she provided.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

I agree with the other posters that you are better off having the request on your reservation. We have always had our request granted. As CanadianGuy stated keeping your request simple and easy.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Based on the wording of the OP's post, it sounds like they do already have their requests noted. They are just asking about the effectiveness of calling/faxing the resort to remind them of those requests.

 

[Shelly D.]

I have always faxed in my requests about 3-4 days before our arrival and I got what I asked for each time. I've never requested a particular floor or building, but I have requested that our rooms be near each other and two rooms connect.

I generally make the request when I book the reservation, then fax it in upon arrival. I plan to do the same this trip.

 

[BamaFan121s]

We always make sure that our requests are noted on the ressie ahead of time and then we fax them in 4 days in advance. We have been able to have them accomodated. (Always connecting room, NOT in Trinidad South or Barbados when at CBR.) We've been assured that they did recieve and note the fax. Maybe it helped, maybe it didn't, but it didn't hurt.

 

[fla4fun]

I have nearly always received my requests (in fact, I can only think of one time I didn't, and that was because that part of the resort was being refurbished at the time), and all I do is note them on the reservation. I try to keep it very simple, such as upper floor or ground floor, close or far from "fill in the blank", etc. The more specific you try to be, the less latitude they have to give you a room they think will please you.

For example, my last trip at VWL, I requested upper floor, lake view. I was on the fifth floor, and the first room at the beginning of the long hall facing the lake, so I felt like I got what I asked for. But by keeping it simple, they could have really put me anywhere on the 4th or 5th floor on that side of the building and I would have been happy.

If there is anything that is a deal breaker (for example, when I travel with Mom, she won't ride elevators, so I always request ground floor) make that your first request. Then be sure to mention that specific request at the front desk when you start the check in process (so they know to look for that particular type room). Sometimes they don't know why a particular request is being made.

And most important, remember that unless it's a specific booking category, it's just a request, and if there aren't any rooms of that type left, they can't create one. This is especially important when requesting connecting rooms. If only 5 sets of connecting rooms will be available for check in today, and 7 families requested them, there are going to be two disapointed families. If you don't get your request the first night, be sure to ask at check in if you can be moved the next day.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If there is anything that is a deal breaker (for example, when I travel with Mom, she won't ride elevators, so I always request ground floor) make that your first request

I second this! My last three stays have been at Pop Century. The last two trips, I requested:
King bed (because it's REALLY hard to get an ECV in and out of a double-bed room - especially alone).
Fourth/first floor
Facing the lake
Smoking/near a designated smoking area.

Last year I got: Double beds/facing parking lot/second floor/don't remember the smoking status - since I moved (to a king-bed room)the next day, after calling the front desk at 11 PM and indicating the set-up was not going to work).

This year I got: King bed/facing another building/third floor/not particularly convenient to a DSA.