Room Only for one night before my actual trip starts, will I need to switch rooms?

[deedeew80]

So back when I first booked our trip we thought we would be flying. Now we have to drive. Driving is getting us in the Disney area the day before we check in. I tried adding an extra night onto my already existing reservation but was unable to or I would lose my free dining offer I have. (I check in the day it begins) I figured we would just stay at a hotel nearby that night and then check in to our Disney Resort. Well it seems a bit pricey at the ones I have looked at and thought it would be a lot more convenient if we could just stay at our own Resort (All Star Music) So if I book a room only for that night, check in and then check out and then check in again, will they have me change rooms? I'm sure I can call Disney to ask but figured I would ask her first. Thanks for any info!

 

[dancin Disney style]

It's done all the time. No big deal. Call Disney and have them link your two reservations together. Most of the time all you will have to do is stop by the front desk the morning that your package starts. There is always a chance that you would have to change rooms but it's rather unlikely. When you check in on that very first night speak to the CM about it and you should be able to find out right then if you have to change rooms.

ETA: I've added on nights many times and never had to change rooms.....yet.

 

[verleniahall]

you can request to stay at the fron tdesk as long as it is the same type of room, bu tits not guaranteed

 

[Dave006]

The short answer is Maybe.

Did you book the same type of room for both your Room Only(RO) and your FD package? This is what really determines if you have to physically change rooms. Regardless, call Disney and ask the phone CM to link your two reservations as a "Continuing" reservation. I have had about a 75% success staying in my initial room for the full length of stay.

Dave

 

[SarahC97]

This happened to me and we were able to stay in the same room. When you book the room only, have them make a note that you have another reservation and would like to stay in the same room. As PP stated, it's not guaranteed, but I think they try their best to accommodate.

 

[deedeew80]

Thank you everyone! I have not booked the room only yet but when I do it will be the same type of room, standard. The only thing that makes me think I may have a problem is because the package I have booked now is Free Dining, so I'm not sure if they have certain rooms for that or not. If I have to switch rooms it's not a big deal at all, but definitely more convenient not to!

 

[dansdad]

The only thing that makes me think I may have a problem is because the package I have booked now is Free Dining, so I'm not sure if they have certain rooms for that or not.

They do not.

 

[SarahC97]

Thank you everyone! I have not booked the room only yet but when I do it will be the same type of room, standard. The only thing that makes me think I may have a problem is because the package I have booked now is Free Dining, so I'm not sure if they have certain rooms for that or not. If I have to switch rooms it's not a big deal at all, but definitely more convenient not to!

If it makes you feel any better, I booked a room for free dining last year at Port Orleans Riverside and then booked a room only the night before the FD reservation started. They were able to keep me in the same room for the whole trip. I don't think they have specific blocks of rooms for a promotion or anything, just different categories of rooms - so I think you should have a pretty good chance!

 

[Dave006]

The FD offer you have is not tied to any specific rooms or blocks of rooms. Just on the categories or total number of FD for a offering period.

Also Disney would save on cleaning your first night room if you stay in the same room saving them time and money recycling a room. Even if you get both confirmations numbers documented on your reservation(s), I would still stop by the Front desk and mention that you are on a continuing reservation and ask the CM to verify that it is noted. This should increase you odds of staying in the same room to close to 100%.

Dave

 

[dancin Disney style]

Thank you everyone! I have not booked the room only yet but when I do it will be the same type of room, standard. The only thing that makes me think I may have a problem is because the package I have booked now is Free Dining, so I'm not sure if they have certain rooms for that or not. If I have to switch rooms it's not a big deal at all, but definitely more convenient not to!

I've done the exact same thing(twice) that you wish to do. It makes no difference whether it's FD or not.

 

[nighttowll]

I had this happen to me last trip. I had a discount package booked, but the first night of my trip wasn’t available for the package, so I had to book the first night separately. I was able to stay in my room and didn’t have to do anything the second day. They told me at checkin I might need to go back to the front desk in the morning, but I called the next morning, and they didn’t need me to after all.

All I had to do was ask at checkin to be placed in a room where I wouldn’t need to switch. As long as your room type is available for the consecutive days needed, you won’t have to change.

I wouldn’t bother calling about linking room reservations. I tried that route, and it was the biggest confusing mess ever. Everytime I’d call I’d get a different story on if it could or couldn’t be done, but they’d always tell me, “oh we can’t do anything yet, it is too soon call back later!” Then I called back on the day they gave me, only for a new person to tell me they can’t link / combine the room reservations and whoever told me they could was wrong! All I ended up doing was wasting a lot of time on hold with Disney and getting annoyed.

Just ask nicely when you check in at the desk. That seems to be most successful option.

 

[SandS_K]

We did the exact same thing last year. First night room only and second night started free dining. We called and had it noted that it was a continuing reservation. I did online check in for both reservation. We arrived around 6pm, skipped the front desk and went straight to our room. We headed to Disney Springs for dinner and when we returned I stopped at the front desk. I wanted to check if we would be in the same room that way I knew whether to unpack or not. The cast member took care of everything that evening and verified that we were in the same room. Very early the next morning we received a text that our room was ready. I went to get our refillable mugs, drank a little coffee and headed off to a park.

This year its a little different. Booked free dining, then when I went to book airlines found out that we would actually save money by staying another night. So now we have a 1 night room only reservation at the end of our stay. I did call so they would note it as a continuing reservation. Will find out shortly if we get to stay in the same room. The cast member I talked with this time was really great. He had been there close to 30 years and stated that they always try to keep people in the same room if possible.

 

[tjmw2727]

We have done this a few times at the beginning and also at the end of a stay and my results are 50/50

Like others have said make sure you book exactly the same room category and then call and ask to have the reservations linked. Skip online check in (in my opinion) and tell the cm the situation during check in and ask them to note it again.

It is in their best interest to keep you in the same room so they don't have to fully clean again but sometimes the logistics don't match and they need to move you.

Finally be prepared to move if necessary - pack accordingly and then hope for the best!

Good Luck -

 

[Nancyg56]

We have done this and were allowed to keep the same room. I was told there was a chance we woudl need to move, however that did not occur. We booked the same category for our RO as we did for the FD package that followed.

 

[Sue M]

I did this once at POR, we decided to come in a day early before our dining pkg, so I booked a room only. I had my reservations linked as a continuing stay. In the evening I stopped by the front desk to ask if I was able to stay in the same room. I was.