Room request at Kidani Village (more of a general room request question)

[mpb2000]

I will be staying in a 1 BR at Kidani Village (direct through Disney, not a DVC member) and have figured out where the ideal location would be for us (and most people, I imagine): Sunset Savanna, near Rafiki elevator, lowest floor possible. What is the best way to put in that request? I have called in the past but I feel like there are multiple computer systems or things just disappear (I’ve called, put in a request, called at a later date and been told there was no request.), so I have no faith in that method. But if someone told me exactly what number/department to call, that could help. Lately, I’ve been using the room request feature on touringplans and have had reasonable success (probably 50%). For this stay, I feel like the more general request (Sunset Savanna, near Rafiki elevator, lower floor) is better than the wording with specific rooms, facing directions, etc. from touringplans, although they do give you the option of making general requests, so I could just pick a room that would work and then add the general criteria in order, the same way I would by calling. I seem to recall being able to put requests in order of importance when calling?

Our stay is a week away and I have to make the room request. What’s the best way to go about it at this point? I don’t know when these things happen in the system.

Also, how do I make sure I don’t overwrite my request at any point? I’m specifically thinking about during online check in, although I could just check in at the desk since we’ll be dropping off luggage in our car very late at night on our arrival day.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Marthasor]

I always list the request, in order of priority, on my reservation by calling in to WDTC (or speaking to my TA). I also put in a request through TouringPlans - I pick the ideal room that I would like and then put in the general request, in order of priority, in the area where you can post notes. For example, in your case I would simply write that you would like to request Sunset Savanna, near Rafiki elevator, lowest floor possible. If you check in online, you can bypass the area that asks if you have any requests and not put any requests at all in that system. I don't do online check in anymore for various reasons - personally, I like to speak with the front desk staff just to have a personal connection with the CMs who work at the resort. I've also found they are very happy to search for a different room if the one you are originally assigned isn't ideal - while there are no guarantees, they will try their best to help you.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Admittedly, I'm more familiar with the DVC side of requests, but I'd suggest you call Disney Guest Services or TP and have them add your requests to the reservation now. If you do online check-in, skip the room request option - which, by the way, is way too limited to get your what you're looking for here! Finally, the morning you check in at the resort, go right to the front desk. The cast member there will be able to see where your room is - they won't tell you the room, unless it's already available for you to move in. But they can tell you if the assigned room is near what you've requested. If it's not, they can tell you if there might be a better location available. Sometimes your requests can be met, sometimes they cannot - depending on who'd checking out that day. If you're a week away from checking in, I'd do this soon. It seems rooms are assigned several days in advance.

 

[mpb2000]

Is there a specific department that is best to call? I feel like the Walt Disney Travel Company is just what I get when I call the general number, in the US anyway. (The prerecorded messages says something like, “Welcome to the Walt Disney Travel Company.”) Is there a number for “guest services?” When I look that up, I don’t see anything obvious. Is there a department that deals with resort room requests I should ask for? Do you call the resort phone number? I feel like that gets routed to somewhere else.

Does touringplans overwrite the direct room requests by phone, or vice versa? That’s what I’ve always worried about when doing both.

 

[Best Aunt]

I haven't stayed at Kidani, but are you sure you want to be on a low floor? I thought the view of the animals was better if you're not too high but not too low.

When I have booked a DVC room direct through Disney, I made a room request by calling 407-W-DISNEY.

The person answering the phone may not know much about the hotel, so it does make sense to call back and make sure the request is in the system correctly.

 

[mpb2000]

I haven't stayed at Kidani, but are you sure you want to be on a low floor? I thought the view of the animals was better if you're not too high but not too low.

When I have booked a DVC room direct through Disney, I made a room request by calling 407-W-DISNEY.

The person answering the phone may not know much about the hotel, so it does make sense to call back and make sure the request is in the system correctly.

The first floor is parking, so the second floor is the first floor with rooms and puts you level with the animals.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I haven't stayed at Kidani, but are you sure you want to be on a low floor? I thought the view of the animals was better if you're not too high but not too low.

When I have booked a DVC room direct through Disney, I made a room request by calling 407-W-DISNEY.

The person answering the phone may not know much about the hotel, so it does make sense to call back and make sure the request is in the system correctly.

We've stayed at Kidani many times, and have found when we have a savannah view, lower floors tend to offer just a slightly better view of the animals - most of the time. On the other hand, we usually request the top floor so there are no rumbling herds of little kids running on the floor above us early in the morning!!

 

[Marthasor]

Is there a specific department that is best to call? I feel like the Walt Disney Travel Company is just what I get when I call the general number, in the US anyway. (The prerecorded messages says something like, “Welcome to the Walt Disney World Travel Company.”) Is there a number for “guest services?” When I look that up, I don’t see anything obvious. Is there a department that deals with resort room requests I should ask for? Do you call the resort phone number? I feel like that gets routed to somewhere else.

Does touringplans overwrite the direct room requests by phone, or vice versa? That’s what I’ve always worried about when doing both.

No, there isn't a specific department that deals with room requests. You can call WDTC and ask the CM to note your requests. TP requests do not override direct room requests. You just need to make sure you are making the same request with WDTC and TP.