Room Request Question

[J-Dog]

So this question is more about curiousity than anything really important - but I've always been told that it is better to make a room request via MS rather than making it on the MDE via the Check-In window. So, I've done it that way pretty much every time I have ever made a booking using points, with decent success. This last time, I did the same thing - contacted MS using the Chat window, and asked for a high floor at Kidani for next week.

So here's the question - does that room request normally show-up on your Check-in page on MDE after you've made it through MS?

I'm about 80% certain that I've never seen it show up there after making the request through MS, but I just noticed that this time, it says "Higher Floor" under the room requests on MDE. Is that normal for others?

Like I said, it's not important, because it doesn't really matter if I get the request or not, since we go fairly often. I just thought it was weird.

I do have to also mention that the person on the other end of the Chat was extremely curt and unfriendly compared to previous Chat encounters I've had. He asked was I needed, I said I'd like a higher floor for my next booking, then he literally typed "Can do, but we can't guarantee your request. Do you need anything else?", I said "Nothing else. Thanks very much.", and then the Chat abruptly ended. So, that was also weird...

 

[zackiedawg]

I generally use the MS phone to call a castmember, rather than chat - but otherwise the same. I don't think I've ever seen my requests show up on MDE...I book every 3 months or so, and nothing showed up for my June or September requests nor is anything currently showing for my December trip coming up. I figured it could be because my requests are often lengthy and complex, with specific room numbers requested, then buildings, floors, or sections as a secondary if I don't score a specific room number requested. Success rate has been very good overall, even with specific room numbers (got a requested room number on my last two stays and two out of 4 last year). All but one time out of my last 8 stays I got at least my secondary request of section and/or building. One time at Boardwalk I ended up with a high-floor over the main pool, though I had requested garden or quiet pool - but even still, they did get me the high floor which made it a little quieter than main pool rooms often are.

 

[J-Dog]

I generally use the MS phone to call a castmember, rather than chat - but otherwise the same. I don't think I've ever seen my requests show up on MDE...I book every 3 months or so, and nothing showed up for my June or September requests nor is anything currently showing for my December trip coming up. I figured it could be because my requests are often lengthy and complex, with specific room numbers requested, then buildings, floors, or sections as a secondary if I don't score a specific room number requested. Success rate has been very good overall, even with specific room numbers (got a requested room number on my last two stays and two out of 4 last year). All but one time out of my last 8 stays I got at least my secondary request of section and/or building. One time at Boardwalk I ended up with a high-floor over the main pool, though I had requested garden or quiet pool - but even still, they did get me the high floor which made it a little quieter than main pool rooms often are.

Thanks. So it's not just me mis-remembering then, if yours aren't showing up in MDE.

I keep my room requests very vague - i.e. "high floor" or maybe "facing the pool" or something fairly non-specific. But I've always done it that way, and I don't remember the request showing up in MDE before.

Based on this, and that fact that the guy on the other end of the Chat wasn't the typical cordial/frienfly MS rep, I'm almost thinking that the guy was maybe general Disney rep (or even a temp), rather than a DVC MS rep. I'm assuming that Disney and MS are different/separate, but I don't know for sure? Maybe MS was having staffing issues and had to pull someone over from the Disney general staff?

If this was more worth it, I would maybe look into it further, but I'm not sure that I care that much...

 

[zackiedawg]

Agreed - sounds a bit unusual. I don't have too much experience with the chat, but calling MS they are usually very friendly and talkative. Usually while they're taking and entering my requests, they'll ask about where I'm from, how often I visit Disney, and so on. I haven't had a curt castmember like that yet...but I don't think I'd dwell on it too much - as long as your request got into the system!

I generally do two-tiered requests (depending on the resort). Some resorts I will start with specific room numbers that I like - Boulder Ridge, Copper Creek, Boardwalk, and Saratoga all have specific room numbers I'll put in first. Then as a secondary request, I'll put in the 'close to elevator, high floor, building 1, etc. For the resorts that I don't give specific room numbers, I'll do specific building number requests (OKW), specific loops or sections of loops (Cabins at FW).

Most of my room number requests are based on combinations of view, privacy, and balcony size. I prefer 'boxed' balconies, where there are solid walls between you and the next room, rather than little dividers or wide open to the next room. I prefer deeper covered balconies that can be used in rain. And view-wise, I prefer to see out onto scenery rather than looking at another building or other balconies staring back at me...especially on a cooler night, I love to sit and read out on the balcony at night and don't want to feel like I need to dress up to sit there - if no one can look back at me, I can have on an old pair of sleep shorts and a t-shirt...or enjoy coffee in the morning with bed-head and not care because no one can see me.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Mine dont show up in MDE. Will watch for this though

 

[J-Dog]

Mine dont show up in MDE. Will watch for this though

Thanks. Yeah, it's weird, right?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Thanks. Yeah, it's weird, right?

Yeah Its nice if its a new update, that way you know MS actually did it, because I have had them say they would and did not.

 

[J-Dog]

Yeah Its nice if its a new update, that way you know MS actually did it, because I have had them say they would and did not.

That's actually a good thought. I hadn't thought of it that way.

My initial thought was, since I've always heard it's more successful to ask for room requests through MS rather than MDE, that maybe the Chat Rep just plugged my request into MDE (like I could have done myself) instead of whatever the usual route MS takes to add room requests. If that's the case (and if it's actually true that MS requests are more likely to be honored), then I would be less likely to get my request. But, like I said earlier - I don't care enough to look into it too much.

But maybe you're right and it's actually a good thing as a confirmation?

 

[Girlstar30]

They have sounded annoyed with me to with requests before or insisting they wont type something because they cant write view of Fireworks because I booked a preferred view even tho some have view of Fireworks. Im sure this is what they have been trained to do and not them being difficult.

I had to re word hpw I ask, which is telling them which way the building I want faces.

Although I would prefer to chat, I find the CMs on the phone to be much more helpful and accomodating.

I put in my requests after i book and then ill call and ask what room request I put in to verify the week of, because yes I had that happen to where they said they dont see any of my requests

 

[zackiedawg]

I prefer phone over chat because of the little nuances in voice, tone, and levity that are very hard to transmit by chat, even with emojis. When I call and talk with a CM, I joke and laugh about my requests - I tell them I'm weird and about to unload a bunch of room numbers on them - then I tell them why I like to request those rooms (the balcony size and privacy) and they can usually relate, even sometimes noting that they didn't even know about the balcony differences and were going to consider that when they stay there. Just having that friendliness in your voice, and joking and talking about your preferences and how often you visit, for me makes a big difference and I always seem to get a happy, friendly, perky conversation and experience.

 

[J-Dog]

I prefer phone over chat because of the little nuances in voice, tone, and levity that are very hard to transmit by chat, even with emojis. When I call and talk with a CM, I joke and laugh about my requests - I tell them I'm weird and about to unload a bunch of room numbers on them - then I tell them why I like to request those rooms (the balcony size and privacy) and they can usually relate, even sometimes noting that they didn't even know about the balcony differences and were going to consider that when they stay there. Just having that friendliness in your voice, and joking and talking about your preferences and how often you visit, for me makes a big difference and I always seem to get a happy, friendly, perky conversation and experience.

I totally get this, but I first bought in a couple of years before Covid, and kind of got used to waiting an hour or more on hold just to talk to someone. I realize that it's a lot better now, but I'm still in the habit of using Chat, although I agree the reason for the habit is obsolete at this point.