Room requests and online check in?

[Punkrockbebop]

I made room location requests for our two upcoming stays, and I'm wondering how the online check-in works with that. I'm worried that checking in online will erase my request or screw it up, somehow. Are cast members involved in the selection and do the requests get weighed in? I'm hesitant to do online check-in because the last time I did it (without a room request), we got stuck on the 1st floor with a view of the parking lot. Granted, it was a very crowded time.

The other question I have is if there is any other way to make a specific room request besides speaking with a cast member on the phone. I haven't seen any way to do it online.

 

[Dug720]

You can still do online check-in - just don't fill in the requests section. And absolutely do NOT check early arrival is more important.

No matter how they are made, requests are ONLY that - there is no way to guarantee anything that is not a bookable category (and even that can be changed if absolutely necessary).

 

[Punkrockbebop]

Thank you very much for explaining that. I knew that they were requests only, I just don't want to somehow erase my request.

 

[Dug720]

Thank you very much for explaining that. I knew that they were requests only, I just don't want to somehow erase my request.

The only thing that would override it is if you put anything in the requests section when doing online check-in.

 

[Punkrockbebop]

Thank you, very helpful!

 

[jo-jo]

I just did online checking for BLT and there wasn't a spot at all for requests. Yet I got an email saying they got the information and will take note of requests.

Did I miss something?

 

[taterheads]

I just did online checking for BLT and there wasn't a spot at all for requests. Yet I got an email saying they got the information and will take note of requests.

Did I miss something?

It is just a standard form email they send when you online check in.

 

[lockets]

I just did online checking for BLT and there wasn't a spot at all for requests. Yet I got an email saying they got the information and will take note of requests.

Did I miss something?

Nope. Disney on the low doesn’t want to make it simple for you to put in requests. Between furloughing staff and then not ramping up their overall hiring successfully plus lack of housekeeping they know they can’t fulfill half of the requests anyway. I learned that on my last three trips. The fact that touring plans has to be hired to submit requests on behalf of… or that we have to wait on hold for 2+ hours to tell a phone agent… or send an email into oblivion and hope for the best…. when they could simply include one text box on the online checkin form that is routed directly to the room dept automatically says it all.

 

[MMSM]

You can still do online check-in - just don't fill in the requests section. And absolutely do NOT check early arrival is more important.

No matter how they are made, requests are ONLY that - there is no way to guarantee anything that is not a bookable category (and even that can be changed if absolutely necessary).

Why don’t you want to state that you are arriving early? We will be there around 11am and was going to click that for our arrival. Why should we not check that?

 

[CarolynFH]

Why don’t you want to state that you are arriving early? We will be there around 11am and was going to click that for our arrival. Why should we not check that?

You can put your arrival time. Just don’t check the box that says having your room ready when you arrive is more important than getting your request - that’s like giving up your request.

 

[MMSM]

You can put your arrival time. Just don’t check the box that says having your room ready when you arrive is more important than getting your request - that’s like giving up your request.

Ok. Thanks. That makes sense. I too have rented points through an owner that I don’t want to bother. If it’s just an email to member services he would do it. But I don’t want him to have to call and wait on phone. Does touring plans really do requests for renters? I don’t mind what happens to be at Poly (although I really don’t want Pago Pago and parking lot view again) but Saratoga I do care. Never stayed before and really want to be at paddock by pool.

 

[Dug720]

Ok. Thanks. That makes sense. I too have rented points through an owner that I don’t want to bother. If it’s just an email to member services he would do it. But I don’t want him to have to call and wait on phone. Does touring plans really do requests for renters? I don’t mind what happens to be at Poly (although I really don’t want Pago Pago and parking lot view again) but Saratoga I do care. Never stayed before and really want to be at paddock by pool.

As I understand it, no. ALL requests for stays on points must be directly through the DVC member. So if you're wanting to make a request on rented points, you'll have to "bother the owner". If they don't want to be bothered with their renters making requests, they really shouldn't be renting points - or should have a "we will not make requests for you" disclaimer.

And even through the member, it will still be only a request.

All that said, I would not count on a points-stay reservation being available early.

 

[CarolynFH]

Ok. Thanks. That makes sense. I too have rented points through an owner that I don’t want to bother. If it’s just an email to member services he would do it. But I don’t want him to have to call and wait on phone. Does touring plans really do requests for renters? I don’t mind what happens to be at Poly (although I really don’t want Pago Pago and parking lot view again) but Saratoga I do care. Never stayed before and really want to be at paddock by pool.

TP will submit requests from renters, and there are reports on DISboards from both owners and renters that the requests they submitted via TP were fulfilled. Officially, requests have to go through MS. Ultimately, no matter how submitted, they’re only requests, and sometimes guests get what they asked for and sometimes they don’t, no matter how they asked.

 

[Thumper99]

Also curious about this. I just did our online check in for next Saturday arrival. No place to add requests. We will be there in an and put our expected arrival time down. Did I miss a request section??maybe it’s good I did.

member services has the information that we are connected to another reservation and hoping to be near each other (we have a 1 and 2 bedroom lake views) and hopefully even #room. Is it too late to sign up with TP? Does anyone know the cost? It’s spring break will it work anyways.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you check the early arrival box, you are indicating that getting your room early is more important to you than any of the room location requests you have made. In essence, you are notifying WDW that you would accept a room that does not meet your requests if one is ready earlier.

How many requests are available with your online check-in depends on the resort, some have more than others, some don't have any. They are usually very general requests, like near transportation or near elevator, first floor, higher floor. Sometimes they get filled, sometimes they don't.

 

[DJFan88]

I find the best thing to do is suck it up and put your phone on speaker while I’m cooking in the kitchen and make the request on the phone to be added to your reservation. You can say whatever you want, whereas online there is only 1 option sometimes like close to bus, or no option at all. Only list 1 or 2 things in priority order and don’t get too specific ( think close to pool instead of room 5678). This has worked best for me.
I tried touring plans once and didn’t even get the building I wanted at an all star resort but when I checked in she gave me what I wanted and was able to choose so their was availability. My touring plans request was very specific as they did something like east facing rooms and had room numbers, so maybe was too specific? Also that same trip at AKL did not get anything like I wanted with them, but upon inquiring if something better was available, got a phenomenal view room.
Maybe others have better luck with TP?
Don’t be afraid to inquire upon check in ( you can still go to desk whether you do online or not, that’s really just an information gathering like when the hospital calls you to pre-register) if you want to see if something else is available. We have done great this way.

 

[DaviVascaino]

How many days/weeks prior to arrival date should you make requests?

 

[CarolynFH]

How many days/weeks prior to arrival date should you make requests?

I make my requests as soon as I know what they are. Room assignments are made a week or more before arrival.

 

[wiggy500]

My first stay at a resort I called in a room request, then did online check-in leaving the room request area blank, and when I got there they did not have my request.

I'm about to do my second resort stay. Again I called in the room request and then did online check-in, leaving room request blank. This time I called after the check-in and they told me they didn't have any room requests on file.

My theory is the online check-in overrides an earlier called in request.

 

[Thumper99]

My first stay at a resort I called in a room request, then did online check-in leaving the room request area blank, and when I got there they did not have my request.

I'm about to do my second resort stay. Again I called in the room request and then did online check-in, leaving room request blank. This time I called after the check-in and they told me they didn't have any room requests on file.

My theory is the online check-in overrides an earlier called in request.

Can I ask where you call? Directly to the resort? We are DVC and I made the request through member services. Just did online check in and there was no place to add requests. So I assumed it was because I already placed requests through member services.