Room Requests

[magic cruiser]

Just a warning to all of you who have made room request...don't get your hopes up !! Just back from VWL. We had booked a studio 6 mos out and had asked for a non-smoking , studio on an upper floor. That's all ! We got a non-smoking studio on the 1st floor. We couldn't use the patio, because it was surrounded with overground plants, 3 ft high. We asked why we were given a 1st floor room and they said requests are made according to when you made your res. We will be at the BWV Sept 3-8 '02 and these res were made 11 mos out ,so I'll see if they play by their own rules !! In other words don't bother faxing req right before you go,cause it won't do any good .

 

[Eeyore2U]

We've always made our requests at BWV at 11 months and have never had a problem. Our Feb trip they were made at 7 months out so we'll see.

Most posts about requests on this board state what happened to you, that requests are based on when ressie is made.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Last year I made a ressie at BWV 3 months out and requested non-smoking, but did not get it. I wonder what the ratio of non-smoking vs. smoking rooms are? I wonder which are requested more.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We always request when we reserve at 11 months out, and have never been disappointed. Of course, it is always at OKW, and there is a lot to chose from there.

 

[zurgswife]

What about if you make your ressies at the 11 month window but don't put requests in till later??????

 

[GCM13]

We've usually gotten pretty much what we've requested and have never made reservations more than 7 or 8 months out. I guess we've been lucky.

Speaking of requests, I just wanted to see if this happens to others when making requests. I recently called and made reservations for a studio at BWV. I requested a studio with a daybed. The CM seemed a little irritated or put off or something and she said kind of rudely "I can put it down, but it's not guaranteed". Don't a lot of people make requests? I don't think that was unreasonable. I know their not guaranteed and I know they have to let people know that, but she made me feel that I shouldn't have even asked. I've had this happen a few times.

 

[~Magical Princess~]

I don't think it matters, it just matters WHEN the ressie was made. They don't download all that stuff until like 5 - 7 days before your arrival so if you waited to last minute to call MS or even fax the resort itself you'll still have the same shot as if it had been on there all along.

I'm really hoping to get our requests granted at OKW in 3 more weeks!!!!!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Disney Vacation Club members have their requests honored according to when they are made. So those requests made 11 months prior have the best chance of being granted, of course.

I am not sure about non members renting on a cash basis, however.

 

[~Magical Princess~]

Our ressie was made through a member, so our requests will be treated as we are members! Awesome!!!

 

[DebbieB]

The CM seemed a little irritated or put off or something and she said kind of rudely "I can put it down, but it's not guaranteed". Don't a lot of people make requests? I don't think that was unreasonable.

I think DVC gets alot of heat from members not getting what they requested. This came up at the Boardwalk annual meeting I went to a couple of years ago, it's an especially heated subject there because they have many more Boardwalk view requests than they have rooms. The studio plus (room w/daybed) is another popular request that they don't have many rooms for. I made my reservation exactly at 11 months and didn't get the Boardwalk view requested, so even at 11 months there are no guarantees. It all depends on how many people checked out of your room type that day. There are also alot of rooms out of service for renovation, which can cut down your chances.

 

[DVC-Don]

I make any requests when I make the reservation. Most of the time we get my requests. When we do not get the request, that's life.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by GCM13
I requested a studio with a daybed. The CM seemed a little irritated or put off or something and she said kind of rudely "I can put it down, but it's not guaranteed". Don't a lot of people make requests? I don't think that was unreasonable.

The answer to your comment is yes, a lot of people make requests. And no, it was not unreasonable.

I've been lucky with the CM's I've dealt with so far...never got a rude or irritated one yet. But they're human and have bad days too. It's not an excuse for them, but I can see how it can happen. Just stick to your guns, know your "membership rights", and put the requests in. I get the "it's not guaranteed" line with most ressies, but it is usually offered in the spirit of clarifying, not chastising.

And DisneyHumbug (are you sure you're on the right boards? ).....if we got a smoking room when we requested a non-smoking I would be very disappointed. I don't know the ratio of smoking to non-smoking rooms at each of the resorts, but this is one of the main reasons I put my priority request of non-smoking in as soon as I make the reservation.


And to the original poster magic cruiser who said:

In other words don't bother faxing req right before you go,cause it won't do any good

You are correct if the information we get here is accurate. I know the faxing or calling a few days before you go to a WDW resort is a pretty good tactic (done it myself) when staying in resorts or cash ressies, but it doesn't seem to apply to DVC resorts on points.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Granny - what do you mean? because of my cranky name???

 

[Granny]

DisneyHumbug.....yes, I chuckled when I saw your name. The two words don't seem to go together. Sort of like "Disney? Bah, Humbug!".... I figured that anyone who felt that way wouldn't frequent a board dedicated to Disney!

I put the smiley in to make sure you knew I was kidding with you. I hope you took no offense.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Granny - I sent you a PM.

 

[colleen costello]

We all know reservations requests are "iffy," but one thing I read here really bugged me. One person mentioned she requested a non-smoking room and DIDN"T get that? That is simply not acceptable to me.

My family is comprised of militant non-smokers. We all have allergies and my Mom has asthma. There is no way we could stay in a smoking room. Regardless, old tobacco smoke STINKS! I would never pay (or use points) for a beatiful resort room than stunk. No one would expect you to stay in a room with the smell of skunk, or rotten food... to non-smokers, tobacco odors are equally bad.

I think that if non-smokers are getting stuck in smoking rooms, then there are too many smoking rooms. Florida has a temperate climate... it's not as if a smoker couldn't "step outside" to smoke! Please don't think I am being hateful to smokers... it's an addiction, and I know about those, being a food-addict all my life! I just feel strongly that tobacco smoke, even second-hand, is unhealthy, and that no one should ever be"stuck" in a smoky room.

 

[Eeyore2U]

Colleen,

I respect your rant.

DVC, as in life, has no guarantees.


We've never had a problem but there is always the next trip.