Room/section requests and "room assigners"???

[edk35]

Okay I realize that room requests or section of resort are just that REQUESTS. So here is my question. Do you think you have a better chance of getting that REQUEST if you check in early or does it matter when you check in?? We have to switch resorts in Nov. due to availability and we would like to go straight to a park after bell services takes our things and not worry about heading over to OKW to check in. We would like to wait til mid afternoon. So do our requests get assigned days before our arrival so rushing over early isn't necessary or do they get filled as we check in? So if JOE BOB shows up at 8:00 a.m. with the same request as me and I show up at 3:00, will Joe BOB get the request and I won't??? Doe this make sense. I am not worried about getting in our room early that day. Our main goal that day is to get up and out the door to EC in time for opening and not worry about running over to OKW first.

 

[5forDiz]

Tough call because a request is just a request so going to check in early really doesn't guarantee it but it certainly can't hurt. IMHO it is better odds than going later in day.

Just send one person over to do the check-in and the rest of the family can go head over to the park for early opening. Especially if you have a car send one member of your party there bright and early (7 - 8 am) to OKW to do your check-in and in best mannered, cheery Disney style make mention of your hope that your request for room location has been sprinkled with pixie dust and can be met

This is what we do and in most cases our request has come through or pretty close to it. OKW is a great place ( it's our Home ) that I really don't think you will be disappointed with any of the locations. Some get concerned that if they don't get a location near Hospitality House/Conch Flats area that they are "too far" but truth is most areas are an easy walk to it or just hop a bus at your closest stop and your there.

 

[CarolAnnC]

The "Hospitality House" area is now a separate booking category at OKW, so unless you have reserved from that category (like Boardwalk view) you will not be able to request it.

Truthfully, I cannot think of an undesirable area at OKW even if you are not in the HH category. Bus stops and pools are scattered and plentiful and the internal bus system very easy to use. I would head to the parks and check in mid afternoon as you are planning!

 

[DebbieB]

Sometimes rooms are pre-assigned, sometimes they use "room ready" where they assign rooms as people check-in. Even if they are pre-assigning, if someone is unhappy with what they got, they can switch around with those not yet arrived. So it's always good to check-in early if you can.

 

[wdw1972]

Unfortunately, most likely JOE BOB who made his reservation a month ago with the same requests as you, checking in at 8am will get what you requested 11 months ago if you're checking in at 3pm!

Years ago they pre-assigned & it was based on how long ago you made your reservation. They changed it a couple years ago or so, to where now it's basically first-come, first serve. They'll sorta pre-block, but if someone checking in early doesn't want the crappy room they've been pre-assigned, they'll ask for another and get what someone arriving later would have gotten.

It's not right, but that's what dvc decided to do.

 

[bookwormde]

I do not have any quantitative data but logically if you check in early and let the front desk person know that you are willing to wait for your request to be available, that would give you the best chance (chance at all the room which become available throughout the day). Of course this depends on the efficiency of the front desk personnel to “keep you request on top”

bookwormde

 

[dvcdisney]

In our past vacations, it never seemed to matter when we check it. I guess it depends on when the previous guest are leaving the room that you want. I suppose if you check in at 8 am, and the rooms that you would like is still occupied with someone, they may just offer you a different room. And it is likely that, if the room is finally ready and it comes up available at 4pm, and someone checks in at that time with the same request as you, they would get it even though they checked in a lot later.

I think there are people who check in early and if their request is not available, they will ask to wait for the next one. But sometimes, I've heard this a few times, the CMs will explain to them that there is no guarantee. I guess that as long as you are fine with waiting all that time and not getting the request, then there's no problem. I really think it's just the luck of the draw.