Rooms now being assigned by computer

[gokenin]

I find this funny people here are willing to accept Disney telling them that you will be in this room and that we will humor you if you ask for a change but do not expect to get your way. However when Disney does the same thing with the food and the drinks its HOW DARE THEY and this is the end of Disney as we know it. ahh well have a good one all.

 

[verticalchaos]

So when staying at the Beach Club, do I have the right to expect a large room and 2 queen sized beds? (what I'm paying for). What happens when I'm assigned a room the same size as a moderate room with 2 double beds? Is Disney going to give me my money back or do I have "entitlement" to ask for a different room?

If the rooms at Beach Club are different sizes and with different bed sizes but not different prices, then sorry, no dice. It's luck of the draw.

If the larger room with queen sized beds is a separate category for which you pay extra, then you have an argument.

As for multiple requests at other hotels... I used to work in a hotel, and I can tell you that the more requests and the more demanding someone was on the phone about those requests, the more likely they were to find themselves blocked into a room that yes, met all their requests but might not have had the most desirable view. I saw it happen more than once. And as a convention hotel we were almost always sold out, so there weren't a lot of options for changing.

 

[princesspeach]

I don't see why requests would be difficult to honor unless everyone request the same thing. When you make your reservation I think disney should ask you for your request. I requested to be near the pool. I'm sure there are a lot people that would prefer not to be anywhere near the pool and in a quieter spot. I don't see why its unrealistic for a hotel to try to give you what you wan't or make you happy so you wan't to return. That's just good business. It's not like were not paying huge amounts to go to Disney. If they don't want to honor requests they should lower their prices. I will only stay deluxe and I expect a little more for the price.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

So it looks like Disney set this up in preparation for this change and they will make more money from people who want the most popular requests.

1) Disney does nothing spur-of-the-moment.
2) It might not be planned/executed well, but they are planned.
3) The more categories
. . . the more chances for increased revenue
. . . the lesser the chance for overbooking (won't risk a worse room)
. . . the easier for a computer to schedule
4) Of course, this could all just be coincidence . . . . . . . . . hmmm

 

[bumbershoot]

I wonder if the upgrades were the cause of the LONG line of complaints at the front desk at AKL on the 13th and 14th... Hubby was one of those complaining, and he was near another family with the same problem. Family with smaller kids and no extra needs being given HA rooms, which have no tubs. Tubs being very helpful with smaller kids.

It was later at night when we got to really look at our room (checkin was frantic and crazy, and we were late to a dinner reservation and too stressed to remember to check out the room...and the CBR, OKW 2 bedroom, OKW 1 bedroom, and, not related, room at Royal Pacific Resort, had all been PERFECT, so we didn't think it was necessary), and noticed the no tub issue. Our son was falling asleep and I felt we could move the next day, if we had to wait.

They had no problems changing us, but then wanted us to be "homeless" from 11am to after 4pm. Um....no. "Well late check out is absolutely NOT possible with DVC". Then...two manager phone calls later (one of which not explaining the issue AT ALL), suddenly...we had late checkout. That wasn't possible. Interesting. And in our case, late checkout meant "we could leave that room once our new room was ready". Perfect.

And only took THREE manager phone calls to get the permission. Hubby is so good at this sort of thing because he remains entirely calm, states his needs, his reasons, and doesn't budge, calmly and politely.


I look up the AKL villa on DVC's site, there's a layout given and a description of the room. The Jambo info is not all that helpful, but the picture is the same as the other info, so there's still an expectation. When given an HA room, you do NOT get what it shows. And when you don't need the room, at least at this point in your life, it just feels wrong to get it.


Anyway, I wonder if that's why there was such a long line of mainly bonafide complaints at AKL! (the one bogus one was a lady wanting her DVC points back because it had been cold during her stay....it HAD been cold, but come on)

 

[princesspeach]

Even paying top dollar you should not feel entitled to anything except that which you have purchased. And at Disney you are entitled to a room at whatever level resort you made the reservation for, and for the type of room you made a reservation for. Nowhere do they tell you that you can ask for and expect to get a 3rd floor room with two windows that face south and have a view of a palm tree that is exactly 3 feet high. And that seems to be what some guests felt entitled to.

Disney calls them requests, not guarantees. You should not feel entitled to a request and if you do you are just setting yourself up to be disappointed.

I doubt people go to that extreme to request a room. If your paying the deluxe prices you expect deluxe service. If your paying Motel 6 prices such as the values. Well than you get what you pay for. Aren't you the one that complained about not getting your room request a few weeks ago. I'm just saying....

 

[twooley2]

I wonder if the upgrades were the cause of the LONG line of complaints at the front desk at AKL on the 13th and 14th... Hubby was one of those complaining, and he was near another family with the same problem. Family with smaller kids and no extra needs being given HA rooms, which have no tubs. Tubs being very helpful with smaller kids.

It was later at night when we got to really look at our room (checkin was frantic and crazy, and we were late to a dinner reservation and too stressed to remember to check out the room...and the CBR, OKW 2 bedroom, OKW 1 bedroom, and, not related, room at Royal Pacific Resort, had all been PERFECT, so we didn't think it was necessary), and noticed the no tub issue. Our son was falling asleep and I felt we could move the next day, if we had to wait.

They had no problems changing us, but then wanted us to be "homeless" from 11am to after 4pm. Um....no. "Well late check out is absolutely NOT possible with DVC". Then...two manager phone calls later (one of which not explaining the issue AT ALL), suddenly...we had late checkout. That wasn't possible. Interesting. And in our case, late checkout meant "we could leave that room once our new room was ready". Perfect.

And only took THREE manager phone calls to get the permission. Hubby is so good at this sort of thing because he remains entirely calm, states his needs, his reasons, and doesn't budge, calmly and politely.


I look up the AKL villa on DVC's site, there's a layout given and a description of the room. The Jambo info is not all that helpful, but the picture is the same as the other info, so there's still an expectation. When given an HA room, you do NOT get what it shows. And when you don't need the room, at least at this point in your life, it just feels wrong to get it.


Anyway, I wonder if that's why there was such a long line of mainly bonafide complaints at AKL! (the one bogus one was a lady wanting her DVC points back because it had been cold during her stay....it HAD been cold, but come on)

As long as it was not cold in her villa and the heat was working all should be o.k.

 

[rock_doctor]

I predict there will be more complaints and more dissatisfied guests than ever before! The front desk job will be harder than ever. Another brilliant innovation from a company that just keeps 'em coming.

Agreed

 

[Sammie]

I doubt people go to that extreme to request a room. If your paying the deluxe prices you expect deluxe service. If your paying Motel 6 prices such as the values. Well than you get what you pay for. Aren't you the one that complained about not getting your room request a few weeks ago. I'm just saying....

Oh my gosh they do, I know of a case at the Grand Floridian a woman wanted a palm tree cut down because it partially obstructed her Garden view of the pool.

 

[cjsm&d]

There were changes to resort room categories in 2011 to create smaller sets of rooms and to charge more for the most popular. For example, at AKL, Arusha savannah view is now a separate category and costs more. At the moderates, there are preferred rooms, which are the ones most requested and cost more now. So it looks like Disney set this up in preparation for this change and they will make more money from people who want the most popular requests.

I think this is great! The buildings they are making prefferred (CSR) are not the ones I like to request. Maybe I get a little better shot at it.

I never feel entitled to my room requests, but I certainly don't think I'm a bad person for requesting them and don't feel bad about requesting them.

We always go mid-week to mid-week (Tuesday or Wednesday) and check in in the late morning early afternoon. Maybe that's why we have had so much luck getting our room requests (never busy when we check in). We also never ask for an upgrade, though we've gotten a couple of those also....

 

[KellyNY]

I doubt people go to that extreme to request a room. If your paying the deluxe prices you expect deluxe service. If your paying Motel 6 prices such as the values. Well than you get what you pay for. Aren't you the one that complained about not getting your room request a few weeks ago. I'm just saying....

You just not long enough on board to see all those crazy requests. For example, someone posted about being able to watch fireworks right outside their room at POP, next poster asking what was the room number to put it on their request(true story).

 

[Minnie Lor]

It wasn't me but I had a room like that. Nice! but only took advantage of it one night.

 

[ppony]

You just not long enough on board to see all those crazy requests. For example, someone posted about being able to watch fireworks right outside their room at POP, next poster asking what was the room number to put it on their request(true story).

I remember that one. It wasn't too long ago IIR. Thankfully no one ever asked me our room number when we got a garden veiw room at the Poly where we saw the lagoon beautifully, the castle AND the fireworks! All from our lowly garden view! Of course, it DID have very a sparce avocado tree (?) in the way. I hardly noticed it, it had barely a leaf on it. MMMM, guac! This was one case I was GLAD to not have requested a darned thing (because we were there only 2 nights B4 a cruise) and we ended up w/ a room that was STELLAR! Normally though, I pay for the view I want. I'm never disappointed that way. I like having more paying options to be able to cut through the requests and get what you're willing to pay for.

 

[KellyNY]

I remember that one. It wasn't too long ago IIR. Thankfully no one ever asked me our room number when we got a garden veiw room at the Poly where we saw the lagoon beautifully, the castle AND the fireworks! All from our lowly garden view! Of course, it DID have very a sparce avocado tree (?) in the way. I hardly noticed it, it had barely a leaf on it. MMMM, guac! This was one case I was GLAD to not have requested a darned thing (because we were there only 2 nights B4 a cruise) and we ended up w/ a room that was STELLAR! Normally though, I pay for the view I want. I'm never disappointed that way. I like having more paying options to be able to cut through the requests and get what you're willing to pay for.

Do not reveal your room number, EVER. I also prefer to be able to pay exactly what I want for and be sure I will get it.

 

[DebbieB]

Do not reveal your room number, EVER. I also prefer to be able to pay exactly what I want for and be sure I will get it.

There have been many posts on this board where people were "downgraded" when they got there, so there is never a 100% guarantee. It's rare, but it can happen. Someone also posted within the last week that they were moved from All Star Music to Sports without any other option.

 

[KellyNY]

There have been many posts on this board where people were "downgraded" when they got there, so there is never a 100% guarantee. It's rare, but it can happen. Someone also posted within the last week that they were moved from All Star Music to Sports without any other option.

Rarely but it happens, just like upgrades to higher category resort.

 

[bicker]

Because EVERYONE doing it (or a LOT of people) is a logistical nightmare!

Yes, and there is a cost to accommodating requests, so fairness dictates that only the people who make requests should pay that cost.

 

[bicker]

So WDW is placing all of it's expectations of revenue on new people and no returning guests? Smart business strategy.

Practically every consumer-facing industry is moving in the same direction.

They're not all idiots.

They know something that I'm sure many consumers would like to deny the reality of.

We consumers have poisoned the pool, proving that we're often not worth going the extra mile for, anymore. Often, all we seem to care about is the lowest price.

It is going to utterly suck being a consumer when Wal-Mart mentality has had its full effect.

 

[bicker]

Doesn't everyone who pays $600 or more a night for Disney magic deserve just as good a room as you?

Yes, and at no time did I say that they weren't entitled to the same.

As such, it makes no sense to give anyone the better room because they asked for it. The better rooms should be parceled out randomly, so everyone has an even chance of getting them. This is kindergarten stuff afiac.

 

[bicker]

Then Disney really needs to make some common requests bookable

Rest assured that if we consumers would reward them for doing so, then they'd do so.

connecting rooms for larger families

This seems like it should be an exception, but who knows what data Disney has on this (and you know they have more data than there are sands on the beach!) Perhaps making connecting rooms bookable would so substantially reduce demand for suites and such. Perhaps it would result in far too many empty rooms (due to the need to keep the room next to a room empty, in anticipation of a check-in one or two days later). These are real cost issues, and so if consumers want to expect that level of service, then they have to be willing to pay a lot more than $600 per night. People make a big deal about how expensive WDW is: It's expensive because it is WDW, not because they're competing with Ritz-Carlton! You're paying for the location and the affinity benefits.

ETA: I wouldn't even object to a small upcharge for guaranteeing connecting rooms.

Peg that at about $30 per night. How do you feel about it now?