Schmoozing the Room Assigner

[sarahandhannahsmom]

When faxing room requests (building, non smoking, adjoining rooms, etc) are you straight forward and polite with your requests, or do you get cheesy and try to schmooze the room assigner?

You know how cute we are with the tag fairy, trying to get our luscious tags. Will this work for rooms or not?

I don't want to look like an idiot, but I don't want to be too formal if it's not the practice.

 

[cindala]

We have never faxed the room controller with requests in all the times we have stayed at Disney resorts, and we have never been disapointed. We only make requests on our reservation by phone, and the requests are always met.

Maybe someone else could offer their experience.

 

[HM]

I have tried faxing a request and haven't had a bit of luck with it in the four times I've tried. I have had MUCH better luck with just adding my requests to my reservation. -HM

 

[tjmw2727]

No... I don't "schmooze" I just write a short polite note with my requests in order of importance. Remember your dealing with a CM who is trying to sort out hundreds of reservations and do his/her best to find the right room for everyone. I don't think begging or playing games would work in that situation. More of a businesslike but friendly approach is what I take. I also only request things my reservation qualifies for like floor or view preference.

wdwig has a great section on faxing preferences and a sample letter.

TJ

 

[safetymom]

We used to fax with a cheery tone. But we don't fax now and just ask at checkin for our preferences. We haven't been disappointed yet. I went 7 times last year and it was great every time.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

But I do try to be concise, friendly and polite. I figure they are busy - so I make it easy by prioritizing my requests, actually listing and numbering, and mentioning that I know they might not be able to meet them all so (for example) N/S for medical reasons is No. 1 - most important to me. I also say something like I will just be happy to be at Disney but anything they could do to accomodate my request would be appreciated. I want them to know I'm not being pushy and am reasonable - just if they can help me out it'd be great.

I have faxed about 3 days out 5 times and gotten every single request I've ever made. Just lucky I guess but since it's worked for me I'm going to keep on faxing.

A couple of examples: at ASMo I asked for N/S, Toy Story Building - facing Andy's room if possible, upper floor. For CBR: N/S, first floor (because DH was using an ECV at the time), Martinique - Building 25 if possible, if can't get Martinique would like another area close to food court (got Martinique 25).

Good luck, hope it works for you.

 

[antmaril]

I faxed once prior to a trip to the Beach Club - we were celebrating my 50th birthday. Didn't help one bit - none of my requests were granted. The upside of this was that my husband went to the front desk and expressed his displeasure. In the end, we were upgraded to concierge. That was a nice treat, but I still didn't have my waterview.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Personally I have not done it... (faxing) I just request what I want at the time of booking.

I don't know about schmooozing... but maybe something that makes your fax stand out more than the other hundred they recieve on any given day... something funny, or catchy... maybe make you more of a person than a name on a page.

I wouldn't request anything I didn't pay for though (ie) request a prefered building when you didn't book one or request a lake view if you booked a garden view. If something like that is very important to you - just book and pay for it so you don't have to worry

Let us know what you decide to do...

>>^..^<<

 

[twinmomplus2]

We have never faxed before, I usually just note my requests at time of booking. HOWEVER... we leave in 3 days, have 3 groups traveling together and we all are arriving together close to midnight. Because of the late arrival I did fax prior that we would all be arriving at that late hour. One fax covered 2 of the 3 rooms and that had a large Mickey head balloon drawn on it. The last had Some assorted stickers, Mickey, pooh, Bear, Chip and Dale. I will let you know how it goes.

 

[LadyLt]

Originally posted by antmaril
I faxed once prior to a trip to the Beach Club - we were celebrating my 50th birthday. Didn't help one bit - none of my requests were granted. The upside of this was that my husband went to the front desk and expressed his displeasure. In the end, we were upgraded to concierge. That was a nice treat, but I still didn't have my waterview.

Did you pay for a waterview? If so and you didn't get it, you have a valid complaint. But if you were asking for a free upgrade, I don't understand complaining about it.

 

[Eeyore1954]

I keep the note brief, cheery and polite. That said on our last trip we stayed at the BC. I faxed our requests and added a couple of Tigger clip art pieces to it. I closed by wishing that the room assigner a "Tigger-rific day." We got all our requests.

 

[ripleysmom]

I don't fax room requests. I had them note non-smoking on the ressie. If I have no expectations then I don't have to worry about them not being met.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I've only faxed in for room requests once and I wasn't too sure how to word things, so I just kept it polite. I usually just ask for a non-smoking room in a quiet area ... Anything extra is a nice surprise!

 

[Julle]

i fax the room assigner at CSR each time and have always gotten my requests!! I have to admit it could be because we ask for the furtherest buildings on property. WE like to be away from the acton. We have always gotten the exact room we wanted!!

 

[reldridge]

Wouldn't you like to be a room assigner at a WDW resort for just one day? I think it might be a riot to read the faxed requests. You know that some must be quite elaborate.

 

[antmaril]

Yes, I booked a waterview room. I had requested a room with two queen beds (I knew that some rooms at the Beach Club had double beds) and a full sized balcony (some at BC are singles). I had this noted on the reservation and I also sent a very nice fax reminding them of our requests.

When we checked in and went to the room, it had two double beds and a single balcony. My husband went to the front desk and asked them for a room with two queens (this was more important to us than the full balcony). Well, they didn't have a waterview room with two queens, so they upgraded us to standard view concierge room with two queens. However, we were now looking at the parking lot. I was happy about the concierge, but to be honest, I had looked forward to the waterview room for a long time. I did not ask for or expect any free upgrades.

 

[DisneyChick02]

I would personally suggest two things: keep it short and keep it polite. Adding a "have a great day" at the end would never hurt either! If possible, requests are honored. Remember, humor CAN backfire on you depending on to whom you are speaking. I've seen a few that are like "well, at resort X we got this free upgrade and a corner room, and we you to do better at resort Z." I'm sure it was in an attempt to be funny, but it came across as more audacious than anything else, and a set-up for failure to meet expectations.

If there are specific reasons why you need a room a certain way (i.e. recent surgery, etc.) I would definetely suggest faxing b/c sometimes those comments don't always reach the resort. Please remember if the resort is sold out rooms that match your request may be difficult to come by if not impossible. I've always found, however, that if you just expect nothing and see what happens, you're least disappointed!!

Hope this helps!

 

[Snowysmom]

I have faxed requests for the last 4 trips and have been fortunate enough to get most of my requests. I try to be polite, brief, and friendly. I do start out by saying how much we are looking forward to our trip and do mention if it is a special occassion such as our last trip when it for my older son's high school graduation and my younger son's middle school graduation. We always need a nonsmoking room because of asthma and that request is always put on the reservation.

 

[pwcarlson]

Have stayed at 2 different resorts lately. CSR and WL. At CSR I was able to fax them a request for a certain building. We had already paid for a waterview and was able to get exactly what we had asked for.

At the WL we were on the road and traveling 3 days before check-in so I call the resort about 2 days before check-in. I asked politely if we could be assigned a certain room. We had reserved a 'woods' view(not the parking lot) but the rooms that I had asked for were already booked. The CM handling the call was very nice and offered to move us across the hall to a courtyard view at no additional cost. She thought maybe we might like that room better than the ones I was trying to get into. We were upgraded one level. The view was great. We could see the lake and pool.

I was very nice and try to ask for their help. I kept thanking them on the phone for all their help. I guess you could say I was smoozing but I hope I did not get too sappy. I think they can see thru the ones that are just trying to get a deal without appreciating it.

Try faxing and you can try calling. Both worked for me. I guess I don't try to plan on getting everything. You maybe pleasantly surprised or bitterly disappointed. Good Luck and hope the pixie dust falls on you and you get your wishes!

 

[LadyLt]

Originally posted by antmaril
Yes, I booked a waterview room. I had requested a room with two queen beds (I knew that some rooms at the Beach Club had double beds) and a full sized balcony (some at BC are singles). I had this noted on the reservation and I also sent a very nice fax reminding them of our requests.

When we checked in and went to the room, it had two double beds and a single balcony. My husband went to the front desk and asked them for a room with two queens (this was more important to us than the full balcony). Well, they didn't have a waterview room with two queens, so they upgraded us to standard view concierge room with two queens. However, we were now looking at the parking lot. I was happy about the concierge, but to be honest, I had looked forward to the waterview room for a long time. I did not ask for or expect any free upgrades.

I understand now. Unfortunately, sometimes a room with everything that is wanted is just not available. There are hundreds of guests checking in each day and so many of them want the same things. They did not have a waterview with the two queen beds so they offered you concierge. So it came down to what was most important: waterview or queen beds.

I have been in this situation myself of trying to make a guest happy and nothing I do will make them happy. Sometimes the room is just not there, there is nothing that can be done. We can't make someone else leave their room.