The real deal on faxing your requests??

[Ethelina]

Just wondering how important faxing in your requests for room assignments? It seems that this is a very important topic. When I made our ressie, I requested non-smoking, connecting rooms and nice view would be great! Should I send a fax before we leave to ensure these requests? I know you should address it to the "room assign. dept" and no sooner than 3 days prior. What is the proper way to request?

 

[GEM]

I think it helps. We have always faxed our requests and we have always had our requests met - each and every time! Of couse, we tend to go during really slow times of year. I just send a fax addressed to the "Rooms Controller" about three days before we arrive. I always state our preferences in order of their importance to us. For instance, for our last trip to the WL, our requests (in order of importance) were:

-A room close to the lobby overlooking the main pool
-A room with a king bed
-A non-smoking room

We got all three. I say go ahead and fax it in. So far, it's never failed for us!

 

[Disney-Kim]

I am on the flipside of the coin. I don't think faxing your requests is any better than having the requests on your reservation. jmho

 

[RobinLyn]

I just want to add to the two posts above, that faxing requests 3 day before leaving may help and may not. It really depends on the "Room Controller" at that Resort. I think it's like anything else, one "person" can make all the difference. I agree that the time of year it is can also help or hurt getting all you request. I do believe most Disney Resorts, especially the Deluxe ones, try to give people what they want. So by faxing in your request surly doesn't hurt your chances. The only time I didn't get what I requested was at the Wilderness Lodge, December 2000...a very slow time (Nov. 30 - Dec. 6). It was also my Birthday while we were there and they didn't even give me a Mickey Happy Birthday call. We stayed in a Junior Suite and I might add "not" at a discount price either.

RobinLyn

 

[cruzmouse]

My family and I had ressies at Poly in early December last year. I fax'd my room request according to Tikimans suggestions and also included the fact that it was DH's 40th bday and I reallllly wanted that particular room # if possible. Not only did we get the room(lagoon view for standard price,thank you tikiman) but also 2 hrs after check-in they delivered a card,bouquet of balloons, and a mickey mouse birthday cake....We were so excited... Afterward I felt guilty about including info regarding DH's bday on the request... I only included the info hoping to get the right room.....but we got so much more......It is our favorite resort..

 

[zurgswife]

i'm another person that has never gotten anything other than a nonsmoking room as part of my request....This year I'm just leaving it to what I put as a request as part of my ressies and not faxing ...and see what happens...

 

[jwfla422]

I agree with all posters on the variety of what was said. The one thing I wanted to add is that if you do request a particular location and you do get it you'd better like it, sometimes you can be setting yourself up for disappointment unless you have actually stayed in the room you're asking for or in the vicinity & are familar with what you're really asking for.

I faxed a request for a specific room/area for our last trip. This was the first time I have ever done that (we've stayed at WDW 20+ times). We got the room next to the one that was on the top of my list (just missing the castle view I really wanted), it was a convenient location but VERY noisey because it was so close to the elevators & would never ask for this location again, but I felt obligated to stay in the room because I asked for it.

Of course, you have to be flexible, how likely was it that there would have been someone checking out the day we were checking in to a specified room? (1 in 7 I guess)

I would recommend if you do request a room don't be too too specific. (requesting views of a large area, connecting/non-connecting doors, etc would be more useful). They will try to grant requests if the availability allows. It certainly can't hurt to fax one.

 

[Aunt Jo]

I have a theory about requests - faxed or otherwise. We have never requested much but seldom get what we requested. I think the time of day has a lot to do with the room you get. If several people have the same requests, the first ones that check in are going to get them. We always check in later in the day and take what's left. It's never been a big hardship but that is what our experience has been. One time at BWV, the CM showed us a map of the rooms with 3 that didn't have X.s in them and told us to pick which of the 3 we wanted. I'm sure there are people out there that checked in at 10:00 PM and got everything they requested and God bless 'em but I don't think that's the norm.

 

[cinmell]

I make my requests when I make my room reservations with CRO. I have never faxed a request and I have always received what I asked for.

 

[Ethelina]

I appreciate all your opinions. I agree with the rule "be careful for what you ask for". If something is wrong I wouldn't feel like I had to stay in the room I asked for. But then again, there's a rule about "ask and you shall receive"! My priority request is the connecting rooms. So maybe I will?? Thanx!!

 

[Tara8595]

Seems to me I just read somewhere - new Unofficial guide maybe - that faxing doesn't do any good anymore because the rooms are no longer assigned ahead of time. They are now assigned at check-in.

I've never faxed a room request. We usually checkin around 10:30 am on a weekday and make our room requests at that time and usually get what we ask for - sometimes we even get more than we ask for. I agree with 'Aunt Jo' that checking in early definitely helps.

Mom and Dad went for their anniversary once and moved twice before they were satisfied with the room. Went from a room that smelled 'smoky' to a room that was getting bus pollution and noise and finally to an end/corner room that had 2(!) balconies at BWI. Of course, this negated her request to be near the entrance - no biggie, but they ended up with a pretty garden view, a big room, and a lot of extra light. They said the front desk was great about finding the right place for their stay and never acted rude or anything that they were being picky. But it was early in the day and on a weekday check-in.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by Tara8595
Seems to me I just read somewhere - new Unofficial guide maybe - that faxing doesn't do any good anymore because the rooms are no longer assigned ahead of time. They are now assigned at check-in....

Nope, not completely true. Any reservation with a request is blocked ahead of time by the room assigner. Any reservation with no requests is assigned as they check in from a pool of available rooms that the front desk CM's can draw from.

 

[dcedwards]

Also, if you have a room that is guaranteed for a medical condition those are assigned about 5 days out. They are given preference over the others since they are guaranteed.

Due to a medical condition we are always guaranteed non-smoking rooms. Most of the time our other requests have also been met ... except once we got adjoining rooms instead of connecting rooms. They said we could move the next day if we wanted, though. Wasn't a big deal so we stayed put. Always put your requests in the order of preference though as they tend to fill them in that way.

 

[adisneyfan2]

GoldenOldie is right -- Rooms can be blocked ahead of time. We stayed Concierge last July at Cont, & called ahead to reiterate our requests. (Last Spring we had requested a non-smoking room but got a "smoking option" room, & had to move after both kids started wheezing--within the first hour!) Anyway, in July the CM slipped and mentioned a specific room number -- which we got when we arrived late in the evening five days later. I've never tried faxing (but plan to for our Oct trip), but have heard that "a little honey goes a long way." (Just like anywhere I guess!) Good luck!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I have decided not to fax a request. I placed a request on my ressie and then I called back to confirm that it was there. And, lo' and behold, the first time I called back, she had NOT placed the request on my ressie.

I have paid for a King bed room at POR. I requested non-smoking with a river view, preferably in a mansion. If I don't get a river view when I check in, I am going to ask if there are any available that I can have. If not, oh well. No biggie. I will let everyone know how my non-faxed request goes.

 

[goofy4tink]

Our last trip down we traveled with another family. We asked for connecting rooms, water-view in Magnolia Terrace. 3 days before we left I called POR directly and was given to the room controller. He was extremely nice. He double-checked our ressies. All that we asked for was there. I had had a problem originally when we got our confirmation. It didn't show any of the requests. But, lo and behold POR had it in their system!! We got exactly what we had asked for upon arrival. It does pay to be nice and non-demanding tho. Our next trip I have asked for non-smoking since my dd has been having asthmatic episodes. My confirmation shows we need non-smoking for medical reasons. Was very glad to see that. Now we should be able to relax!!

 

[miko]

I have gotten into a habit of faxing a kind of "bio" when I travel for vacation and sometimes while on business. Simple things like room preferance, bed type, maybe a location or specific room which may or may not be available with normal reservation. I have had many "specials" from a variety of hotels for occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays and such. Don't always get recognition but more times than not do. I also don't upset when nothing special is extended since no hotel is required to do anything but provide room with services outlined. As an example, just spent 27th anniversarry at Virginia Beach Marriott (schedule did not allow for Disney). I faxed them and included that it was out 27th, upon check-in desk acknowledged our special day. Later we received a beautiful floral arrangement and split of champange. Not expected but well appreciated. They also made dinner reservations for us at local restaurant and we were surprised to have them acknowlege our anniversarry and provide us with a complimentary desert.
If you expect something special and don't get it you will be disapointed. Therefore my philosophy is to provide hotel with enough information about my visit and let them decide what to do with it. No such thing as entitlement!
If you notice when you check-in at WDW the CRO is looking at a screen that should have requests made at time of reservation and any additional faxed data you provided. Contrary to those who feel that Disney doesn't track your "profile" the screen will also list past visits. This may have a significant impact on special requests!!!!!

 

[epcotfan]

I usually don't make requests over the phone. I fax 5 days prior. On the last three trips all requests have been met. I generally ask for non smoking room close to a particular area I'm interested in. I don't get picky over really specific things such as corner rooms, specific room #s, etc... I also am super flexible with my requests. I think the tone of faxes makes an impact. I wouldn't be bummed if they couldn't be met...sometimes resorts have rooms blocked or other guests got there before you.

 

[disboo]

Last winter, because of what I had read on this board, I faxed a request to AKL. I wrote a real light, appreciative note explaining that my sister and I were celebrating her successful kidney transplant (after four years of waiting). I asked for some sort of "pixie dust" for her - a card, or beanie baby or (hee hee) a room upgrade. Lo and behold - we were upgraded to a savannah view instead of standard! It was heavenly and it really added to our trip, although we would have loved the trip anyway. It was a quiet time of year (Jan), and we checked in in the middle of the day, so that probably helped, too.

I would definitely fax in reasonable requests, and be grateful if they can accomodate it. None of us are "entitled" to upgrades, but Disney surprises many of us with their "pixie dust!"