Touring Plans Room Request or travel agent?

[MickeyRules]

2 questions:

1) We are staying at Pop at the end of May. We have 2 standard rooms for our group of 5 so at the very least I'd like connecting rooms. Beyond that, I'd like as close to transportation and/or the main building as possible for preferred rooms. My travel agent has told me that the more requests I make, the less likely we are to get any requests. Is that true? Any thoughts on how many is too many?

2) Touring Plans has a service available where they can fax a request in to Disney based on a parameters you choose on their site. Should I use this service, or have our travel agent make the requests?

 

[maxiesmom]

It is true that the more requests you make the less likely it is you will get them. Conventional Wisdom on the Dis is to make no more than 3 requests, and to list them in order of importance. And realize you may still not get any of them, as they are truly requests.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

My travel agent has told me that the more requests I make, the less likely we are to get any requests. Is that true?

This is true. Basically, the more requests you make the smaller universe of rooms there is to meet all of them at once, and more dependencies on their availability to do them. "Near Transportation" is one of the most common requests for people booking Standard Rooms, for instance. Everyone can't get that one. Then you also want connecting near transportation.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would do both to make my requests. Just make sure your requests don't contradict one another.

 

[Bree]

Since you are already booked in preferred rooms your walk won't be long to the bus stop or food court. If I were you, I would make connecting rooms the only request.

 

[maxiesmom]

OP--Do you have standard or preferred rooms? You called them my both names

 

[tinkerbella16]

I did online check-in with my 2 requests, my TA noted requests on my reservation, and I used Touring Plans room request fax - I got the exact room that I requested, with all requests met at POR. This was in November. It does not hurt to make requests and use the services from TP's. While nothing is guarenteed, it might work. We'll be using the TP's room request fax again for September at Beach Club.

 

[Hopefully]

I have used Touring Plans room request and not received my requests.
I agree with PP, the more requests you make the less likely there will be an available room to meet them. If Connecting is important to you I would pay for a Preferred Room and make connecting my only request through my Travel Agent.
There is no harm in also using Touring Plans as well.

 

[Lynne M]

Once your travel agent has put the requests on your reservation, you've done all you really need to. Using the Touring Plans fax won't hurt, but it's just redundant at that point. It doesn't increase your chances of getting the request.

And more requests = less chance of getting any of them is definitely true. First, the one and only bus stop is at the main building, so there's no need to request both close to transportation and close to the main building. It's ok to request "connecting" and "close to main building," but put the one that's most important to you first. What if there's one connecting room pair available and it's at the farthest point from the main building?

 

[PaintsWindColors]

Alternatively, you could check TouringPlans resort maps and determine the room number(s) that would work best for you. Sometimes it's easier to request a room number instead of stating all of your preferences.

 

[Bree]

OP--Do you have standard or preferred rooms? You called them my both names

oh...just read it again. It does appear that she booked standard view and has preferences for a certain location and connecting rooms.

Alternatively, you could check TouringPlans resort maps and determine the room number(s) that would work best for you. Sometimes it's easier to request a room number instead of stating all of your preferences.

And if that room number isn't available because someone is already in it what is the room assigner to do? They have no idea why that room was requested.

 

[PaintsWindColors]

And if that room number isn't available because someone is already in it what is the room assigner to do? They have no idea why that room was requested.

Of course but this is the same issue as making multiple requests and not being guaranteed to get ALL of them. They can see the defining features of the room number you've selected and assign you to one similar. It worked for me on my last trip, not saying it will work for everyone.

 

[Hopefully]

Alternatively, you could check TouringPlans resort maps and determine the room number(s) that would work best for you. Sometimes it's easier to request a room number instead of stating all of your preferences.

This is never recommended. That very room is likely occupied when you check in.

Of course but this is the same issue as making multiple requests and not being guaranteed to get ALL of them. They can see the defining features of the room number you've selected and assign you to one similar. It worked for me on my last trip, not saying it will work for everyone.

The room assigners do not "see the defining features...and assign you to one similar". They don't have time to try to read minds
You got a huge sprinkling of pixie dust.
Good Luck OP

 

[PaintsWindColors]

This is never recommended. That very room is likely occupied when you check in.



The room assigners do not "see the defining features...and assign you to one similar". They don't have time to try to read minds
You got a huge sprinkling of pixie dust.
Good Luck OP

Recommended or not, TouringPlans actually uses the specific room number as an example in their room request fax so I'm just passing along info that HAS worked for me and IS used by a major Disney planning agency. And defining features are pretty common sense. Near transportation, corner room...all 'defining' features. Just pick an adjective and I'm sure you'll figure out how it works.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

A lot of preliminary room assignment is done by computer, actually. The TP request codes use language that can be used by assignment systems.

Actual humans don't do a lot of analysis or read everything. They mostly troubleshoot and deal with special cases.

 

[AngiTN]

This is never recommended. That very room is likely occupied when you check in.



The room assigners do not "see the defining features...and assign you to one similar". They don't have time to try to read minds
You got a huge sprinkling of pixie dust.
Good Luck OP

That's the best part about the TP fax service. The request is worded as such, while you start with a specific room, they do see the defining features. Based on that starting point.

 

[Hopefully]

Recommended or not, TouringPlans actually uses the specific room number as an example in their room request fax so I'm just passing along info that HAS worked for me and IS used by a major Disney planning agency. And defining features are pretty common sense. Near transportation, corner room...all 'defining' features. Just pick an adjective and I'm sure you'll figure out how it works.

Touring Plans uses a series of room numbers as an example. They do not request a single room number. This is a very different circumstance. Your original post was misleading.
As Aurora stated, much of the work is done by computer.

 

[DisMommyTX]

Does anyone have the number to use to fax room requests. Twice we have been unsuccessful using Disney's systems for entering room preferences. At AoA, we checked two 'boxes' for room preferences during online checkin. When we arrived we were assigned the opposite of what we requested and told that no preferences had been entered. Next stay at POR, I called and verified that both preferences were listed. When the text arrived, the only request matched was upper floor. I called and was transferred eventually to a very nice woman who actually did room assignments. She looked through everything and told me that the only request shown on our reservation was upper floor. The others entered online during check-in (and confirmed by calling) were not received by the actual schedulers. She went out of her way trying to honor our requests, but at that point almost all rooms in the resort had been assigned. She offered a couple specific room numbers we could switch to, and in each case told me the pros and cons of that specific room! She also told me the best way to have room preferences honored in the future would be to... fax it in!!

I understand that specific rooms may be full, but I am looking for upper floor in a certain building or area. In each case, there were MANY rooms that would have fit our preferences. I am convinced that whoever (or whatever) did the scheduling was not informed of our preferences despite the fact that they were viewable online and to the phone CM's.

I generally prefer not to inconvenience people by requesting special attention, but since Disney can't even relay info from the boxes checked online, it's time to try something different. I wish I had asked her for the fax number, but I didn't think of it then. Anyone have a good fax number?

 

[maxiesmom]

Even faxing, there is no guarantee you will get your room requests met. They are truly requests.

Most resorts no longer look at faxes anyway. I know POR still does. But most do not. They go in the trash.

 

[Lilylogan]

I would just have your TA double check there is a request for adjoining rooms on the reservation.