TouringPlans sunsetting room requests

[PolyRob]

DVC has unique requests like staying in the same room with a "continuing reservation" that isn't as common on the cash side. I can't see that being added to a My Disney Experience dropdown.

I did notice on the cash side when booking you can say you're traveling with people in a connecting room, but that only affects PVB and VGF.

 

[jcolvin5]

If you’ve been on this board long enough, you know some of the requests can be pretty ridiculous. The only reason a company would sunset a service is if people aren’t using it or the requests are getting out of hand—otherwise, there’s no reason to remove it.

"I want to be right next to the lobby, but also in a completely silent area, on the top floor, but also right next to the pool, and I need to see the fireworks but also have a south-facing balcony"

That's not the type of requests Touring Plans make. You use their room finder feature and make a request based on that room.

 

[muppets3d]

If you’ve been on this board long enough, you know some of the requests can be pretty ridiculous. The only reason a company would sunset a service is if people aren’t using it or the requests are getting out of hand—otherwise, there’s no reason to remove it.

"I want to be right next to the lobby, but also in a completely silent area, on the top floor, but also right next to the pool, and I need to see the fireworks but also have a south-facing balcony"

To quote TouringPlans from the linked blog post, "The reason for this change is that Disney wants all guests to go through My Disney Experience’s room request feature going forward."

And TouringPlans doesn't let people put in abstract room requests like you came up with. They only process requests for individual rooms.

 

[RuntheMouse]

To quote TouringPlans from the linked blog post, "The reason for this change is that Disney wants all guests to go through My Disney Experience’s room request feature going forward."

And TouringPlans doesn't let people put in abstract room requests like you came up with. They only process requests for individual rooms.

I think is because Disney doesn’t want specific room numbers in the requests anymore. It’s much more efficient for then to operate within their parameters working in “blocks”. Higher floor, near skyliner, near lobby. When guests ask for specific rooms, it’s messy and sets them up for disappointment.

To add insult to injury, a third party is profiting off room requests rather than Disney themselves.

 

[PolyRob]

That's not the type of requests Touring Plans make. You use their room finder feature and make a request based on that room.

To quote TouringPlans from the linked blog post, "The reason for this change is that Disney wants all guests to go through My Disney Experience’s room request feature going forward."

And TouringPlans doesn't let people put in abstract room requests like you came up with. They only process requests for individual rooms.

Touring Plans lets you enter whatever text you’d like for your room request.

It will automatically generate a request that includes building numbers, room directions, and example room numbers based on your room finder selection. However, you can edit this text before saving your request. There’s also an “additional details” section where you can include any extra preferences or notes.

 

[Tatebeck]

I think is because Disney doesn’t want specific room numbers in the requests anymore. It’s much more efficient for then to operate within their parameters working in “blocks”. Higher floor, near skyliner, near lobby. When guests ask for specific rooms, it’s messy and sets them up for disappointment.

To add insult to injury, a third party is profiting off room requests rather than Disney themselves.

Yep much easier to have a list of things, have you rank what is most important to you and let the computer do the rest. Though I do hope they add a lot more options to choose from to make up for it.

Probably more fair that way anyways IMO vs letting the "best" rooms be taken by those who have over-researched and requested specific rooms over and over and never letting a first timer or less involved visitor get the nicest located rooms.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

While the computer can do some prioritizing, it can’t do it all. People check in and out at different times. Check in times can be affected by airline delays, traffic, etc. It also depends on the shape of the room when someone checks out as to how long it will take to clean the room. Also, serious problems may take a room out of service. So I don’t see the computer doing it all.

I have overall been happy with room requests, but I only do about 25% of the time and then do pretty standard ones. What I would like is the ability for a late check out when available when on a DVC stay. I would gladly pay some points for that when we have a late flight.

 

[RivGirl]

I think is because Disney doesn’t want specific room numbers in the requests anymore. It’s much more efficient for then to operate within their parameters working in “blocks”. Higher floor, near skyliner, near lobby. When guests ask for specific rooms, it’s messy and sets them up for disappointment.

To add insult to injury, a third party is profiting off room requests rather than Disney themselves.

This would be my guess as well. I can't imagine being the cast member who has to sift through all of the "specific room number" requests. An Instagram account that I rather like made some recent posts about "most requested rooms at WDW by resort" and the sheer number of specific room requests in a year at each resort was pretty eye-opening - and that was for just one particular room at each resort.

I know that for some the options in MDE are too limiting. I have found them to be just right, and I usually get what I want when I prioritize the one thing I really want and select just that one thing, leaving option 2 blank.

 

[Tatebeck]

While the computer can do some prioritizing, it can’t do it all. People check in and out at different times. Check in times can be affected by airline delays, traffic, etc. It also depends on the shape of the room when someone checks out as to how long it will take to clean the room. Also, serious problems may take a room out of service. So I don’t see the computer doing it all.

I have overall been happy with room requests, but I only do about 25% of the time and then do pretty standard ones. What I would like is the ability for a late check out when available when on a DVC stay. I would gladly pay some points for that when we have a late flight.

?

I mean of course the computer isn't going to be physically cleaning the rooms or know when it needs major maintenance. Obviously that will be a cast member putting that into the computer system when a room is down or is done with it's cleaning. Then the computer can assign it according to the algorithm they have.

None of what you mention is what is changing, just the system that handles the room requests and rooms assignments after they are cleaned/repaired and marked as such

 

[Mirabell Rose]

This would be my guess as well. I can't imagine being the cast member who has to sift through all of the "specific room number" requests. An Instagram account that I rather like made some recent posts about "most requested rooms at WDW by resort" and the sheer number of specific room requests in a year at each resort was pretty eye-opening - and that was for just one particular room at each resort.

I know that for some the options in MDE are too limiting. I have found them to be just right, and I usually get what I want when I prioritize the one thing I really want and select just that one thing, leaving option 2 blank.

The one thing I would add for options is for the specific areas for the really large DVC resorts like OKW and SSR.

 

[RivGirl]

The one thing I would add for options is for the specific areas for the really large DVC resorts like OKW and SSR.

Agreed.

 

[EveV]

If you’ve been on this board long enough, you know some of the requests can be pretty ridiculous. The only reason a company would sunset a service is if people aren’t using it or the requests are getting out of hand—otherwise, there’s no reason to remove it.

"I want to be right next to the lobby, but also in a completely silent area, on the top floor, but also right next to the pool, and I need to see the fireworks but also have a south-facing balcony"

Only been on the board 12 years (had to check) but I personally don't see that as much. Again, maybe I pop in and out of the boards, and just don't notice that. I do see that eliminating requests is a cost-savings measure, as requests have the potential to slow down the room assignment and check-in process. Wondering if, on the backend, requests cause operational friction in shifting hotel inventory with DVC inventory. I have some clients in timeshare that are starting to make similar moves to shift inventory more easily. Interesting development nonetheless.

 

[reddog21]

Only been on the board 12 years (had to check) but I personally don't see that as much. Again, maybe I pop in and out of the boards, and just don't notice that. I do see that eliminating requests is a cost-savings measure, as requests have the potential to slow down the room assignment and check-in process. Wondering if, on the backend, requests cause operational friction in shifting hotel inventory with DVC inventory. I have some clients in timeshare that are starting to make similar moves to shift inventory more easily. Interesting development nonetheless.

My post was more sarcastic, and I don’t see it as a cost-cutting move. If you think about it, most requests—like basic floor or elevator tasks—are automatically assigned, but those with specific requests usually get kicked out. One can only assume there are too many requests needing human intervention, so to manage that going forward, it’s all being handled in-house.

Sometimes it feels like companies just make decisions to make life difficult but "most" of the time there's a reason.