Unfriendly at the Fort

[drkforce]

We leave this Sunday for 9 days at the Fort and are renting a cabin. I called yesterday to request a certain loop and much to my surprise the front desk was less than helpful. I was hung up on, transfered back to Central Reservations, transfered back to the Fort, told it was out of their policy to do so and finally found someone that said maybe.

Is this the service that I should expect when we arrive Sunday?

 

[lookingforward]

When we stayed there last year the CM's were really nice. I think that they are swamped with people's preferences and can't honestly promise or even encourage that they will be able to do it. Call about two days before you leave and reconfirm your requests. Then when you get there see if they can make it happen. Usually they try, at least. You will LOVE the fort, it is fun, clean and really special!

 

[LarryJ]

We leave this Sunday for 9 days at the Fort and are renting a cabin. I called yesterday to request a certain loop and much to my surprise the front desk was less than helpful. I was hung up on, transfered back to Central Reservations, transfered back to the Fort, told it was out of their policy to do so and finally found someone that said maybe.

Is this the service that I should expect when we arrive Sunday?

From what I understand actual site assignments aren't made until 5 days prior to your actual arrival which I assume also goes for the cabins and the front desk doesn't have any control over that process. The "Mice" in the back somewhere do that. You might consider calling back tomorrow and even the day after and try again, some CMs are "heads and shoulders" above others and you sometimes need to just get the right CM for you needs/requests.

Larry

 

[FloridaTeacher]

We always have them note our request on our reservations when we first make the reservation. So far, our requests have always been granted. We always request our loop choice and an alternate. We've gotten our first choice every trip but one and we got our alternate then. We have gone about twice a year since 1997.

Happy Camping!

 

[des1954]

HOLY COW~~~ Hung up on???? No, that shouldn't have happened!

It's too bad you didn't get the name & report that person. Somehow, I don't think the Top Mouse would be happy to hear about that!

I agree with the OP who said to check back a few days before you leave and make your request known at that time. I don't believe the front desk at the Fort can even pull up your ressie on their system until 3-5 days before you're due to arrive.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

HOLY COW~~~ Hung up on???? No, that shouldn't have happened!

It's too bad you didn't get the name & report that person. Somehow, I don't think the Top Mouse would be happy to hear about that!

I agree with the OP who said to check back a few days before you leave and make your request known at that time. I don't believe the front desk at the Fort can even pull up your ressie on their system until 3-5 days before you're due to arrive.

I think it is more like 2 to 3 and even at that they don't really assign until the day of arrival. The CM's at the Fort are generally very helpful and if you ask at check in they will honor your request IF THEY CAN. Sometimes requests for various reasons can't be granted.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Disney never promises loop requests, and site requests are less likely. I am a firm believer in not being too big a nuisance, and I think calling every couple of days like LarryJ suggests may put you in that category and may make it less likely you will get what you want. I have had excellent results faxing in my loop request 2-3 days prior to arrival.

 

[des1954]

I have had excellent results faxing in my loop request 2-3 days prior to arrival.

That is a great idea! Usually, I just take what I get (unless it is in 1800 or 1900 loops - I don't like those loops). The only time I make a specific request is if we're staying 7 days or longer, then I ask for only 3 of my favorite sites. If none of those are available, I take what I get.

Usually, the CM at the front desk will work hard to help you get what you want. I only had one occasion that a CM was kind of "snippy", but I later found out she was going through a very stressful situation in her personal life ~ very understandable!!

 

[tim5055]

While most of my posts are positive, this one may seem a little negative because it is one of my pet peeves... Sorry...

When you call FW you end up talking to someone at the front desk, thats a fact of life. Their job is not to worry about what site someone who is checking in a week from now is assigned, that is the job of the site assigner. The folks at the front desk are worrying about the people standing in front of them who want to start their vacation. They want a site, need a site, have a site that is too small..... You get the picture.

The way to make a request is to have it added to your reservation by Central Reservations (CRO). I promise you, if you call and say your DW has a small bladder and needs to be close to a comfort station, that will get noted on your reservation. Once noted it will be read by the site assigner.

So, how do you request a site???? Well, someone on the DIS said site 307 was the best in FW, so you ask for it. Well, it seem that the day you are checking in someone is still on 307 so.... the site assigner guesses you like that area and gives you 305 - even though 305 is half as long and has a tree right where your slide comes out. Get the picture??? They don't know what is in your mind - tell them why you have a request.

When you make your reservation have your requests noted on the reservation. I have a 35' Fiver with three slide outs and an awning. We have a pet and would like to be close to a comfort station. Now,. with this request the assigner has many choices for you; but, if you make it more specific (i.e. I want the 1900 loop) choices go down. If yo must, fax them a reminder 4 days prior to arrival. Here is an example:

Thursday - Arrival day/check-in
Wednesday - 1 day prior
Tuesday - 2 days prior
Monday - 3 days prior
Sunday - 4 days prior

Anything earlier than 4 days and CRO still has control of the reservation. FW may trash it thinking you needed to call CRO. At the 4 day mark the reservation is "transferred" to the control of FW and yes, the site assigners begin putting a site number next to your name. Don't call, they won't tell you.

Now, with all that said, limit your requests. They wil ty to honor your first request, so make it the deal breaker. Want to be close to a comfort station it should be first. Want to be close to a bus, make it first. Have friends in a cabin, as to be close to them (and link the reservations by number).

OK, I feel better now.......

You will be happier asking for a type of site rather than a loop/site #.

 

[stacktester]

I can say that the CM's will try hard to get you request. The last time we were at the fort we didn't bring bikes and I wanted to be in the 800-900 loops area. The only sites we could get was 1800 loop which was far away. The man at check in made several calls to get us where we wanted but it didn't happen.

 

[des1954]

Tim5055---- HOWDY!!! Very, very useful information!!! Thanks for putting it in such a well organized format!

 

[dizneydiva2005]

I always requested a loop and only 1 time got it- so what I do is at check in I ask which loop we're in. If I'm not happy, I just ask at that time for a certain loop. I've never been denied a loop at that time. Last time I was told I had cabin 2802? I believe. It was the first cabin as you entered the loop and a handicap unit. I told him that I didn't want to be that close to the road or bus stop-
So I just said, in a very happy tone- would it be possible to stay in loop 2300 or 2500? He said loop 2500 was full, but we could stay in cabin 2323. He got out the book and showed us where the cabin was. I said Perfect. And thank you!

So hang in there and wait until check in to actually ask for your loop. I wouldn't bother them this early-

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Tim5055, could you copy your post to the FAQ thread?

 

[Gillian]

I'm sorry for the way you were treated.

I believe that the other resorts have stopped taking faxed room requests. Since the CMs rotate around, I wouldn't be surprised if the FW ones don't take them either. And forget calling! They don't have time to deal with it. There have been discussions about it on the Resorts board, but maybe not lately.

Requests added to your reservation do get read. The last time I (well, our AAA agent) asked for the 1400 loop, close to a comfort station and we had the site right next to it. The site assigner must have read our notes.

 

[Justntime]

We just got back and I agree with Tim based on my experiance with the desk and CRO.

The easiest way to get your request is to put it in with your reservation.

I called FW 5 days before we showed up to put in a request and was transfered to the CRO where they sent me back to the FW.

The CM made note of our request and we did get what we asked for.

Great post Tim.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I'm sorry for the way you were treated.

I believe that the other resorts have stopped taking faxed room requests. Since the CMs rotate around, I wouldn't be surprised if the FW ones don't take them either. And forget calling! They don't have time to deal with it. There have been discussions about it on the Resorts board, but maybe not lately.

Requests added to your reservation do get read. The last time I (well, our AAA agent) asked for the 1400 loop, close to a comfort station and we had the site right next to it. The site assigner must have read our notes.

The other resorts have stopped taking faxed requests as of 2-3 years ago, however it appears not to have been implemented at FW, since last October a copy of my fax was clipped to our paperwork at check in.