Villa Requests

[KSL]

Hi all!

Preface 1: If there's a thread or sticky which covers this, please feel free to direct me to it!
Preface 2: I know requests are just requests; no debate there and I am not hung up on getting my requests, but thought I may as well take a shot & want to go about it as simply/efficiently as possible.

What is the recommended method of making villa requests? I think my choices are:

1. calling Member Services and having the request(s) noted on the reservation
2. checking applicable request boxes during online check-in (is there an option to add notes?)
3. sending a fax to...where??
4. something else that I'm not aware of?

I think I have read that one could/should check a few days prior to check-in to confirm the requests are still noted. I have never done this. Thoughts/opinions on that? Would this be done by calling Member Services? Or via whatever method the original requests were made?

I have read posts suggesting that if you make a request via option 1 or 3 above, not to make any room requests during online check-in as they could/would over-ride what had already been requested. Also have read suggestion that if doing online check-in, not to mark "room ready early if possible" (or whatever it says along those lines) as that will over-ride any requests, but that you could still indicate your anticipated time of arrival, even if it's early morning. Am I reading/interpreting these suggestions correctly?

I have a triple-split-stay this summer and for two resorts could get as specific as actual room numbers of villas we have stayed in before and would love to have again. Is this allowed? Possible? Via which method(s) above? Otherwise, I can go with the more standard requests regarding floor, elevator, etc.

Thank you for any replies!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I find that it seems, to us, that calling MS and adding it to your reservation, is the most dependable.

 

[CarolMN]

There is no option to add notes to online check-in - you can only check options listed, many of which do not even make sense for a DVC resorts. They are designed for cash guests at the hotels.

You can try to fax, but more than one assigner has mentioned that they toss them and do not even consider them. They get too many.

In my experience, adding a request via MS is the best option. Those CMs have an option to add notes. That said, recent reports indicate there is some type of "glitch" in the system that isn't transferring the MS requests to the lists the room assigners receive. I still think MS is the best option unless all you want is to be on a high floor or near the elevators or something else that is ery generic & included in the request section of the online check-in process.

 

[drusba]

1. You can call member services, or send it an email to MS using the DVC site, to add requests to your reservation.

2. You can check request boxes during online check-in but doing so wipes out any prior requests made through MS, so do not use the box if you have existing requests with MS. There is no option during online check-in that allows you to add a written request that is not incuded in the boxes and the boxes allow only certain requests, some of which are pointless (e.g., at AKV Jambo, there is a box to request high floor and one to request low floor, but the DVC rooms are on the fifth floor)

3. My understanding is that sending a fax to the resort shortly before you arrive is no longer a valid method for making a request relating to DVC reservations.

Checking with MS before going to assure a request was made with reservation is something you can do.

You can request specific room numbers through MS (the online check-in limited choice of requests does not include specific room numbers). However, the broader the request the greater the chance it will be honored, and if a location request cannot be met, they make no effort to find something close to what you requested but just give you whatever may be available anywhere.

The room ready option with online check-in is one that says you prefer early check-in over any other requests, and thus checking it essentially minimizes your chances of getting your other requests.

 

[disneynutz]

Here is our experience:
We have added a request through MS phone and it made it to the room assigner.
We have added a request through MS phone and it was missing from the reservation.
We have added a request through MS email and they always made it to the room assigner.
Online check in deletes an MS request.
We have been told at different resorts that they don't look at faxes but there are reports that some do.

Bill

 

[supersnoop]

#2 is pretty pointless. The checkboxes available apply to the entire resort and many won't be applicable to any DVC rooms. At AKV-Jambo, you could book a standard view room and be offered checkboxes for certain savanna views which aren't even available to those with savanna view reservations.

#3 they don't take faxes anymore.

 

[KSL]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Online check in deletes an MS request.

Does that mean you should skip the online check in?

If you ro check in at BWV, is it possible to ask what rooms are available and pick from what they have?

 

[Simba's Mom]

Last time I did on-line check in, when it got to requests, it said there were requests on file (requests I'd made by calling) and allowed me to skip over any requests. We still got one of our two requests met and got the room-ready text. Since we'd made the same request (the one we didn't get) previously and not always gotten it, I felt pretty good.