What am I doing wrong???

[bluespringsmom]

This happened to us at CSR. I paid for a waterview room and was assigned a standard room at check-in (with the price difference reimbursed). However, the CM did not point this out to me...I figured it out when he showed me the room location on the map. He said the resort was full and if we did not like the room location he could move us to a different resort. Well, the room was on the first floor overlooking the lion fountains (my favorite fountain) so I was okay with it. I considered moving to a different resort for a few seconds (I probably could have got a deluxe but I will never know)...but decided it was just easier to stay put.

I just thought it was funny that the CM never informed me that I was downgraded! Did he think I wouldn't notice? Of course maybe that fountain view IS considered waterview????

Pig Pen, I love your avatar. Being from Blue Springs MO, you have good taste in music!!

I have paid in full for a preferred room, so hopefully nothing will happen when I check in next month.

 

[snykymom]

This happened to us at CSR. I paid for a waterview room and was assigned a standard room at check-in (with the price difference reimbursed). However, the CM did not point this out to me...I figured it out when he showed me the room location on the map. He said the resort was full and if we did not like the room location he could move us to a different resort. Well, the room was on the first floor overlooking the lion fountains (my favorite fountain) so I was okay with it. I considered moving to a different resort for a few seconds (I probably could have got a deluxe but I will never know)...but decided it was just easier to stay put.

I just thought it was funny that the CM never informed me that I was downgraded! Did he think I wouldn't notice? Of course maybe that fountain view IS considered waterview????

Disney considers overlooking lakes, fountains, pools, or any permanent water at all a "water view." Sometimes, you can only see the "water" in a portion of the view. The fountain views are often desired! So at least at CSR, you weren't downgraded. Sorry to burst the bubble.

 

[Minnie]

Disney considers overlooking lakes, fountains, pools, or any permanent water at all a "water view." Sometimes, you can only see the "water" in a portion of the view. The fountain views are often desired! So at least at CSR, you weren't downgraded. Sorry to burst the bubble.

Poster said the price difference was refunded so their room must have been considered standard view.

OP - Great sense of humor to turn this into a fun memory with your child.

 

[Jitzy]

We went maybe two months ago and stayed for one night at whichever value resort is the last on the line (kwim, on the road, the last resort). Sorry, I don't know which one that is!

Anyhow, my husband asked why our room was so far away when the request was for a "preferred" room. Sure enough, we had been downgraded.

Fortunately, the CM went back into our reservation and moved us to the VERY BACK of the same resort. We were across the Street from the Middle Value Resort on the line, the food court was across the street. It was like having a preferred room for the price of a standard room.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is a little crazy to me. I mean sure if you request a view of the main pool or fireworks view or something in that nature, this makes sense. But to say that a room at a particular resort is not guaranteed??? Does that mean, I can book Coronado Springs arrive and they can say sorry but we have moved you to POR? No I don't think so

Yes, that's what it means - and it happens throughout the hotel industry, it's not unique to Disney.
It's not common, but it happens enough that there's a term for it - "walking" the guest.
Sometimes, circumstances are such that despite even a confirmed reservation there just plain is no room at the inn. A hurricane elsewhere in Florida, with residents evacuated to Central Florida, would be an extreme example.

We don't know what happened. Maybe Pop Century shut down a floor or a wing (for maintenance reasons) with the "Preferred" designation before the OP arrived.

 

[goofy4tink]

1) Disney doesn't guarantee rooms
. . . room style
. . . room location
. . . room view
. . . room at a particular resort
2) Sometimes we forget that.
3) Room requests are just requests.
4) Remember, the fun is in the parks, not the hotel.

Sorry, but booking a 'preferred' room isn't a request. It is a room catagory. It is a guarantee. You book it, you pay your deposit on it, it should be yours.
Do I think it makes all that much difference at POP? No. But, then again, I'm one of those who prefers the 'standard' rooms. I didn't care for my preferred room location at all.
But, if the OP felt that the different room catagory wasn't what they cared for, and they had booked a preferred room then they should not have been forced to stay in a standard room. Disney should have just moved them to a moderate resort. People should never be moved 'down' a catagory.

 

[smiths02]

I would be very upset to be downgraded! Even if the difference were refunded! For instance, we are doing AKL savannah view. Ok, if they changed me to pool view and gave me some money back, I would be REALLY REALLY IRATE b/c I would not have chosen to stay at AKL if I could not have savannah view....I would have chosen a moderate and saved for example $1000 not $200. (Now if they switched us to CL even without a view or the Poly or Contemporary or something, that would be okay as that is an upgrade). I think it is very bad business practice to downgrade people. WDW should be more careful to NEVER overbook the preferred, special view, concierge, etc. rooms it is better customer service to overbook the cheaper rooms and then if necessary upgrade those people.

I bet it is more likely to happen to you b/c you are doing a room only and not paying up front in full (meaning it is easy to just charge you the difference instead of worrying about refunding the difference...and you have less invested so it would be easier for you to cancel last minute)...

 

[livndisney]

I have been downgraded on paid in full stays. They also tried to "upgrade" me from a preferred room at Movies to a standard room at Sports. (Still not sure how they figured that one, but the Cm kept trying to argue it)

When I complained about having paid for preferred I was told they would be "refunding" the difference. Which they did not do until after I got home and wrote them.

Now I am very "firm". I expect Disney at the very least to give me what I paid for. I don't make room requests. So it should be very easy to give me what I paid for LOL. And whenever possible I get the problem corrected while I am standing at the desk.

 

[rie'smom]

That stinks! Since it happened twice, I would write to Disney's Guest Communications and let them know what happened and how disappointing it is book a preferred of room and then be told you were downgraded at check-in. I would have asked to see a manager asap for sure, but know how it can be overwhelming.

Definitely let them know - this is not right. Be sure to include contact info, name, address, phone, reservation number and/or dates of stays. I'll bet you'll hear back within a couple of weeks.

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

This is great advice. I have not had too many problems at WDW but when I have, I've contacted them at the email address above and each time, my concerns were resolved. It will take a couple of weeks for someone to contact you.