What am I doing wrong?

[Jennasis]

Requests are only requests. Even if they have the room you want, they aren't required to give it to you. Also, after recouping from a massive hurricsne, honoring requests is probably low on their priority list.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

I don't think it's a matter of the room assignor not reading the requests, but more a matter of what the requests were in this case. Too many that when combined make a non existent room. Add to that the extra burdens caused by the hurricane and I think you just got put into a clean room that fit the category you booked.

I don't know if it's because I booked DVC villas, or because of the resorts I picked, but when I did online check in for my trip in two weeks at Poly my choices were upper floor and lower floor- nothing else. At BLT my choices were upper floor, lower floor, near elevator and near Skyway bridge. Very general requests in the grand scheme of things. I've learned over many trips to book the category I want and make no requests, unless its to accommodate a mobility issue. We've been happy with our room assignments so far, and have never had a trip ruined by location or view.

 

[karly05]

I don't see the purpose in requesting particular "views" at values or mods.

For me, a "view" request is not about the actual view, it is about location. I've booked a preferred room at Pop for my next trip (first stay there) and my only request is going to be "courtyard view" because as a solo, I want to be in a well-trafficked area with clear views to my building/room before I'm there. The main place I do not want to be is on the southeast facing "L" of building 1 where it looks like there is a dense woodsy thicket right up to the building that makes me think it would feel isolated and creepy.

 

[yaksack]

I think they should of had the pack and play. The other request may have been hard to fill due to The weather.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think they should of had the pack and play. The other request may have been hard to fill due to The weather.

Generally they do. I suspect some of them wandered around during hurricane relocations.

 

[yaksack]

True.

 

[maxiesmom]

The OP needs to know too that rooms are pre-assigned a few days out. That almost perfect room she was moved to may not have been available when the rooms were pre-assigned. It could have opened up from someone leaving early, or deciding to postpone their trip because of the hurricane.

 

[yaksack]

So far out should i request a certain type of room?

 

[maxiesmom]

So far out should i request a certain type of room?

If you use a TA let them know what your requests are. Or check the boxes when you do on line check in. But be sure what you want is available, and is available in the category you have booked. This last trip I filled out the fax request on Touring Plans, and got a room 3 doors down from the one I requested.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think it's a matter of the room assignor not reading the requests, but more a matter of what the requests were in this case. Too many that when combined make a non existent room. Add to that the extra burdens caused by the hurricane and I think you just got put into a clean room that fit the category you booked.

I don't know if it's because I booked DVC villas, or because of the resorts I picked, but when I did online check in for my trip in two weeks at Poly my choices were upper floor and lower floor- nothing else. At BLT my choices were upper floor, lower floor, near elevator and near Skyway bridge. Very general requests in the grand scheme of things. I've learned over many trips to book the category I want and make no requests, unless its to accommodate a mobility issue. We've been happy with our room assignments so far, and have never had a trip ruined by location or view.

They recently cut down the number of options for online check-in. Probably because people were expecting to get all their requests.

 

[HopperFan]

I totally get that there was a hurricane, we just lived thru it in Jax and it took a lot of extra work for us to even get here

When reserving online, in the box is where I wrote in my requests and stated "in this order: lake view, etc"

I only made 3 room requests, lake view, King and corner. I had always read, limit it to three. It wasn't until I called a week before the ressie that I asked for no parking lot view, which I thought would be easier than a lake view room. I didn't consider it a 4th request, I thought I was softening the lake view request to give us better odds. Also, like someone said, I didn't think a pack n play was a room request, just an extra that I was told was offered. So, really, it was only 3 requests, right?

I also knew that some stays had probably been lengthened with hurricane, and prepared myself for a full resort, but this place is pretty empty, to be honest. Also, if they didn't have the room type I requested, I get it, but they did, because they quickly moved us to one. Which brings me back to the fact that they didn't even read the requests

ETS: The king is better for us, just in hat it allows more floor room for the pack n play

^Still confused here. Your best bet is to select from the online check in request two options, not write in a bunch of requests. Since online only offers you two, best you stick to two. Making so many requests; particularly for things that are rare and things that are absolutely impossible to fulfill will make the assignors job too difficult.

- Both the rooms you listed are Preferred so will guess that is what you booked and paid for.
- There are no Lake View rooms in Preferred.
- It looks like there are 12 King rooms in Preferred, that are not handicapped, not good odds to get.
- There are no King rooms that are also Corner rooms.
- Again there would be very few corner rooms as well (again they have no window and closer to noise points, not a plus).
Your combination of requests in full was impossible.

Not limited. Nonexistent.

Only 5% of the rooms at Pop have king beds. More than half of those are handicap-accessible. Probably by now the OP realizes requests are requests, not guarantees. But still, most likely requesting the impossible combined with what was presumed available five days in advance created the situation where she didn't get any of her requests.

My comment was to OP that two of her requests, King rooms and Corner rooms are scarce, was not combining. But yes, unless things have changed there are no King rooms in the Corner rooms, so that request was impossible to meet.

I think they should of had the pack and play. The other request may have been hard to fill due to The weather.

OP had a room, where that pack and play may be. She said she got her room number then called to change.

I assumed she did online check in since she got her room number. Online check in only allows two requests. She made four in all, making room assignors job difficult.


OP - as others explained you made too many requests and some were impossible to meet. Since both rooms you got were Preferred, that meant Lake View was out and the number of Kings were just way too few especially with the storm situation. They probably could have found a corner room but then you added no parking lot view. It could be the assignor saw all those requests and just put you in a room in your booked category then moved on and would leave it up to the hotel staff. There was no way to satisfy all you asked for.

From what you are saying from both threads (I'm just trying to figure it out) -
- You booked online and said you wrote in a box three requests.
- But then you said you got your room number so called to change, which means you did online check in, giving you two requests to pick.
- You then said you called in advance and added another request of no parking lot view.

My opinion is pick one thing, maybe two things that are important and request those during online check in. Those on the list are the ones they are willing to work around. Make sure that those requests can be met or they may get totally ignored. Since I have been doing online vs calling I have had my requests met every single time.

As far as King working well, lots of folks want those rooms and there are very few. If King is important I would suggest a resort that it is a booking category next time. Hope you have a great trip!

AND VERY IMPORTANT - your room was assigned before Hurricane Matthew came in to play. They moved tons of folks, especially campground, to there. I would not be surprised if all future assignments were voided and there was lots of scrambling being done to get you in a room. You were assigned a room days out but it may have been occupied by someone moved who had reservations past your check in date.

 

[writerguyfl]

Also, if they didn't have the room type I requested, I get it, but they did, because they quickly moved us to one. Which brings me back to the fact that they didn't even read the requests

If I had to bet, I'd say they unblocked a room being held for someone who hadn't yet arrived and gave it to you because you were complaining. I'd also bet that person/family had made their reservation before you and therefore were more entitled to have their request fulfilled.

 

[Allison]

If you had more than 2 people 3 years and over, you wouldn't be put in a king room. Not sure if that is the case.

 

[Disneylover99]

Actually OP, the first room they gave you was not a parking lot view. I don't believe there are any parking lot views in preferred at Pop. The view from touring plans in your first room showed trees and shrubs and it was right next to a corner room. You can't fault them for that since you booked a preferred room (I think?) and asked for a lake view.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

I think you over requested during a unique time. Over requesting is never a good idea. We keep ours to what we book plus one request. Always happy.

 

[HopperFan]

How many people in your party? 3 or 4? If it is 4 and you assumed one child would sleep in the king bed with you, That may be why you got a double room.

Yes, agree, it just hit me that the avatar is a young girl, with signature that sounds like a 6 year old, and baby. King wouldn't be an option.

 

[kerry34]

I don't expect my requests to be met going in so no disappointment. I have been generally lucky with my request but I have never put in more than three. Usually in order of importance I have requested specific village, close to bus, and floor preference. As much as I would like a corner room I just have not asked for one because four is too many and I would much rather be near a bus than have an extra window. Years ago when we stayed at the Polynesian, I had asked for a specific building and got the farthest from it. Initially I was a little disheartened that we had such a walk to the pool but that disappeared in about ten minutes because we were just happy to be there.

 

[Kaytie]

Yes, agree, it just hit me that the avatar is a young girl, with signature that sounds like a 6 year old, and baby. King wouldn't be an option.

And the signature indicates they're going to be celebrating a 7th birthday soon, or may have already. Unless the p&p is for the 6 year old, or only one parent is there, they count ever have been assigned to a king bed.

 

[smidgy]

I don't see the purpose in requesting particular "views" at values or mods. Your basic view is through the windows into the outdoor corridor and whatever lies beyond that. And how much time are you really going to spend admiring the view anyway? I can see it in a deluxe with a balcony, but not at the value and mod resorts.

I mean, we were in the most coveted building at CSR (Bus. Class), and I cannot tell you what our "view" was beyond the covered corridor and the shrubbery along that. The lake was beyond that, but I'll be darned if we spent much time with our noses pressed against our room windows staring at it. We saw it every time we walked anywhere anyway.

I respectfully disagree with this. we often stay in value and moderate resorts and the view is important to us.. no, we don't stand with our noses pressed against the window. but we see the view everytime we leave/enter the room.. also, we relaly like to stand outside the room with a drink and lean against the railing, looking around. kinda feels like a balcony to us.

that being said, this last trip we requested 1st floor cause hubby was in a wheelchair, so no railing to lean on .(we knew that going in) we requested a certain bldg. the room assigner acutally called us 5 days out (we were at universal) and spoke with us about our requests. it was great!

 

[HopperFan]

I respectfully disagree with this. we often stay in value and moderate resorts and the view is important to us.. no, we don't stand with our noses pressed against the window. but we see the view everytime we leave/enter the room.. also, we relaly like to stand outside the room with a drink and lean against the railing, looking around. kinda feels like a balcony to us.

that being said, this last trip we requested 1st floor cause hubby was in a wheelchair, so no railing to lean on .(we knew that going in) we requested a certain bldg. the room assigner acutally called us 5 days out (we were at universal) and spoke with us about our requests. it was great!

Agree with this.

AND Disney uses the word "view" very loosely - it doesn't really mean a view as in what you see, it means the direction that your room faces. That can be very disappointing if you book for a visual view. I once booked pool view at AKL and had no view of the pool at all, my view was the tops of the roofs of the restaurants ... but my room faced the courtyard the pool was in, so technically it was.

At POP I always ask for Lake View. There I do get the benefit of looking at the lake, day or night, and agree it was nice to be what I see coming in and out. Another advantage of that view is that it is very very quiet back there. And being strategic in what you pick you can avoid other views, if fulfilled and side benefits.