What are the chances of getting requested POLY room types?

[Surgie2]

I'm so new to all of this so I greatly appreciate the help with all of my uninformed questions LOL! And I still have to refer to my acronym cheat sheet!

Still mulling over hotel options for May 2018 trip (first week of May and Easter is April 1 that year so spring breakers hopefully not an issue). We are considering 3 queen rooms with CL, two connecting and one adjoining if possible. If I request these three rooms 499 days out by phone, are chances pretty good that I would be in the Hawaii Lodge (which I prefer). Tonga Suites will be out of my price range I am sure!

I do know there are no guarantees, but what would the reservation people do with my request if the Hawaii Lodge were to be full? Would I just be placed in some other queen rooms on the property in a lodge with no CL? Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

All Club Level rooms are in Hawaii, so that's not an issue. Club Level is a BOOKING CATEGORY, not a room request.

The connecting/adjoining issue is a request. Actual room assignment is done 3-5 days prior to check-in, and is dependent on what rooms are occupied, and when those occupants are checking out. Poly tends to run close to full occupancy year round, so I think the odds of having the three rooms be as you hope is lower. But they'll all be in Hawaii if you book CL.

It is very rare someone gets assigned a room outside of Hawaii if they book CL (but not a suite); it only happens if a room is out of service, and even then if the person is paying for CL they will have key access to CL.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

If you end up booking Poly Club Level (CL) come stop by the CL thread, tons of great info there and we can set you straight on all of your club level questions.

(BTW, Poly CL is my favorite place to stay. I could pretty much stay there every trip and I would never complain!)

I saw your "which resort" thread and was going to suggest CL if it's within budget. CL can be a great option with a larger group given the lounge space where you can be "together" - but then everyone can go back to their own rooms/spaces.

 

[Surgie2]

Thank you, I think I understand now. So when I book, I will choose Poly CL as my booking category and my one request would be for 2 connecting rooms (and an additional room that may or not be adjoining - less of a priority.)

I will look for the CL thread. It is definitely a splurge but this is our "one time" to treat the adult kids and grandkids to WDW so we may go for it for convenience sake. And like you said, It would give us the lounge as a gathering place.

 

[baler31]

You need to make sure you reserve the same view within the CL category. Poly has garden, lagoon and them park view (TPV) within the CL booking categories. See here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/polynesian-resort/rates-rooms/

Also note these are rack (non discounted) rates for a random night in February 2017. If budget is a concern garden club level rooms are all wonderful in Hawaii.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Yes, @baler31 is spot on. Garden View rooms face towards the interior of the resort (towards the Oasis Pool) and will be the cheapest CL option. There are more connecting Garden View rooms than any of the other view categories, so in some ways you have a better chance of getting connecting rooms with a Garden View booking category but that is counteracted somewhat by the fact the since Garden View rooms are materially cheaper than Lagoon or Theme Park view rooms, they can tend to be booked more depending on the time of year or any discounts/promotions being offered. Lagoon View and Theme Park View rooms face towards the Magic Kingdom / 7 Seas Lagoon. I've stayed both Garden and Theme Park views in the past.

Just my opinion here, but if this were me I wouldn't get too hung up on connecting rooms. Hawaii just isn't that big and with the lounge as your gathering spot, I suspect you may find connecting rooms really aren't that important. You could always request connecting rooms as a first preference and alternatively, "all on the same floor" as your second preference. The good thing about CL is you have direct access via e-mail and phone to a CL cast member who can make specific requests on your reservation. It's just a bit easier to deal with things like that than a non CL reservation.

Keep asking questions. It can all be confusing and alot to take in!

 

[Surgie2]

Ok thanks for that info. And one more question (for now!) If I book rooms at the first possible opportunity and there is a discount offered down the road, can I call and get the new lower rate? Is there an easy way to find price drops?

 

[Surgie2]

"Just my opinion here, but if this were me I wouldn't get too hung up on connecting rooms." I totally understand this viewpoint but my adult kids like to get the little ones to bed in one room and hang out in the connecting room...something that won't work with nearby rooms. But...we'll be happy with what we get!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Yes, you can book the rack rate now and when/if a discount comes out down the road that applies to your specific room category, you can update your reservation either by calling or you can do some things yourself online. This applies if you have a room-only reservation, I can't comment on packages as I don't have direct experience. Be warned that while discounts are relatively common, they are limited to certain resorts / room types / view categories and there's no guaranty your room category will have a discount associated with it. Some will tell you that if you're not prepared to pay the rack rate, don't book it and just wait for the discounts to come out to make your plans. Some will also tell you booking a rack rate reservation causes Disney to offer fewer discounts to any given room / resort / view category. I'll admit in the past I've been one of these "bad" people that book at the rack rate and then modify later depending on what discounts are available. You'll get different opinions on this one.

There are several websites that track dates (or date ranges) that Disney has historically announced discounts. Not sure if I'm allowed to post links. Google it and you'll likely find several. There are probably several threads around here too. When you start getting close to the date where a discount will likely be introduced, pay attention to threads on here, follow some Disney travel related blogs on Twitter, etc. Just keep your eyes open. You need to seek out info, Disney won't find you. ;-)

 

[Surgie2]

Thanks, that's helpful. Yes, I'm willing to pay the current rates at time of reservation but will watch for a discount.

 

[mickeynut1]

I will look for the CL thread.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/disneys-club-level-cl-information-and-questions.3414590/

HTH

And one more question (for now!) If I book rooms at the first possible opportunity and there is a discount offered down the road, can I call and get the new lower rate? Is there an easy way to find price drops?

As long as what you have booked is available under the discount, you can have it applied to your existing reservation. You will have to call (or possibly do it online, like the pp mentioned) as Disney does not automatically apply discounts.

"Just my opinion here, but if this were me I wouldn't get too hung up on connecting rooms." I totally understand this viewpoint but my adult kids like to get the little ones to bed in one room and hang out in the connecting room...something that won't work with nearby rooms. But...we'll be happy with what we get!

Just wanted to mention that if you aren't assigned connecting rooms, you can always ask if they are available. Sometimes they aren't available, but it never hurts to ask .

Yes, you can book the rack rate now and when/if a discount comes out down the road that applies to your specific room category, you can update your reservation either by calling or you can do some things yourself online. This applies if you have a room-only reservation, I can't comment on packages as I don't have direct experience.

Room discounts work on packages as well. The discount will be applied to the room portion only, but can be applied to a package reservation.

Yes, I'm willing to pay the current rates at time of reservation but will watch for a discount.

I wanted to clarify that if you book 499 days out, you will be quoted the highest rate for 2017 for that room type, which will automatically be adjusted once the 2018 rates are released.

It looks as if you want to book just the room without tickets or DDP, but I wanted to mention that if you are considering a package (room + tickets and/or DDP), it's best to wait (IMO) until the new rates come out. If you book RO and then change to a package, the RO will have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit (per room). Since RO and packages are different reservation systems, money paid toward one cannot be applied to the other. Just something to think about as waiting avoids the hassle of cancelling, rebooking, and waiting on a refund should you want a package.

 

[Surgie2]

It looks as if you want to book just the room without tickets or DDP, but I wanted to mention that if you are considering a package (room + tickets and/or DDP), it's best to wait (IMO) until the new rates come out. If you book RO and then change to a package, the RO will have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit (per room). Since RO and packages are different reservation systems, money paid toward one cannot be applied to the other. Just something to think about as waiting avoids the hassle of cancelling, rebooking, and waiting on a refund should you want a package.

Ok that's new information for me - thanks. So I am on the fence as to whether to include a ticket purchase initially or not. I honestly don't know the pros and cons of a package. I know we don't want the DDP. The only reason I wanted to reserve 499 days out was to "guarantee" that I would get the booking category of my choice but maybe that will still be fine reserving after the new rates are out. I'm assuming that making a new $200 deposit per room on a new reservation would mean that I would also get credited back the deposit from the initial reservation?

And thanks for link to CL thread - very helpful.

 

[mickeynut1]

Ok that's new information for me - thanks. So I am on the fence as to whether to include a ticket purchase initially or not. I honestly don't know the pros and cons of a package. I know we don't want the DDP. The only reason I wanted to reserve 499 days out was to "guarantee" that I would get the booking category of my choice but maybe that will still be fine reserving after the new rates are out. I'm assuming that making a new $200 deposit per room on a new reservation would mean that I would also get credited back the deposit from the initial reservation?

Since you don't want the DDP, you can book RO and buy tickets separately and link them in your MDE account, which is pretty much what a package would be without the DDP. There are different deposits/pay in full requirements, though. RO requires a deposit equal to 1 night's room rate + tax, with the balance due at check in (you can, however, pay the balance at any time) and you can cancel up to 5 days prior to arrival for a full refund. Packages require a $200 deposit with the balance due 30 days prior to arrival. This is also the time you would need to cancel to get a full refund.

I don't think you'd have any trouble getting what you want if you waited until the 2018 rates are released, but there's also nothing wrong with booking 499 days out. You are correct that if you did book RO now and change to a package later, the deposit (plus anything else paid) will be credited back to the cc (or gift card) you used .

And thanks for link to CL thread - very helpful.

You're welcome! Glad it's helpful .

 

[Surgie2]

I don't think you'd have any trouble getting what you want if you waited until the 2018 rates are released

This info is probably in a post somewhere but how far in advance are rates typically released? When were the 2017 rates released?

 

[mickeynut1]

This info is probably in a post somewhere but how far in advance are rates typically released? When were the 2017 rates released?

New rates come out the summer before, usually in the July-August time frame. I can't remember for sure, but I think the 2017 rates were released around the end of July/beginning of August.