In May, I checked into ASMo for our last night after spending 5 days at BC Villas. First, I had paid for the upgraded location room, which means we should have been in the Fantasia building near the pool (which I didn't know at the time.)
I asked if we could get Toy Story building and they said it wasn't available. They put us in Mighty Ducks.....which is FAR, FAR away from everything. I took the keys and we went to the room....as soon as we opened the door, I immediately smelled HEAVY stale smoke. I'm an ex-smoker and my youngest has allergies. I had specified a No-Smoking room when I booked.
I went down and it took them over an hour to get us a new room. The CM who was "Earning his ears" was nice, but SLOW. He tried to put us over in ASMu or ASSp. I refused and told him I paid for Movies and wanted Movies. I asked for a manager, but he kept putting it off (he said it was his first day by himself....I think he was afraid of getting in trouble). He was on the phone with some kind of central booking. We hadn't eaten dinner yet, were hungry and not happy. The one saving thing was the movie area playing movies in the lobby.....our kids were happy sitting watching those for all this time.
FINALLY, the CM said he got us a room in the Woody/Toy Story building. That was cool, I checked the room and it was fine. We ate dinner and the kids played in the playground and it took them that long to move our luggage. (only 1 night luggage plus a cooler)
It wasn't until we were on our way home the next day when I realized I payed extra for the preferred location room and got ripped off. Oh well....my oversight....I could have used that info when I was spending an hour trying to get the room straightened out.
Bottom line is a complaint to the main desk was able to get an acceptable room (although it wasted an hour!). If you are outside Disney, it all depends on the hotel/resort. If they are reputable and customer oriented, you shouldn't have an issue (of course, assuming they aren't sold out).