What happens if you check in and don't like your room?

[ADisneyQueen]

I'm curious because I've often read about people finding problems with their room/resort and then switching to another hotel? I guess at Disney you could transfer your credit to another resort. But, what if you are off site, hate your room/hotel and want to leave? If you've already paid is it easy to get a refund? What if you've already checked in?

 

[Rowlf]

It all depends on the hotel's policies; if you have paid a non-refundable deposit, there's probably not much chance of getting a full refund.

 

[Peter Pirate]

What happens if our family finds something they don't like? Well, there is lots of screaming, jumping up and down, whining, crying and general moping...Of course the wife and kids are usually much worse than my behavior as I described it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Only once have I checked in and found a room not to my likeing. In hindsight, I should have just shut my mouth and stayed put. It was a huge hassle getting a different room. The people were nice about it but it was a busy time and there weren't a lot of available rooms. I really don't think there are truly bad rooms at WDW resorts. Its all about expectations. You are not buying this room, only borrowing it for a week or so. Unless there is something really unacceptable, I wouldn't ask to move. However, that is my own experience. Others have had better experiences than mine. I'll just stay put from now on!!!

 

[grimley1968]

I checked into the Poly in September 2001, and the room smelled VERY musty. I'm not sure if it was the age of the furniture in the room, or because of the tropical storm that had just passed through, but it was a little hard to breathe in there. We mentioned it to the front desk and were moved down the hall to a different room with no problem. The second room still had a faintly musty smell, but it was easily remedied by opening the window. The Poly CM's were very good about this to us, and we were moved within about 15 minutes of making our request. It helps that we did not unpack until we were sure we found a room suitable for breathing.

 

[Frances999]

I would request to move to an alternative room. If none were available that night, I would simply ask to change the next day. If it's just the room you have a problem with, why change resorts?

 

[unixadm]

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).

 

[Lewisc]

OP is asking about a offsite properties. It would depend on the terms of your reservation. A few hotels let you cancel up until 5:00 the day of your arrival. Some reservations are pre-paid for your entire trip. Priceline and some web specials.

The room has to be horrible, not just bad, if you want to get out of any penalties. Take pictures if you're planning on a credit card dispute. Some of the lower rated properties in Orlando are nasty. If you book a very low rate property you really have to expect rooms that are borderline to poor.

If the room is bad ask for another room. If they can't find you an acceptable room ask if they can get you a room at another property. Many of the offsite hotels have sister properties.

 

[Juligan]

. But, what if you are off site, hate your room/hotel and want to leave? If you've already paid is it easy to get a refund? What if you've already checked in?

I am very particular about having a clean and smoke free room. Whenever we travel I always ask to see the room they are putting us in BEFORE we check in. Saves alot of headaches in the long run. DH got tired of moving once we got settled... or making them give us a refund once we got to the room.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi, this has happened to me a couple of times. Those pics hotels put on their websites can be very deceiving. It happened in Puerto Rico at a Wyndham and also In Waikiki in a Sheraton. I just phoned the front desk in both cases and they were just terrific. At both hotels they sent someone up to show us a couple of other room choices for us.

I really think that hotels want guests to be happy. At the Sheraton Royal Hawaiian (it was a $650/night room - normally $1000/night, I was getting a "deal"- haha) the room was a shambles. AC didn't work, safe broken, fridge wouldn't cool down, chandelier broken and hanging crooked, sofa bed for my kids was AWFUL.....and more. We wound up after 2 nights (they couldn't move us until then) in a gorgeous suite on the top floor for our $650/night.

At the Wyndham, the room was just SO MUCH SMALLER than it looked online. There are 5 of us and to stay a week would be uncomfortable in that room. We wound up with connecting rooms when we moved. The hotel was great and gave us the discounted rate we had booked the original room with on both new rooms.

I think if you are unhappy, just call the front desk & be polite about why. If I am paying big $$$$ for a room, I really want to be satisfied with it!! Every hotel has it's own policy, but they want you to be happy.


Lives4Disney

 

[Juligan]

I really think that hotels want guests to be happy.

Remember, when people are happy with something they rarely say anything. If they are unhappy, they tell everybody.

I knew a guy that would write letters to hotels and airlines all the time, it didn't matter if he was satisfied or unsatisfied, and he'd get free stays and upgrades just for taking the time to contact them.