What if you don't get your requested room?

[munchie22]

I'm five days away from checking in at AKL. I've wanted to stay at this hotel for soo long and when we were able to go, it's the only place i thought about - even with the construction. What happens if we get to AKL, I've already spent $3k on a vacation, requested and confirmed (twice) a specific savannah and trail based on disers' recommendations, and I'm looking at orange construction gates? What recourse do I have or do i talk myself into the magic? I am not worried about noise as we plan to be out of the room during the day but I am worried about view. I think I am just starting to panic.

 

[cjsmom5]

Upon checking in you can ask what savannah you are on. If this isn't what you wanted you can ask if they have another room on the savannah you reqeusted.

Or you can take your key, go up to the room, check our your view. If you don't like it you can go right back down to the front desk and nicely ask if they can move you.

If nothing is available you can request to be moved the next day into another room.

We were just there last week for dinner at Boma's and really didn't notice a lot with the construction. We were staying at WL so might have noticed more if staying there. We went out and looked at Arusha Rock and it was beautiful, as usual. We have stayed there and been on several savannahs - all of which are beautiful.

Just remember to be nice when dealing with the front desk. Honey, in most instances, definitely will get you further.

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm five days away from checking in at AKL. I've wanted to stay at this hotel for soo long and when we were able to go, it's the only place i thought about - even with the construction. What happens if we get to AKL, I've already spent $3k on a vacation, requested and confirmed (twice) a specific savannah and trail based on disers' recommendations, and I'm looking at orange construction gates? What recourse do I have or do i talk myself into the magic? I am not worried about noise as we plan to be out of the room during the day but I am worried about view. I think I am just starting to panic.

Since a request is only a request, you have no real recourse. You can request a different room, but that's about it. When you pay for a certain level of room, you are guaranteed that level of room, and that is where the guarantee ends.

In other words, you paid for a savannah view, and requested a certain trail, but you aren't guaranteed that trail just because you requested it.

Good luck! You'll surely have fun no matter what!!!

 

[disneyholic family]

we've sometimes gotten the room we requested, sometimes not...

nothing is guaranteed....
you need to go with the right attitude or you're going to ruin your enjoyment...

 

[LindsayDunn228]

we've sometimes gotten the room we requested, sometimes not...

nothing is guaranteed....
you need to go with the right attitude or you're going to ruin your enjoyment...

EXACTLY what you said!!

 

[Hopefully]

As others have said, it is only a request. We too have sometimes gotten our request and sometimes not. You need to be prepared for not getting the Trail you hope for.
The Lodge is beautiful. You may even like a room on a different Trail more than other DIS's have.
Go prepared to have to accept what is available. Don't set your expectations so high that you are bound for disappointment. After all, you will be in Disney!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I also would never let a room bother me at Disney. Now if it was something that interfeared with my few hours of sleep while in the room then I would go back to the front desk and explain in a Very Nice manner on why I would need to switch.

Just make sure you get the level you pay for and go with it .Nothing worse then being on the first ride thinking of how bad a room you got and not even thinking of the wonderful time you should be having.

 

[rkwells]

I also would never let a room bother me at Disney. Now if it was something that interfeared with my few hours of sleep while in the room then I would go back to the front desk and explain in a Very Nice manner on why I would need to switch.

Just make sure you get the level you pay for and go with it .Nothing worse then being on the first ride thinking of how bad a room you got and not even thinking of the wonderful time you should be having.

Hate to be a downer but...we have never gotten our requested room. We still had a great hotel stay. IMO there really are no bad rooms at WDW!

 

[disnut8]

Don't set your expectations so high that you are bound for disappointment. After all, you will be in Disney!

100% agree. When I made my first deluxe reservation many years ago, it was at the Boardwalk, which was had toured during a pre opening and I loved the place. I was so psyched to stay there and paid extra money for what was considered a preferred room at the time. I had this whole image in my mind that we were going to be able to sit out on our balcony every night and see Epcot and Illuminations and all the activity along the Boardwalk.

We had a nice view. Of the canal and the Swan. Plus, it was allllll the way at the end of the hall. I was so bummed. But, we enjoyed that balcony and it ended up being one of the best rooms we've ever had.

Next time we stayed at the Boardwalk, I didn't request a view at all. Ended up with what I thought we'd get the first time.

So relax and enjoy yourself. Don't worry about things like this now.

 

[eliza61]

Ok, you've got to let go.... You've got a 50/50 chance with a request. Please don't tell me you would let this ruin your vacation. Ask about your view when you check in, if you don't like it, plaster on a smile and ask about moving. If it doesn't happen, say to yourself "hey I'm at Disney" and have a great vacation.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Hate to be a downer but...we have never gotten our requested room. We still had a great hotel stay. IMO there really are no bad rooms at WDW!

I agree we started to lessen our request a bit and it seems like we are getting them more then not now. We do Section , Floor close to the DSA (now that they have them ).If not a section we just do Floor and then view.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

When we checked into the Poly we weren't in the longhouse I requested and I knew this longhouse I didn't want (distance from lobby, pool, etc too far). I just nicely asked if they had any other rooms available and the CM asked me what longhouse I was looking for and I said I requested Tokleau but any of the other longhouses near Tokleau would be fine as I wanted to be close to lobby, pool & laundry w/3 kids. She smiled and got on the phone and when she got off - there was a 1st floor Tokleau room ready. So I was happy but I did realize it was a request and tried to be flexible by saying anything near lobby, pool, etc. But I certainly wouldn't have let it ruin my vacation and after walking around the Poly I realized its so compact that most of the longhouses would have been ok.

So I'd just ask and be happy w/what you get. After all you're at Disney.

 

[DisneyMim]

I'm with the others here. We've been going to Disney forever and have only had a "requested" room a few times. You have to remember, and I don't think some people really understand this, but it's only a request not a sure thing. I totally agree with the people who say that you cannot let this ruin your vacation. I can't say this enough. You need a different attitude. Yes you are paying 3K for your vacation. Some people are paying more and some people are paying less, but we are ALL paying for a Disney vacation, and for that matter any vacation we chose to take. You must remember that there are tons of people going to Disney and it seems that eveyone has a special request. Obviously not everyone is going to get their request. It's really the luck of the draw. I hope you have a wonderful vacation. AKL is a beautiful resort, we have stayed there multiple times and have always had a great room.

ENJOY!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I am not worried about noise as we plan to be out of the room during the day but I am worried about view. I think I am just starting to panic.

We saw all the animals during the day! After they come out in the morning and then during our mid day break - would sit on the balcony, relax and watch - it was incredible!

Please try not to panic - and try to be flexible - what some DISers like may not wind up being what most appeals to you!

Many CM's are very helpful in finding a good room on a great Savannah (and long time CM's are very knowlegable) - if yours does not seem helpful, go to your room and if not happy, call and ask to speak with a front desk supervisor. Most important, stay calm, be cheerful and, if available, they will do their best to get you the room location you'd like.

They can only work with what is available at check-in, so if the resort is full just ask if you can change rooms the next day.

You are going to have a MAGICAL trip!!!

 

[fla4fun]

Think about what is the most important aspect of what you requested. Did you request a certain area so you wouldn't have to look at construction? Did you request it to be close to something (pool, food, etc.)? If I have a specific request that I really hope can be met (like a first floor room when I travel with Mom - no elevators for her!), I just casually mention that "I hope they were able to meet the request for (insert request here) because it will really help with (insert reason here)". I've had pretty good luck using that approach. Of course, I always have the request on the reservation, but they don't always know why you're requesting it. That makes it easier for them to find a room that will fulfill your needs best. It also helps if you are arriving early in the day, so there is a larger pool of available rooms to choose from. If there are only 20 rooms available for check in that day with your request, and 30 families have requested the same thing, the first 20 families checking in will get it.

The only time I haven't had my request met was when CR was under construction for their last big renovation in the 1990's. I had requested North Wing, because I knew the South Wing was smoking (at that time) and the day I checked in, they took the whole North Wing down for renovation. Sometimes when it's construction related, they don't have as much leeway as they might normally have. I still had a good time anyway (once I got the room aired out - so glad I don't have to worry about that anymore).

 

[boppy]

Hey there, on our recent trip, I had requested a room close to the bus stop because of a physical injury (I was suffering from two herniated discs when I made the request, and I wasn't sure how mobile I would be). It turns out, we were actually in the building the farthest from the bus stop! We couldn't have been any farther! Luckily, I had improved enough that I didn't need the original room anyway.

 

[Forever a Princess]

Bloom where you are planted.

If the construction could ruin your trip I would suggest looking at other resort options. We had wanted to stay at the AKL for our upcoming trip in October. I just didn't want to worry about the hassle factor about worrying about if our room would be near the construction. I knew that Disney would try to accomodate our request but again I just did not want to deal with the worry and the hassle.

Have a nice trip!

 

[lovindonald]

We had that problem at the BC when we requested a full balcony in non-smoking. We got there and they had none. They moved us the next day but we lost some personal items never to be found and ended up in a non smoking room that was the last room to be cleaned that day (it was August, hot and all our stuff was in storage, so no swimsuits) and the guy next to us in the non-smoking room was a chain smoker that stayed on his full balcony most of the time. The staff couldn't have cared less and made it known and did nothing. I spent $5000 for a week's vacation and it was one of the worst vacations I have ever had. I even sent a letter to complain once I was home and still they didn't care. I was appalled. Don't count on anything since they do not guarantee room choice. I have never stayed onsite again.

 

[LWcalif]

I'm just curious........does anyone know in what order they assign rooms? Do they assign rooms to those who booked first, or do they look at those who have requests, or is it the luck of the draw?

We booked the bounce back offer when we were at BWI on 9/13 for the week of 9/27/08. This is the first time we've booked over a year in advance (boy it's hard being so excited to be going again and waiting a whole year).

We'll be at AKL pool view and this is the first time I haven't made a request. I figured we can't go wrong with a pool view. One side is close to the front entry and bus stops, the other side has the animal viewing areas in the hall. I'll be happy with either one.

 

[safetymom]

They work on fitting the dates of everyone booked. It isn't based on when you made the ressie, how much you paid.