What is the point of room requests and/or making ressies at 11 Months?

[SleepyatDVC]

Interesting post. I'm not surprised that they might be not be assigning rooms on a TRIAL BASIS during a slow period. BUT... maybe they only do some select pre-assigning?

Can't imagine that they don't do some planning in advance. Such as making sure that not all the 2 bedroom lock-offs are split up into individual units and thus having a shortage of reserved 2 bedrooms for later check-ins.

We just got back from a 5 night stay at BCV. My aunt, a fellow DVCer, was checking in at BCV on the same day into 2 units. We requested at our 3 rooms be close together. I didn't check-in until after 7 pm and my aunt checked-in even later. Our rooms seemed to be pre-assigned. We were all on the 1st floor. Their rooms were across from each other (122 & 123) and our room was not far away (129). I did call earlier in the day to ask if we were close together, and they answered yes, we were on the same floor, a few rooms down from each other. If that isn't pre-assigning, what is????

 

[TrudyZ]

The location/view of our room can enhance our vacation (but we don't get disapointed of the request are not honored), but the non-smoking room is kind of a deal-breaker for me. I always request it; but never say it is a medical issue because I wouldn't want to take the room from someone who must truly have it. But, I really can't stand the smell, and I sometimes do get a headache from it. I would be pretty irritated to have made my reservations many months ahead of time only to be bumped because I took a late flight.

Heck for our December trip, we are taking the red eye out of Det. Metro and don't expect to be at OKW until 1 or 2 a.m. I can hardly wait to see what room we get . Perhaps I should just drop the points for that night and be the first to check in for the following night!!

Trudy

 

[DeeP]

For those that are worried about getting a smoking room when you have requested a non smoking room I would not get too upset about it since the vast majority of rooms are non smoking with a very small minority of rooms that are smoking, so you have very, very good odds of getting a non smoking room. As far as any other requests, the main operative word is they are "requests", maybe DVC members have done this to themselves with requesting too much and now Disney has decided it has gotten out of hand, so they are trying a new approach.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I just got back from a trip to VWL about 10 days ago. When I checked in, I was told that my room had already been assigned. The majority of my requests were honered.

If rooms were not assigned until arrival, why would MS take requests when booking?

 

[BobH]

In the interest of sales I would think DVC would be ill advised to ignore a sense of fairness in filling room requests. Requests for specific rooms may be impossible to guarantee but I think general requests such as non-smoking, type of view etc should be honored if at all possible and honored in the order the request was made. Medical requests should be given priority.
The only requests I have ever seen make it into print on my reservation confirmation were: Non-smoking, water view, 2nd floor. Other items never made it onto the paper but were always in the DVC computer. This being said I don't see why the desk clerks can't fill a more specific request if it is at all possible. I think giving out rooms on a first come first served basis is lunacy when they rarely let you into your room til 4pm anyway. Let the management know your concerns.

 

[colleen costello]

It will be interesting to see if this "experiment" does what it is supposed to do -- get folks into rooms sooner. We waited until after 4 last July, for a room that was off in the boondocks. I believe their goal is to get early-arrivals into rooms SOONER.

Also, it occurs to me that DIS folks and DVC'ers in general have a good knowledge of the resorts they stay at, due to frequent visits. Upon check-in, when they tell you your room number, you can certainly say "Oh no -- try again, that's on the top floor" or "Please try again -- I requested a pool view." If you have a good idea of the layout of the place, you can try to refuse a room assignment you recognize as not meeting your request. Then it's up to them to try to accomodate your wishes. But if you are checking in "later," few rooms might be left.

I think this policy is going to cause some hard feelings, especially for OKW owners who make their reservations at 11-months. A delayed flight or other mishap should not cost them the room they wanted. Let's face it -- all rooms are NOT created equal. Who wants a view of the roof instead of the pool? And already folks are talking of "staying somewhere else the first night" and "getting there at 6am." What a shame when the whole point of our vacations is to RELAX!

 

[GrammieMame]

I'm right there with those who don't care for the first-come, first-serve method. To me, one of the benefits of booking 11 months ahead is the ability to (most likely) get the type of room you prefer in terms of location. Although it's not guaranteed, common sense would tell you that the sooner you book, the higher the likelihood of getting what you want. It doesn't seem fair that room assignment should be based on what time you happen to get there. Some people from other parts of the country have no choice but to arrive late (unless they want to stay off-site the first night). I'm sending my e-mail. That being said, I wouldn't let my room location ruin my vacation.

 

[Terry S]

Well, I talked with a Manager today at length about this and he told me it is true. They found out that OKW was doing it so they are doing it now. They were actually hoping that guests would like this better since they could go into the computer when the guest arrives and find a room that meets their requests that is clean and ready to check-in to. Apparantly, they were having a lot of complaints about rooms not being ready at check-in and this was their solution. Which in theory I guess is a good concept, but in practice, not so good. I did voice my dissatisfaction with this, but I don't know how much good it will do.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Terry S
Well, I talked with a Manager today at length about this and he told me it is true. They found out that OKW was doing it so they are doing it now. They were actually hoping that guests would like this better since they could go into the computer when the guest arrives and find a room that meets their requests that is clean and ready to check-in to. Apparantly, they were having a lot of complaints about rooms not being ready at check-in and this was their solution. Which in theory I guess is a good concept, but in practice, not so good. I did voice my dissatisfaction with this, but I don't know how much good it will do.

IMHO, they have made a bad decision in their well-intentioned attempt to satisfy their guests. In this case, guests should just be gently reminded that rooms are not available until after 4pm!

As DVC members find out about this new practice, more and more will try to arrive very early in the day. In addition to lines in the early morning, the front desk will be raising guests' expectations - more and more of them will now come to expect that they can arrive early and get into their rooms early.

Soon they will have the later arriving guests unhappy that their requests made 11 months in advance can not be honored AND many more guests who have the expectation that they will get into their room before 4 pm. I predict this method will not last long and again encourage people to let Ms Lueders know. It doesn't appear that this new method was given a lot of thought. Looks like their attempt to fix something has broken something else! JMHO. YMMV.

 

[Tigger7570]

I have just sent an e-mail to Jackie Lueders stating my dislike with the early checkin trial. Most of us accept the rules as they are and those who can't are unfair to the those who abide by the rules. Sure, everyone would like to check in and go right to their room, but it doesn't work that way. I agree with everyone else in regard to making ressies at 11 months out and hoping that their requests can be granted. I do this and hope for the best and if I don't get it, oh well, there's always next time. But I don't think that MS should give in to pressure from whiny, loudmouths who grumble that their room isn't ready before 4:00 p.m. and then get a room that someelse has requested just because they arrived early and complain. Again, I talking about giving in to those who complain. They know the rules. When we arrive early, we checkin and then go off, grocery shop and do lunch and check back at 4:00. We have never expected that just because we arrive early that we should get right in. Of course, if we can because one of the requests we made is available and that's where they had us slotted, yes we would be thrilled to get in early. I have read on these boards about people who have complained because they arrived at 9:00 a.m. and couldn't get in until 4:00 p.m. Too bad. They know the rules, why should they be the exception. I hope this is nothing more than a trial because there are so many of us who have accepted the 4:00 p.m for years and don't want to see it changed to the disadvantage of those who can't arrive early.

 

[colleen costello]

Let's all hope this is changed if enough of us are unhappy. I guess I will be. My family never arrives early. We drive and usually don't get to Orlando until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. We always knew our room still might not be ready -- check-out isn't until 11 and the rooms need to be cleaned! So now I guess we'll be getting a dumpster-view room by the service elevator, even after making reservations at 11 months out... This connects us to the other thread about paying for reservations at a Disney (or non-Disney) resort for the first night of your stay. After a night at the AllStars, for exaple, you can go over to BCV early to try and get a nice room. What a hassle!

 

[colleen costello]

I just thought of something and wondered what you all think. If you check into a DVC room using your points, and do not like the room, will they move you after a night or two? Can we say "Hey, I have the dumpster view -- please move me?" I know you can move to another resort, of course, or from larger to smaller, like 2-bedroom to studio. But if you simply arrive late in the day and dislike the room assignment, will they reassign you? If other rooms are available the NEXT morning, will they reassign you? This may become more common as latecomers are disappointed with their rooms.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I may be in the minority here, but, I made my ressies in May for a Sept. visit. I requested a two bedroom with access through the laundry room. I love building 41 and requested an end unit on the first or second floor unit (which is a lock off we had guests and wanted them to have the freedom of movement since my daughter was in the living room). I also wanted a smoking unit, and since they are in such short supply I made that my first request. ( Being in a non smoking unit would not make me happy.
I would never smoke in one and it obviously hits hot buttons if you smoke on the balcony or anywhere outside near the building.)
Well, what I requested is what I received. Second floor lock off in building 41 right beside the pool. We usually stay on the opposite end, but, this was an ok change, except it is the mirror image of "our unit" and I kept walking into the bedroom instead of the living area when leaving the laundry room.
I checked in at 10:00-10:30 am (we had stayed off site the first two nights and decided to check in and go have fun, even if the unit was not ready and we had stuff that needed to be kept cold/frozen) Well, to our surprise (pleasant btw) our unit was ready. We did not expect it because we know that we can check in anytime but never expect the unit until after 4pm.
I never did ask if this was a first come first serve, I guess I was too happy about the unit being ready. But, my experience sort of makes you wonder, what is up. Some say one way and I have it happen another.
To be honest, in all the years I have been going to OKW, I have yet to have my requests not met. The only unit I did not particularly like was in the building areas in the 50's. Not a big deal, we were rarely there anyway. We have just made it a point to request other areas.
It is unfortunate that no matter how hard DVC tries to meet our requests, there will always be people who are not happy.
But, then again, with the amount of people DVC has in their membership, it would be impossible to make everyone happy.
The one thing they could do that would make me very happy is to remember that this is a member resort and to make sure the members get assigned first and that their requests are honored first. Of course with the exception of true medical needs.
Also, I would like them to remove member from the cards when it is a non member checking in.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by colleen costello
...(snip)....But if you simply arrive late in the day and dislike the room assignment, will they reassign you? If other rooms are available the NEXT morning, will they reassign you? This may become more common as latecomers are disappointed with their rooms.

Yes, but you will probably be charged a "cleaning fee". At least that is what some have reported when they asked to move to a Boardwalk view (because there wasn't one available when they checked in to the BWV).

 

[Scott H]

I sent my email expressing our dissatisfaction with this trial policy.

We have to fly all day to get to WDW and we make our reservations 11 months out to the day.

I do hope this is changed.

 

[DaveH]

Are they doing this at all DVC resorts or just at a couple?

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I am really not happy with this policy either. Even though we are usually non-specific in our requests (ns, near pool, upper floor), I would not be real happy to arrive at 4pm and find out that none of my requests could be met because tons of people checked in before check in time. I believe that if they want to do first come, first served, they need to make EVERYONE wait until 4pm in check in. It still wouldn't be entirely fair, but would prevent someone from checking in at 12:01 am. I know this would cause astronomical lines, but then maybe management would see how absurd this policy is. When I have driven for 22 hours to get to WDW, I don't want to stand at the front desk and try to pick out a room. I want to know that it has already been assigned, whether it is ready when I arrive or not. I can always go to DTD, the pool, a bar, etc if my room isn't ready. We actually have always tried to plan our arrival to be around 4pm anyway since that is checkin time. How naive are we?!

I also think this policy will cause more people to be dishonest about needing a ns room for medical reasons just to ensure that they get one, which could leave someone with a true medical reason in a smoking unit. While I would not ever do this, I know people that do.

In the end, the view I end up with will not make or break my vacation, but it does start off with a sour note when you find out that none of your vague, non-specific requests could be met because hundreds of people have already checked in before you.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You have always been allowed to check in before 4pm and if your room was ready, you could have it. The wording is confusing for a lot of people. What it probably should say is: " You can check in anytime but your room will/ may not be ready until after 4pm". In years past they did have early check in for members. I thought it was a great idea, but, as membership grew they discontinued that practice.
I do believe this is a tempest in a teapot issue. I expect that this will be a short lived experiment and they will realize that they have shot themselves in the foot in this effort to please members.
As I stated before, we left our weekend accomodations and checked in at OKW at about 10-10:30 am. I had requested a specific location and my room was ready. I tend to doubt it had been occupied recently as the fridge was shut off (I have no idea why) and it was completely warm inside the fridge. I also highly doubt I took anyone's room as I had made this request at the time of my reservation.
The only requests I make at reservation time are smoking unit and building 41, second floor, end unit. The only one I really care about it the smoking unit.
I think we should stop getting our knickers in a twist, email the powers that be and see what happens. Angst is not good for anyone. Most especially for those who have not had this experience.