What to Do - Room Not What You Requested

[weluvpluto]

What do you do if after/when checking in you get a room in a building / area that is not what you requested?

For the most part, we get our requests, but there's been a few times that we haven't and I usually just take whatever they have given us. At the Poly it was okay - we still loved our room, but at CSR we requested Cabanas and they gave us Rancheros (which we didn't like).

So how do you go about getting a different room politely? Or getting what you requested? I understand requests are not guaranteed, but many people have said they always get what they request, even some getting the exact room.

 

[DebbieB]

Ask at the front desk where the room is when they give you the room #. If it wasn't what you requested, politely ask if anything is available in ____________. The nicer you put it the more chance you might get a change. They may come back and say they do not have anything available where you want. If it's really important to you, you can ask if you can switch the next day (if you want to go through the hassle of moving).

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

When we check in, I ask about what type of room we have. If it is not what I requested, I usually say something like "ummmmmmmm .. I was hoping to get a room with x ... are there any of those available?" and smile very nicely.

The CM usually looks and sees that yes, I did request that and they look and see if we can be changed. Sometimes the change can happen and sometimes not. If the room is really bad (i.e. smoking with my asmatic daughter) I might fuss a bit, but this has not ever been a problem.

I never ended up in a room that disappointed me and many times it has been way above expectations.

 

[CarolA]

Remember that it was a "Request" and was in no way guranteed! If you go when it is very busy your chances are just diminished. Asking nicely usually works well, but they can only do some much.

 

[MinnieM3]

Things change in an instant at WDW resorts! Sometimes we've asked, nicely, "Could you please check again, we really had our heart set on so and so," and la-de-da it pops up! Also, if you are willing to wait, sometimes the room you want will actually be available later than sooner! Good attitude is essential!

 

[epcotfan]

Remember that it was a "Request" and was in no way guranteed! If you go when it is very busy your chances are just diminished. Asking nicely usually works well, but they can only do some much.

Well said Carol. Sometimes you have to just accept the assignment and get on with your vacation-especially when the resort is really busy. It is harder to move people from room to room then. Not everyone can get the "best" room. This is why they've had to create "preferred" areas at some resorts. The requests became so overwhelming they couldn't satisfy everyone.

 

[Martha7]

Does anyone know how it works? I always assumed that they assign your room once you show up at the desk, since it takes them a few minutes to process it. From these posts, it sounds as though the room will have already been assigned, and the CM is merely processing the paperwork. I always try to be really friendly, in case they have the ability to put us in a nice room, and because, as my ds's friend said, I'm "freakishly nice", but maybe the decision has already been made.

 

[safetymom]

They pre assign rooms before you arrive. When you are checking in you can always ask if there is anything else available.

 

[Martha7]

Thanks, Safetymom! I always wondered about that!

 

[BevS97]

I don't think that is always the case - when we arrived at POR last year the CM spent a long time looking for a room that would be suitable for our continuing reservation (and our only request was ground floor)

As to what to do if you don't like it - if it is really bad and affecting your vacation then go to the desk and see if you can be moved. If it's just a minor irriation (wanted 2nd floor got 3rd floor) then I would live with it, but we got Aligator Bayou and I really didn't like it when we go there (I had seen the photos but it just wasn't what I expected), so after 2 days I went to the desk and asked nicely if there was anyway we could move to FQ and the CM was lovely and moved us without any quibbles. I don't generally complain about things, so I was very nervous but he was nice as pie. We did have to wait until after 3 for a room so we were 'homeless' for most of the day, but it wasn't a big hassle.

 

[CarolA]

I have actually asked to be moved twice and both times I had been "upgraded" LOL I must not do well with upgrades. However, I was there when things were slow and I make very few requests. (Once was at YC or BC and I got a mini suite. It was on the second floor and you could hear all the noise from the lobby and I just felt really uncomfortable there.... The CMs seemed a little shocked that anyone would give the huge room up, but were very nice about it!)

 

[weluvpluto]

As to what to do if you don't like it - if it is really bad and affecting your vacation then go to the desk and see if you can be moved. If it's just a minor irriation (wanted 2nd floor got 3rd floor) then I would live with it, but we got Aligator Bayou and I really didn't like it when we go there (I had seen the photos but it just wasn't what I expected), so after 2 days I went to the desk and asked nicely if there was anyway we could move to FQ and the CM was lovely and moved us without any quibbles. I don't generally complain about things, so I was very nervous but he was nice as pie. We did have to wait until after 3 for a room so we were 'homeless' for most of the day, but it wasn't a big hassle.

Thanks - there was only once that it was affecting our vacation,that I should have asked, but I was too nervous to do it

I usually only request an area or building, and the highest floor available, besides non-smoking.
Thanks for all your advice on how to still **try** to get my requests - I appreciate it!

 

[smfnj]

Thanks for all your advice on how to still **try** to get my requests - I appreciate it!

I think the biggest factor determining room requests is "What time you check-in". We always get the room we want when checking in early. If you check in later in the day you get what's left over. Requests are filled on a 1st come basis.

We normally fly very early and check into the resort by 10am. If we have to fly late we'll come in a day early and spend the night off-site, then check in about 6:30am, do b'fast and hit the parks.

steve

 

[Twigs]

We just stayed at the Swan, not a Disney hotel, but we had a mailing from them and an e-mail stating what kind of room we were paying for (resort view with a balcony, 2 queen beds). When we checked in they were trying to give us a resort view, no balcony with a king and sleeper sofa (we know from experience that DS's do not fair well sharing a sleeper sofa). DH was saying that is not what we booked and they said they realized that, but sorry, we are completely booked up, there are no other rooms available. DH politely asked to speak to a manager to see what could be done and then we found out that the managers have access to more rooms and we ended up getting what we requested. So, it can't hurt to ask politely.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Does anyone know how it works? I always assumed that they assign your room once you show up at the desk, since it takes them a few minutes to process it. From these posts, it sounds as though the room will have already been assigned, and the CM is merely processing the paperwork. I always try to be really friendly, in case they have the ability to put us in a nice room, and because, as my ds's friend said, I'm "freakishly nice", but maybe the decision has already been made.

It depends on the reservation. I'd say about 50% of our reservations at Pop were pre-assigned. All other times, we're instructed to use "Auto Inhouse" where the computer will automatically select a room.

In the situation of a special request that isn't already pre-assigned, we do have the ability to check the room rack to see what's available, but not all CMs have the knowledge or skills to "juggle" rooms around. As such, it's very well possible for you to have a special request, and for it to show as not available... and then an hour later, someone else checks in and gets that special request, because it had been pre-blocked.

 

[disneyag]

I don't think that the time of day you check in makes any difference. I have checked in at 8 am and also 9pm and have gotten great rooms both times. In fact, one time I checked in at the Poly at 8am and I didn't get the building I had requested.

 

[Martha7]

I think the only time we flat-out refused a room, was last year at the Portofino at Universal, when a smoker had turned a non-smoking room into a horror! My dh walked in right in front of the bellman, and walked right out again. The bellman said that sometimes, inconsiderate smokers will smoke like crazy before they have to leave for the airport. My Mom was a smoker, so I'm not bashing smokers! Other than that, we've always been fine with whatever room we've been given, but we're fairly easy to please.

 

[CarolA]

Actually I have always had great luck checking in late. My last late check in was a CBR, I got a king room on a conor with two windows much nicer then the rooms I normally get.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

This time for our polynesian reservation I was very specific about longhouse, view and floor. I only requested what I am paying for in the garden view rate. We usually check in before noon, but this time due to our flight we are checking in around 7 pm. I really dont know what to expect if we will get our request or not. I just try to be nice and polite, fax ahead, heard this might not be so good now a days and last time they offered me not the floor, 2nd with no balcony. He said we could wait till later, which we did, magically we got exactly what we wanted. His first option was to switch after a day, I said fine. I am willing to wait a little for what we want if the resort is busy especially if we are staying a week or more. At the swan, I just ask to be close to the elevator. The cm there, always makes it a point to remind us, you know you are getting a govt. discount room, gheesh, like I dont know that already, so I figure he is implying which we have experienced that the view will be poor, and it was not that great. I really dont care, we arent in the room long, I just like the enjoy the resort etc.

 

[BigOnDis]

I think the biggest factor determining room requests is "What time you check-in". We always get the room we want when checking in early. If you check in later in the day you get what's left over. Requests are filled on a 1st come basis.

We normally fly very early and check into the resort by 10am. If we have to fly late we'll come in a day early and spend the night off-site, then check in about 6:30am, do b'fast and hit the parks.

steve

I think this is very true. Last time we went we had requested Bunk Beds at AKL. We we checked in early they gave us a room with two queen beds. I politely called the front desk and asked if they had any rooms with Bunk Beds and they said sure, but we would have to wait in that case. We were flexible and willing to wait so we got our request filled. The moral to the story for me is you give yourself the best chance of getting what you want if you check in early and are flexiable about waiting for the room to be ready.