What's everyone's experience been with getting "requests" granted on ressies?

[~Magical Princess~]

I'm wondering how would everyone rank getting their requests honored over the years or in recent trips?

I've been told not to get "too specific" as it might limit you, but we've got some pretty specific requests, Building 62, 23 or 64 (in that order as we aren't crazy about the non-parking in front of 64), near HH (of course), water view (all those buildings offer that), NS (all those buildings are) and 2nd or 3rd floor (to be off main floor).

We are going in a low season time (I believe) which is September, and our ressie was made at the 9 month out window (pretty early).

I'm just wondering -

1st who's requested special buildings or areas and got exactly what they wanted, and then

2nd who's requested specific areas and gotten "somewhat close", and

3rd who's requested specific areas and ended up completely oppositie of what they wanted.

**Disclaimer: I realize all requests are only that "REQUESTS" so no lectures on that please!! **

 

[Lew]

Cast members really do their best to satisfy requests.

We always make requests..sometime we get exactly what we want, sometimes it's very close. I don't remember getting something completely different than what we requested.

Although you made your reservations nine months out there are those of us who reserve right at the eleven-month window.

 

[Tigger7570]

We go home twice a year and when I make my reservation I request which buildings I would like. I have expanded this request over the years as we are assigned buildings other than what we requested and I have to say most of the time these other buildings have been fine and we add theses to the ones we like to the list. Obviously, the more buildings you give, the better of your chances getting one of the ones you want. I also feel the more I list that I like, the less chance of getting one I really don't want. If you put your request in at the time of reservation, and make no changes to that reservation, then you have a better chance. We have been many times in September and have gotten one of the buildings we have requested. A really strange thing happened when we went in May. When we arrived around 12:00 noon, none of the buildings we had requested were available right then, but they gave us a list of buildings that were available and said if we wanted one of them we could check right in. We rode over and checked them out and picked one which we were happy with and were able to check in early which was wonderful. Also, it depends on the accommodations. We are either in a one or two bedroom when we go. Hope this helps.

 

[WDWguru]

It might be better to request the specific things you want those buildings for. Then, if they can't fulfill them all, you may at least get some of them. If you simply request building numbers and they aren't available, they have no idea why you requested those buildings and may assign you something completely different than what you want.

If you are looking at 62-3-4 because they are close to Hospitality House and have elevators, then just make those two requests in whichever order they are important to you. Then if those aren't available, they'll have some idea of where else to put you.

That said, we made ressies about two months out for the end of April at OKW. It was our first trip as DVC and we didn't know a lot about requests. We did request 62-3-4 just by looking at the map, and we did get building 62, which we LOVED. Looking back, though, it would've been better to make specific requests rather than buildings. Had they not be available, we'd have been stuck somewhere we may not have liked as well.

 

[Disney Doll]

My requests for OKW are to have a 1BR with a separate entrance for the bathroom...long story, if we are on the 2nd or 3rd floor, then a building with an elevator.I don't request views..I think most of the views are OK.

 

[DebbieB]

5/00 - OKW, reservation at 7 months. Requested 23 to 26, second floor. Got 26, second floor. Nice view of green & pond.

12/00 - BWV, 11 months. Requested BW view, top floor. Got quiet pool view, top floor (4100). OK view - waterway & MGM, but disappointed not BW. I was glad it was top floor, I was afraid of getting first floor next to pool or behind the slide.

5/01 - OKW, reservation 7 months, Requested 23 to 26, second floor again. Got 28, second floor. View wasn't great, mostly trees, made the room dark.

12/01 - BWV, 11 months, standard view. Requested near tennis courts. Got 3rd floor on the corner over the pond (3121). Nice view, Epcot fireworks partially blocked by large tree.

5/02 - OKW, 7 months. Something different this time - requested Turtle Pond Road, water view, second floor. Put in fax that first floor would be OK if second not available. Got building 31, water view, first floor. Nice view of pond, lots of ducks. Actually liked first floor better.

 

[Granny]

We would fall into your second classification: requested specific areas. So far we are 2 for 2....batting 1.000!!!

Specific areas have been "near elevators", "upper floors", "lake side of VWL". We have not requested specific rooms.

One successful request was placed at the 11 month mark and the other at the 7 month mark (non-home).

 

[DVC1996]

I usually request non-smoking Building numbers near the Hospitality House at OKW. After eight trips to OKW, I've only gotten another area once.

 

[OKW91]

We have made over 30 visits to OKW and have either gotten the unit we requested or very close. We have made recervations 11 months out for December and gotten the unit we requested several times. We have also made reservations only 30 days out and had no problems getting what we asked for. I think the time of the year has a lot to do with getting your request! If it's during the high season you may not get exactly what you want, but I have never had MS put me Completely opposite, as you put it. We had reservations last Christmas, the first week of December, and got exactly what we requested, plus the room was ready at 9AM when we arrived much to our joy!!

 

[DebbieB]

Here's another question - do you have more luck in getting your requests if you check-in on Friday or Saturday, as opposed to a weeknight? I would think Sunday would be the biggest check-in day. We always check-in on Saturday because of airfare. I noticed the lot for our building 31 was pretty empty on Saturday night but filled up on Sunday night and the rest of the week. I noticed most of the cars had a Friday check-out (as we did).

 

[RAD]

So far we've got just about what we asked for. We never say a specific building but general requests, like top floor nice view, or a 1BR with bathroom access through laundry room. We've even asked for BWV Boardwalk view, nice view and got 5th floor over Big River. But then again we usually book in the 11-9 month range.

 

[CK1]

Dec '98: OKW, at 11 mos window. We requested 3 rooms (2 studios, and a 2 BR), close together, near hospitality house, non-smoking. Got Turtle pond, near the pool, one upper floor, two lower and 2 doors apart, all NS.

Oct '99: OKW, at 6 mos window. Requested a 2br, near hospitality house / pool, NS, dedicated; got Turtle Pond, a bit away from pool, dedicated, NS, 2nd floor.

Jan'01: OKW, at 7 mos widnow: Requested 2Br, dedicated, near hosp. house and / or pool, ground floor, NS. Got Turtle Pond (again!), ground floor, a bit away from pool, dedicated, NS.

Aug'02: VWL, at 7 mos window: Requested 2BR dedicated, pool view, near elevator, NS; got 2BR dedicated, pool view, view of bay, fairly close to elevator, 4th floor.... perfect!!! We must be getting better! (Not that there's anything WRONG with Turtle Pnd, mind you... we loved our rooms there... but change is nice, and our VWL was awesome! 4507, in case you're wondering.)

We want to try BCV next. We're actually owners at BWV, but that's our last choice for now... those 2BR accommodations just don't work as well there for our crew without a dedicated 2BR.... oh well ...maybe one day we'll go to BWV for the Grand Villas! (Or maybe dh and I will go when the kids are grown... I can dream, can't i?)

Cindy

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I am very specific on where I would like to stay and each and every time I have received what I requested.
That "room assignor" works very very hard to please people at OKW.

 

[~Magical Princess~]

Thanks everyone for those comments! I'll have to keep you all posted!!

Gail you are sounding like me - I too am VERY specific as to where I want to stay, and I even faxed my request 3 weeks early so as they might "accommodate" me better knowing in advance (who knows though ....)

I called and they received the fax and they've got everything noted in the ressie, so I have to just let it rest now and see what happens and hope for the best!

Either way, as long as I'm at OKW, I'm bound to be happy no matter WHERE I am !!