What's the chance with Room Requests?

[richard3330]

Hi

I rang WDTC today and asked for a room request to be added to my booking, the friendly CM added it but explained that it was just a request and that there is no guarantee that we will get it.
I understand this, but what are the chances? I've read so many reports about people not getting the rooms that they have requested, but I still hold out hope

Should I also send a fax to the room assigner 4 days before?

Thanks!
Richard.

 

[Danauk]

I guess it depends on how busy the hotel is when you are there. We stayed at the BCV for the last 2 weeks of August lasy year. We requested a non smoking room overlooking the pool with a full balcony. We got all three of our requests. In fact the balcony ran the full 3 room widths of our villa. We didn't fax our request before we went, just added it when we booked through the DVC.

 

[AParabola]

Definitely make requests. The CMs at registration try to make every effort to accomodate room requests if they can and a lot of people don'teven know that you can do this - so if you're the only one asking for a specific location - you'll get it. The first few visits I made to WDW when my DS and DD were little I thought that the rooms were requested by type of view (eg' ppol, garden standard etc.) and that was already taken care of when you made your reservation. It was only when I discovered these TERRIFIC discussion boards that I found out you could request a specfific location. I tried it the first time at Coronado Springs and got just what I wanted (I can't remember the exact room now - but it was a short walk to food, pool and busses - the only long walk was to the spa and that was definitely worth it!) The two last visits to AKL I got exactly what I needed. Here are some tips
1) Call the hotel itself (not Central Reservations) but the front desk of whatever hotel you'll be staying at - if you have a fax machine they will fax you a layout of all the rooms - there may be easier ways to get this but I always used this way)
2) put out a request on these boards for suggestions discribing what your needs are and asking for suggestions
3) Call to add the request to your reservation
4) It can't hur t to fax arequest a few days before arriving
5) Don't be too specific unless it's absolutely necessary - give reservations as much leeway as you can - that way if they can't fulfil an exact request they can try to come close
6) Let them know if there are any extenuating circumstances - traveling with very elderly people - they don't guarantee connecting rooms most of the time but will try to put you as close as possible. Good luck and have a terrific time

 

[richard3330]

Thanks for the super tips guys!

Any other room request experiences to share??

Richard

 

[cheerdaddy]

I have always found that the earlier in the day you check in, the better your chances are of receiving the room requests you may have....

 

[mercurytm]

Richard - When you check in, try to reiterate your preferences. I get the feeling that the information that you provide beforehand sometimes does and sometimes doesn't make its way into "the system".

I asked for non-smoking and quiet when I booked for Pop Century. When I checked in, the CM asked me if I had any preferences and I again said non-smoking and quiet. Lucky for me, we were able to look at a property map together and pick out a room to fit the bill.

-Tracy

 

[poohs4me]

I agree with cheerdaddy. The last time I went I did not check in until after midnight. I had faxed my room request and had CRO note on my reservation that I required a non-smoking room because of asthma. When we checked in, not only did we get not get any of room requests but they also told us there was no non-smoking rooms available.

We told them that it was unacceptable and that we would be happy to transfer hotels for the evening to get a non smoking room and low and behold they found one. I was quite disappointed.