OP, we're in the same situation. We're going to book preferred pool room. DH isn't really on board with it, but I was going to put in a request for ground floor so we don't have to deal with the elevator too. It's just a PIA! We need 2 rooms and want connecting, but don't NEED connecting since DD1 and DX are "adults" at 20 and almost 18 when we next travel. So I have to decide which request I want. I don't care about the noise level in that location on the ground floor. We won't be there long enough for it to matter.