Why make special request when making ressies anymore?

[bicker]

The process has typically been to apply requests when the rooms are blocked out by the rooms controller, a few days prior. I doubt that's changed much, since it has been an industry practice for years. As such, satisfying requests are often more a matter of who will have already checked in a day or two earlier (and where), and who has been guaranteed certain types of rooms and will be checking in a day or two later (and where they need to be placed).

 

[childsplay]

Bicker

satisfying requests are often more a matter of who will have already checked in a day or two earlier (and where), and who has been guaranteed certain types of rooms and will be checking in a day or two later (and where they need to be placed).

I agree that there are whole host of variables which play into room assignments, several of which you mentioned......My comment on consternation was aimed more at the disappearance of using booking date as a factor. It used to be, but no longer appears to be one of the criteria used.....did they replace it with a diffreent criteria...if so, what?
I, conceed that it is possible that they simply stopped using the booking date and now there is no criteria left which is within our control. (Which, by the way, is fine.)

 

[bicker]

In the industry, "booking date" has never typically been used as a determining factor in granting special requests, and I have never gotten any indication, from my own experience or from DVC itself, that they used "booking date" in that manner. Rather, from what I've read and experienced, DVC seemed to have always used the standard Disney room assignment process.

 

[Tigger1]

Bicker:

At check in at OKW I was told that they no longer assign rroms in advance llike they did with the old system which you mentioned (room controller asssigning rooms a few days in advance). The problem they had with the old system was upset guest if a room was not ready when they arrived early (before 4pm I assume). The CM said that there would be rooms clean but the guest for those rooms had not arrived yet. Disney solution was to assign rooms to only handycap guest and large groups, like many familys staying for a wedding that want to be close to each other.
Other guest would be assigned a room when they arrive. I was asked if I had any special request and them told the of two rooms that partially met my request.

I did not always get my request with the old system and understood if I did not. At least I had a fair chance.
Now I would have to arrive at Disney a day early and stay at a different hotel to arrive early enough to have a chance for my request. What if alot of gueat do this. Then alot of guest in the lobby and again rooms will not be ready. I do not have a problem with my room not being ready before 4 pm. There is always something to do at Disney.
I can see how this system works well for Disney at this time.

 

[KNWVIKING]

What you're saying is exactly what happened last time we checked in at OKW. We arrived around 10:00 am. We had requested any building by the first bus stop, across from the main pool. The CM told us they had a room ready right now in another section that we could move into right away,or call back around 4:00 pm for a room assignment in our requested area. After driving straight thru the night,we took the ready room. We really liked that option.

 

[Nanajo1]

I guess if you really don't care about your requests then it doesn't make any difference how the rooms are assigned.
I don't bank the outcome of my trip on my requests but I would like to think I have a fair chance of getting them.

 

[FredS]

is what happened to us at check-in on our last visit to OKW. Requested non-smoking, near HH. Arrived at 7:00 pm and was given a room about as far as you can get from HH. I almost didn't say anything, because I figured since we were arriving a bit late that perhaps nothing was available any nearer. Decided to mention it, and, lo and behold, it was no problem to put us in bldg. 62, and actually there were a few other units available much closer to HH.

My two requests were clearly noted on the reservation. Go figure

 

[CVW]

Ummm....I got a real problem here.

I just finished reading through this thread, and have read the words "them" and "they" a couple of hundred times.

I thought "we" actually had some influence in this kind of stuff.

Maybe this is meant for a different thread, but why can't someone from MS hop on the web and have a friendly discussion with us? If the bus driver could answer a few questions a couple of weeks ago, why not someone who's even more directly involved with DVC? This is a PERFECT discussion for them to join in.

DVC claims that we members determine a lot of their policies. Certainly, something as rudimentary as room requests (which does not really impact the financial bottom line) is something in which we should have a say.

I'd rather talk to "them" and "they", because "us" ain't accomplishing much. If we're just discussing it amongst ourselves, we might as well be talking about forgiving third-world debt.

Do "them" and "they" ever talk to the DVC members? Do they explain their policies to us?

I'm a signature away from becoming a DVC member. I've got a contract sitting at home for 250 BCV points, ready to sign. This thread is the first time I've had second thoughts.

I'm less concerned with how these room requests are handled than I am that dozens and dozens of DVC owners are on this thread and no one knows the policy.

DVC should be able to give a coherent answer on this thread. If that offends their sensibilities, then answer it second hand. ("The reason we ignore your room requests...uh...I mean I'm TOLD that the reason THEY ignore your room requests...")

Maybe they'd like to discuss it on their official website. Fine. I'm there.

There is a "they" and "them". "They" have mouths that can speak, and fingers that can type. So let "them" give "us" some credible answers.

If you're going to tell me there's policies against it, fine. I hope nobody rats out the bus driver. (Maybe he can drive me across country while I'm on the lam for discussing room occupancy.) But my larger concern is communications between owners and caretakers.

"The truth is out there." (Fox Mulder)

As for me, if I understand the previous posts correctly, I plan to wait till the 7 month window to reserve a BWV EPCOT view 3 bedroom grand villa with a red convertible in the living room filled with can-can girls holding my theater tickets.


Oh, and I'm going to invite 25 people to stay with me.



AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! IT'S DISNEY SPECIAL OPS!! THEY'RE BREAKING INTO MY HOUSE AGAIN FOR DISCUSSING ROOM OCCUPANCY!!! TELL MY WIFE I LOVE HER!!!

 

[KNWVIKING]

...Please don't let this thread cause you not to sign- there are so many better threads here for causing that (just kidding). We are all pretty good at making mountains out of mole hills (some of us a little better then others) around here. I can say without a moments hesitation that you will never be disappointed in your DVC purchase because of "room assignment".

 

[childsplay]

I can say without a moments hesitation that you will never be disappointed in your DVC purchase because of "room assignment".

I would like to second this thought.

Room requests have always been just that, requests. I don't think anyone (certainly not me) is suggesting otherwise.
My additions to the discussion were directed more towards the OP comment of

I was just disapointed that if you make your ressie 11 months in advance does not help you get your request.

From everything I have garnered on these boards (and I have been lurking here for over two years), at some point in the not too distant past (less than a year ago) OKW was using booking date as one of the critera for determining room assignments......apparently they have stopped this practice and gone more to a "here's what's available at the time of check in" system........none of this is good or bad as far as I'm concerned.

However, I also think it is fair to say that there are at least a few "techniques" that are being used (whether officially sanctioned by Disney or not) that enhace one's chances of receiving requests.

So, without further adieu, and after careful consideration, Childsplay is now ready to reveal the top three suggestions/techniques for securing requests(if that's important to you):

1) Show up early (at least by 10am)
(followed closely by)

2) Be willing to complain, remember, often times billegerence is rewarded at the expense of the civil.

3) Be willing to wait

**Please remember the author is neither advocating nor endorsing any of the aforementioned practices and would never personally engage in any of same.

 

[CarolMN]

I think the annual condo meetings would be a good time/place to bring up the room assignment process. I think I would enjoy hearing the resort's General Manager and his/her senior staff answer a question or two on this subject. It appears that this year's BWV meeting will happen while I am there, so I will try to bring it up if no one else does.

FWIW, I expect to hear just as much "dancing around the subject" as I did last year when someone (maybe Zurg???) asked about annual pass discounts for DVC members.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by CarolMN
FWIW, I expect to hear just as much "dancing around the subject" as I did last year when someone (maybe Zurg???) asked about annual pass discounts for DVC members.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by bicker
In the industry, "booking date" has never typically been used as a determining factor in granting special requests, and I have never gotten any indication, from my own experience or from DVC itself, that they used "booking date" in that manner. Rather, from what I've read and experienced, DVC seemed to have always used the standard Disney room assignment process.

I attended the BWV annual meeting in 2000. Someone raised the question of how boardwalk view rooms are assigned. The board said DVC's method of assigning rooms was to grant requests in the order of reservation date. I don't know if they are using the "first come first served" method at BWV now, considering that the boardwalk view request is popular. It only seems fair that they use reservation date, so that those who booked at 11 months, which would be home resort members, would have the first chance.

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by CVW
... Do "them" and "they" ever talk to the DVC members? Do they explain their policies to us? ...

Yes, "they" - DVC CMs, management, etc. - do talk to us & yes, they do explain policies to us. I have attended several OKW annual meetings in late November/early December. Over the years we have met several CMs who are more than willing to listen to us, answer our questions, discuss how & why policies/decisions are made, etc. During the year I have regular contact with some of these CMs through emails, face-to-face, telephone, etc. I don't hesitate to ask a question or voice an opinion .

I feel the CMs genuinely want to hear how members feel & what they think. If there is a problem/concern, members should let DVC CMs know. How else will it get taken care of ?

 

[mmmcq]

We made ressies only 4 months out for a BCV trip this past week. Because it was well under the 11 and 7 mo windows I didn't think we'd have much "pull" in terms of getting requests met. And in general we've had pretty good luck with our assigned rooms with the exception of Vero Beach over Labor Day weekend last August in a "sold out" scenario.

BCV was in a similar "sold out" scenario this week. I called the day before to ask if the two rooms we had for the first night could be near each other...because I didn't remember asking for that when I made the reservation. I was told that the rooms were already assigned and were next door - though not connected.

This was our first stay at BCV as owners. When we arrived a 1pm our room was ready. After making our way to the rooms we realized what a hike they were. We had been assigned rooms on the first floor out by the parking lot. Now while being near to the pool was great, the hike to the main lobby and SAB with a 3yr old wasn't ideal.

I decided to call the front desk and just ask if anything else was available. They actually tried to move us closer to the middle rotunda, but couldn't do so the first or second nights so we chose to stay put. I was very specifically told that they couldn't move me because of my "seniority" dates. I took that to mean when I made the reservation, but she added some phrase about ownership dates. Since we own at BWV ('99) and BCV ('03) I figured she meant our low seniority at BCV....but I didn't press her. I should have asked more questions.

But, having being so casual about my requests this time around, I will likely be more specific in the future - just in terms of general location (close to elevator, etc.). By the end of the stay we were all used to the long walk, but some days with a sleepy, cranky, sweaty or wet toddler....the long trek to the room was unbearable.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I usually just request non-smoking, then when I am checking in, I ask what is available. When I checked in to OKW last Oct., I wanted close to HH. They had nothing close. I was put into building 56, very close to South Point bus stop, and literally as close to the pool and laundry as you can get. Only the playground equipment was between the little porch of our studio and the pool.

I am not one who spends much time in the room, we are usually out in the parks, so room views are N/A for us. BUT, I do like to be close to ammenities, like the pool. So, maybe it is easier for me to get a room upon check in that is close to a pool, because it doesn't need to be a specific view.