I am planning a trip for the end of October 2014 with 4 adults and a 5 year old. (My child's first trip). I need adjoining rooms so that my child can sleep, but I can still enjoy my evening with my husband and parents. Of course (I'm sure you know where this is going), the person at Disney reservations wouldn't guarantee the adjoining room. Has anyone requested adjoining rooms and NOT received them? I can't imagine what will happen if we get there and don't get the adjoining rooms. We're looking at either the Polynesian or the Wilderness Lodge, if that makes a difference. It would absolutely not be worth the money if I have to go to sleep every night at 8 pm so my child will be rested enough to enjoy the parks. Thanks for your help!
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Adjoining Rooms? How hard are they to get?
- Thread starter SZ3
- Start date
daisyduckie
Well-Known Member
Do you mean you want rooms that have the inside door between them? Then you need to ask for connecting rooms, not adjoining. They are different things. And yes, I have been unfortunate enough to not get them when requested. I think that is unusual, they usually have enough to go around, but it can happen.
Thanks for the replies. I do mean connecting. Really...you didn't get them? I will be REALLY unhappy if that happens. Where else do you make a reservation for a room only to be told, too bad we can't honor it? This is putting a huge damper on what should be an exciting and fun experience. Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of getting them? I know that if it was just my husband, child and I, they would guarantee the connecting rooms, so it seems ridiculous that they won't do it when there are more than 2 adults in the party.
olinecoach61
Well-Known Member
There are no guarantees but we are 3 for 3 in DW getting adjoining rooms. We always request it and then make a point of it at check in
daisyduckie
Well-Known Member
They actually don't ever guarantee connecting rooms. I think at best they prioritize, and give those families with many children first shot at them. But it is not as if they take the rooms out of inventory when you book them. You are not booking connecting rooms, you are booking 2 rooms with the request that they connect. Big difference.
I think the only thing you can do to improve your odds is check in as early as possible. And repeat your request. Don't ask for anything else, don't request a particular building or room location. Tell them any rooms that connect will work.
WDW has categorized the vast majority of their rooms to such specific requests: including charging extra to be close to the hospitality house at Old Key West Resort. It becomes a valuable commodity that they can charge extra for. So why can't they do this with connecting rooms? If a family was traveling with a nanny for instance How ridiculous would that be to not have connecting or adjoining rooms? Especially if you have made your reservation over 6 months in advance? If you wait until the day of arrival it becomes " a difficult" request to fulfill because this requires finding and moving around other arriving parties that have your exact check in and check out dates. It doesn't sound difficult to me but the reaction is never pleasant at a Disney check-in. It usually gives me a stomach ache just thinking about it. I am usually the one making the reservations and they are usually during the holidays and at the more expensive resorts ( Paradise Pier, Grand Cal, BLT Poly ). So paying for 2 rooms per night is costly... but that does not seem to give priority to a request that should be fulfillable. I understand if I have made a reservation and all those categories are gone by previously made reservations... but do not understand this response by Disney. It becomes words that have no meaning...We can make note of the request but can not guarantee...
In all honesty I think the problem has been reliance upon computers to perform reservations. Have you ever watched the cast members walking around the restaurant with the little hand held computer filling in that a table is empty and cleaned and next guest can be seated. It seems so much more inefficient than having a maitre-de that has a feel for working the room and keeping the flow of tables and guests more equitable. It is a lost science.
In all honesty I think the problem has been reliance upon computers to perform reservations. Have you ever watched the cast members walking around the restaurant with the little hand held computer filling in that a table is empty and cleaned and next guest can be seated. It seems so much more inefficient than having a maitre-de that has a feel for working the room and keeping the flow of tables and guests more equitable. It is a lost science.
DisneyPrincess5
Well-Known Member
I can't tell you how many times we were given an adjoining room when it was just my husband and I-no other party to adjoin to. Maybe it was a coincidence but you'd think if there were very few of them or if they were in high demand, we wouldn't get one. I must say we don't go during very heavily traveled times. Good luck!
MrDee
Active Member
Only requested it once, and received it, when we stayed at the Polynesian. Perhaps basing your ultimate happiness on this one request is a bit unrealistic? We have a set of quadruplets (they're 5 years old), and we quickly learned to "just go with the flow"...thereby adjusting our "Happiness" parameters accordingly. Remain positive and have fun....just watch out for Dwarfs! There's seven of 'em......very distinctive hats.
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
We asked for connecting rooms once (at Coronado Springs) and they were able to accommodate us easily, even though it was during Easter break. We emphasized to the CM at check-in that we'd be happy to wait a little longer if they didn't have connecting rooms available just yet (it was about 10am), but as it turned out, they did have some to offer us right away.
FYI - the earlier in the morning you check in, the bigger the "inventory" that the CMs will have available to them and the better chance you'll have of getting your request met. If you're not flying in until the evening, there are fewer rooms to which the CMs can reassign you.
FYI - the earlier in the morning you check in, the bigger the "inventory" that the CMs will have available to them and the better chance you'll have of getting your request met. If you're not flying in until the evening, there are fewer rooms to which the CMs can reassign you.
Let me reiterate what an earlier poster said -- make sure you request "connecting" room, not just "adjoining". Adjoining just means next to, while connecting has the door in between. A saw a very irate guest on the Disney Wonder trying to deal with Guest Services on that point. He needed connecting but had reserved adjoining, thinking it meant connecting. The discussion wasn't going well.
EpcoTim
Well-Known Member
10 bucks says that there was at least one point on that trip where that guy was in the hallway, in his underwear, hammering on the adjoining door in anger.
Tuvalu
Premium Member
Us too! And I have gone back to the front desk to request a change...connecting rooms are noisier.
daisyduckie
Well-Known Member
Usually the family suites cost a little bit more than 2 rooms. In the case of the family suites at the All Star Music it can be as little as $4 a night more, depending on when you go. But then you get the kitchen area, along with a fridge and microwave. So offsetting the extra cost of the suite with a few breakfasts in the room should be easy to do.
Mouse_Trap
Well-Known Member
I'm a little surprised they don't make all rooms connecting. It seems like quite a minor thing at build stage which would allow much more flexibility later.
GoofyPalWalt
Member
Am now approaching my 20th trip. Since my son was a teen, we have requested connecting rooms and never been denied. Last 10 years at Riverside. Be sure to state that connecting is required for family use. My son also has medical reason for needing monitoring but have seldom added that to request. Also, check back in to reservations a week or so before the trip to verify request is still in the reservation. It doesn't even get looked at until a day before your arrival when they are allocating inventory.
mm121
Well-Known Member
Im not sure how disney does it, but with non disney hotels i use to work at a westin.
the best way to ensure you get what you need is to speak to the actual hotel front desk staff the day prior AND the morning of if you aren't checking in until later, this way the actual check in staff on duty know about the request and can typically pre block you into a room, however in some cases this will mean you have to wait until the pre blockd room is vacated by the prior guests and cleaned.
There were many times people would just put the request in the notes when making an online reservation yet never directly let us know about it and sometimes the internet notes would be inadvertently missed, and priority would go to the guests that we had spoken with personally.
the best way to ensure you get what you need is to speak to the actual hotel front desk staff the day prior AND the morning of if you aren't checking in until later, this way the actual check in staff on duty know about the request and can typically pre block you into a room, however in some cases this will mean you have to wait until the pre blockd room is vacated by the prior guests and cleaned.
There were many times people would just put the request in the notes when making an online reservation yet never directly let us know about it and sometimes the internet notes would be inadvertently missed, and priority would go to the guests that we had spoken with personally.