Question on Room Requests

[Thrawn]

I know the way it used to work was you faxed in your request to the resort 10 days before check-in. However, I read on allearsnet that the policy has changed, at least for WL.

So is it still "fax in 10 days out" for the other resorts? Or should I be calling WDTC and requesting the rooms I want right now?

Thanks in advance.

 

[tigsmom]

I know the way it used to work was you faxed in your request to the resort 10 days before check-in. However, I read on allearsnet that the policy has changed, at least for WL.

So is it still "fax in 10 days out" for the other resorts? Or should I be calling WDTC and requesting the rooms I want right now?

Thanks in advance.

I've always heard that you fax in your request, but I never have. We always request the room we want when we make our reservations (no promises made) then when we check double check our reservations the day before we leave we again make our request. We've only not gotten our room once (it wasn't ready and we didn't want to wait) and were upgraded; that has now become our favorite.

We usually stay at the WL and they will bend over backwards to help.

 

[Thrawn]

I've always heard that you fax in your request, but I never have. We always request the room we want when we make our reservations (no promises made) then when we check double check our reservations the day before we leave we again make our request. We've only not gotten our room once (it wasn't ready and we didn't want to wait) and were upgraded; that has now become our favorite.

We usually stay at the WL and they will bend over backwards to help.

WL no longer takes faxes, that much I know for sure ... its the proper process for the other resorts that I'm looking for.

 

[tigsmom]

WL no longer takes faxes, that much I know for sure ... its the proper process for the other resorts that I'm looking for.

We've used our method in the Contemporary and the Polynesian too. Plan on the same this year with the Boardwalk Inn.

Check this out..


Click Here

 

[Highland_Holly]

Do you request an "area" or "promimity" when requesting or a specific room number? How well does WDW accomodate the requests? Last time we went we could not have been further from the food court/busses. Ugh! Just what you need after a long day of park-hopping... a five mile hike back to your room!

Thanks!

Holly :kiss:

 

[tigsmom]

Do you request an "area" or "promimity" when requesting or a specific room number? How well does WDW accomodate the requests? Last time we went we could not have been further from the food court/busses. Ugh! Just what you need after a long day of park-hopping... a five mile hike back to your room!

Thanks!

Holly :kiss:

We always requested the same room in the WL for a few years. If we didn't get the exact room it was on either side of it. (it was the view we wanted)
Last year we requested a specific room when making our reservations and when confirming them we forgot to ask. When we checked in the CM made noted that we had requested a certain room, did we still want it? The entire hallway was empty at the time and she let us pick out a room. We took the one we wanted.

We usually pick a view (the MK, lake, etc), but if you request to be put closer to the food court they should try to help. Aren't some rooms designated "preferred rooms" and they cost more in certain resorts?

 

[swimmom]

When I made our reservations for December 2004, I requested non-smoking and a particular view and floor at the time of reservation. I was told that requests needed to be made at the time of your reservation. She did not specifiy if that was all resorts. When we ckecked in it was prior to 3:00 the CM asked me if we would like to take a room earlier that was non-smoking, but a different view than we requested. So our request was in the computer and we would have been accomodated if we were willing to wait until 3:00 for the room.

 

[HauntedPirate]

The policy that I've heard (and used) is 3-5 days prior to check-in, you can request a specific room, building, etc. I've called 5 days prior (call the resort front desk) and haven't had a problem making my request. Whether or not it get fulfilled is another story, however.

 

[daveemtdave]

We have requested first floor on both of our trips using Disney Resorts and both times did not get first floor. We requested due to a member of our party had a foot injury. In fact our last one, we were in the back and had quite a walk to the buses.

 

[tigsmom]

We have requested first floor on both of our trips using Disney Resorts and both times did not get first floor. We requested due to a member of our party had a foot injury. In fact our last one, we were in the back and had quite a walk to the buses.

If that happens again call and ask to speak to the manager. They will try to accomodate any last minute needs because of injury or illness.
Notice I said try, if the resorts are full there may not be too much they can do.

 

[JPVonDrake]

Let me be of some help...

The best time to make requests for specific rooms, buildings, bedding (ie a king bed), smoking or non-smoking, ground-floor, connecting rooms, etc... is when you first book the reservation or as early as possible after your reservation is made. Every request that is noted on a reservation is now time stamped with the date the request is made.

We have been instructed at the Reservation Center that ALL the Resorts will no longer accept any room request faxed to them. If you try to call the resort directly before you check-in, the switchboard is instructed redirect your call to the reservation center, not the front desk.

The resort room cordinator will do their best to honor as many request as possible, but will factor in the date of the time stamp and also the number of request made. For example if you have 10 different request and another guest made 1 request, you may get some of the 10 honored, and the other guest will get their 1 request honored.

Please also try to be general in your request. If you simply request room 1004 (because you know it is the closest to the bus stop) and it is not available, the resort does not know how to honor it. If you request a room close to the transportation, and room 1004 is not available the resort may assign you room 1005 next door, honoring the general request you made.

Also ask your reservation agent to check to see if what you want is even possible. For example, if you are booked in 2 standard (parking) view rooms at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and you want connecting rooms, it cannot be honored as there are no connecting standard view rooms at the lodge. Also some room catogories are all non-smoking, and some are all smoking optional.

I hope this help! :sohappy:

 

[AEfx]

Please also try to be general in your request. If you simply request room 1004 (because you know it is the closest to the bus stop) and it is not available, the resort does not know how to honor it. If you request a room close to the transportation, and room 1004 is not available the resort may assign you room 1005 next door, honoring the general request you made.

As always, JPVonDrake comes to the rescue with a complete and thorough, authoritative answer.

The portion I quoted above is advice I give constantly and have found of great personal value - the more general the request is, the better chance it will be filled. They want to help you - and certainly know better than we do sitting home looking at maps what will fill our needs.

I generally get what I want this way - and have had some pleasant surprises in rooms I would have never thought to ask for.

AEfx

 

[daveemtdave]

Unfortunately it really makes no difference. In our situation, we made our reservations in May for a December trip and made our special request - each time we made our payment, we asked again about our special request, When we arrived in December, we were placed on the top floor. We went through Disney reservations, per phone, for that trip.

 

[Laura]

If I book my rooms 6 months in advance will I have a better chance of getting my preferred locations than if I booked them 3 months in advance?

I know at Poly I want to have a 2nd floor room right by the volcano pool, at WL if I get a woods view I know what room numbers I want, but if the AP rates are really good I'll go for a courtyard view. I'm wondering if booking now would give me a better chance or if it doesn't really matter.

 

[tigsmom]

We never make our reservations too far in advance. This year is the first time, we're all set for August at the Boardwalk. We've never been there so I just hope we get a nice room.

 

[Gail Hayden]

Request what you want when you make your reservations. That info is sent to the resorts. Faxing is redundant.

 

[TURKEY]

I have yet to see any resort stop accepting phone calls about meeting requests. Most still get faxes. I haven't seen a single resort get the time stamps of when you made the requests either.

Rooms aren't assigned until 3-5 days before you arrive. Book your reservation a year in advance, and you may not get your requests, but the person booked 2 weeks ago might.