Room request from a "renter"

[MagicKimdom]

We're using my in-laws' points for our October trip. I've had the in-laws take care of the major requests (since MS won't talk to me about this ressie because they're not our points). But we are checking in VERY late (after midnight) and want to make sure they're prepared for us -- and, of course, I have a few room preferences I'd like the room assigner to bear in mind. Can I/should I call the front desk with this info?

I'm definitely going to call from the road on our arrival day just to remind them of the super-late check-in and to give them our ETA, but when should I call with my room preferences?

[carolina_yankee]

Since room requests are just that - not guarantees - Disney has gotten pretty tight about the whole process.

Room requests should defniitely be listed on your reservation - always start with the most important first and have only 2-3 three requests. The more requests, the more difficult it will be for the assigner to be able to satisfy you.

There's another wrinkle with DVC as I think DVC units aren't assigned in advance, but on a room-ready basis. That is, if you check in late at night, they aren't going to hold a particular view for you, but will assign you from the stock of available rooms. Those who have checked in earlier will have had a greater chance of getting their requests.

At any rate, the old practice was to fax, not call. I would get the in-laws to add my most important request or two to the ressie, and then fax my request 4 days in advance. Allearsnet has this information about faxing requests: http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/cro1.htm. Wilderness Lodge Villas definitely will ignore a fax or phonecall, and others may have followed suit.

If it's important to you, I'd note the ressie, try the fax, and then be as sweet and freindly as possible at check-in. The worst thing that can happen is that they'll ignore the fax. If they still assign in advance, the assigner will work with the ressie; or the CM at the front desk will try to do something to accommodate you if they don't assign in advance.

If you call the resort to confirm your late arrival (not a bad thing), you could ask about your requests - but the front desk will probably only talk about the requests on the ressie, not the fax, and whether they are possible to meet.

Dirk

[AFMom]

We only make 1 request when checking in - non smoking for medical reasons - and we love the rooms they've given us. It really has seemed to me that the CM's try to give you the best room they have open at the time you check in. Well - in our experince anyway! I do think it's always wise to note your late check in, as long as it's on the ressie, it shoulld be fine!
Have fun!

[administrator]

There's another wrinkle with DVC as I think DVC units aren't assigned in advance, but on a room-ready basis. That is, if you check in late at night, they aren't going to hold a particular view for you, but will assign you from the stock of available rooms. Those who have checked in earlier will have had a greater chance of getting their requests.



Dirk

This varies from resort to resort, and even from manager to manager. SSR has been all over the place on this, for example. BCV and BWV clearly do room assignments in advance. OKW appears to follow a more room-ready-type of scheduling.