Any stay at Walt Disney World is sure to be a magical one but getting a room in the “right” location for your family makes it even more so. The resorts have made it harder these days to get the room you want but there is still a way. But before that, let’s think about what the perfect room location is for you and your family.
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Things to Consider When Choosing a Room
The first thing I do when I decide which resort we will be staying at is to google for the resort map. Once I have that in front of me I start to figure out what is the best location for this trip. When choosing a room look at things that matter most to you and your family. Would it matter if you were…
- Close to the Lobby/Restaurants – This location is great if you know you will be making frequent trips to the lobby area for food or to refill those cute mugs. There is also typically shopping and an arcade here. Lots of times the closest rooms are classified preferred. But if you look carefully at the maps you can request a standard room that is pretty close too.
- Close to the Bus Stop – This helps if you do not have a car. And note: the bus stops may or may not be close to the Lobby/Restaurants.
- Close to the Main Pool – This helps if you know you will be coming back in those afternoon hours for a dip.
- Close to a Quiet Pool – If you are traveling without kids or with toddlers sometimes the quiet pool is the better choice.
- Close to the Laundry Room – This is great for those of you with young children and toddlers. Odds are you’ll find your way there eventually. It also is helpful if you don’t want to pay those pesky luggage fees.
- Close to a Playground – Some children need to let off steam and run around. (this was a must for mine this last trip)
- Upper or Lower Floor – If you have a preference, note it.
- Further away from High Traffic Areas – This is great for those light sleepers.
Making a Room Request
There are a couple of ways to make a request; some of them easier than others.
At time of Booking
If there is a specific booking category that will get you the location you want you will want to definitely grab it at time of booking. Disney will not move you to that area unless you have that category booked.
Typically these are: ‘preferred rooms’ that are located near the lobby area or ‘water view/pool view rooms’ that have that specific view. There are also some specialty rooms like ‘pirate room’ at Caribbean Beach Resort and ‘princess room’ at Port Orleans Riverside.
At time of Online Check In
You can check into your resort as far ahead as 60 days out. At this time you can request up to 2 basic room requests that are specific to that resort. Examples are: Upper floor, Ground floor, Large Balcony, Near Elevator. If these requests meet your needs you are ready to check in.
If these requests do not meet your needs, do not check in on-line. It is better to make a request directly with the hotel and check in in person. If you do check in online and send in a request the systems get confused and you have a chance of getting none of your requests.
By Phone up to 5 Days before arrival
If you are specific about where you would like to stay (like I am) the best way is to call in and have your request added directly to your reservation. This should be done prior to 5 days prior to arrival because at 5 days out the reservations are transferred to the hotel for allocation.
The number you should call is 407-939-7630. If you have special requests due to a disability, you can call 407-939-7807.
Some tips on making requests. Keep them to 2-3 request and don’t make them too specific (i.e. a specific room number). Try something like – I would like to be in the XXXX section of the resort with a room facing XXXX. Some of my personal favorites are:
- Disney’s All Star Sports – Football section, ground floor, near transportation. This will get you close to the lobby without being preferred, close to the bus stop and typically very quiet.
- Disney’s Pop Century – 70’s section, facing the water. This give you the closest section to the lobby and transportation you can have without being preferred. And since it is closer to the lake you have good access to the skyliners and Art of Animation.
At Time of Check-In
The final option is to gamble and make a request at time of check-in. This is most valuable if you are looking to change room categories or have a medical limitation that may require a specific request.
I also do prefer this if I have made request by phone so I can be assured I got what I asked for. Remember that Disney does not guarantee room request so you may not get what you ask for. If you haven’t talk nicely with the desk cast member and they may be able to make some magic.
I would love to know some of your favorite requests and why. Please add them below.
For More Information
Shannon of WDW Prep School has a great article describing the online request options for each resort. She has done a lot of research that will make it easy for you.
Looks like a great place to stay, my son would love it. Great pics!
How beautiful. We will be going in May and already have our hotel. I will be looking around your blog for lots of info for our trip!!
Finding the right room is KEY! We love the ones by the pool and hate the ones near the elevator!
Ice machine is the worst!
I totally under-estimated Disney World until I took my son in December for the first time. After that experience, I am excited to go back. I’d love to plan a good room this time around and go all out on the experience.
Every time we’ve tried to make a room request at Disney (upon check-in), they’ve never been able to accommodate us. We’re usually just requesting a specific decade section at Pop Century so we can try them all out, but it seems we’re destined to always have the same one (3 times in a row!).
That is too bad. I know sometimes they can’t accommodate at time of check in but offer to let you change a day or two later. When that has happened for us we decline as we are too laze to move.
So what decade are you stuck with? We always go for the 70’s.
We just got back from our first on-property trip. None of our original requests, made by our travel agent over a year in advance, made it to the resort. I called AND our travel agent called 5 days before arrival to confirm that the requests were on the reservation – both times Disney assuring us that they were there. When we arrived at check in, none of those requests were there; only the 2 choices that were made in online check in. It was quite frustrating after 11 hours of planes, etc.
It was Riverside and we requested Alligator Bayou, four specific buildings as options. They had us in Magnolia Bend. The only reason we stayed at Riverside was to stay in Alligator Bayou. Luckily, there was ONE room left in Alligator Bayou. Phew! It would be nice to be able to confirm with the resort that they actually have the requests.
Hi Mary! I have had this happen and it can be frustrating but it is amazing what they can accomplish with a little patience. (and I am with you – love the Alligator Bayou room and not a fan of Magnolia)
One thing I did notice in your comment is that you had choices at online check in. That can be some of the problem. I have heard that online choices trump any other choice made. Basically the person putting people in rooms sees that there are multiple requests. To make it easy they default to online check in.
I have been told if you do have requests don’t put anything in online check in or just wait to check in at the resort.
Glad they still took care of you!!
This is all very interesting. I did online check in ages ago and my options were 60s, ground floor. Then I decided last minute to request a renovated room. This is for Pop and we have paid for a preferred room. Oddly when I took a look at my online checkin options again, it said “none selected.” I don’t know if it is because they were in the process of assigning the room, or as someone mentioned if you phone in requests, it is better to leave requests blank online? All I know is I had made requests?! Very odd. I went back in and once again posted my requests. We are about 3 days from arrival. I made my call for the renovated room about 5 days prior to our arrival.