Strategies for getting connecting rooms?

[JWB3]

My DW and I are taking our nieces (DN's?), age 11 and 14, to WDW in June 2012. I've made reservations at POR and have been told there are no connecting rooms available at this time and that they'd do their best to get at least adjoining rooms at check-in. The CM recommended that I should check every now and then to see if a connecting room becomes available. Any other ideas or strategies that anyone might suggest would be appreciated. Thanks!

[buzznwoodysmom]

Unless things have changed I don't think you can actually book connecting rooms, you can only request them. We've traveled with a large party and needed two rooms before and we were always told we could request connecting rooms, but they were subject to availability.

[Buddy08]

I don't understand how they can say there are no connecting rooms available 6 months from now. Surely they haven't assigned rooms yet. you can fax a request to POR about a week in advance of your arrival date. it tells you how here on intercot in info central

[tinxmom]

We have gotten connecting rooms on every one of our trips over the last 10 years (when we realized we could get two rooms at a Value for less than one room elsewhere), Even though they will never commit to giving connecting rooms ahead of time, we have always gotten them at check in - and never with any problems or hassles. On our most recent trips, we have gone with a seconfd family, and they too have been able to get connecting rooms. Most times we have been at Pop, but one time recently we were at POR.

[PETE FROM NYC]

I got connecting rooms both times we requested them.
In 1999 at ASMu, and in 2007 at ASMo.

[brownie]

I don't understand how they can say there are no connecting rooms available 6 months from now. Surely they haven't assigned rooms yet. you can fax a request to POR about a week in advance of your arrival date. it tells you how here on intercot in info central

Just make sure the request is noted on your reservation. There's no need to fax anything in; fax requests are ignored these days.

Seeing as how these are all requests and rooms aren't assigned until 3-4 days in advance, I'm not sure how a cast member could say no connecting rooms are available.

[lighteningqueen]

Honestly is there just 4 of you, the 2 adults and 2 kids?? If so I do not know how they think 2 kids ages 11 and 14 could stay by themselve's in a room down the way.. I would have to split with one and hubby split with one. I would have gotten a suite at ASMU it is cheaper than POR's 2 rooms. Way cheaper and so nice to have that living room and 2 tvs two baths etc etc...

[Polynesian Dweller]

Just make sure the request is noted on your reservation. There's no need to fax anything in; fax requests are ignored these days.

Seeing as how these are all requests and rooms aren't assigned until 3-4 days in advance, I'm not sure how a cast member could say no connecting rooms are available.

The cast member is at a call center possibly across the country from WDW. They really don't know much other than what's on their careens. Connecting rooms is not a bookable category so the CM doesn't see any so just says not available.

The booking CMs are known to say many wrong things. However, the best strategy is to note the request on your reservation and hope for the best. So many people want them that connecting rooms are never guaranteed even when they say they are.

[Buddy08]

"Just make sure the request is noted on your reservation. There's no need to fax anything in; fax requests are ignored these days. "

Seeing as how these are all requests and rooms aren't assigned until 3-4 days in advance, I'm not sure how a cast member could say no connecting rooms are available.

They didn't ignore our request. and it wasn't on our reservation. Doesn't hurt to do both

[JWB3]

The cast member is at a call center possibly across the country from WDW. They really don't know much other than what's on their careens. Connecting rooms is not a bookable category so the CM doesn't see any so just says not available.

The booking CMs are known to say many wrong things. However, the best strategy is to note the request on your reservation and hope for the best. So many people want them that connecting rooms are never guaranteed even when they say they are.

That makes sense - thanks! And thanks to everyone for your suggestions. In the past, we've ended up with a room connecting with someone else when we would have preferred not to due to the additional noise factor.

Personally, I like the idea of trying out the ASM suites, but we really like POR and my sister has agreed to pay for the extra room. And if our son decides to tag along, assuming 20 yr olds still "tag along," the two rooms at POR will work out better.

Keeping my fingers crossed!

[JWB3]

"Just make sure the request is noted on your reservation. There's no need to fax anything in; fax requests are ignored these days. "

Seeing as how these are all requests and rooms aren't assigned until 3-4 days in advance, I'm not sure how a cast member could say no connecting rooms are available.

They didn't ignore our request. and it wasn't on our reservation. Doesn't hurt to do both

In the past few stays I faxed our requests and they were always met, so I'll likely do it again in June. Maybe it was just good karma, but I agree there's never a guarantee. As they say on Car Talk, "Kent Hoit!"