Hey there, Jessie! Thanks for stopping by to see us again at the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
My family has stayed in many of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels, including Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, so we certainly have our favorite locations in each one. It's a good idea to note your request on your room reservation, and while I know the Cast Members will try their best to accommodate you, location requests can't be guaranteed. I've heard of some Guests faxing their requests to the front desk a few days in advance, although we've never tried that ourselves.
Here's a strategy that has worked for us, but I can't promise it will always result in your getting the exact location you want. First, don't do online check-in. The benefit of online check-in is that all of your paperwork and room assignments are done ahead of time, so all you need to do is stop by the front desk to claim your room (Disney is also implementing a new check-in procedure allowing you to bypass the front desk entirely and go straight to your room if you have a MagicBand; you should be alerted if it's available for you). When you arrive to check in, very politely ask the Cast Member if any rooms are available in your preferred section. More often than not, they'll call to check for you and let you know if they can accommodate your request. You may have to wait a little longer to get into your room if there isn't one available right then, but that will just give you time to explore, grab some lunch or visit a Theme Park.
Again, this is just something that we've occasionally had success with in the past, so I can't promise it will work for you. But it's worth a try, and you just may get the room you wanted
I hope this helps you plan a winning Walt Disney World vacation, Jessie. Please visit again if you have any more questions. We love to help!
Have a magical day,
Kathy K.