Arriving at Resort at 8 p.m. - bad idea?

[Ragtime Gal]

I'm really worried about our room assignment if we arrive so late in the day. Is it true that you won't get as nice a room if you get in that late?

 

[bwvBound]

Arriving from the West Coast -- we can't help but arrive "late" compared to many other Disboard members. We add a "request" regarding room type/location on our reservation and let it go at that. We've been fortunate thus far.

You do what you can ... and enjoy the ride.

 

[browniemtb]

We arrived at 10:00 PM on one of our trips.......I was very satisfied by the room we had. That was two years ago though

 

[Ragtime Gal]

Thank you. Are there resorts where you don't think it's as much of an issue?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I'm really worried about our room assignment if we arrive so late in the day. Is it true that you won't get as nice a room if you get in that late?

You may have less choice about location and view but I can't imagine that arrival time affects your ability to get a nice room. If you generally have special requests then you might want to make member services aware of them prior to your arrival.

I've never made special requests thus far, probably because I've never had a bad experience, and yet I've never been disapointed with any of my accomodations. The most complaints I see on these boards refers to AKV Savanah view, people have been disapointed w/ the points still being the same while the construction obstructs the view.

IMO, "don't worry" everything will be great but if you're still concerned call MS.

 

[beachblanket]

DVC member since 2000 with scores of stays.

My gospel: the DVC early bird definitely gets the worm. Ergo, the available inventory shrinks as the day goes on, so hoping to cherry pick late in the day will inevitably lead to disappointment.

That's why we always fly in the night before check in and stay at an airport-area property. We're up early the next day, on the (or one of the) first DME busses to the resort, checking in by 7:30 at the latest.

No, our villa is never ready, but we don't care (after checking in, we immediately head to a park to be there before opening).

But upon return later in the day, we've always gotten all our requests.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

DVC member since 2000 with scores of stays.

My gospel: the DVC early bird definitely gets the worm. Ergo, the available inventory shrinks as the day goes on, so hoping to cherry pick late in the day will inevitably lead to disappointment.

That's why we always fly in the night before check in and stay at an airport-area property. We're up early the next day, on the (or one of the) first DME busses to the resort, checking in by 7:30 at the latest.

No, our villa is never ready, but we don't care (after checking in, we immediately head to a park to be there before opening).

But upon return later in the day, we've always gotten all our requests.

Did you get it for BWV? We changed rooms on a Friday, so that morning (I was already there from Sat. before) I went down at 8:00a. They said they could not tell me my room until it was ready, even though it was already ASSIGNED. I said I had a request...no talkin to them. So I think they knew I would not want that room, that's why they didn't tell me. It was only for one night, a 1 bdrm. standard, but it was an awful view and noisy being close to the elevators.

 

[beachblanket]

Did you get it for BWV? We changed rooms on a Friday, so that morning (I was already there from Sat. before) I went down at 8:00a. They said they could not tell me my room until it was ready, even though it was already ASSIGNED. I said I had a request...no talkin to them. So I think they knew I would not want that room, that's why they didn't tell me. It was only for one night, a 1 bdrm. standard, but it was an awful view and noisy being close to the elevators.

Almost all our WDW DVC stays have been at BWV, out home resort. In those cases the scenario I described was always one that involved checking in with requests that were made 11 months prior on a day by day basis. I suspect that may have impacted the room assignment staff, ergo "take these ones seriously because of who made them and when".

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Almost all our WDW DVC stays have been at BWV, out home resort. In those cases the scenario I described was always one that involved checking in with requests that were made 11 months prior on a day by day basis. I suspect that may have impacted the room assignment staff, ergo "take these ones seriously because of who made them and when".

That Friday ressie was made at 7 mos. out....had to use some pts. from a purchase I was gonna lose. Still far enough in advance I would think. Now the other 6 nights from my 11 mos. ressie was a great location.

 

[starbox]

My gospel: the DVC early bird definitely gets the worm. Ergo, the available inventory shrinks as the day goes on, so hoping to cherry pick late in the day will inevitably lead to disappointment.

That's why we always fly in the night before check in and stay at an airport-area property. We're up early the next day, on the (or one of the) first DME busses to the resort, checking in by 7:30 at the latest.

No, our villa is never ready, but we don't care (after checking in, we immediately head to a park to be there before opening).

But upon return later in the day, we've always gotten all our requests.

We do the same thing - arrive in Orlando the day prior to check-in and stay off-site so we can get to the resort bright and early. It's partly for the room, but mostly so that we can enjoy the max. amount of time in the resort. I also make whatever request I have at check-in with the caveat that "we'll be going to the parks, are not in a hurry and don't mind waiting to get the room".

Surprisingly - our room has actually been ready about 2/3 of the time we check-in (around 8 am). We've always gotten our specific requests as well.

 

[La2kw]

Also from the west coast here. We've arrived late plenty of times and have always had our requests met. I've checked in at 7am as well, and not even had a room available yet, let alone one that meets our requests. It's all luck of the draw.

 

[jbrowna]

Did you get it for BWV? We changed rooms on a Friday, so that morning (I was already there from Sat. before) I went down at 8:00a. They said they could not tell me my room until it was ready, even though it was already ASSIGNED. I said I had a request...no talkin to them. So I think they knew I would not want that room, that's why they didn't tell me. It was only for one night, a 1 bdrm. standard, but it was an awful view and noisy being close to the elevators.

I believe that's SOP - rooms are assigned right away, but they don't tell you what it is until it's available. I believe it's because they don't want you to go there and try to get in before it's ready, or hassle the housekeeping staff to hurry your room up. Has nothing to do with whether you might like the room or not.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I believe that's SOP - rooms are assigned right away, but they don't tell you what it is until it's available. I believe it's because they don't want you to go there and try to get in before it's ready, or hassle the housekeeping staff to hurry your room up. Has nothing to do with whether you might like the room or not.

I don't believe that, because I told them I wasn't in any hurry for the room...I just wanted to know the room number (to see if I got my request). I think its because they didn't want me to change the room.

 

[DebbieB]

One time I checked into BWV around 9:00am, we had stayed at the Inn the night before. I had requested upper floor. They said my standard view room was assigned, I asked if it was upper floor, they said no, first floor. I told her I wanted an upper floor for a better view. She looked on the computer and said there was an upper floor available but the view wasn't that great. I said I'd rather have that, I don't like first floor with the glass patio door. Turned out to be a great view (across from the bus stop, great for fireworks), I was glad I asked for a change. The one time at OKW that we didn't get our requests, it was when we arrived 6:00-7:00pm.

 

[Mahusky]

I don't believe that, because I told them I wasn't in any hurry for the room...I just wanted to know the room number (to see if I got my request). I think its because they didn't want me to change the room.

I agree. I have checkin at 7:00 AM before and they have told me my room number everytime I asked. I was checking in a a Grand Gathering and was looking for proximity of the rooms.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I'm tending to agree with jbrowna. I don't think they normally will tell you what room number you are going to be in if it is still occupied. Mahusky, I'm guessing your room(s) may have been "not ready", but also "not occupied".

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The only time we have been upgraded was for a one night stay when we arrived after Midnight. We booked PV at BWV and our WL for a SV to connect with out other 10 nights never came through. We were upgraded to BW view. Go to enjoy the view the next morning before we moved down the hall to SV. -- Suzanne

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

I agree that they don't tell you the number because they don't want you using your room key to get in before it's ready.

However, we have always found the CM's helpful in telling us the general area of where the room is and which or the requests were met. A few times, from the information they gave us we asked if we could have another room, they checked and moved our room.

As well, room requests are not filled on the basis of when you made your reservation. I don't know what the process is, but I don't think they would have this information available.

 

[Carlnne]

You might not want to hear this but a couple of years ago during spring break, we arrived at SSR after 11PM. We were told there had been a cooking mishap in our 2BD it needed cleaned. It was the only room available. The room smelled like airfreshener and smoke. The carpet and drapes in the living room were damp. They offered to put us up at a different resort for the night and move us back the next day. Because it was so late and we were tired from the flight we decided to stay. I know that it was no coincidence that we arrived so late and that was the last room. They probably just kept shuffling room assignments until the end of the night. By morning it was fine and we were just happy to be there. But I will try to avoid the late arrivals from now on.

 

[Mahusky]

I'm tending to agree with jbrowna. I don't think they normally will tell you what room number you are going to be in if it is still occupied. Mahusky, I'm guessing your room(s) may have been "not ready", but also "not occupied".

I hope it was more like "not ready" instead of "not occupied" . Actually they didn't say either way. Strange thing is when I have checkied in in these situations it was checking in at 6:30/7:00 am and room wasn't ready until 4:00 ish..... hmmm wonder if room was still occupied???