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

[Inkmahm]

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".

I doubt it matters when you make the request.

I had made a request at AKV at 11 months for our March trip. When I didn't get it, as usual, I asked at the desk if it were still possible to find a villa facing Arusha Savanna since I'd made the reservation at 11 months and I couldn't believe there were NO rooms available then. We were checking in mid-day, too. I was told that AKL doesn't even see the requests until 2 or 3 days before you check in. I actually got the impression that they didn't really pay attention to them at all, you get the Villa where your time frame fits for occupancy.

At BWV, I've always checked in early morning and we've gotten great BW views. Of course, I'm guessing all the BW views are great.

 

[Inkmahm]

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.

It's actualy because your keys are coded to work already and they give you the keys before the room is ready. Their only way to control your access with those keys is to not tell you the room number until they are ready for you to be in the room. That's from someone at the Boardwalk front desk because I asked the same question about not being told the room number at check in when it wasn't ready yet.

 

[beachblanket]

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.

I disagree. Twice I have had check in CMs mention in discussion the date I made my reservation, one in fact telling me "you were smart back on XX/XX/XX to start reserving this day by day." And if the check in CMs have that info at their fingertips, you can be darn sure the room assigner also does - and if it's there, it's available for consideration.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

It's actualy because your keys are coded to work already and they give you the keys before the room is ready. Their only way to control your access with those keys is to not tell you the room number until they are ready for you to be in the room. That's from someone at the Boardwalk front desk because I asked the same question about not being told the room number at check in when it wasn't ready yet.

I never recieved my keys until 4p, when they said the room was ready. Couldn't they have changed the keys if I could get another room? I think the time of year I went (this past April which was WAYYYYYY crowded) may have something to do with it. They probably didn't have much to switch me with for only one night. My 11 month BW view for the previous 6 days was wonderful. After this bad standard view, I just don't know if I can bring myself to try standard again. Just love the BW view, and I know what I'm getting.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Maybe I'm a little confused, some of you received your keys before the room was ready and without knowing what room you had and then when you came back you were then told what room you had and could then get into that room? I've never been given my room keys before the room was ready!

 

[jbrowna]

Maybe I'm a little confused, some of you received your keys before the room was ready and without knowing what room you had and then when you came back you were then told what room you had and could then get into that room? I've never been given my room keys before the room was ready!

Interesting! I've always been given my room keys immediately on checking in. Then, if the room isn't ready yet, they give me a business card with the logo of the resort on it, and a number to call to get my room number at a later time. This has been at any resort: DVC, value, moderate, or deluxe. In some cases, if I have the dining plan, I want the key so that I can use the dining plan credit to eat while waiting for the room. Or, if I have Park passes (Magic Your Way credits), I would want to go to a park while waiting for the room. Besides, when my room is finally ready, I don't have to get back in the checkin line to get my keys!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Interesting! I've always been given my room keys immediately on checking in. Then, if the room isn't ready yet, they give me a business card with the logo of the resort on it, and a number to call to get my room number at a later time. This has been at any resort: DVC, value, moderate, or deluxe. In some cases, if I have the dining plan, I want the key so that I can use the dining plan credit to eat while waiting for the room. Or, if I have Park passes (Magic Your Way credits), I would want to go to a park while waiting for the room. Besides, when my room is finally ready, I don't have to get back in the checkin line to get my keys!

Gosh, now I am trying to remember. Yes, I think you are right. I did get my keys in the morning, but didn't know the room number. Our old keys had one more days park tickets, so we did keep them.

 

[Inkmahm]

Interesting! I've always been given my room keys immediately on checking in. Then, if the room isn't ready yet, they give me a business card with the logo of the resort on it, and a number to call to get my room number at a later time. This has been at any resort: DVC, value, moderate, or deluxe. In some cases, if I have the dining plan, I want the key so that I can use the dining plan credit to eat while waiting for the room. Or, if I have Park passes (Magic Your Way credits), I would want to go to a park while waiting for the room. Besides, when my room is finally ready, I don't have to get back in the checkin line to get my keys!

Exactly. You can start using the room keys to charge things that first day even though you aren't actually in the room yet.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Interesting! I've always been given my room keys immediately on checking in. !

Now that I think about it, I've been a DVC member since 2000 and had countless stays, but I've never arrived morning, noon or night that my room wasn't ready. You learn something new, in future if it happens I'll know. Thanks.

 

[beachblanket]

Now that I think about it, I've been a DVC member since 2000 and had countless stays, but I've never arrived morning, noon or night that my room wasn't ready. You learn something new, in future if it happens I'll know. Thanks.

Interesting. I've been a DVC member for the same amount of time. While we have immediately gotten into our villas at Vero and HH, at our home WDW resort (BWV) we've always had to "wait" (I qualify that because we were enjoying ourselves at parks while "waiting") - always until 4pm and sometimes even a little later.

But again, in every one of those cases we got all our requests.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

It has nothing to do with when you make your reservations at least not at the BC and BWV's. I always make my ressies at the BCV's at 11 months out as soon as DVC opens in the morning. Rarely get my requests. I just made a last minute minivacation at BWV's and got the most fabulous preferred room with a Boardwalk view. Go figure!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

BeachBlanket, We've arrived as early as 10:30am and as late as 7:30pm and I've never had to wait to get into the room. If I were to guess our general average time of arrival, it's no later than 2pm. We usually get a 2 bdr, maybe that has something to do with it. We always travel Oct, Jun & Aug, maybe the season makes a difference or maybe I've just been darn lucky. Just like, I've never had a problem in or out of the 11 or 7 month window in any resort other than HH. I've tried twice at 7 months and can't get the time frame that suits me there, though I will admit I'm very flexible in Summer, it hasn't worked out. Maybe next year!

After thought: I never make special requests, maybe that's why. We drive in and don't really care what street, floor etc.