Bad Day at Blackrock ... and OKW **UPDATED on page 9**

[joepoe]

Doc, I feel for you, we've had several poor experiences checking in at 11pm... Unfortunately, if you are the last one to arrive, you get whatever is left over... Three doors down from our given room @ VWL we could smell the cigarette smoke coming from the room... We have a non-smoking request due to medical & it wasn't granted... It was quite the nightmare & we refused to check in to the room even though it was the only thing available....

Long story short, from now on, we will be checking in somewhere other than Disney the night before & arriving early at Disney the next day... seems ridiculous, but this just keeps happening to us with the late night check-ins....

I am thinking they hold the handicap rooms until the very last minute in case a handicap person suddenly shows up and needs one. So, even if it is ready at noon, I will bet they hold it. Doc was pretty unlucky. Unfortunately, I agree with him that other than my little theory, I have no clue what their policy really is. I think we have all seen, however, squeeky wheels at the front desk-and I wonder if they are given what they want just to placate them. I have no proof, though, and I dont think anyone does.

 

[rinkwide]

I suppose the squeaky wheel gets oiled but certainly <i>not</i> before the ones on the money train are nicely lubricated.

Since we're from California we face an added challenge when trying to get room requests met. Under the current system we really can't get to WDW early enough to get what we want due to the nature of flying West Coast to East. We did get very lucky on our last trip but I suspect that was a fluke that will become exceedingly rare if things don't change from their present course.

Anyway, as a result of Disney's policy punishing late check-ins, my family has decided to forgo DVC altogether and instead stay the first two nights of our future trips at the fine hotels of Universal Orlando.

From reading this thread it's obvious that we're not the only ones now choosing to stay off-site in lieu of settling for an unsatisfactory room. Add in experiences of prospective members being dissuaded from buying as described by wide awake in post #52 plus some potentially disgruntled newbies fresh from the DCA wild-hog-roundup and maybe DVC will realize they need to repack the bearings of this whole room request process in order to keep the train a'rollin'.

<small>(Recipe for a successful post: Take one good point, add multiple metaphors, toss in blender, press button labeled "liquify")</small>

 

[spiceycat]

Doc I can understand not wanting to move to other room - but how about the Hyatt at the airport - you stay there the first night and go to WDW the next morning?

of course you are still moving - but it might be easier of you.

that is not to say you won't get the same room the next morning - I certainly did - I checked in some place else then arrived at OKW at 7:00 am that morning -- I don't get smoking - I am allergic to smoke - I have doctor's proof if asked and so I have never gotten a smoking room. but handicapped yes - that morning not only was it handicapped but probably the one view of parking at OKW - I was very unhappy - but I got told OKW was full and that was it. and that was checking on Sunday at 7:00am!!!

 

[Disney Fanatic]

On the topic of room requests, we went to a Fairfield presentation just to compare Disney to Fairfield Resorts.

It is my understanding that they actually allow their members to book a specific room at their booking window.

I thought this was fantastic because it gives members who book early a considerable advantage.

I think this is the fair and gives people an added incentive to book early.


Just a thought and I wonder why Disney cannot adopt this idea as well.

 

[lenshanem]

On the topic of room requests, we went to a Fairfield presentation just to compare Disney to Fairfield Resorts.

It is my understanding that they actually allow their members to book a specific room at their booking window.

I thought this was fantastic because it gives members who book early a considerable advantage.

I think this is the fair and gives people an added incentive to book early.


Just a thought and I wonder why Disney cannot adopt this idea as well.

WOW! Impressive! How fab would that be?!? I would think that would prompt more people into buying points at their fav resorts to get that advantage. Can you imagine the jump on resale prices?!?

Really, it only seems fair and sensible to have home resort owners who book out the furthest get their requests met first over a non home resort owner who makes their ressie later. I think there aren't many arguments to that???

 

[Disney Fanatic]

I forgot to mention that the guide even said they give detailed room layouts and maps just so their members can get the rooms they desire.

I don't know anyone who would not like this idea?

Is it something members could suggest to Disney? Just curious?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Doc I can understand not wanting to move to other room - but how about the Hyatt at the airport - you stay there the first night and go to WDW the next morning?

of course you are still moving - but it might be easier of you.

that is not to say you won't get the same room the next morning - I certainly did - I checked in some place else then arrived at OKW at 7:00 am that morning -- I don't get smoking - I am allergic to smoke - I have doctor's proof if asked and so I have never gotten a smoking room. but handicapped yes - that morning not only was it handicapped but probably the one view of parking at OKW - I was very unhappy - but I got told OKW was full and that was it. and that was checking on Sunday at 7:00am!!!

It occurs to me that checking in at 7 AM might be akin to checking in at midnight, since few people would have checked out by then, and housekeeping would not have had time to get rooms cleaned.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

As a potential DVC member, reading through these posts and hearing about longstanding DVC members getting parking lot views for their stays makes me a lilttle nervous.

I cannot imagine Driving from Canada and having booked 11 months out to find that I have one of the worst rooms at the resort.

There has to be an advantage for booking 11 months out besides guaranteeing a room at a resort! DVC Members should definately receive priority rooms for booking early. If you book later, well that's the chance you take and its only fair.

I forgot to mention that the Fairfield guide even said they give detailed room layouts and maps just so their members can get the exact rooms they desire.

I don't know anyone who would not like this idea?

Is it something members could suggest to Disney? Just curious?

It is something that I know would help with my decision to buy into Disney.

 

[MiaSRN62]

that morning not only was it handicapped but probably the one view of parking at OKW - I was very unhappy

What building is this (with parking lot view), may I ask Pat ?
I got a parking lot view at BWV but I couldn't fret about it too much as I booked 55 days out.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think the logistics of what you are suggesting (book specific rooms) would be nearly impossible at places as large as SSR and OKW, and no picnic at BWV either. I don't really think there are many OKW units with "bad views", unless you are talking about studios, but getting a dreaded HA unit when you don't want it is unforgiveable when you have booked 11 months ahead. There should at least be some way to guarantee that you will not get something that makes your stay difficult because of a lack of tub etc.

 

[sheryl0521]

I always stay somewhere else the night before...cause I'm cheap with the points...then I check in early..

Same with us - but I don't say we are cheap, I would just rather use our points on a ressie where we can get more use of the benefits of the room.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

I don't mean to be argumentative but why do you think specific rooms blocked is near impossible?

If Fairfield is doing it, there must be a way to handle this? I do not work in a reservations environment but the resort we stayed at in Daytona was the OceanWalk Resort and it must be twice the size of any Disney Property.

I just think that if this is an option with Fairfield, I hope it is something Disney would consider or already has considered.

 

[BobH]

DVC has no trouble putting their pool hopping policy in writing in newsletters.
Let them put there reservation policies in writing.
To maintain a sense of fairness they should return to the old policy and members should help out by not demanding too specific requests at the time of check in.I believe they should adhere to only general requests- medical requests, non-smoking and general view & location (for example near pool). Rooms should be assigned based on date of reservation so the 11 month window means something. At least that way if you get a slightly less desirable room on one vacation hopefully it will be because you made a late reservation. If you make a last minute reservation and arrive at 8am you should still have to wait until earlier reservations are taken care. Rooms could still be assigned earlier than 4pm if room assignments were given out by order of reservation.The only exception should be for those that are handicapped. Hopefully most people would not start trying to be categorized as handicapped. I do not care for the new system at all. I see no reason why DVC could have a reservation list (minus the personal information) that they could show disgruntled guests to assure them that there are still people ahead of them for a room. The current system is kind of like a cattle stampede where those that push the hardest and run the quickest get their needs taken care of. I say let the DVC managers "manage". I think we all bought into DVC because we enjoyed the "magic" atmosphere that they used to provide. I never enjoyed the 4pm check-in but I always enjoyed my first day more when I knew there were rules that were applied with a sense of fairness.

 

[joepoe]

Doc I can understand not wanting to move to other room - but how about the Hyatt at the airport - you stay there the first night and go to WDW the next morning?

of course you are still moving - but it might be easier of you.

that is not to say you won't get the same room the next morning - I certainly did - I checked in some place else then arrived at OKW at 7:00 am that morning -- I don't get smoking - I am allergic to smoke - I have doctor's proof if asked and so I have never gotten a smoking room. but handicapped yes - that morning not only was it handicapped but probably the one view of parking at OKW - I was very unhappy - but I got told OKW was full and that was it. and that was checking on Sunday at 7:00am!!!

Spicey, I am sorry this happened. My guess is a lot of people arent checked out by 7 am. Besides, we have to give Mousekeeping a chance to clean. I am thinking that is too early, so you still get the dregs from the night before.

 

[robinb]

Spicey, I am sorry this happened. My guess is a lot of people arent checked out by 7 am. Besides, we have to give Mousekeeping a chance to clean. I am thinking that is too early, so you still get the dregs from the night before.

I think you're right. Add "don't check in too early" to the list.

 

[sheryl0521]

I think you're right. Add "don't check in too early" to the list.

This is going along with the "room ready" concept of room assignment for all resorts.
When we checked into BCV last October at 10:00 AM (before checkout time) we were told that our room had been assinged but it wasn't ready yet.
Which I expected, people (dregs?) could have been still in the room.
I was happy to hear it had been assigned which means they weren't following the room ready policy that day. We grabbed out suits and headed down to SAB for the day, which is what we planned to do. I started to call at about 3:00 in the afternoon, and on the 2nd try we were able to get our room number.

 

[robinb]

Which I expected, people (dregs?) could have been still in the room.

I think joepoe meant that the leftover undesirable rooms from the night before were the "dregs", not the people in the rooms!

 

[rinkwide]

I cannot imagine Driving from Canada...

Period.

 

[crisi]

The problem with specific rooms is that you loose flexibility for maintenance and bookings

For maintenance, lets say you book room 2212. The morning you are scheduled to arrive, the people in that room call maintenance right at checkout. There has been a "plumbing problem" with their last trip to the bathroom. Its going to take DVC a day to get the mess cleaned up, a new toilet installed, etc. You get there and what are they going to do with you? How happy are you going to be?

For booking flexibility, lets take a big three room bed and breakfast (trust me, it scales) with the Blue Room, the Pink Room, and the Green Room.

Couple one books the Blue room from the first to the seventh
Couple two books the pink room from the first to the third
Couple three books the green room from the third to the seventh
Couple four calls, they'd like to stay at your b&b for a week between the first and the seventh. Do you have a room for them? Only if they are willing to move and you want to do a full cleaning.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The problem with specific rooms is that you loose flexibility for maintenance and bookings

For maintenance, lets say you book room 2212. The morning you are scheduled to arrive, the people in that room call maintenance right at checkout. There has been a "plumbing problem" with their last trip to the bathroom. Its going to take DVC a day to get the mess cleaned up, a new toilet installed, etc. You get there and what are they going to do with you? How happy are you going to be?

For booking flexibility, lets take a big three room bed and breakfast (trust me, it scales) with the Blue Room, the Pink Room, and the Green Room.

Couple one books the Blue room from the first to the seventh
Couple two books the pink room from the first to the third
Couple three books the green room from the third to the seventh
Couple four calls, they'd like to stay at your b&b for a week between the first and the seventh. Do you have a room for them? Only if they are willing to move and you want to do a full cleaning.

Crisi, that is a wonderful analogy! That's what I meant about the logistics problem. I still think it would be nice to at least have the basics like smoking preference or second door to the bath (or any other some such request) honored if you made your reservation at the 11 month window. If you wait until 3 months out....you take your chances. It just should NOT be who got there first.