BAD EXPERIENCE - Stay Past check out time at SSR?

[5forDiz]

since i am brand new to dvc I never knew about the extra point charge...
you learn something new everyday

Well the person who stayed past check-out time sure found it out the hard way but obviously that did not have to be the case because despite what
1st CM said at check-in on the evening before check-out CM #2 specifically informed her it wouldn't be possible to check-out later than 11 AM . . .

11 AM that is IT - that is the time as Fairy Godmother would say that
' the spell is broken and all returns to as it was ' ( or words to that effect ) . . . .your DVC vacation home becomes another's home.

 

[TisBit]

The CM must have misunderstood the question. I would never think of asking for late checkout at DVC resorts for the reasons already mentioned, but I frequently ask for and receive late checkout at the hotels when I have a ME bus picking me up in the afternoon -- and you never ask the CM's at the desk. You always have to call Housekeeping, if you do ask at or call the front desk, they tell you to call Housekeeping.

Well, I think the CM was probably misquoted. I doubt anyone would say "yes you can stay", but "call back and ask". It was probably more like, we have rooms available and aren't at capacity, so call the night before and ask.

The OP's friend obviously didn't care what the answer was, she was staying either way.

 

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

I bet you are glad you came here to share your story. The tone at times can be a little harsh but you must by now see their point. If you ever become one of those people who are waiting to check in and can't because the room was hijacked by the previous tenants, your post might be about something entirely different.

Did the front desk tell them they can checkout, put their luggage with Bell Services and use the pool area all day if they choose? There are spacious bathrooms and lockers just for this purpose at the other DVC resorts. I assume they are also at SSR. I've used it a few times and it's wonderful.

 

[Dean]

i have 2 issues with the arguments against this:

1) the person who told her upon checkin that she can stay past checkout no problem was dead wrong. if the rules are so tight then why did this person indicate it wasnt a problem>???

2) i can understand if you all disagree that my friend asked to say past checkout thats fine but the part that everyones missing is that the hotel is at low capacity. even if someone was supposed to stay in that room, big deal there were so many rooms that they could have easily been put somewhere else. my friend was undertstanding to the fact that if the resort is full she would have had to go but the resort was very empty.

DVC has a formal policy against late checkouts, any member should know this and I'm pretty sure it's in the check in paperwork. How busy the resort is makes no difference. I'm doubting they were told it might be OK, only to check back to see, a big difference in my book though it ultimately wouldn't affect me feelings on the subject.

 

[OneMoreTry]

If you expect to be in by 4, you gotta expect to be out at check out time.

And I bet 99%+ of members expect to be in by 4.

I agree with the "consistency" comment. You gotta treat everyone exactly the same -- just like your children -- or tempers flare and feelings get hurt.

 

[TisBit]

I am happy to hear that they actually charged the penalty too! I think there would be a lot of miffed people mad: ) if they hadn't and the poster put how their friends had the greatest time and the desk told them no late checkout, but they just stayed anyways and didn't get charged!

 

[kdepot]

My sister owns a campground and checkout time is enforced. If you want to stay later $10 fee but off the site on time.
Also check "in" time is 3 PM if you show up at 12 noon it's $10 if the site is cleaned and ready.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

I think it is right that they charged the extra points but what if they weren't in the account to be charged? If all of the current use year were gone and the following use year were gone, would MS call and say they were pulling 11 pts from the use year two years away? Hmmm...

I appreciate being able to get into our room on time and have hung wet clothes over suitcases in the rental car to dry to make sure we are out on time. Usually mousekeeping is knocking on our door at 9am wondering when we are going to be out.

 

[Let'sGoAgain!]

We call these types of activities DNAers in my family....meaning that rule "does not apply" to me or my family.

You know...move all the way to the end of a row and they plunk themselves in the middle and wont shift expecting everyone to get by their legs and then act offended when you do say "excuse me" to get by.

In our family, we refer to these people as "more special than everyone else" because obviously that's what they think they are!

I can't tell you how glad I am that "your friend" was assessed an extra night's worth of points!

Our family has scrambled many a time to get everything out of the villa and tie up all the loose ends by 11:00. We may go over by a couple of minutes, but we certainly make an honest effort.

We recently rented a vacation villa in Charleston; we were told we would be fined $50 for EACH 30 minutes we were past the 10:00 am checkout time. Trust me -- this family that sometimes has a hard time making the 11:00 checkout at DVC made absolutely sure that we were out of that rental by 10:00!!!

 

[tecodis]

Sorry this happened, but FYI I often book the extra night just so we have use of the room on our last day.....

I know it's a "Waste of points", but for us it is worth it to have the use of the room.

If your friends travel plans are similiar, she should also plan accordingly going forward.

Best wishes, Goldi

Agreed! I've done that before also when I don't have a flight until the evening. I hate being homeless! Those instances mean I don't have to worry about a late check-out.


Moral of the story: If you want to stay past the check-out time, you should expect to pay for it.

 

[TChrist05]

Hello fellow DVC members.....this is one tough thread. I can only compare it to the times when Disney cruise line did not have the free soda and you had to buy the mug to get it....people saying they only bought one and everyone in the family used it.....everybody jumped on them...

My wife and I have been doing Disney for 30 years....we have had and seen situations that Disney has come up real big for people....and they will usually try and bend over backwards to help you.

With all the cast members Disney has, sometimes one will make a mistake or not quite quote the policy as it should be. Policies are in place for a reason, but you also have to be flexible from time to time....which I know they are. A valuable lesson has been learned....first, don't stay past your time....and secondly, many DVC members believe the hard and fast rules are the only way to go.

Just my 2 cents folks....but I believe that Disney will normally do the right thing for their guests.

Tom

 

[SamSam]

After waiting until 6:30PM for our room to be ready at AKV on our last trip, all I can say is "check out by 11AM"!!!!

 

[Tozzie]

I guess the "friend" thought that Disney should pay overtime to the housekeeping department so one of them could stay and clean her room for the next guest. SSR is a very large resort in addition to cleaning all the rooms for guest departing that day they also have to do the other room for trash and towel and some a full cleaning if the guest are there more than 8 days.

I honestly don't believe the cast member at check in told her, no problem, depending on the length of this "friends" vacation they may not have even done room assignments yet and she was probably told to call the night before and see if it was possible.

I stayed at SSR last week, I had a late flight. I left my room by about 9:30 checked my bag with RAC, checked my carryon with bell services then I had breakfast and sat around the pool. I used the showers at the spa had a nice late lunch at the Turf club and then caught my Magical Express bus for the airport. The resorts, at least all the ones I have stayed at have very nice areas to hang out in when you have a late flight and even have shower facilities, there was no reason for your friend to stay in her room and she suffered the consequences. She only had a bad experience because of a situation she created. Hope she learned her lesson.

 

[lovwdwalot]

This is why members need to read their membership benefits guide, it is all spelled out there about checkout times, there is no excuses for not knowing what the benefits are and are not. To many times I have read the same questions, not only from new members but also season veterans of DVC. If you just look in the Vacation Planner booklet or the Members Benefits Guide that is mailed to you in your packet when you first sign your contract for DVC you will find most, if not all of the answers to your questions.

 

[JimMIA]

Actually, 11 points is probably not enough of a penalty to discourage "special" people who want to self-extend. I'd much rather see DVC charge them rack rate for the room, which would be counted as "breakage income" for the DVC owner association and would help offset member dues.

In reality, rack rate is really what DVC is losing by not having the room available for occupancy and that would be much more of a deterent to folks who make up their own rules to suit their convenience.

 

[kaelarad]

I am also relieved that staying late cost the person 11pts. I had to wait until 8:00 pm in May to get into my DVC room. I checked in at 11:00am. I expect to be in my room by 4:00 or just after. That is when I start paying for the room.

Selfish people who don't respect the policies should be penalized.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

. . .
My wife and I have been doing Disney for 30 years....we have had and seen situations that Disney has come up real big for people....and they will usually try and bend over backwards to help you.

With all the cast members Disney has, sometimes one will make a mistake or not quite quote the policy as it should be. Policies are in place for a reason, but you also have to be flexible from time to time....which I know they are. A valuable lesson has been learned....first, don't stay past your time....and secondly, many DVC members believe the hard and fast rules are the only way to go.Tom

I agree that any businass needs to be flexible in the application of its rules, I just don't agree that this the situation descriebd by the OP was one of the times DVC should bend the rules. For example, I recall someone posting a while back that, on check out day, they had to make an early morning vist to the emergency room with a sick child. In that case, the resort gave them permission to stay in the room after check out time.

Scheduling a later return flight just doesn't rise to the same level of need that a resort should try to accomodate. As many others have posted, if you need a late check out due to flight schedules, then you can book an extra night.

-- Suzanne

 

[dzorn]

so, what happens if somebody rents their points to a "guest" who decides to stay...does the member get the surcharge

I was thinking whatever credit card was used on the account so the member would not be charged.

Denise in MI

 

[crisi]

I was thinking whatever credit card was used on the account so the member would not be charged.

Denise in MI

They don't need to put a credit card on the account - if your renter doesn't, DVC can come after you for charges, damages, etc.

In a case like this, I think our contracts read that DVC will remove points (I don't have a contract handy to look at), there is no provision in the contract for charging cash. I could be wrong.

 

[JimMIA]

so, what happens if somebody rents their points to a "guest" who decides to stay...does the member get the surcharge

Well, a renter would not have any account to take points out of...so obviously, the owner's points would have to be charged. Technically, any charges or penalties incurred by a renter could be transferred to the owner of the account. Whether DVC would do that in every case is another matter, but we are responsible for everything having to do with a ressie on our account.

This is another good reason for charging rack rate -- or some monetary penalty -- rather than points. It could be collected from the offender, not an innocent owner who had nothing to do with the situation, and no control over the outcome.