Calling the hotel the AM of check-in - is this plausible?

[las3888]

We are staying at BCV in 1 week. My one and only request is for a full sized crib. There have been threads in the past on crib rental agencies, etc. I have checked them out, however, we have been able to get a full sized crib in the past. I guess I am being on the cheap side and chancing it by trying to get the crib from the hotel without having to pay the $80 to rent one, although I am fully aware that the crib is just a request and there are no guarantees.

We don't check-in until around 7pm. Does it seem plausible that I could call the hotel the morning before we leave and let them know that I really need a full sized crib. Do you think they will check with mousekeeping? I guess I could tell them that if they don't have one, I need to know now in order to rent one. Has anybody called the hotel the day of check-in for similar situations or issues? Will they be amenable to my question?

I thought it seemed the ideal solution because I would hate to rent a crib if I can get one from the hotel.

 

[spiceycat]

are you renting directly from CRO? then you can probably get one.

if you are renting from a dvc member or you are a dvc member - don't count on one. but try anyway!!!! I would call a 4 days before. (so you have time to rent one if you need it)

they don't even allow us to get the cots that even the value resort can have....

although there will be a pac and play crib in the closet....

 

[las3888]

Why do you think that it is more difficult to get a crib as a DVC member (which we are). Curious. We did get one on our last visit to BWV as DVC members. DS won't sleep in pack and play.

I just thought if I called that morning, maybe somebody at the front desk would be nice enough to connect me to mousekeeping to tell me if there are any available or will be. Maybe I am dreaming, but it would be wonderful if they could just assign our room and put a crib in it for us if one is available.

If I called 4 days in advance, I don't think the front desk would actually be able to tell me for sure whether or not they have any cribs.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would give it a try, esp if you could make a PnP work in a pinch just for one night or have the baby/toddler sleep with a parent and bedrails. This gives you two days to see if a full size crib is or becomes available. If not you could probably still call a rental agency and have one delivered. My sil used abbf and they were terrific.

In short, I think if it were me I would try calling in the am, if that dosen't work try at check in and then have a back up plan just in case.

FWIW I just stayed at BWV (Awesome!) and there was a brand new pnp in the closet and two sets of Disney PnP fitted sheets with the extra linen for the pullout.

Have fun - I want to go back!

TJ

 

[Deb & Bill]

All you really need to do is make sure you have the request on your reservation. You may or may not have a room assigned. With DVC a lot of times they do room ready, so the room they have you in at 7AM may not be the room you wind up in. You won't even get the front desk when you call, but a call center instead. They will just add it to your reservation.

 

[las3888]

I ended up calling the hotel directly yesterday. I got a really helpful CM who suggested I call 24-36 hrs in advance. He did tell me that they say cribs are not a guarantee but they are very prepared for passengers in need of cribs and he didn't feel it would be a problem to accommodate. He seemed to look something up in a computer and said that sure enough, he had just about as many cribs available as he did pnp's. I thought that was reassuring and I will definitely call 36 hrs as well as the morning of our check-in. I also thought it a little odd that pnp's were not something that come in every room. I guess I thought they did.

Thanks...just thought I would update you as to what I had found out. I hope it works out for us!

 

[Tony]

las3888 - can you let us know how you got on with this? We have a similar dilemma for later in the year, again at BCV (Baby not too keen on the PnP because of the thin mattress).

Thanks

Tony

 

[las3888]

las3888 - can you let us know how you got on with this? We have a similar dilemma for later in the year, again at BCV (Baby not too keen on the PnP because of the thin mattress).

Thanks

Tony

Hi Tony,

We did fairly well at BCV with our crib. Be aware there are 2 sizes of cribs available at BCV (as well as other resorts it seems). First we got a smaller metal crib, but not a pnp. It had a thin mattress...about 2 inches maybe. It should have been a red flag to me, but not at the time. We got settled in, but DS would not sleep in that crib. I could hear him move about ever 90 seconds. He just could not get comfortable. It was about 1am or 2am when we called mousekeeping. We weren't sure whether it was the size of the crib (too small) or the thin mattress. They offered to bring us another mattress to double up what he had. Well, what they brought us was WAY too big and didn't fit the crib. After we gave DS motrin, he finally slept. In the AM, we asked mousekeeping for the corresponding crib that matched this beautiful thick full sized mattress they had brought in the middle of the night. It took one of the staff members a check to see what was going on, but they figured it out and brought us a very nice large metal crib.

Sorry to make this so long, but that was the full story. Beware of the different crib sizes at BCV. We had to ask again at front desk for crib upon check-in. It took maybe 1 hr to have it delivered. Not showstoppers, but just beware. Also, beware if you really get stuck with a smaller metal crib, they can offer a larger mattress or double up on mattresses. We have since stayed at another hotel in KC in a smaller metal crib but with a nice thick mattress. DS was a little squashed, but he did sleep well. It must have been the thin mattress.

We are now contemplating our next move since we will be at OKW. It appears they have little in the way of cribs, but we shall soon see!

Good luck! Lisa

 

[Tony]

Lisa,

That's really helpful - many thanks. Our DS seemingly likes to be a bit "squished" - he's taken to sometime sleeping across his crib at home, even though he can't stretch out fully(!)

I'll get the request noted in the booking and I think our plan is to check in about midday and go straight to a park for a few hours before returning to get access to the room - hopefully they can get us all sorted out in this time.

If you've got any other random tips about BCV/the Boardwalk area and babies, i'd be more than ready to listen!

Thanks again,

Tony

 

[las3888]

I think the feel I get from the boards and from calling mousekeeping there (versus the other resorts) is that BCV is probably the best stocked place for cribs so you should be in good hands one way or another. Another story at OKW!

We had a great time in April with DS who was 14 mos at the time. BCV was really convenient in that we had pretty easy access to our car and to the main lobby versus BWV. It is amazingly close to EPCOT.

We didn't make it to SAB not once the whole trip. We had the quiet pool so darn close and DS had a fun time there. It actually seemed like kind of a haul to get all the way to SAB from where we were. Mind you, we were not disappointed, we enjoyed the villa pool alot.

We enjoyed having the kitchen - made for easy breakfasts with DS, plus we were able to keep on track with his snacks and nighttime milk etc.

If I were to do it again, I might request a room on the first floor overlooking the pool. This way you or your spouse (or other kids?) could head to the pool right outside your door while your DS naps. It is very convenient. We were on the 2nd floor. I felt like if we were on the first floor, we could hang out on the patio and even take a dip in the pool while DS slept. It was that close. On the other hand, the pool noise was not an issue either.

We had a really nice time at BCV. DH avoided going there for years. I'm not sure why he avoided it, but I think it's his favorite place now. Again, it was really easy to get to the car, almost as close like it is at OKW, but you are in a prime location as well...best of both worlds!

If you have any other questions or anything, please let me know!

 

[Tony]

Lisa,

I've just had a call from Disney saying that the BCV now only do PnP's. They used to do cribs but no more and the agent I spoked to said he'd just called the property to confirm all this.

Would you mind mailing me the contact number you had for the property? I'll give them a call a couple of days before we arrive and see what we can do from there.

Many thanks

(a rather confused) Tony...

 

[las3888]

Lisa,

I've just had a call from Disney saying that the BCV now only do PnP's. They used to do cribs but no more and the agent I spoked to said he'd just called the property to confirm all this.

Would you mind mailing me the contact number you had for the property? I'll give them a call a couple of days before we arrive and see what we can do from there.

Many thanks

(a rather confused) Tony...

Hmmm...that's troubling. It's ironic you mention all of this now because we are checking into OKW on Saturday and are concerned about the crib situation there. We have never stayed there with DS and don't know what to expect as far as cribs. I have called the resort several times and just called right now due to your email. I was told they don't have full size cribs there but they do have metal cribs. They are about the size of a pack-n-play. She said to request a METAL crib. FULL SIZE in the request won't help. I think (hope) DS will be okay in these smaller metal cribs...he managed in one in KC earlier this summer.

I have also heard that VWL no longer gives out cribs too, but it seems that you get a different answer from every person you talk to. I would call the resort and ask to speak to housekeeping. They will hopefully be able to tell you more. You might even call again tomorrow to see if you get a different answer.

The number I have for the resort is: 407-934-2175 . Again, just ask to speak to somebody in housekeeping. Good luck and please update me if you can!