Can Dear FIL check us in?

[joepoe]

I just put my FIL's name on the 2BR reservation we have at BWV since they get in 2 hours before we do and we'd like him to check us all in. Anyone think we will have a problem?

 

[todsue99]

As far as I know he can. As long as he is on the ressie it should not be a problem.

 

[spiceycat]

Just tell him to leave your keys at the front desk or will he wait until you arrive to go some place? that is if your room is ready and everything when he checks in.

 

[TroyWDW]

We did the same thing on our last trip and our guests were not allowed to check-in to the room.

When I made the reservation, I specifically asked to have each guest's name added to our reservation and I requested that they be allowed to check-in to the room.

When we arrived, in a polite and friendly manner, I asked the BWV Front Desk CM to help me to understand why our guests were refused check-in. They stated that the reservation did not have the guests listed on the reservation. I asked the CM how many people were staying in the 2-BR unit. They were able to tell me that their were 5 people. I asked them how many adults and children. They were able to correctly tell me that their were 4 adults and one junior. But, they did not have the actual names of the guests and hence they could not check-in.

The BWV CM's were very friendly and apologetic. They were following procedures and did everything correctly. I did not fault them. No name, no check-in. As an owner, that is how I would want them to handle the situation.

After we were home from our vacation I called Member Services to inquire about why BWV did not receive all of the information regarding my reservation. It appears that at some point the names of my guests were removed from the reservation or the information was never added to the reservation. I found it interesting that the reservation showed the number and ages (adult vs children) of the people, but the names and the request for check-in privileges was absent.

I further inquired whether the printed copy of the reservation sent to me would show the guests names and would show my request for check-in privileges. The CM stated that the mailed copy would not show any of that information. I asked the CM how can I be certain that when I make such a request that it is actually recorded in my reservation record. The CM concluded that I would have to call back a second time and have MS review my reservation and read back the details.

DVC Nut, who previously was the room assignor at OKW, made the following statement in regards to another question in this forum.

"... Unfortunately since there is no way for you to view everything typed into your reservation, an extra call back to MS/CRO after making your reservation can help you to confirm exactly what is written there and you can modify your requests then if they do not seem right."

Unfortunately, this appears to be a necessary step to verify that your requests have actually been entered into the system, if they are important to you. For this type of request I would suggest calling back a week before arrival to verify that the information is in the reservation.

It wasn't a big deal, but it was frustrating to get a call from our guests as they were being refused check-in. I told them to check their bags with Bell Services and go have lunch on the Boardwalk. Fortunately, we were ahead of schedule and the wait wasn't too long for them. Of course, there are only about a thousand things to do within a 15 minute walk of BWV.

Troy

 

[slc224]

Make sure your FIL puts HIS credit card down for incidentals!

TroyWDW:

In order to save yourself time on the phone next time email MS a couple of weeks in advance.

 

[BillPA]

To avoid this type problem, take a few seconds and LOOK at your confirmation letter. If both names aren't on it, call MS and get it corrected. Also ask for 2 copies of the confirmation letter, or make the copy yourself and send/give a copy to the other party.

 

[sparkspeak]

I had given my guests a copy of the confirmation letter and they had no problem checking in.

 

[DebbieB]

I stayed at POFQ last month with 3 friends. One is a TDS CM and she got us the CM rate for both rooms. Another of my friends was already in FL, she came off the DVC Member Cruise that morning. When our CM friend setup the reservation she put all of our names on it. The friend coming off the cruise was able to check all of us in, get the room keys & the parking pass. The rooms were ready early so she was able to dump her luggage in the room before we got there. When we met her, she just passed out the room keys, we didn't even need to go to the front desk. The rooms were not connecting as we requested, but they were right next to each other and all 4 keys worked on both doors. We didn't get charging priviledges on them. On the last morning I went to the front desk to pay for the 6 calls we made (local or 800#, 75 cents each), the cm said forget it!

 

[Figment2]

I have had a problem a couple of times at OKW where guests arrived first. It didn't matter even though their names were on the ressie (according to member services) and they had a copy of the reservation and it said guests could check in first.

OKW staff told me to call a couple of days before (directly to OKW)to make sure names were in the computer. I'm going to do that whenever I have guests arriving before me no matter where I stay.

C.

 

[Dean]

Make sure the guests names are added to the reservation. Adding numbers is not enough. If their names are on the reservation they will be allowed to check in before you. Specify that you want them to check in.