Check in idea

[Simba's Mom]

Recently I encountered a situation regarding check-in at a non-Disney resort that I wondered about. Could this be done at DVC resorts? What would be the downside/upside? Twenty four hours before I was arriving (at a Hampton) I received an Email. It listed all the rooms in my category at the hotel which would be available for me to check in to. Then, when I arrived, I just picked up my keys to that room, and off I went to the room I'd selected. I really liked that idea. If I didn't like the view? Well, I'd selected it. I see 2 potential downsides-one, the notion of "room ready" goes entirely out the window. Maybe that room was clean by 9:30 am, maybe not until 2:30 pm. Also, what if the previous tennants decide to overstay. Then I have to be moved to another room. Of course, the system assumes that the second I selected a room 24 hours in advance, it drops from availability so no one else selects that room. And if there's a mechanical problem (broken pipe, etc.) within 24 hours, an apology and "We had to put you elsewhere" from the front desk is understandable. But it felt so good to get exactly the room I'd asked for. And I was less likely to complain about my room! OK, so what's the downside? What am I missing?

 

[drusba]

I would assume Disney could create a like system for its resorts including DVC. I also assume based on Disney's history with computer and internet systems that if it was actually adopted, it would not work properly for at least five years and would cause more complaints than even exist now for those five years. Moreover, I assume it requires a cost to set up the system that Disney has no desire to undertake. And finally I assume that the chances of this ever occurring at the Disney and DVC resorts is about the same as the probability of Disney's lowering its ticket prices. Disney actually does assign you a room before you arrive and thus any perceived notion of "room ready" you might have for DVC rooms is not correct and you will have to wait until that particular room is ready before you can get it. Also, Disney has already adopted a system where you do not even need to stop at the front desk when you arrive if you have gotten your Magic Bands in advance and done early online check in and provided a credit card for use for charges to your room -- your magic bands are your room keys and they send you an email or text (whichever you sign up to get) on your arrival date telling you your room number and that the room is ready.

 

[TeeterTots]

I think it sounds doable!

 

[supersnoop]

They do exactly this for cruises. I imagine it has more to do with yield management (overbooking) than anything else.