Check in time at Saratoga Springs what a wasted day!!

[eliza61]

DVC has an operating budget that covers many things including discretionary spending. Free meals have been fairly common actually.

The only issue I have is the 6:00 PM check-in. I think that's unreasonable. Evidently you don't. Is 7:00 PM unreasonable? 10:00 PM? One minute before midnight? Where would you draw the line and start to expect better from DVC? Just curious.

it could simply have been a bad day.

 

[rapisano]

There are many ways to make a guest whole or at least relieve the stress somewhat. I agree, if there are no rooms ready, Disney magic isn't powerful enough to make one appear.

But how about giving the guests free dinner somewhere to make up for the inconvenience. Maybe park tickets for the day? How about even offering to drive them to VWL if they need some quiet time where they can enjoy the serenity of the Iron Spike room? These are a few possible suggestions and I'm sure there are many more one could think of.

There are many ways to put a smile back on the face of a guest. I'm not saying that fine resorts don't have problems from time to time. But they usually know how to manage and mitigate those situations a bit better.

Yes I agree I guess there is always something to put a smile and let them know they are appreciated in one way or another

 

[castleri]

Just to throw something else in here - to save points on Dec 29 and 30 this past year I booked a room at a resort out on 192 almost to route 29. It is a timeshare with a separate motel across the street. Their policy is no one checks in before 4PM. I tried to check in earlier in the day so the paperwork would be done etc. Absolutely not - no check ins before 4 PM from the not so pleasant woman at the desk. When I returned around 4 there was a woman having a grand mal epileptic seizure on the floor in front of the check in desk. Being an RN I felt the need to step in and do something since everyone else in the lobby was obviously frightened and not doing a thing. The other people didn't even know who she was - her boyfriend was parking the car. After a 911 call and the EMTs arrival I asked if I could check in - I had suddenly become this same not so pleasant woman's favorite person - her comment was " if I could do it I would not charge you for your stay" . She had suddenly become very pleasant. I never expected anything for doing what I should but it said something about that resort in general that they have hard and fast rules that are not broken and the person behind the desk has no opportunity to make any decisions or offer a magical moment to anyone. The bottom line here is that when we can get checked in early even without access to the room it is great and if we actually have the room ready it is even better. Just think if they stuck to the check in is 4PM or after rule. There could be hundreds of people lined up waiting to check in at 4PM and you know many would not get into their rooms until several hours later. So yes 6PM seems late but maybe only because we have become used to being able to check in and somtimes get our rooms early, That should be the rule for everyone - so many times you see where people with disabilities want to be mainstreamed in the school systems or in the workplace and not treated differently- that is what this is about unless there is a real physical health issue here that would pose a threat to someone's life if they didn't get some special considerations they should be treated just like everyone else. I am not unsympathetic to parents of autistic children as some of my friends have children at various levels along the spectrum. These same parents know their child and make their plans with the idea that sometimes things happen they can't control but they have ideas of how they can make if better for the child if there are unexpected events in the day. They don't expect someone else to take that responsiblity.

 

[pcparamedics01]

Thanks RA Pisano!!!

It is quite obvious that you have no idea what parents go through with a child with Autism. Don't worry we will not take your room!!! Most of us have to adapt to any situation in our case!!!However you should not write threads on a disability you know absolutely nothing about. It is a good thing she did not post this on the disabilities site! You probably would have been slammed!!!

 

[elijahpep]

Pot, Kettle. Kettle, Pot.

 

[crisi]

Pot, Kettle. Kettle, Pot.

Nothing quite like someone coming in and proving your point, is there?

 

[3DisneyKids]

You need to find a different outlet and take your attitude and anger out on someone who cares. Comming from a mom of twins we have never needed nor asked for special accomidations. I hope your never in the same line as us when we check in!!! Good luck!

I am not sure how Crisi's statement is a negative attitude or anger.

I posted earlier in this thread (back on page one) and yes, I am a parent of a child with special needs. She is a massive handful...so yes, I really, really know.

However, I do not ever expect a front desk worker...making $6.00 per hour or whatever it is, to be able to just look at us know what our needs are. Some special needs cases, for example, actually thrive on extra stimulation and thus wouldn't need to get into a room right away. How can someone know by looking at you and your situation?

And please, think about all of the hidden disabilities out there. What about the older adult who has a heart condition and really, really needs to lie down? This person is not in a wheel chair. They are not wearing a sign around their neck, etc. Why should my special needs child be offered a room before this person?

I am neither flaming you nor angry nor do I have a bad attitude. But my point is...Disney (or anywhere else for that matter) cannot make certain guests a priority over other guests. Why? Because you simply cannot tell what each individual person's situation is. You cannot tell who in line has what issues with what needs and to what extent. Even if you see a parent of a child who obviously has special needs....you can't possibly know the needs of every other person in line.

And again, why would you expect an hourly paid employee to be able to scan the line and prioritize the guests based on need?

As I said earlier, we try to plan ahead for everything! What if we can't get into our room? What if we have to wait an extra half an hour for our ADR? What if there are too many people in the zero entry part of the pool? And so on. As parents of a special needs child, this is just part of our life. It is OUR life and OUR child and OUR responsibility. We would never put that off on someone else...least of all front desk employee who is a complete stranger.

Do we appreciate a little help along the way? Absolutely! But who doesn't? And I will say that 9 times out of 10--Disney does go out of their way to be extra helpful. But guess what? For that 10th time...when they can't or don't go out of their way....we are prepared.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Nothing quite like someone coming in and proving your point, is there?

Did I miss something???

 

[Chuck S]

OK this thread had gone way off the topic of DVC and SSR Check-in delays, and has run it's course...

I'm closing it before it degrades further.