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

[rapisano]

My sister is currently at SSR we both have the DVC there she checked in on Sunday and her room was not ready untill 6pm!!! Wow
Is this normal I was told that check inn was at 4pm?? That to me was a wasted day of her vacation and not to mention she has a special need child and that was also know when she checked in???

 

[starbox]

My sister is currently at SSR we both have the DVC there she checked in on Sunday and her room was not ready untill 6pm!!! Wow
Is this normal I was told that check inn was at 4pm?? That to me was a wasted day of her vacation and not to mention she has a special need child and that was also know when she checked in???

How is this a wasted day? We've gotten our room after 4pm many, many times at Disney. We check in our luggage with bell services, check-in and get our KTTW, and then hop on transportaion to our first day park until evening. There is no need to sit around a lobby waiting for a room. We very rarely have a room before noon, but we always get a full park day the first day (we arrive around 8 or 9 am).

 

[Chuck S]

Actually, officially check-in time is after 4pm...Disney does not really commit to having your room ready by 4pm. Sunday is also a very busy check-in day for DVC...you have the weekenders leaving, and DVC members checking in...even with a full housekeeping staff it can take time. Add to that the fact that some folks just don't vacate their room by 11am, or the room may have been trashed or had problems.

However, 6pm is not unheard of, but it is pretty unusual, not the norm.

 

[rapisano]

How is this a wasted day? We've gotten our room after 4pm many, many times at Disney. We check in our luggage with bell services, check-in and get our KTTW, and then hop on transportaion to our first day park until evening. There is no need to sit around a lobby waiting for a room. We very rarely have a room before noon, but we always get a full park day the first day (we arrive around 8 or 9 am).

Well I guess for the people whom are not doing the parks and would like to get settled in before dinner this is a inconvience..further more with a special needs child it makes it very, very difficult to go from one over stimulating thing to another

 

[starbox]

Actually, officially check-in time is after 4pm...Disney does not really commit to having your room ready by 4pm. Sunday is also a very busy check-in day for DVC...you have the weekenders leaving, and DVC members checking in...even with a full housekeeping staff it can take time. Add to that the fact that some folks just don't vacate their room by 11am, or the room may have been trashed or had problems.

However, 6pm is not unheard of, but it is pretty unusual, not the norm.

I think that they've moved the time back to 6 for DVC rooms - I remember being slightly stressed at BWV last month because I was planning on the 4pm time and wanted a chance to change for dinner at 6:30.

 

[rapisano]

Actually, officially check-in time is after 4pm...Disney does not really commit to having your room ready by 4pm. Sunday is also a very busy check-in day for DVC...you have the weekenders leaving, and DVC members checking in...even with a full housekeeping staff it can take time. Add to that the fact that some folks just don't vacate their room by 11am, or the room may have been trashed or had problems.

However, 6pm is not unheard of, but it is pretty unusual, not the norm.

Well I guess you would think that with everyone being so excited to be there they would have extra staff during the buzy season. I do agree with you that 6pm sounds so late!!
Thanks for your your reply!

 

[rapisano]

I think that they've moved the time back to 6 for DVC rooms - I remember being slightly stressed at BWV last month because I was planning on the 4pm time and wanted a chance to change for dinner at 6:30.

Gee I wonder how quick the regular non DVC guests get checked in I hope we are not sloppy seconds
I do know that a friend of mine just returned from SSR last week and she was checked in at 2pm?? Same day as sis??
Thanks for your info much appreciated

 

[Starr W.]

Guess I have lucked out, checked in a 1pm on a cash reservation at SSR and got my room(Sunday before Thanksgiving) and about the same time on a Sat. in early May at VWL and got my room. We were actually prepared to wait for the room at VWL(from info gleaned from here) about hit the floor when I was told it was ready. No I didn't get the "dumpster" view, actually could see the lake a bit through the trees.


We had a 2br both times so I don't know if that makes a difference.

 

[JimC]

There are so many variables that factor into this that it is hard to generalize. Requests factor into this as well. Summer is a busy time. Sundays are a busy day since that is the first check-in for weekday stays. Quite possible that they were short staffed the day you checked in.

We have had villas/rooms as early as 10:00 am and as late as 4:00 pm. I know others have been in earlier and later than that.

Did you ask if there were any available villas, even if they did not meet your reservation requests? Sometimes that can help.

 

[rapisano]

There are so many variables that factor into this that it is hard to generalize. Requests factor into this as well. Summer is a busy time. Sundays are a busy day since that is the first check-in for weekday stays. Quite possible that they were short staffed the day you checked in.

We have had villas/rooms as early as 10:00 am and as late as 4:00 pm. I know others have been in earlier and later than that.

Did you ask if there were any available villas, even if they did not meet your reservation requests? Sometimes that can help.

Thank you for your reply, She did explain about my nephew whom is special needs as instructed by the concierge desk. They still did not help her out and give her there room any sooner. I know my nephews disabilities and it must have been so hard for them to deal with the late check inn. Normally I travel with her so we all can work together as a family and help out with additional distractions. I guess I am disapointed with SSR and not helping her with her situation. I am most certain any guest would offer them the room first if they only knew how diffucult it was for them to adapt.
Thanks again

 

[CarolA]

I have gotten villas as early as 8 and as late as past five PM. I have never 'wasted" a day. They give you the phone number to call and get your room number.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Having a special needs child as well, I know how frustrating it can be to travel all day...waiting until you can crash in your room, freshen up, and re-group, etc.

While we have never had this problem (always in before 4), we always have some back-up plans available...

We bring bathing suits in our carry-ons and can hang by the pool for a couple of hours (THAT feels great after traveling all day, and no one feels like they are "hanging around" waiting for a room.)

We usually have ADRs for somewhere close...either Turf Club or somewhere at DTD. Again, we can leave luggage at the desk and do all of the check-in paperwork...then go sit and have a nice relaxing meal in air conditioning, etc.

Like you, we do not like to hit the parks on arrival day, but there are other options. Hopefully this will not happen to your sis again, but next time she can plan ahead and have a back-up, just in case.

 

[jakenjess]

I'm sorry she had to wait so long to get into her room. It was probably a very busy check-in day, with the week of the 4th. We've had pretty good luck getting into our rooms with DVC. The latest we've gotten a room is 4:00 at BWV, but the last time we were there we got our room at 9:00, so it's luck of the draw, I think. When I'm making up our trip plans, for check-in day I always have plan A and plan B, one if the room is ready and one if it's not. That way I don't feel like I'm wasting precious vacation time!

 

[Mtnman44]

4pm is pushing it In my opinion. 6pm is not acceptable unless they give you a discount or something. Just cause your paying with points doesn't mean you don't deserve a full day.

Can you imagine if you went to check in to your room at the Marriott and they told you "come back after 6"? yikes!

 

[Deb & Bill]

4pm is pushing it In my opinion. 6pm is not acceptable unless they give you a discount or something. Just cause your paying with points doesn't mean you don't deserve a full day.

Can you imagine if you went to check in to your room at the Marriott and they told you "come back after 6"? yikes!

If you stay one night, you never get a full 24 hour day. Check in is 4 or after and check out is 11. Right there your 24 hour day just became 19 hours.

When we checked in to the BCV on June 1, our room was available immediately. We had no requests other than no-smoking and all rooms were no-smoking on Jun 1. I bet the more requests you have, the longer it can take to get your room. And housekeepers have larger spaces to clean at the DVC resorts, so it takes longer.

On New Year's Day 2006, we checked into OKW at 8AM. Our room wasn't ready until about 6PM because the guests who were in our room failed to leave the room. Until they returned back to the room at about 4:15PM. The housekeepers stayed late that day to clean up that mess (and it was horrendous - I think they had a big party in the villa, bottles, trash everywhere). And about 1.5 hours later, the room was ours. The housekeepers did a fantastic job getting it ready for us.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Our room wasn't ready until about 6PM because the guests who were in our room failed to leave the room. Until they returned back to the room at about 4:15PM. The housekeepers stayed late that day to clean up that mess (and it was horrendous - I think they had a big party in the villa, bottles, trash everywhere). And about 1.5 hours later, the room was ours. The housekeepers did a fantastic job getting it ready for us.

I think everyone should have to give a credit card to the desk (even if they are staying on points) so when they don't vacate the room on time or totally trash the room, they are charged a rather large fee. That would help stop the late checkout times and perhaps keep the rooms from being trashed. When they sign the paperwork at the front desk they should be notified that both actions will result in a large fee charged to their cc. That extra money can go towards our maintenance for each location.

 

[crisi]

While we have never had this problem (always in before 4), we always have some back-up plans available...

That's really critical - if you NEED to be in a room when you arrive, DVC isn't going to be a great option - DVC doesn't work that way. We've been fortunate in that we've always been able to get into our room when we arrive, but we also always have our swimsuits in our carryons or plans to go into a park with our luggage just in case. Having travelled with small kids I know that sometimes "going into the parks" or even "going swimming" when you want to nap isn't the best option, but there are quiet corners around the resorts for some down time.


Its possible that them knowing your nephew was special needs made check in even later - did she get her requests met? DVC has supposedly moved to room ready - so you should get the next room available. But with special needs I'm guessing they take special steps to make sure the requests get met. So its possible that your friend was able to check into a less desireable room, but your sister had to wait - but was put in a room closer to the theme pool.

 

[Snookies]

...On New Year's Day 2006, we checked into OKW at 8AM. Our room wasn't ready until about 6PM because the guests who were in our room failed to leave the room. Until they returned back to the room at about 4:15PM. The housekeepers stayed late that day to clean up that mess (and it was horrendous - I think they had a big party in the villa, bottles, trash everywhere). And about 1.5 hours later, the room was ours. The housekeepers did a fantastic job getting it ready for us.

I've read a number of stories like this on the DIS over the years. Does DVC currently assess a fee for parties that do not vacate by 11AM? If not, a cash fee for not vacating by check-out might reduce any current problems in this area.

 

[Geezer]

4pm is pushing it In my opinion. 6pm is not acceptable unless they give you a discount or something. Just cause your paying with points doesn't mean you don't deserve a full day.

Can you imagine if you went to check in to your room at the Marriott and they told you "come back after 6"? yikes!

I stay in lots of hotels for business. No hotel rents out for 24 hours if you are staying just one night, so it isn't unusual to think you would get the same on check in or check out day at a DVC resort. Most hotels have check in between 2 and 4 with check out between 10 and 12. That's not 24 hours either. I never assume I can get into my room as soon as I want to. I usually plan to go have a little dinner or check out other amenities at the hotel before my room is ready. At Disney, we don't have to worry about what to do, because there is any number of things we can do to keep us busy. Just sitting pool side is one of them, or take a walk around the resort. That wouldn't be too over stimulating for a special needs child. When we have traveled with an autistic child, we learned to take it easy anyway, and Disney all by itself is over stimulating.

 

[Starr W.]

That's really critical - if you NEED to be in a room when you arrive, DVC isn't going to be a great option - DVC doesn't work that way. We've been fortunate in that we've always been able to get into our room when we arrive, but we also always have our swimsuits in our carryons or plans to go into a park with our luggage just in case. Having travelled with small kids I know that sometimes "going into the parks" or even "going swimming" when you want to nap isn't the best option, but there are quiet corners around the resorts for some down time.


Its possible that them knowing your nephew was special needs made check in even later - did she get her requests met? DVC has supposedly moved to room ready - so you should get the next room available. But with special needs I'm guessing they take special steps to make sure the requests get met. So its possible that your friend was able to check into a less desireable room, but your sister had to wait - but was put in a room closer to the theme pool.

I think most hotel check in's are around 3pm and if you are going at a busy time of year, you might not get your room either. At Easter time, I have had to wait for rooms at the Don Cesear in St. Pete, Turnberry outside of Ft. Lauderdale, La Quinta in Palm Springs. You go during a busy time and your room is probably not going to be ready before 3, especially as most hotels have noonish check out times.

That's one reason we didn't do much travelling until the youngest was done with napping, so I have only been back on "the road" for about 4 yrs now.