Check In Time - BLT Resort

[jsivigny]

I'm a brand new DVC member and I just booked my first reservation for May at BLT. The question I have is related to check-in time. Do DVC members get any advantage on check-in time? I'd like to arrive around Noon and check-in. Does anyone have experience with maybe getting an early check-in. Thanks!

 

[tjkraz]

You can physically check in at any time after resort computers have been reset for the day--around 7am. But if your room is not ready, you will not be given a room number and will not be able to access the villa until it is released by housekeeping.

The posted arrival time is "after 4pm." That means you should not count on having access to a room until 4pm or slightly after.

DVC villas are large rooms with limited housekeeping schedules and near 100% occupancy levels. Late departures are NEVER granted. The time you will be able to access your villa on the arrival day is entirely dependent upon how quickly housekeeping can turn-over the rooms.

Best to plan that you will not get into the room until 4pm or so. Scheduling dining reservations or other activities which requires a change of clothes is not advisable for your arrival day because of these uncertainties. If you will be storing luggage with bell services or using DME, it could be several hours after 4pm before your bags arrive.

Early room access does happen many times but there is no way to guarantee it. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

 

[skelooch]

You could ask if there are any rooms available of the type and view you have reserved other than the one that was preassigned at the time you check in, you may get lucky. But they will never guarantee you an early check in.

The official check in time is "beginning at 4:00 pm" per the member website.

DVC members have no advantage over other guests, when it comes to checking in.

 

[jsivigny]

Great input!!! Thanks for the speedy and informative responses.

 

[DebbieB]

Actually DVC is later. Non-DVC resorts check-in is 3:00pm, DVC is 4:00pm. I assume this is because the larger rooms take longer to clean.

 

[Figment1983]

We've checked into many DVC resorts early...one time even 10AM and we were able to get in our room We just went to BLT in a few months ago, checked in around noon, we were still waiting for our room at 4PM, we finally found a manager/supervisor of some sort...they went up to our room, found someone to come clean it and were in around 4:30. First time that has ever happened. So do not expect to get in your room before 4PM, just hope you are able to.

 

[JWG]

Best to plan that you will not get into the room until 4pm or so. Scheduling dining reservations or other activities which requires a change of clothes is not advisable for your arrival day because of these uncertainties. If you will be storing luggage with bell services or using DME, it could be several hours after 4pm before your bags arrive.If you will be storing luggage with bell services or using DME, it could be several hours after 4pm before your bags arrive.

This is worth repeating. We arrived to our room at 10pm utilizing DME and, even with calling bell services/front desk, notifying them we had a 3 year old in desparate need of a few items and reminding them we are told we'll have our luggage within 3 hours of arrival - we still didn't get our luggage until 1:30am or just after.

Do not expect luggage delivery to be a priority of any kind if you check-in early or utilize DME and they hold your luggage.

 

[rlovew]

I would have to say that you have a better chance of getting in early if you have a smaller room- the larger the room the later you seem to get into it. We have gotten in BLT studios at arrival time 3 times now- twice we arrived around 2pm and once we arrived around 11am.

 

[goofylovers]

We were just at BLT a month ago in a 1br unit and we were able to get in our room at 12:30. I was really surprised. That has never happened to me. Even in a studio.

 

[disdad09]

We checked in at 2pm and were told room would not be ready till after 4pm and we could not get into room until 4:30pm.
The explanation was that they did not have enough staff to clean the rooms.
We went to the park and left the rest of the luggage with the bell hop.
When we did get back to our room at 530pm our luggage from magic express was there waiting for us.
Next time I will not expect to get in earlier then my 4pm check in.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Check in time is not at 3PM. It's not at 4PM. It's after 4PM. So it could be 5PM, it could be 6PM. It just depends on how early the guests in your villa left the villa and the housekeepers were able to get the room cleaned up. Plus how big a mess the previous guests left in the villa. (that's why we always try to strip the beds, take out the garbage, empty the refrigerator, etc before we leave - and we call Housekeeping to let them know the room is vacant).

 

[genmasjoy]

We just checked in to BLT on Thanksgiving day at noon. We were told the room wasn't ready and gave our cell phone number for a voice mail. Went over to Downtown Disney, had lunch at Earl of Sandwich, and went to a movie at Disney West Side. By the time the movie was over, about 3:45, there was a message with our room number. It worked out fine. Just make plans for your check in day to keep yourself occupied until the room is ready, rather than anxiously hanging around in the lobby.