Checking in at the Poly at 10pm. Is this a problem?

[lisareniff]

I just booked our stay at the Poly starting the Tues. before Pres. Week, however our plane will be landing around 9pm and we won't get to the hotel til at least 10pm. I'm starting to get concerned that this will be a problem with getting a decent room. Now I'm not trying to get the perfect room but would really enjoy a quiet pool view room & non-smoking. So the pool side of Tokelau, Rarotonga or Samoa would be great. Do you think I have a chance of getting what I would like? Or any decent room?

Would calling the hotel that morning and letting them know about the late flight and my concerns help?

I could upgrade to GVC or LV and know where we would be staying, but I would hate to spend the money for just that reason.

I guess I should add the Rooms I would not like to get... Niue (because of smoking), the parking lot/monorail side of Rapa Nui, Aoteroa and Rarotonga, and back side of Tuvalu that faces Fiji.

Anyone have any experience or advice?

 

[WIDisneyFan]

We have a similar situation with our trip next July - will be arriving into Orlando about 7:30pm with a group of 6 people (2 rooms) We are staying Polynesian Concierge and rather than pay the $$$ for a night we will just crash on we extended our vacation 1 day and are staying offsite for the first night and following that with 7 days at the Poly. If your travel plans are at all flexible that might be an option you want to look into. And just in case your interested we picked the Doubletree right near downtown Disney (one plus to traveling all the time for work - a good use for Hilton Honors Points!)

 

[Demosthenes]

It probably won't be a problem. I've checked in several times late at night (leave ATL after work and drive down to arrive around midnight). We usually get our requests. Remember that the rooms are assigned prior to arrival anyway. You do run the risk that someone who got their earlier than you and didn't like their room managed to get changed to what you originally wanted, but I wouldn't worry too much. In a worst case scenario, you can alwas complain, and the front desk will move you too, though you may need to spend one night in your original room.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

I would call the hotel to let them know you are going to be arriving late. That will ensure that they don't put you down as a non-arriving guest. Seeing as how planes land fairly late at OIA, I am sure they are used to guests arriving late as well.

 

[lisareniff]

Thanks for the quick replys.

Unfortunately we will only be at Poly and WDW for 4 nights before going to Vero Beach. I don't think we should stay off site for one of those nights. It would cut into our WDW time too much.

I didn't think the hotels did preassigned rooms??? That would help us out if they did!! DH and I stayed one night at the Poly in May and liked it so much we are going back with the girls in Feb. On our May trip it didn't look pre-assigned, at check-in the CM searched the computer for a room for us.

Does any one else know if the Poly pre-assigns rooms?

 

[PolyGuy]

. You do run the risk that someone who got their earlier than you and didn't like their room managed to get changed to what you originally wanted, but I wouldn't worry too much. In a worst case scenario, you can alwas complain, and the front desk will move you too, though you may need to spend one night in your original room.

This is what happened to us the prior 2 times before this year. We always requested Samoa or Fiji, and never got it before this year. This was the first year we checked in before 8 pm. Im' thinking the earlier you check in, the better chance you can move your room if you don't like it. The past 2 years, when checking in late (after 8pm) we had no choice in moving rooms. This year, we could of moved the CM said, but they put us in a perfect Fiji room!

 

[lisareniff]

bumpity bump

Anyone else have a guess?

 

[disneyholic family]

I just booked our stay at the Poly starting the Tues. before Pres. Week, however our plane will be landing around 9pm and we won't get to the hotel til at least 10pm. I'm starting to get concerned that this will be a problem with getting a decent room. Now I'm not trying to get the perfect room but would really enjoy a quiet pool view room & non-smoking. So the pool side of Tokelau, Rarotonga or Samoa would be great. Do you think I have a chance of getting what I would like? Or any decent room?

Would calling the hotel that morning and letting them know about the late flight and my concerns help?

I could upgrade to GVC or LV and know where we would be staying, but I would hate to spend the money for just that reason.

I guess I should add the Rooms I would not like to get... Niue (because of smoking), the parking lot/monorail side of Rapa Nui, Aoteroa and Rarotonga, and back side of Tuvalu that faces Fiji.

Anyone have any experience or advice?

to ensure that you get a no-smoking room, call reservations and tell them you have an allergy to smoke...they will put this on your reservation which is supposed to guarantee you a no-smoking room....

i always do this as my daughter and I would not be able to tolerate a smoking room for even 5 minutes...
if they were to give me a smoking room i would tell them to find me another resort to stay in....that's how important it is to us....
but in all the years of coming to WDW, we have never ever been given a smoking room when we have the allergy on our reservation...

 

[lisareniff]

I've debated reserving with a 'Non-Smoking - Medical for Reasons' request. I'm tempted to do it because I hate, Hate, HATE the smell of smoke and it would really put a tamper on my vacation. However neither I or my family have true medical problem that would justify saying that and I know from reading these boards that many do. I would feel guilty if they got sick because I took the last non-smoking room on false pretenses. I just can't.

 

[SeaSpray]

Just want to say that we stayed in a smoking-optional room in the Hawaii building this summer and did not smell smoke one bit. If I didn't know that it was a smoking-optional room, I never would've been able to tell.

 

[NCombs]

I've debated reserving with a 'Non-Smoking - Medical for Reasons' request. I'm tempted to do it because I hate, Hate, HATE the smell of smoke and it would really put a tamper on my vacation. However neither I or my family have true medical problem that would justify saying that and I know from reading these boards that many do. I would feel guilty if they got sick because I took the last non-smoking room on false pretenses. I just can't.

I have to agree with you on this.



Our experience at the Beach Club over Memorial Weekend 2004 was this:

Requested non-smoking, full balcony, no looking over a roof view

We arrived at 7:00 on a Saturday evening. We were in a smoking optional (in other words it smelled horribly of smoke), standing room only balcony, looking over the ugly lower roof, down several hallways room. We hated it but there was nothing else available. Noone will ever convince this room was originally assigned to us because it was the complete opposite of our requests. So I believe the time you arrive can influence the room you get. We got what was left. Now, keep in mind, this was a holiday weekend and apparently the resort was full.

Now, here is the good news. When we asked to be moved, they were very, very nice about it. Nothing could be done that evening but the next day, we ended up with the perfect room that fit all of our requests.

So, I really can't complain because they handled it very well and we had a great stay and they got us the perfect room for us as soon as they could.

 

[tiggerstail]

we had this very situation last month, we didn't arrive from the airport until almost 11pm. We had no problem at all, we got adjoining, non smoking rooms in Tokelau. They were full and could not upgrade us, but we got everything we requested.

 

[Disneylvr729]

It will not be a problem... Working the front desk for several years. We have had guests check in as late as 3 am. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Normally all requests are met 3 days prior to your arrival. Have a great time.... Aloha

 

[lisareniff]

Thanks for all the replys. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best!

It will not be a problem... Working the front desk for several years. We have had guests check in as late as 3 am. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Normally all requests are met 3 days prior to your arrival. Have a great time.... Aloha

Thanks for the words of encouragement. Our first trip using DVC was a midnight checkin with two sleepy girls. It goes very quickly at midnight!! I got worried before that one too!

I'm still not sure if all rooms are preassigned or if the assign at check-in, with the exception of special needs guests.