CR Check in - Not what paid for!

[itchin2go]

Unfortunately, the law prohibits WDW from physically evicting people or even locking them out of the room, as long as they pay. I'm not an expert on this, but I know this to be true. A guest who "squats" in a room past their reserved departure date is a huge headache for resort management.

Yep. WDW would have to begin eviction proceedings, sending notice, waiting 30 days, etc.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Unfortunately, the law prohibits WDW from physically evicting people or even locking them out of the room, as long as they pay. I'm not an expert on this, but I know this to be true. A guest who "squats" in a room past their reserved departure date is a huge headache for resort management.

I concur. I know this is the law in at least some states. I stayed in a hotel in PA on business and the desk clerk was explaining that to another guest. If a guest pays for more nights, they cannot/will not move them from the room.

 

[maxiesmom]

What? I cant believe they would allow that, knowing that day they would need to tell a prepaid arrival guest they are out of luck.

I got to experience this myself a few years ago at the All-Star Music Resort. Had paid in full for a preferred room location, at check in was shoved all the way back to Broadway. The CM at the desk said that many people had decided to extend their vacations, and there was nothing they could do. What bothered me was that my mom had just had minor surgery, and we were trying to limit her walking as much as possible. My sister had checked in to her room earlier and already ok'd the location switch, or else I would have demanded they either find us a room or move us to a different resort.

It is too bad that when people decide to extend their vacation that Disney cannot force them to move if the preferred rooms/views are already booked.

 

[lilyv]

I got to experience this myself a few years ago at the All-Star Music Resort. Had paid in full for a preferred room location, at check in was shoved all the way back to Broadway. The CM at the desk said that many people had decided to extend their vacations, and there was nothing they could do. What bothered me was that my mom had just had minor surgery, and we were trying to limit her walking as much as possible. My sister had checked in to her room earlier and already ok'd the location switch, or else I would have demanded they either find us a room or move us to a different resort.

It is too bad that when people decide to extend their vacation that Disney cannot force them to move if the preferred rooms/views are already booked.

Probably a dumb question, but why would Disney desk clerks allow anyone to pay extra so they can extend their reservations at will? It would seem reasonable that a guest could ASK, but if Disney had the rooms blocked for an incoming guest, then they should process the "old" guest's credit card, and give them their receipt, with cheery, "Have a Magical Day"...and probably remind them that check out is at 11am.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Because WDW won't turn down the chance of making extra $ if a guest wants to stay at the Resort for another day. I agree that it is not fair if the Resort knows a lot more people are going to check-in, because then those guests might not get what they had paid for when making their reservations.

I know this is not the same siutation but if the Resort can tell a guest no to a late check-out, then they should also say no to a guest wanting to extend their stay. Only if the Resort is going to be full and etc, if the Resort knows they have extra rooms then there is nothing wrong with it.

 

[Sammie]

The first "wrong" is that the OP reserved a room and the hotel did not provide that room. What is the second "wrong"?

Not trying to incite, just trying to understand.

I have to say, I am not an overall selfish person but I would want my own family not to be disappointed, rather than worry about some unknown faceless other customer being disappointed.

You completely misunderstood, the OP did nothing wrong. In fact she was very gracious, my comment was to Fan, not her.

However my point to Fan was that if at the moment you check in and they don't have the room you book and you "demand" it as Fan suggested, then Yes someone else has to be displaced from what they booked in order for them to come up with this room they did not have.

Personally I would not want to take Disney's wrong and put it on someone else even though I don't know them. That is what I meant by two wrongs.

I just believe that it is bad karma to make someone else suffer for Disney's mistake.

 

[Sammie]

I don't know why everyone is assuming that just because the OP's tower room was available the next day that this means that someone else was displaced from their desired accommodation.

They might have been short a tower room for many reasons:

• Room needed a deep clean for some reason
• Room had a maintenance issue that was fixed overnight
• Previous guest extended their stay by one night

I do agree that the OP should seek compensation for having a lesser accommodation for one night, and the inconvenience of having to change rooms.

Hoping the rest of her trip is filled with lots of magic!

I don't think anyone was assuming that at all, at least I did not read any comment to that effect. Your listings for why her room was not available on check in is very accurate.

However if she had insisted on a tower room after being told none were available; if they were able to magically come up with one, then yes someone else would have been the one displaced.

The OP behaved very graciously and did not demand that she be given the room she booked and was now unavailable. Had she done so and they "found" a room for that night, someone else would been displaced for that one night.

The next day would not have been an issue.

 

[jade1]

Unfortunately, the law prohibits WDW from physically evicting people or even locking them out of the room, as long as they pay. I'm not an expert on this, but I know this to be true. A guest who "squats" in a room past their reserved departure date is a huge headache for resort management.

Hmm, I see what you mean "if" that's the way it happened. Seems more likley they just asked and it was given the OK. Maybe check in documentation could explain they could charge more for additional days without prior approval or something to get them incentive to vacate a "reserved/paid for" room. I mean if you think about it for example NY week if you could get one night at a resort-you could just stay extra days for NYE etc even though it was booked for months?

 

[Alicnwondrln]

so what happened with this?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Probably a dumb question, but why would Disney desk clerks allow anyone to pay extra so they can extend their reservations at will? It would seem reasonable that a guest could ASK, but if Disney had the rooms blocked for an incoming guest,

But until the expected Guest actually checks in - and despite having paid either one night or the entire stay - no hotelier can be 100% positive that Guest will show up. It's not unique to Disney.

 

[kylara]

Hmm, I see what you mean "if" that's the way it happened. Seems more likley they just asked and it was given the OK. Maybe check in documentation could explain they could charge more for additional days without prior approval or something to get them incentive to vacate a "reserved/paid for" room. I mean if you think about it for example NY week if you could get one night at a resort-you could just stay extra days for NYE etc even though it was booked for months?

By FL law, they can not make them check out of the room or leave it, but they can charge them rack rate for the room for extra days. So if they had their room on a discount for 7 day and decided to stay for 9 days, WDW can't make them leave or change rooms, but they can charge them the full rack rate for the extra two days.

Usually they do try and explain that someone else has a reservation and ask if they will move, but not all guests are willing because the figure the rooms are not assigned that much in advance.

 

[nikolasmor]

Checking in in 10 days. I know the chances are VERY VERY slim of this happening...just want to see what ends up happening.

 

[star2500]

Maybe it's me that is the only one that sees things differently, law or no law. And again I'm not being argumentative with anyone...this just baffles me.

I reread the OP post. She paid for something in advance and did not receive the end product (a MK view tower room). She received a downgrade. Ok fine is it the end of the world no...she has the same room in a different location fine. My problem is that they put her there and did not reimburse her the difference at the time of checkin. Would they allow her to check in if her money wasn't all there for the rooms...no way. So why shoudn't they hand her over the difference of price that is owed to her for the rooms. That is more my problem that I think isn't right.

Again not being argumentative with anyone....and maybe it's just me that feels this way. But it's not the first time I've heard this kind of story happening.

Everyone take care....

 

[CleveRocks]

Maybe it's me that is the only one that sees things differently, law or no law. And again I'm not being argumentative with anyone...this just baffles me.

I reread the OP post. She paid for something in advance and did not receive the end product (a MK view tower room). She received a downgrade. Ok fine is it the end of the world no...she has the same room in a different location fine. My problem is that they put her there and did not reimburse her the difference at the time of checkin. Would they allow her to check in if her money wasn't all there for the rooms...no way. So why shoudn't they hand her over the difference of price that is owed to her for the rooms. That is more my problem that I think isn't right.

Again not being argumentative with anyone....and maybe it's just me that feels this way. But it's not the first time I've heard this kind of story happening.

Everyone take care....

I think almost everyone here agrees with you. I answered someone's question by stating the law ... I wasn't agreeing with it, or excusing Disney from any responsibility, or telling the OP to take it or leave it.

I think almost all of us here agree with you.

You pay for something specific. If you get less than what you pay for, you should be refunded the difference between what you paid and what you received. In the end, after all is said and done, anything else would constitute fraud or theft.

 

[nikolasmor]

I have to agree with you Kim, if the money was not there they would not have let you check in. I'm sure Disney will make it right for them

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

While this had nothing to do with our room being given away to someone else, it's still an example of getting something which was offered to us that was free of charge when we knew there should be no cost. In August 2002 when my family and I were checking into the Contemporary, we told the Cast Member who was helping us that we were requesting the mini fridge for our room on the Atrium Club since it was free for guests staying up there. (This was before the room renovations and there were no mini fridges in any of the rooms.) Anyway the Cast Member told us there would be a $10.00 charge for it and we told him no there should not be, since the Disney World website listed that for guests on the 12th they were free. We also printed that part out just incase there was this type of problem and showed him. So he reads it and tells us he is going to get a manager. Anyway about 2 minutes later this manager comes out and says sorry about the mix up and the fridge would be in our room within 10 minutes and we said thank you very much. So it goes to show you when you know something is not right and you have the proof to show the Cast Members and tell them in a respectfull way everything should work out in the end. There might be other guests who did not know the mini fridges would have been free for guests on the 12th floor and paid the extra $10.00 without even knowing it.

 

[Sammie]

Oh I definitely think they should have given her the difference in the room, even 50% off that night.

I would have taken the room offered, but while I had them at my advantage due to thier mistake I would have been negotiating for something to make up for it rather than demanding they give me a room which upsets another guest.

 

[darlak]

We also printed that part out just incase there was this type of problem and showed him. So he reads it and tells us he is going to get a manager.

Wow, you actually had the foresight to print that out to take with you? Are you always so prepared? That would never even have crossed my mind.

Glad it worked out for you and your parents.

 

[star2500]

You are right Fan...if you didn't know that about the refrigerator ahead of time, you would have been charged. And I know in any business the bottom line for them is the money.

I hope and probably know the OP will be compensated and is having a great time. I really don't know why this particular issue bothered me so much lol...like I said maybe because we check in next week and the pre-stress vacation prep....hormones... rofl...I don't actually know. All I know is that I am printing EVERYTHING lol. I went through DU to book my trip and paid in full through them. The only documentation I have is from their website. I printed the reservation page for my account that says ZERO balance due. I am also bringing a copy of my credit card billed to show it was paid also as a backup just in case. Neurotic? maybe lol but I rather be prepared and most likely will not have to resort to pulling it out then if I had nothing with me and ran into a problem.

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving....

 

[jenfur]

I am checking in CR next Monday, 2 connecting rooms MKV, and I know this is so unlikely to happen BUT I am still freaking out. I didn't even think this was a possibility. My Disney vacations are just wonderful, but the days leading up are som eof the most stressful I have all year. I take 9 people with me, I am responsible for all planning down to the finest detail. A few years ago we were checking in and it took a minute for the CM to figure out our second room was booking my brother's name- I swear I was on the edge of fainting! I have booked this year with no discount and the DDP and I can tell you if it were me, after a brief panic attack- I would not leave the counter until they had me in some room somewhere that had a MK view. I mean packages and such are a little different than motel 8 , one night deposits. You have to pay 45 days out and cancel in 5- thats enough time for them to know you are coming and to start working some serious magic if they know they won't have room. BUT...I am checking in after Thankgiving week, and early Monday morning so really...I shouldn't worry...right???