Day one - Very upset

[KNWVIKING]

... are your points for sale ?

 

[PamOKW]

I know you were disappointed but there is no expectation that you can get a room earlier than 4:00 p.m. Some AC casinos don't even start to check people in until their stated time. At least DVC sets you up and you just have to wait to actually get the room.

While you've been successful in the past, I think you need to take into consideration the differences of checking in on a "regular" day and checking in at the end of of a very busy holiday weekend.

 

[Val]

Two years ago we drove straight through from Illinois with 4 kids (then 13, 9, 5 and 2). We checked in during the AM, but didn't expect our room until 4 pm. We didn't get into the room at BWV until after 8:30 PM. Yes, really, 8:30 at night with TODDLERS. Now THAT was late.....it was an omen to a series of fiascos on the part of DVC (charges to our room that weren't ours, UHP tickets that weren't activated; "cancelled" priority seatings after our reservations were "cancelled", etc.; seems there was a new problem every day that compounded from the original mishaps). We ALMOST sold our points at that point. At first there was no apology other than "your CM was new and we were really busy"....but then we did get a heartfelt apology, and after 2 days of pestering housekeeping, the high chair!......


......the next year we took a deep breath and tried again. No problems, lots of warmth and magic. Tried HH this year- lots of extra special magic.

As angry as we were, we realized that the horrific experience was an anomaly. We wrote polite letters (after we were back and calmed down). We did not ask for compensation, and did not receive any (well, some pictures of Donald Duck and a warm smile). It took us a while to simmer down, but our faith has been restored. There are still bumps at times, and I am worried that with Disney hurting, so will the parks and DVC, but generally it is still a great vacation place with excellent service. As hard as it was, we realized that we just needed to not sweat the small stuff and deal with the big stuff.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm thinking that 20 minutes isn't something to go off the deep end about.

 

[A1A1]

I don't think you should be upset with Disney or your resort. Let it go now, so that you can enjoy your vacation. I guess you could just think that you learned some good tips for your next trip:

1.) Expect the room to be ready at 4:00 pm. as stated, or shortly after;
2.) Consider staying overnight somewhere on your drive down;
3.) Bring lots of those handi-wipes or babywipes to take a "shower";
4.) Have a bag with clean undies, soap, and shampoo with you, so that you can go to the pool shower when you arrive;
5.) Don't expect everything to go according to plan

Forget it. Enjoy your trip. How lucky you are to be there!!!! We just got about 6 inches of snow in the last three hours............I'd rather be stinky and dirty in WDW!

 

[A1A1]

Just thought of something---I wondered how many times you had visited WDW previously? Do you plan to visit again?

I ask these questions, because in my last ten trips, I have only had one that was wrought with problems. Some under their control, some not. But, they were problems that just added to the load. I ended up breaking down crying in the room at one point.

Anyway, my point is that in all those trips and the ones prior to these, only one sticks out as having problems. It is going to happen. Less than ten percent of the time having problems on a trip is pretty good, I think.

Your number was up, but I don't think your problem was even a problem. If you hadn't driven for so many hours without a shower, and wanted one badly, you probably wouldn't have given the twenty minutes a second thought.

Though it annoyed you, I think it is really minor. Nothing to be so upset about still. Have the fun times on the trip made up for this inconvenience yet? I'm sure they will in short order make up for it.

 

[Margaret64]

I believe that your frustration is actually the result of WDW exceeding your expectations on every prior visit. While we have only been DVC members since 2000 and have been back 5 times, we have never, never, never been checked in before 3 pm. Usually between 4pm and 5pm.

It is frustrating. Particularly when you are there, plans on hold and not wanting to get involved in something new (like Downtown Disney) if you think that the room will be ready in just a few minutes...

To get in at 4:20 pm, though is pretty darn good. I hope the rest of your trip goes well.

Margaret64

 

[DBBN]

disrailfan

I would be upset, but I certainly wouldn't let it make me so unhappy that it would ruin my vacation.

We have several trips to OKW reserved and we're there next in a 1 bdrm from December 15th through December 22nd. Our confirmation says, "CHECK-IN TIME for the Vacation Home is 4:00 pm". That is a quote and it isn't ambiguous! It doesn't say, "after 4:00 pm" and it doesn't say, "20 minutes after 4:00 pm".

All our points are at OKW and as such all employees at OKW, from management to maintenance to housekeeping work for me and all the other owners. I expect them to do their job. My dues pay them to do their job and their job includes having the room ready at 4:00 pm. The fact that it happens to be a busy time should not have been a surprise. Management must staff for the housekeepers they need to clean all the rooms not just most of the rooms.

If this had happened to me at a hotel or resort other than OKW I might choose not to return to that establishment and spend my dollars elsewhere. As it would be since OKW is our home resort and the resort we very much prefer it wouldn't be practical to express my displeasure by no going back. Especially since I've prepaid for the use of the resort for the next 40 years.

Sure unexpected things do happen. If this was the case the front desk should have explained the situation to Mr. or Mrs. disrailfan. If they had explained this post wouldn't even be here. Lacking an explanation I'm left to believe they just didn't have enough housekeepers. This just isn't a good enough reason.

 

[Margaret64]

I agree with DBBN. I think I'm trained to be complacent.

We always check in on Sundays and check out on Fridays. We are told that Sundays are the busiest for checkouts - hence the wait for the room.

I am also told (since I am the mother of two preschoolers) that of course, (I) would understand that the housekeeping staff prefers to tidy the rooms of those who have small children - so that the rooms can be done up before the children come home to nap. What??? What about my kids that are dying for a nap.

Never never have I come back to a room at 2pm and been upset that housekeeping hasn't been there yet. On the contrary, I'm kind of relieved they haven't been there so the kids can nap in the rumpled sheets and then the room made up later on.

Hey wait a minute.... why am I given that excuse if I'm DVC and only get trash and towel once during my visits?

Is it that we share housekeeping staff with daily paying customers? Are they given first priority for housekeeping because they are paying now and we have already paid? Hmmmmm????

Margaret64

 

[Jacksmom99]

I think sometimes when we check in, and we get our room very early, we shgould also be prepared that sometimes it will be a bit late. Most times we all know that we get our rooms earlier, so lets not go off the deep end here! !

 

[EROS]

We never expect the room to be available BEFORE 4:00 P.M.; it's a bonus if you can get in early. I wouldn't call 20' late outrageous .......

 

[madcoco]

Same here.Dissapointing but 20min shouldn't ruin a trip.That is within reason.This summer we were with relatives who were checking in at the RoyalPacificHotel at IOA.Arrived at app. 415PM. Room was not ready.They were on the concierge floor and the host invited us all to stop in and wait.At 5PM room still not ready.Now getting a bit frustrated. At 545 still no room.Talked to manager they explained they were very short cleaners.He offered them a free cocktail.(they are free anyway in the concierge lounge)620PM room finally ready.That took some tongue biting.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by disrailfan
We called at 12:00, 1:00 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:15 PM, 2:45 PM, 3:15 PM and still NO ROOM! This is and was the fisrt time that our room was not ready within an hour of our arrival. Most of the time it is ready when we arrive. We called at 3:40 PM and still no room. Upon calling at 4:05 PM we still had no room and were given the excuse that they had many people check out yesterday. Finally at 4:20 PM we called back and the room was ready.

Specifically what requests did you have for the room?

 

[kel3420]

We just had a similar experience last week with check in time. We arrived around noonish and did not get the room till 4ish. I can't recall the exact time. While we were a little upset, we forgot all about it later and most certainly by the next day, when we visited Epcot for the first time and when our "vacation" really began.

Hopefully the same will happen with Dean and his family.

When you first arrive, you are exhausted and just want your room. Emotions fly. Now that they have had time to settle in, I am sure the rest of the vacation will be great -EVEN, like us, if their toilet doesn't work


Kelly

 

[Pa@okw95]

All the rooms should be ready BEFORE 4 p.m. but with the addition of the word "after" about 5 years ago this now means they can be ready any time after 4 p.m. Check in went from a positive for people checking in to a big negative with that little addition of "after". Before the addition of the word "after" it meant the the rooms were suppose to be ready before 4. No more, welcome to WDW.

 

[Pa@okw95]

All the rooms should be ready BEFORE 4 p.m. but with the addition of the word "after" about 5 years ago this now means they can be ready any time after 4 p.m. Check in went from a positive for people checking in to a big negative with that little addition of "after". Before the addition of the word "after" it meant the the rooms were suppose to be ready before 4. No more, welcome to WDW.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It's disappointing not to get in earlier than check-in time, but there is so much going on, how can you stay upset? Hit the pool, get something to eat, go to the parks, take the boat to DTD. Or take a little nap in Papa's Den like we did at on Easter Sunday.

 

[KarenB]

We always check in early, but don't expect to get our room untill 4:00. If we get in early, it is a nice surprise.

Last June, we stayed at VWL in a studio, didn;t get in til 4:00. Then a 2 bedroom at Vero and it wasn't ready until 4:30. BUT..it was worth the wait because both rooms have a terrific view and we loved them!!!!

Like many have said.....we just check in, check our luggage if we have to, and explore! There is SO much to do. Many times, I pack our bathing suits in a back pack so we can go straight to the pool

Karen

 

[crisi]

I think if you show up at 11:00, thinking you'll get into your room about 4:00, and the desk clerk says "its ready" you are thrilled.

If you show up at 11:00, thinking you'll get into your room around 4:00 and the desk clerk says "not ready yet" it isn't a big deal - you've planned to not get into your room until 4:00 - so you go to the pool, have a late lunch/early dinner, browse the Boardwalk, visit Downtown Disney, go to the parks.

If you show up at 11:00 planning on checking into your room for a needed and wanted shower, to be told it isn't ready - and then pass your time calling every hour to see if your room is ready, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Moral of the story - make plans that allow for not getting into your room until 4:00 or later - which may be showering at the pool, or getting a cheap room outside of WDW that morning for long enough to freshen up, or just planning on being "scummy" that day.

Sounds to me like it wasn't the 20 minutes you had to wait after 4:00 to get your room that was the problem - the problem was your expectation that your room would be ready within an hour of your arrival - only to wait almost six hours before your room was ready.

 

[Richyams]

I really hate to beat this dead horse, but we also do not expect the room to be ready if we arrive early. I have had my room ready at 10:00am and have had to wait till 5:30. Never really been a big deal either way. The only reason we even go to the hotel is to check in, get a room key and leave for somewhere, if the room is ready, it is a bonus.