Day one - Very upset

[disrailfan]

Well DW, neighbors and their son and I arrived Yesterday Saturday around 10:30 AM. We typically drive straight through from Noblesville IN (16 - 18 hours).

Upon arrival we were quite content that our room was not ready as we new that we were really early and that yesterday was a large check out day.

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.

I guess this really bugs me since they quote that the room will be ready by 4:00 PM gauranteed. Should I complain or should I be happy I got my room?

It really only bugs me because we drove and had driven straight through for 16 1/2 hours and we really needed a shower. We did not want to go to DD or anything thinking that we really needed a shower.

Looking for any advice.

Thanks,

 

[Chuck S]

I'm sure most of us have had times when a room was ready when we checked in early, there have also been times for us that our room wasn't ready until a little after 4pm. It happens, perhaps housekeeping was short-handed that day. Maybe whomever checked out of the room left it unusually messy. Would you rather they hire more housekeepers to up our dues?

Getting upset doesn't do anything to improve the situation, the front desk CMs can't do anything about it.

Just look at it as one of those things that happens to everyone sooner or later - make the best of it.

 

[Pa@okw95]

A few years ago they changed the whole meaning of check in by adding the little word "after" 4 prior to that of course it meant that the room was suppose to be ready by 4, now it is open to whatever they want to jam down your throat. This addition of the word "after" to me was when I realized that DVC was no longer a class place and perhaps it never was but I was just kidding myself. It is all part of a downward trend at WDW as far as I am concerned. The way you are treated at check-in is the most important item to me. I went off the deep end over this little word "after" a few years ago with management down there, it is a very big word to me and is an insult to everyone as far as I am concerned. I know of no other place that uses it.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

You didn't mention the resort, several have shower facilities along with the pools, I believe BWV, BCV and Vero do. Does the resort you stayed at? Might be an option for the future. 4:20 really isn't so bad for a holiday period, although I understand it would have been nice to have it earlier.

The great service Disney provides seems to increase our expectations of them.

I'd shake it off and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

 

[Chuck S]

OKW also has shower/changing rooms near the main pool only.

 

[jimh13432]

If you allow a bad check-in experience to ruin a WDW vacation, you're doing yourself and youer family a dis-service.

Enjoy yourself. And enjoy your vacation.

(which is what we'll be doing in 5 days!!!!!!!!!!!)

 

[jk1]

I understand the desire to get a room as soon as possible after driving all night. I drive all night too when traveling to WDW. But 4:20pm is not that bad considering how many villas/studios they had to change over on this holiday weekend. I once waited til 5:30pm to get my room in the Contemporary. And it was a 3:00pm check-in time at that time!

 

[jcodespoti]

Not to sound rude but according to the rules you only checked in 20 minutes late. To me thats not really a big deal. I understand about the whole driving thing and don't get me wrong thats an awful long time to be traveling but the rules are the rules. That being said, I am sure those 20 minutes extra felt like 20 hours.

Joe in CT

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Just my opinion: You really don't have cause to be upset that the room wasn't ready prior to 4:00pm. After 4:00, you have 'slight cause' to be upset. Personally, I want housekeeping to rake their time, not rush, and get it right the first time. Twenty minutes is not that big of a deal. Again, this is just my opinion and I am sure others have a different view of this.

 

[DebbieB]

I guess that means they weren't using the new first come, first served check-in system? According to the OP's signature, they stayed at OKW.

Did you have any specific room requests? If there were alot of checkouts, they should have had some cleaned empty rooms available earlier.

 

[Laurabearz]

I am sorry the check in took longer than expected..... but that is how it is sometimes......

Now when we arrive at 1130 PM next week, and if we have to wait then...... will I will be upset! LOL

 

[DeeP]

A few years ago they changed the whole meaning of check in by adding the little word "after" 4 prior to that of course it meant that the room was suppose to be ready by 4, now it is open to whatever they want to jam down your throat. This addition of the word "after" to me was when I realized that DVC was no longer a class place and perhaps it never was but I was just kidding myself. It is all part of a downward trend at WDW as far as I am concerned. The way you are treated at check-in is the most important item to me. I went off the deep end over this little word "after" a few years ago with management down there, it is a very big word to me and is an insult to everyone as far as I am concerned. I know of no other place that uses it.

Maybe they should change the wording to be at 6:00 PM, so everyone's a** is covered. Personally, I think all WDW resorts do an amazing job of getting a very large number of guests checked into and out of alot of resorts everyday, year in and year out!
To say that WDW resorts are not class places and have never been, is a flat out untruth!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

So where are you? I certainly hope you like your accomodations now. What building did you get? Listening to you, I feel so fortunate that when we checked in to OKW last June, the CM at the front desk said "our" room wasn't ready (2:30), but another was that we could take-she even gave us a map to go see where it was if we wanted to take it. DH said we'd wait-his theory seem to be that we'd take what they originally picked for us. Perhaps if we'd driven a long distance, or had young kids with us, he might have responded differently. Hope you're having a good time now. Did you at least get all (or most) of your room requests? Be sure to give us a report if you go to the OKW annual meeting.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

be happy you got your room at 4:20 - isn't this one of the busiest holiday seasons at the resorts!!! 20 minutes late I think it great. Relax at least your on vacation and not sitting in 25 degree weather waiting for another snow fall with sick kids all around you!!!!!

 

[WDWLVR]

I agree that not having a room upon check in can get frustrating, but we never count on getting in before 4pm and therefore are usually suprised when we can get there or within an hour or two.

As for riding straight through that is your choice but it is something we never do. When we drive down from Chicago we like to stop near the Georgia/Florida boarder, get an early start, stop at the Welcome Center in Ocala and then be checked in and rested by noon. If the room is ready - fantastic! If not we check our car and bags and go have lunch in Epcot!

Being 20 minutes "late" is not bad in my opinion and as others said I would rather housekeeping do it right then rush.

Hope the rest of your trip goes much better for you.

 

[Eeyore2U]

My question/comment is along the lines of the others. Are you a victim of your expectations or were you truly wronged? It was your choice to drive through not DVC's. I understand how you must have felt but is there blame here?

Upon calling at 4:05 PM we still had no room and were given the excuse that they had many people check out yesterday.

Could it be that this is the truth and nothing but the truth?

 

[peshowe]

I have worked in hotels for many years (including Disney). I think it VERY unnecessary to get upset over this. There can be so many reasons why rooms are not ready:

1. People don't always check out on time and housekeeping gets backed up.
2. Rooms sometimes require extra cleaning.
3. If maintenance is required on a room that comes from a different department and that may take a little extra time.
4. Sometimes supervisors check rooms and decide they are not cleaned properly and will send housekeeping back

Most regular hotels are 3pm check in/11am check out. For Disney to be able to do a 4 pm check in with all the extra cleaning required I think they do a good job. I think that in this case it may have seemed worse because you are used to checking in early when the rooms are ready early.

I believe in complaining if something is wrong but in this case I think it was just because you were tired and maybe after a good nights sleep it realy won't seem so bad

 

[TrudyZ]

We made the mistake on our first DVC visit to get early a.m. flights--not realizing how close to 4:00 p.m. check in time really is. We politely explained that it was our first trip, and if there was anything they could do to expidite our room (we had a 2 1/2 yr old in bad need of a nap with us at the time), we would greatly appreaciate it. We then took off to ride the monorail, have lunch, and see those resorts. I truly believe they did try and get our room ready asap. Our room was ready around 3:00 p.m.

We learned from that trip. We now plan our flight time + drive time +grocery time to not get us to OKW much before 3 or 4 p.m. and that seems to work well. Either the room is ready or only a short wait time. We also want to shower and change before heading out to explore WDW.

I wouldn't get too excited over it. Yes, it was a bit after 4:00 p.m. But perhaps on your next trip you can plan some activities in case the room isn't ready, or plan your trip to arrive a little later in the day.

For this upcoming trip, we took the red eye, so we'll be checking in in the wee hours of the morning. I'm curious to see if it affects our room requests.

Trudy

 

[Pinnie]

Technically, check in time is 4:00 p.m. and any time we got our room early we were pleasantly surprised. I guess it goes to show that when Disney does the little extra things and has a room ready early, that it becomes "expected" on subsequent trips.

I am coming in next week on a late flight out of Detroit around midnight and if my room isn't ready by then, I think I would have a legit complaint.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip, and don't let 20 minutes at the start of it drag you down. Vacations are just too short to sweat the small stuff!!!!

Pin
remember the magic
DVC/BCV 2002

 

[CaptainMidnight]

But, you did have a room right? Did you see the recent post about a DVC member who arrived and learned thier reservations were cancelled? Can you imagine on a busy holiday weekend not being able to get a room? Toilets worked OK? Did you see the recent report of maintenance needing to replace the bottom section of the toilet to try to get it to work for a guest? Wouldn't that be fun going on while your trying to vacation?

By the way, in regards to driving all night, my recommendation and opinion (soley my own) is that people do not attempt this given the tremendous influx of traffic that Florida roads are experiencing post 9/11. My understanding is that traffic is exceeding the design capacity of the roards. Our last trip down i-95 was frightening, we ust have seen 15 wrecks and people forced off the side of the road in the span of 3-4 hours. Driving habits were terrible, weaving in and out of traffic, darting off to the median to go around cars. I was very glad I had a reasonable nights sleep to navigate those trecherous roads and aggressive drivers. Just my $0.02

I hope your venting on this thread has helped, and your back to enjoying your vacation. One of the advantages we see in the Beach Club is that there seems to be several places a family can hang out enjoy outside of thier room, as well as shower and changing room facilities. Looking forward to that upcoming trip.

Drive carefully everyone......