Day one - Very upset

[montessori]

Originally posted by 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.

I sense a little hostility in your posts, Pa@okw95.

Have you had a particularly bad experience with Disney?
I mean no offense, I am curious.

 

[ceejay13]

We have never gotten a room prior to 3:30pm on any of our stays in the last 2 1/2 years. I do sympathize that you are usually tired from the trip as we always take an early flight in, but I still would rather do that and at least get my keys. There is so much to do while you are waiting, we have just learned not to expect anything before 4:00 and then we are not dissappointed.

 

[kem330]

Just to add to the discussion here- Of course we never expect the room to be ready before 4, but it is a nice bonus if it is. My complaint however is the lag time in reporting cleaned rooms to the front desk. I suspect they finish a whole block of rooms before calling them clean to the front. Last year the CM at BWV inadvertently gave us our room number as we were trying to arrange a group of rooms in the same area. We were told it was not ready. She quickly explained that she was not allowed to give out the room # and we had to wait and call later if it was clean. My DH being the impatient man he is suggested we check out the situation. We walked up and saw the maid just finishing the room. We waited a minute and then entered when it was clear she had gone. This was at 2:30. Not wanting to get the CM in trouble, we called reception from a house phone to ask if the room was ready around 3pm- so we could get the bags sent up. They said it was not. We wanted to burst out that it was indeed ready- we were in it, but again we wanted to protect the CM. At 3:30 we called again and they said it was still not ready - a full hour after it had been finished. We finally gave up and called the bellman to bring up the bags. I hope this was an exception and they normally have a quicker reporting time for clean rooms.

 

[sgtdisney]

I have always found it easier not to expect or count on things that you aren't guaranteed... The stated policy is that check in time is after 4:00PM, so you really aren't entitled to the room until that time.. If you are at Disney early and they can accomodate you GREAT! If not, well, I knew going in what the deal was. I am afraid that Disney is going to get so many complaints about early checkin, room availabity, etc., that they will not release any rooms until after 4PM just to make it all even.

All that being said, I hope you are enjoying your time now at WDW and didn't let this ruin your vacation!

 

[msdis]

Disrailfan-Sorry there's little sympathy to be found here. The 4pm check-in thing is a REALLLLL soft spot around here. If you have an open wound expect lots of salt.

I do sympathize with you, been there, experienced it, but once again.....you would have had more sympathy telling Universal Studios guests who might have simply snickered instead.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by msdis
I do sympathize with you, been there, experienced it, but once again.....you would have had more sympathy telling Universal Studios guests who might have simply snickered instead.

That's because they would have been in the park all day enjoying their front-of-the-line (instant Fastpass on just about everything) pass .

I really do sympathize with the OP. I have had to wait (and wait and wait and wait) for my room. Once I checked in with my sister and I called about as often at Disrailfan did and I was finally given the green light sometime around 5pm. My sister was already in the room and had been there since 2pm! I have no idea what happened.

BTW, Disrailfan ... did you book the "Behind Our Steam Trains" tour at the MK? It's really great . You should look into it!

 

[invalid_char]

It sounds to me like you need a good night's sleep! I don't see why Disney should bend over backwards for you because you decided to torture yourself with a long drive. That was your decision. Maybe flying is the answer for you.

 

[DBBN]

disrailfan...it sure is lonely for me believing you were justified in being upset at the 4:20 pm check-in time. (see my previous post)

Reading some of these posts it looks like it was entirely your fault the room was not ready at 4 pm. With that long drive it's a wonder they let you check in at all! Next we'll see a poster blame it on the make of the automobile you drive, maybe you should drive a more comfortable car. It makes happy that we always fly in.

Pa@okw95 and sgtdisney

Where do you see a policy statement or the check-in time published as "after 4:00 pm?" I have 4 confirmations for our upcoming stays at OKW and they all state "CHECK-IN TIME for the Vacation Villa is 4:00 pm".

We love OKW and we'll continue to vacation there often. That's exactly why I have little patience for less than good service.

For us it's a matter of expectations...that is we expect our room to be ready no later than 4:00 pm, any earlier is a welcome bonus and we always call housekeeping to express our gratitude when we get in early. When check-out time rolls around we're always out by 11:00 am! Not 11:20 and not 12:00 noon. Why? Because "CHECK-OUT TIME is 11:00 am." That's why.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DBBN Where do you see a policy statement or the check-in time published as "after 4:00 pm?" I have 4 confirmations for our upcoming stays at OKW and they all state "CHECK-IN TIME for the Vacation Villa is 4:00 pm". [/B]

I can confirm the the wording change. See page 88 of the new guide. Where it says "check-in time is 4:00 pm" then later in the section it says "...until your Vacation Hom eis ready (after 4:00 pm). MS never really announced the change if I recall, they just simply slipped it in.

 

[Regina]

From subsequent posts, disrailfan is having a great time while the rest of us debate this situation.

As most have stated, the room technically was ready 20 minutes late at best.

I have a feeling that they explained their situation when they arrived, and were told that they would do their best to get them into their room ASAP. It didn't work out that way.

 

[PamOKW]

For every person who has a reason to want to be in the room before 4:00 p.m. there is another person with what they think is an equally compelling reason to stay past the 11:00 a.m. check-out. There is no way that both groups can be satisifed. Sometimes people get lucky and get these requests met. However, since DVC resorts tend to be pretty much at capacity all the time, DVC has made it a point to stress in the VM and elsewhere that check-in is 4:00 p.m. and check-out 11:00 a.m. and early check-ins and late check-outs are not granted.

As I mentioned, some hotels will not even begin the check-ins until the stated time. This can make for ridiculous lines. DVC at least lets you get in, drop your bags and head out to the parks. They just can't guarantee you your actual room.

Here's the policy from the member site:

Reminder: Check-in and Check-out Policies

Please remember that you may "check-in" anytime on your arrival day (take care of all front desk paperwork, receive your Walt Disney World® Resort ID card, Theme Park tickets, etc.), but you may not necessarily be able to begin occupying your room until after 4:00 p.m. (official check-in time). Please notify the front desk or Member Services if you're planning a late arrival or if you need special arrangements.
If you arrive at your resort before 4:00 p.m., your luggage may be stored by bell services staff until your room is ready. Likewise, check-out is by 11:00 a.m. If you'd like to stay and enjoy the resort on your day of departure, simply check-out of your room by 11:00 a.m. and leave your luggage with the bell services staff until it's time for you to leave. For the consideration of all Guests, as well as our busy housekeeping staff, we ask that you please do your best to respect these time frames. In order to ensure that all rooms will be ready for all incoming Members and Guests, no late check-outs are available.

 

[kel3420]

In regards to late check out...

We tried getting this last week, and were basically told "no way, we don't do this at all anymore". I asked when they instituted this policy and was told that they have been doing it for about a year now, at all DVC resorts.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by kel3420
In regards to late check out...

We tried getting this last week, and were basically told "no way, we don't do this at all anymore". I asked when they instituted this policy and was told that they have been doing it for about a year now, at all DVC resorts.

Back in the early to mid 90's, they would give you some slack and let you check out late an hour or so, no more. A few years ago they made this a hard and fast rule, seems like it was 96 or 97 when this happened.

 

[disrailfan]

Originally posted by 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.

See now this is the funny thing. I know I stirred a hornets nest here. The CM that checked us in accidentally slipped and told us the room number even though she should not have. We were to stay in room 1322. When we called at 12:00 or so DW decided she would go and see for herself and the room had indeed already been cleaned. There was not a sole about that particular building. I have a theory that they were telling everyone that their rooms were not ready until 4:00 PM or after. In talking with other guests this week they have experienced the same thing no room ready for any of them until 4:00 or after. I think this is going to be the trend in the future. I think that I will start driving from now on.

On the subject of the showers at poolside are they OK to use to clean up other then just for going swimming?

Also we are having an excellent time. The weather could be a little warmer but you know it's not bad. Tomorrow it is suppose to storm all day.

Later,

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Maintenance, perhaps?????

 

[disrailfan]

Guys, don't get me wrong, but we have enjoyed our vacation. We trade drivers coming down and it is our choice to drive straight through. Yes it may have been that all of our trips since becoming DVC members in 2000 have been great and that we were in our rooms within an hour of arrival even at 11:00 AM in the morning and on a holiday weekend.

I think that I have had enough saly on this wound as someone so elloquently put it.

I love OKW and DVC I am not upset with them. I am upset with the practice that apparently no-one that checked in on Saturday or Sunday morning this past weekend got their rooms until 4:00 PM even though the room was indeed ready as I explained in a previous post.

I am not writing any nasty letters or anything like that my post was to only get other people experiences not to get recommendations that I should not drive straight through from home. Guess what I am driving straight through to go home as well.

We will just make some changes to the way that we travel and either leave a little later the night before, fly or stay overnight somewhere close by.

Later,

 

[Desperado]

I think that I have had enough saly on this wound as someone so elloquently put it.

And with that, its time to put this thread to bed.

 

[Regina]

Thanks disrailfan. What matters most is that you didn't let this episode effect the rest of your vacation.

Have a safe drive back home!!

 

[msdis]

Yes, we were told after the MANAGER went to find out why our room was NOT ready for us in Aug at 4:30 pm at BWV that they had a LATE check-out in that room that day. HMMMM....... Looks like they DON'T enforce it. I'm sure if you ASK, you are told no, but what if you just don't leave your room by 11 am? Do they send "bouncers" to remove you? No, they just let them get away with it. Perhaps these are the people causing all the problems. Ok............who is it?????????? Fess UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


BTW-disrailfan, glad you are having a good time!

 

[DBBN]

Thanks Dean.

I appreciate the reply. I use the Member Guidebook only to scan the points chart and hadn't nioticed the new wording (on the check-in policy, page 88). I find it odd that the wording is inconsistent from one sentence to the next...go figure.