Does arriving late reduce your chances of getting your requested preferences?

[PHILCT]

If you request a particular view or floor or building at a DVC resort, say at the 11 month window of your own resort, or at the 7 month window at another resort, does arriving late in the day reduce your chances of getting that request?

For example if someone arrives before me at say 3 PM, and really tries to be as nice as can be, and really pushes the cast member to get a different room than what was assigned to them, and ends up getting really the preference area I wanted. And perhaps this person actually made the reservation at the 3 month window, even though I made the request at the 11 month window.

If I show up at 7 PM, have I lost my chance to getting my preference by all the people who "begged and whined" for another location earlier in the day?

What are your thoughts on this.

In the past I really always wanted to check in with a human being early in the day, and really try to get that perfect location I requested months earlier, but now with Online Checkin I am not sure if I care to do this early arrival anymore.

What do I lose in the process of checking in online, but arriving late, for a reservation stating the preference at the 11 month or 7 month window. Am I competing with all those who arrived earlier in the day?

If this was true, wouldn't you be kind of disappointed that if I arrived earlier in the day, I could have "begged and whined" for the better room you wanted, but arrived in way later than me?

Or do they plan the room assignments ahead of schedule, and do not switch them around to accommodate others who didn't get their preferences?

What is your thoughts on this process?

Thanks, Phil

 

[disneynutz]

What I have been told is that Disney intends to reduce the the number of requests at check in, that is why they implemented online check in.

Granting requests at check in does create a waterfall of room re-assignments and undoes the work completed by the room assigner. The later you check in, the greater the possibility that your preassigned room has been given to someone else.

Bill

 

[dbs1228]

An example of this was this past Feb staying at Ft Cabins, had a magical gathering booked 9 months in advance and requested 2 cabins together. Upon check in I mentioned to the CM that my parents will be in later and want to make sure they are next to us or across the street (within 2 cabins anyway) since we were making meals together etc.... Well 45 minutes later they put my parents next to us (we were there for 10 nights) and what I got out of the conversation was someone checked in the previous day and they gave OUR cabin to them (they were complaining about location) and they had my parents in a completely different loop then us! Not sure if you know how big and how many cabins there are but to get 2 cabins together (we did not care where) seemed almost impossible. As we were walking away the manager was telling the CM "not our problem res manager made this mess she can clean it up"! Another words my parents then broke up another party travelling together and it seemed from what they were saying it was a nightmare.

 

[ssawka]

Not only the time of day, but also the day of the week can hurt you getting your request. In January we stayed at BLT in a MK view room. Well, I requested a room on a high floor, but since we arrived Wednesday at 11:30 PM, we were given a room on the third floor.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We usually stay on property the night before and checkin around 8am. We rarely get a plum room, and NEVER have room ready.

I think its better to check-in after a few of the rooms have been cleaned.

 

[Sandisw]

It would not be if they didn't allow people to change their room assignments when they got there.

But, they do so the later you are checking in, the bigger the chance that someone before you who requested the same thing as you and didn't get it, got them to change things around.

That is one of the reasons I personally don't like the whole request thing. Even though everyone knows that it is not guaranteed, I read all the time about people who say were upset, especially since they had made the request "so far in advance".

Everyone at BLT requests higher floor, especially those booking MK view rooms. But, everyone can not have those higher floor rooms if the resort is full so someone is not going to get that request. The later in the day you arrive, IMO, that person could be you.

While we have put in some requests for our summer trip (not first floor at BCV, and even #'d room at BLT), we don't worry about them and would never ask them to switch us since I know that we could be taking someone else's room.

My feeling is sometimes we will get them and sometimes we won't, but in the end I will be at the resort I love, at WDW, and nothing is better than that!!

 

[Crystal_27]

But, they do so the later you are checking in, the bigger the chance that someone before you who requested the same thing as you and didn't get it, got them to change things around.

I agree with Sandi and, given the entitlement attitude of some owners, this probably happens quite frequently. For us, we always drive down and arrive at Disney around 2-3 p.m., so we are probably destined to always receive the poorest rooms (especially given that we are cheap and always book standard views - LOL). Still, we are not the type of people who give views much thought or consideration - if we are at Disney, we are happy.

 

[Granny]

For example if someone arrives before me at say 3 PM, and really tries to be as nice as can be, and really pushes the cast member to get a different room than what was assigned to them, and ends up getting really the preference area I wanted. And perhaps this person actually made the reservation at the 3 month window, even though I made the request at the 11 month window.

If I show up at 7 PM, have I lost my chance to getting my preference by all the people who "begged and whined" for another location earlier in the day?

Phil...believe it or not, the "begging and whining" actually gets quite a bit worse than that. You wouldn't believe the things I've heard people say to the front desk check in CM's. And requests are getting more and more specific due to the internet and forums such as this.

I do think that late check-ins hurt the chances of getting requests fulfilled unless it is a request that few people make.

 

[Goofy DVC]

Our last two trips were to BLT and BCV. Both trips, we checked in after 9:00 PM and received our request, a higher floor in both requests. Go figure. Other times we checked in early and were told that our request could not be met. We don't push for a change. It is what it is, no big deal. I think a lot has to do with luck. There could be a maintenance issue that doesn't get fixed til later, someone checking out real late. Who knows? I could see how the squeeky wheel gets the oil though, leaving others out in the cold.

 

[PHILCT]

Phil...believe it or not, the "begging and whining" actually gets quite a bit worse than that. You wouldn't believe the things I've heard people say to the front desk check in CM's. And requests are getting more and more specific due to the internet and forums such as this.

I do think that late check-ins hurt the chances of getting requests fulfilled unless it is a request that few people make.

Good Points Granny !

I know one thing about communicating with cast members, be kind, smile, be happy as you can, and listen to them, and sometimes some magic pixie dust can come your way. And if you have to talk to them about a valid complaint, do it in the nicest way, and sometimes the pixie dust arrives in the form of FASTPASSES.

Phil

 

[JimMIA]

"Does arriving late reduce your chances of getting your requested preferences?"

In a word...yes.

 

[Peggy Sue]

Typically our flights get us into orlando between 11PM - Midnight ... needless to say when we check in there is usually only our assinged room remaining in the inventory!

I do indeed believe pre-assigned rooms (by the room controller) are reassigned during the day as guests ask for re-location when they don't like what they have been assigned.

Our last stay at OKW we had a grand villa reserved with requests for Turtle Pond area .. the front desk clerk made a comment indicating that our room had been changed and we ended up in the very end of southpoint ....we also knew someone had been in the room and decided they wanted to move as things were moved around a bit.

The few times we have checked in before 3 PM we have lucked out and our requests have generally been granted .. we don't get too specific though .. always ask fo top floor at OKW and maybe a section of OKW we would like to stay in.

I agree with the previous poster ... We are happy to be at WDW and accept what we've been assigned. We too have heard many other guests pushing the front desk to change their room .. I think everyone should be told The rooms are preassigned and you need to take what's been assigned to you.

 

[zorro77]

On our last trip in May we had a request for handicapped accessible room with roll in shower. One day before are arrival we had called to see if all was fine with our res. and said could they confirm our request for building 15. CM said they were not supposed to say but said yes we would be in 15. We arrived about 9pm and were given bldg. 21. We were fine but later i did check and yes someone did arrive earlier in day and was give the room. Until they say that they make all reservations final and no changes nothing can change. My thought is if it a DVC member that they should have this as a perk and all other resv. ie cash can not be up graded or changed. We are happy just to have a nice clean room that meets our needs. We don't mind the walk to front and small pool is in many cases nicer.

 

[edk35]

Wouldn't it be nice if DVC members did get their request over people that were paying cash through CRO or rented points from someone. However that is probably just opening a NEW can or worms.

 

[LoveKermit]

In 2000, we stayed at an All-Star. We arrived after 11 PM. The room originally given to us had been used! (We were allowed to change rooms)

In 2004, we stayed at WL. We missed our first night due to flight issues. We arrived at 7:30 AM--exhausted (we drove all night). The CM gave us a room to use--all we did was clean-up. We had breakfast ADRs and were starving. She definitely gave us an upgraded room--5th floor facing the pool/lake. But since we were out $ without using a room, we figure she felt pity. We did not ask for it or anything.

In 2007, in comes my DISsing. We stayed at the Poly. I requested Tokelau. We arrived before noon. They assigned Rapa Nui (I think). The room was ready and they were banking on us preferring to have an already-ready room. It faced the parking lot.

We went back to the lobby explaining the value of our trip (once-in-a-lifetime, graduation from law school, baby first time)....we'd be happy to wait for a room in a different building, but at least something that didn't face the parking lot. It was a different CM. He got on the phone. At one point, looked at us and said yes (I think it might have been about our approach and disposition). All of a sudden, there is a room in Tokelau--and oh yeah, it's ready. So, maybe it doesn't always hurt to ask.

Jan 2010, first DVC stay at BWV. I had requested close to elevator, high up. We pretty much got that. We first felt far from the elevator, but got used to it. We arrived after midnight. I did online check-in a couple days before. I've also gotten the feeling here that you don't ask to switch DVC villas.

My feeling is that online check-in locks me in sooner in the day. I don't see a CM granting someone's request and then going and changing an online check-in packet. That's too much work.

 

[Sandisw]

In 2000, we stayed at an All-Star. We arrived after 11 PM. The room originally given to us had been used! (We were allowed to change rooms)

In 2004, we stayed at WL. We missed our first night due to flight issues. We arrived at 7:30 AM--exhausted (we drove all night). The CM gave us a room to use--all we did was clean-up. We had breakfast ADRs and were starving. She definitely gave us an upgraded room--5th floor facing the pool/lake. But since we were out $ without using a room, we figure she felt pity. We did not ask for it or anything.

In 2007, in comes my DISsing. We stayed at the Poly. I requested Tokelau. We arrived before noon. They assigned Rapa Nui (I think). The room was ready and they were banking on us preferring to have an already-ready room. It faced the parking lot.

We went back to the lobby explaining the value of our trip (once-in-a-lifetime, graduation from law school, baby first time)....we'd be happy to wait for a room in a different building, but at least something that didn't face the parking lot. It was a different CM. He got on the phone. At one point, looked at us and said yes (I think it might have been about our approach and disposition). All of a sudden, there is a room in Tokelau--and oh yeah, it's ready. So, maybe it doesn't always hurt to ask.

Jan 2010, first DVC stay at BWV. I had requested close to elevator, high up. We pretty much got that. We first felt far from the elevator, but got used to it. We arrived after midnight. I did online check-in a couple days before. I've also gotten the feeling here that you don't ask to switch DVC villas.

My feeling is that online check-in locks me in sooner in the day. I don't see a CM granting someone's request and then going and changing an online check-in packet. That's too much work.

That's a good point about the online check in that I never thought of. If they set the KTTW cards up ahead of time, they would have to be changed if they switched those rooms around.

I will always do online check in, just something that makes life easier for me. and just helps those last few days seem to go faster as we can "count down" to online check in!! Only 21 days to go for that!!!

 

[dj~merlin]

those speaking of entitlement should speak for themselves,
& not others. and only if they are owners @ the resort they
are making their requests.

(it is manipulation otherwise , in trying to get others to forfeit
something that they paid for. )


there isn't one realistic response for renters to have their requests
processed over the owners. we are blt owners & we had this
topic before we brought. we do not feel guilty no matter how it
is projected.



however, if an owner "pass' then it should be granted by a list.

 

[twinklebug]

The problem with online checkin is that the request field is broken (doesn't display existing info or accept input) and from what I've heard it clears out any request you have there. To get around this people have taken the 2 step process (online check in / kiosk) and added a middle step: online check in / call MS to re-enter request(s) / kiosk. Where's the ease in that?

 

[dj~merlin]

good point.

i guess why so many are frustrated, dvc + disney should
adopt operating procedures that are fair & equal,
based on "what was paid for" and then working it
from there.

as for owners, i do not see them as manipulators. instead
they are trying to protect what they paid for. as for
those with an entitlement attiutde, i was reading about
renters who made it clear, they were going to ignored the
tower rule, and * take advantage of the cast member on duty,
& sneaked up...they could care less if they denied a
member 's family. so who's the real wrong-doer?

 

[LoveKermit]

I made all my requests through MS before the trip. I called multiple times to make sure they were there--mostly because I couldn't remember if I had made the requests.

Unless I had amazing luck (and DH was with me, so that wasn't it) my requests were granted. It was January, but my requests were granted.

Online check-in was wonderful since we arrived so late. I barely slowed down at the desk because I'm sure we were the only packet left.