DVC Check in Tactics

[The VWL Five]

I want to learn what tactics others use at the front desk when checking in.

Example.

If you bring the room report spreadsheet our best friend Sandy puts together,
- do you ask right away what room the CM is giving you and compare it to the report?
- do you just sit back and wait until they hand you the keys with the room number on the envelope and then match up with the report? Sorta linger at the desk.
- do you have another tactic that is low key enough to not tick the CM off?
Are you forward and just tell the CM you'd like to compare the room to a report you have?

Same thing for your room requests. When do you ask and how?

For me, I'm pretty low key about this stuff. I'm just as nice and friendly as a Jersey guy can be and sorta toss in a few questions along the way. Most times it works but the place it does not work for me is BWV. This CM thought he was giving me the best room at the BW. I thought I did real good. When we got there my wife burst out laughing. Some job I did at the desk. We looked right at the DVC roof.

I have always taken what they have given me and will never start a scene but ya know, just one time I'd like a really nice view somewhere. If I can use the reports to help me just a bit, I'll try.

Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[princess&tig]

I like to check in first thing in the morning. They normally just find you a nice room because they are all available.

I usually request some basic requirements when I book:
High floor
Epcot view
Close to Elevator

 

[DebbieB]

The problem if you arrive early in the day is that the room is usually not ready and they will not tell you the room # you are assigned. You have to call back later to see if it is ready (or stop at the front desk) and if it is ready, then they will give you the room #. If it's not ready, I try to find out approx what area and floor they assigned us and work from there. In 2002 we arrived around 1:00 and it wasn't ready. I asked what floor and they said 1st floor. I had requested upper floor. They looked around and were able to find a 4th floor room that turned out to be great. That wasn't ready either, so we had to wait until about 3:30. You can also run into a situation like I did last month when all the rooms had been pre-assigned and they could not find a different room. I had requested across from the bus stop, they told me the assigned room was almost at the end of the hall, near the pond. They said we could request a switch the next day. The room turned out to be great (corner room) so we kept it.

 

[HookdonWDW]

Personally, I wouldn't whip out a spreadsheet at the check-in counter. I try to be polite, and converse with the CM. I'll usually confirm that I'm in a non-smoking for medical reasons (asthma and smoke allergies). We've never had a big problem with room assignments. The only rooms I haven't really been crazy about were at BWVs, but that's my issue, not the CMs. I'm one of the few whacko's out there who's just not "into" the whole BW thing... I think it looks great from across the lake, but don't really enjoy staying there. Oh well, I guess that just means more BW and "Scary Clown" views for the rest of you!

 

[zulaya]

HookedonWDW -

Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in your opinion about BWV. I really have no desire to stay there, but I know a lot of people enjoy it.

I guess we all have to be grateful for the variety DVC provides.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I have a little notebook in which I've written down just 3 things about the rooms-especially good sounding (people were very enthusiastic), especially bad, and HA. I figure any room except the second and third categories is OK. On top of that page I have my confirmation number. Then, when I get to the desk, I just open my little notebook and it's no problem to say "getting out my confirmation number here". It's worked out fine-very discreet-last 3 trips.

 

[The VWL Five]

BWV is my 3rd choice right now. I have not stayed at OKW and will soon. I seem to have the most issues with the CM's there. I have no idea why since all I am is nice and never reject whatever room they give me................

Going in March for my sisters wedding and just want a nice room to host a little cocktail party. We already have a 2br BW view confirmed. I doubt there's any bad BW views but who knows.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by zulaya
HookedonWDW -

Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in your opinion about BWV. I really have no desire to stay there, but I know a lot of people enjoy it.

I guess we all have to be grateful for the variety DVC provides.

That makes 3 of us.

I have not stayed at OKW and will soon. I seem to have the most issues with the CM's there.

If you have never stayed there, how is you have issues with the CMs?

 

[HookdonWDW]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
That makes 3 of us.

Okay, I said that I was one of a FEW whackos... few means three. It seems that all of the whacko slots are full . The rest of those of you on this thread must post nice things about BWVs, which really IS a nice resort.

(In other words, I'm sorry for highjacking OP's thread. I didn't mean to take attention away from the original topic: What tactics do you use at the Front Desk to get your dream room?)

 

[zulaya]

I take the map layout I have of BCV at checkin. I have no problems laying it out right on top of my Passporter.

When they tell me what room I have, I just check my map. If I am fine with it, I say great. If I think I might get a room that better meets my requests, I ask what other rooms are available.

The CMs have been helpful in telling my what is available. Only once though I have taken another room. The ones usually offered meet my requests.

 

[Terry S]

dianeschlicht... I think The VWL Five was finishing the first part of thier sentence talking about the BWV's.

As far as front desk goes, I am a freak when it comes to BCV's and I have all the room numers and thier locations memorized so I could ask the CM right then and there if a different room was available if it was one I didn't like.

By the way, I don't care to stay at BWV's either. I love to look at it from my home (BCVs), but I really don't want to stay there or I would have bought there!

 

[HookdonWDW]

...

 

[CRSNDSNY]

When I checked into the BWV last month, the CM not only gave me my choice of room but he actually showed me a map and room layout of the Resort and let me choose based on that. I thought that was very nice.

 

[paults]

Sounds like BWV bashing again and GEE I hope I don't upset anyone but it seems like all the WHACKOS that have bad opinions about the BWV's and say they don't like to stay there , SOME seem to stay there anyway. If you don't own there then don't stay there JMHO. If you get in at 7 months or later just bite the bullet and take the room they give you. If you want a better room buy there for the 11 month booking.

The VWL Five--If your concerned that your room at BWV for the cocktail party will not be satisfactory then have it at your home at VWL or maybe that's not good enough.

And yes bring a spreedsheet to the chech-in desk and let the CM spend 2 hrs finding a suitable room. (just kidding)

Pretty soon we won't even have requests because the CM's are getting boggled down with the 's

Just remember that you only have to deal with 1CM but that CM has to deal with a lot of all day long.

'HAVE MERCY' as John Stamos would say

 

[Dean]

If I were a CM and someone pulled out a spread sheet, I'd give them the dumpster view. This would simply be rude IMO as is asking for specific rooms and the like. People should ask for smoking vs nonsmoking, general locations, floors (maybe), HC vs not and the like. Getting too specific or making many requests on the same reservation is inaapropriate.

 

[gopherit]

I am very friendly and chipper at check-in, even if I have blisters on my buns from the car ride and ringing in my ears from my 3 kids -- hey, we're at WDW, what's not to love?! I think a good attitude is contagious in all but the sourest CMs.

Anyhooo, I usually have the resort already mapped out in my head when I get to the desk. I may have a few "try to stay away froms" etched in my brain, and a few "if you're close to this room number, smile big!" as well. Thus far, I haven't had to resort to crib notes or palm-writing! I would be very perturbed, if I were a CM, and someone whipped out a map and spreadsheet with their choices on it (even tho' I have made them before!)

Thus far, I haven't been disappointed in whatever they gave me. I have never had to "barter" for a different room -- we've pretty much been satisfied. It might not meet all our requests, but if it meets the main points (non-smoking, non-HC), it's good. And all our rooms have been clean at check-in.

I will say that with the new policy, our check-in habits modified from showing up at 3 pm to now early am (8 am). Even if the room isn't ready, I want my "name in the que" so to speak. It makes it hard then to not be an annoying pest checking in to see if our room is ready. It's not that I care that much about our room number -- I'm just very afraid of not getting those 2 key preferences and being told to make do. So I feel it's important to get my name in early and ALSo to show back up at reasonable intervals so that rooms meeting those 2 requests (NS and non-HC) aren't all given away before we get our assignment.

 

[DeeP]

I agree with Dean. If I was a CM and someone was rude enough to whip out a spreadsheet at check in, I would give them the worst room I could find. I know we all want a nice room while on vacation, but come on people there should be a limit to what lengths people will go to!!!!!

As for the wackos .......... I wish there were A LOT more of them! I hope the wackos continue to avoid staying at BWV and that the wackos tell their family and friends to avoid BWV. Wackos, continue to do your thing and avoid BWV at all costs!!!
Unfortunately there seem to be a lot more non wackos then wackos that go to WDW because BWV/BWI is and has always been one of the very top most popular and most booked resorts at WDW.

 

[Dean]

Remember that we've already had a former DVC room controller say that they reacted negatively to ANY fax requests (before the change in policy to stop them). And they seemed to imply they would give a bad room on purpose but stopped short of actually saying that if I recall correctly.

 

[JVL1018]

The only thing I ask is if it's a HA room--it never has been(since the one time we got one at Coronado Springs), so I just take what they give me.
I do make requests. At HH I asked to be near the pool, but got the lodge. Not a big deal, I'm not that picky and our room was great.
I have asked for near the pool again for our upcoming trip, and for our BWV trip I asked for anything but the first floor, far away form the elevators, if I get it great, if not, well I asked.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by CRSNDSNYWhen I checked into the BWV last month, the CM not only gave me my choice of room but he actually showed me a map and room layout of the Resort and let me choose based on that. I thought that was very nice.

BTW -- I'm not quite sure who the are directed towards, but just for the record, I never asked for the map and room layout guides...he just brought them out. My only request was non-smoking, non handicap equipped. I really didn't care how close or far away to the elevator I was. I was just happy to be there because I had always wanted to stay at this beautiful resort.