DVC Check in Tactics

[srf10]

Originally posted by 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!!!!!

how is whipping out a spreadsheet at check-in considered rude? it's just another tool to communicate to the CM what you want, right? wouldn't that actually be considered more beneficial from the CM's viewpoint, as it would actually facilitate communication?

disney vacations (at least for me) are only a once per 2-3 years event, so i can definitely understand wanting the best room possible. if the CM takes my enthusiasm to obtain the ideal room as an insult to him/her then they should get out of the business!

 

[lenshanem]

After my experince at VWL last month I wodul say any of thsi is pointless. She woduln't even confirm my request for non-smoking and a non handicap studio so I coudl have a tub for the kids. I didn't even bring up my other requests I had made with Ms to be near the elevator on lake side when I saw how check in was going. Those requests seemed pretty pointless at that point. I asked her if she coudl point to a general area on a map as to where we might end up (This has ALWAYS been done at other WDW resorst we've stayed at before.), but was only told sternly that I can find out where my room will be when I call the number on the card she gave me. My Mom just galnced at me and then told the lady that wodul be fine. We we're only going to be there for two nights anyway.

It all turned out to be fine and all my requests were met, including the near elevator on lake side. I just wasn't thrilled with the way in which my check in was handled. She seemed very pleasant up until I aked her about the non-smoking part... Then she suddenly turned cross. I think asking at least about non-smoking and non handicap is an acceptabel thing to ask!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

If you bring the room report spreadsheet our best friend Sandy puts together,

Please tell me where I can find this. I would use it in a heartbeat.

 

[golfnut1264]

every room at the bwv is convienant to something...the rooms at the end are close to the parking lot,bus stop and mgm...the ones by the bw are closer to the lobby and epcot...i iove the bwv and hope you guys keep bashing it so i have a better chance to get the nights i need..the location of the room to me is not very important to me....i am just so happy to be on vacation that i cant get worked up over room location...someone has to take the undesirable rooms..the only thing i dont want is a handicap room...i never requested that and have never been assigned one...that may be my only question at check in....i usually go with others and we ask to be close together....they have always got us close...we took rooms as close to mgm as you could get to be close together and they were no proble at all..a quick walk to mgm,the bus stop,the community center which we used alot when it was raining to play some ping pong...just my opinion

 

[Cruelladeville]

I don't care if I get a handicapped room or not, but I do care about NS and what my view is. If I paid the extra points for preferred view, and then I get a dumpster, and no view, then I am not happy, since preferred view costs me extra points, sometimes a lot of extra points. I tell the CM that I do NOT want a dumpster view, and yes, I do use that terminology "dumpster view". Beyond that, I am usually happy if they give me a view that I can see, especially "boardwalk view". I've stayed at BWV numerous times as a member, and have never been disappointed. The last two times the CM whipped out the map of BW to show me the room, or at least the area of the room, which I thought was very nice of them, even though I never asked. I usually am very friendly at check in, and excited, telling the CM "I AM SO HAPPY TO BE BACK HOME", and they have never failed to respond. Maybe that's the key

 

[mitros]

OK, I need to ask a question, are there actually dumpster views at any of the DVC resorts? We have stayed everywhere except BCV, and we have stayed in a lot of different areas of these resorts and have never noticed a dumpster outside our window.Now, getting back to the subject, we usually ask for a non smoking room for health reasons, and a first floor room due to a disability. Also, most of the time, the DVC reservation CMs asks if we want a particular building{this usually happens when we stay at OKW} Now the first two requests, non smoking and first floor, are always honored. The specific building, I would say about 50% of the time. If we don't make a building request at the time of reserving the room on the phone, we just ask at the front desk, and they always try to find a room in the building we requested.

 

[DeeP]

I think one big difference is between the different DVC resorts. BWV has very few villas that have a bad view whether they are standard or preferred villas. The other DVC resorts are not as lucky with dumpster views at VWL, road views at BCV and heavy vegation or road views at OKW. I think this makes a big difference in how a guest approaches the CMs at check in when they know there is a real possiblity of getting a room with a really bad view.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I can only say with certainty that there is a dumpster view at BWV. It's behind the red DVC building, and is down that little hallway that is supposed to be a Swan/Dolphin view, but on the first floor it's just a dumpster that you see. By the way, that red building is coming down this spring after DVC moves over to SSR. It turns out that the building is actually just several trailers strung together, and that area will become a croquet lawn, so the dumpster view there should be eliminated.

 

[mitros]

Can I assume your kidding about the red building being trailers since you had a laughing face at the end of your post?

 

[DrTomorrow]

I'm with Dean and DeeP. This reminds me of my experiences (non-DVC, but applicable) last spring. DW and I booked FTP for Polynesican Lagoon View Concierge (first time at Polynesian). I started doing my "Required DIS Over-planning", and I discovered a site where people were actually discussing - for the Concierge Building only - how tall the plant life was in front of each PR room, how far the walk to the beach was and distance from the elevator lobby. And what really scared me was people posting things like "If I don't get room 3028 my whole vacation will be ruined."

We go to Las Vegas often, and, while I will ask if a 'strip view' or a 'higher room' is possible, I would never whip out a list of room numbers and start bargaining with a desk clerk.

Note: I've got NS and non-HA on my SSR ressies, and I understand 100% certain medical needs - and there's no harm in asking for a general area. But I think that maps, spreadsheets and requests for 1103, or 33582, or Bldg 5, Unit 9 is a bit much.

Just MHO and $.019

 

[Simba's Mom]

Since I remember someone posting recently that when they checked in to VWL, the CM refused to tell them whether their room was HA or not(the poster did not want HA). Also, there are a few "dumpster views", at least at BWV and VWL, I think. For that reason, I think there's nothing wrong with having the information about what room #s those few rooms are before check-in. I agree, I don't thind that should require whipping out an entire spreadsheet.

 

[Zurg]

I have liked every room I have been in at BWV.

The way I see it ia any room at Boardwalk means I am at WDW.

 

[HookdonWDW]

Originally posted by 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.

Gee whiz, I'm amazed at your insightful and thoughtful comments . If you read my entire post, I think that I commented that I know that it's just me and not BWVs. I was speaking of my PREFERENCES. BWVs doesn't happen to be my personal PREFERENCE. I also stated that it's a beautiful resort.

Given availability elsewhere, I do choose to stay somewhere other than BWVs. We average 4 -5 trips/year to WDW. The majority of them are at our home resort, but because we often make last minute ressies, we take 'em where we can get them. We've stayed there twice. Once for one night, booked while standing in the middle of MK, and a second time for 5 nights, when points became available through MS again for BWVs. We wanted to give the resort a fair chance, and decide if we wanted to add on at BWVs or VWL. We had one of the rooms that a lot of people on here rave about, so I know it is just us not the room. Chalk it all up to personal preference. I also live in the south, and miss the winter weather in the north.

Personally, you should look at others dislike as a plus. I love it when people post negative comments about BCVs... I figure that's one less person to compete with for rooms at my favorite resort.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Cruelladeville
I can only say with certainty that there is a dumpster view at BWV. It's behind the red DVC building, and is down that little hallway that is supposed to be a Swan/Dolphin view, but on the first floor it's just a dumpster that you see. By the way, that red building is coming down this spring after DVC moves over to SSR. It turns out that the building is actually just several trailers strung together, and that area will become a croquet lawn, so the dumpster view there should be eliminated.

I'm glad to hear that red building is going, when we ride the boat to MGM I often thought that the red building messes up the views of the lower floor rooms. I thought I heard that the dumpster belongs to Jellyrolls, so it maybe staying. But in this case, you have a great view of the canal and S/D (with the red building gone), the dumpster shouldn't be as big a deal.

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by HookdonWDW
Gee whiz, I'm amazed at your insightful and thoughtful comments . If you read my entire post, I think that I commented that I know that it's just me and not BWVs. I was speaking of my PREFERENCES. BWVs doesn't happen to be my personal PREFERENCE. I also stated that it's a beautiful resort.

Given availability elsewhere, I do choose to stay somewhere other than BWVs. We average 4 -5 trips/year to WDW. The majority of them are at our home resort, but because we often make last minute ressies, we take 'em where we can get them. We've stayed there twice. Once for one night, booked while standing in the middle of MK, and a second time for 5 nights, when points became available through MS again for BWVs. We wanted to give the resort a fair chance, and decide if we wanted to add on at BWVs or VWL. We had one of the rooms that a lot of people on here rave about, so I know it is just us not the room. Chalk it all up to personal preference. I also live in the south, and miss the winter weather in the north.
Personally, you should look at others dislike as a plus. I love it when people post negative comments about BCVs... I figure that's one less person to compete with for rooms at my favorite resort.

As I am sitting here in single digit temps from "winter weather in the north", all I can say is if you miss this you really are a whacko!!!! Only kidding, well sort of, LOL!
I know what you mean by personal preferences. What some people love others hate and we all have our likes and dislikes. I feel the same way about OKW as you do BWV and who knows you might love OKW as much as I love BWV! I really do not think Paul was intentionally pointing out your posts or saying anything negative about you, it is just that BWV has gotten bashed quite a bit over the years on this board many times with things that are not even true or very gross exaggerations. Maybe he thought this was going to turn into another resort bashing thread with BWV being the first victim.
I agree with you in wishing more people would dislike my home resort at BWV, because then it would be much easier to book there on short notice--which tends to be my booking habits. I have no problems with people having their DVC resort preferences and likes & dislikes and then expressing them on this board--we ALL do it to some degree or another. It is the gross exaggerations and the rude and downgrading statements made about a resort and it's owners that bothers me. Unfortunately for me (the habitual late booker, lol), it seems BWV is a very much liked resort by many more than just BWV owners since it has always been and continues to be one of the most popular and most booked resorts on WDW property. But I am getting better and am trying to book well in advance so that I can get into where I want to stay. I have even booked all but 1 out of 5 of my trips for 2004! That is saying A LOT for me, first time I've done this ever! And I even got lucky and got BW views for 2 of my trips!!! Yahoo!!!

 

[allicat]

In all the times we have requested things at BCV, we have only gotten a non smoking room granted.
Im so happy to be there that Im really no too phased by it. However, after two trips being put in the furthest room from the elevator, Im hoping that next time our room might be a bit closer.

One piece of advice for check in I have is ALWAYS bring your confirmation. Never assume everything will be ok upon check in.

Long story short- we went to check into BCV in Auguest and the CM says "you arent supposed to arrive for 2 days and we are completely booked" He also said in a not too nice tone "well, we cant build a room for you."
His tone changed when I whipped out the confirmation!They "some how" found a room for us.
Apparently, Member Services, deleted 2 days in the computer.

 

[InstImpres]

Being "my reports" are the cause of such harsh feelings by some, I guess I should put in my 2 cents.

I do take the section of the report with my room type with me. I have never been accused of being soft spoken, but am polite. You will note than whenever I post the links I say:

This will give you an idea of “sectional views”. It is extremely difficult to ask for a specific room (as well as trying on the CM’s). With the new room ready policy, guests have reported getting several choices at check-in and this may than help

That said, I do make a mental note of specific areas/room numbers I don't want. (ie VWL dumpster view) Last trip to VWL that was what was "room ready". I politely asked if I could wait for something else. I was told no problem. I than asked if close to the elev. was possible, they were looking to preassign me and te only other comment I made was, "is it possible not to be in the no balcony room (I was looking forward to outdoor time on this solo trip)". The CM responded there is no such thing. I (again politely) said there is one room. She checked with another CM and verified I was correct but neither knew were it was. I pulled out the chart and told them. They asked to look at the chart and thought it was a great resource, they would have loved to have something that gave them that much info for guests is what they told me.

At BCV, I was given a choose of 3 rooms, but the CM was unwilling to provide any details. Told me all "room ready" but didn't know anything else and for some reason wasn't offering a resort map to point them out. I again looked at the chart and made my choice. Although none of the rooms were on there I went with distance and view comments from surrounding numbers.

I am sure if I had stood there reading over 5 pages of comments and asking is 227 avail., how about 338?, etc. or been rude, it would be looked at differently. In neither case did I feel I was rude or inappropriate or looked at as such by the CM's but than again, I'm a tough Jersey girl and hard to rattle

JMHO
Sandy

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by RweTHEREyet
Please tell me where I can find this. I would use it in a heartbeat.

RweTHEREyet,

I thought you had a son who is a BC CM, you must get the best scoop on where to stay


http://members.aol.com/InstImpres/beachclub.pdf

http://members.aol.com/InstImpres/boardwalk.pdf

http://members.aol.com/InstImpres/wildernesslodge.pdf

The file is in adobe acrobat and which can be downloaded from this site for free:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Happy travels,
Sandy

P.S. double check the links tomorrow night for updates.

 

[paults]

HookdonWDW

Gee whiz, I'm amazed at your insightful and thoughtful comments . If you read my entire post, I think that I commented that I know that it's just me and not BWVs. I was speaking of my PREFERENCES. BWVs doesn't happen to be my personal PREFERENCE. I also stated that it's a beautiful resort.

Sorry you took this wrong but if you read my post you would see it is directed towards all the (WHACKOS) plural, I did not single you out and I even said SOME of them even stay there still. Some who complain have never even stayed at BWV yet.

My reply was to all the other replys and not just your post. I do look at bashing BWV as a plus and I hope all potential new members read some of these post about BWV and decide to buy elsewhere.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

RweTHEREyet,

I thought you had a son who is a BC CM, you must get the best scoop on where to stay

I did until last weekend, his College Program is now over. He went from standing by the pool in his swimsuit last Friday to coming home to snow. His tan is fading and he misses Disney and it is back to College for him. His College Program was a wonderful experience for him. I know it doesn't work that way for some, but his was great. He particularly loved it when someone would come up and tell him that they knew about him from the DIS Boards. Thanks to all that talked to him. If you stayed at BCV sometime during the last 7 minths, my son is the one that would give the highly entertaining "pool closing" spiel.

However, counting on MY son to scout good room locations is a real joke. And, I am not that particular in my room requests, but my last stay at BCV and WLV were what I call "swamp" views. Just once, I would love the perfect view. I feel it is easier to recquest another room while you are still standing at the front desk than after you walk into the room assigned to you.