DVC temporary policy rooms now between 4pm and 6pm?

[DVCSunDevil]

This is different from my experience at BCV and Poly. We were early (like noon or earlier) and they re-assigned us from "our:" room to a recently cleaned room. Given this was Labor Day weekend and end of December I would assume they were fully booked up at both places so all rooms had been already assigned.

That's interesting, and it makes me feel that is exactly what happened during my stay last week. I had requested the 3rd floor during my online check in weeks earlier. We arrived to Poly really early (9:00am) for breakfast and a pool day. I checked in with the desk when I got there, even though I was already checked in online. At around 10:30am I received the text that my room was ready, and it was a first floor room. Basically the same thing happened at BCV a few days later. I am betting since I got there so early they just moved my room assignment to a different room because my requested room wasn't ready yet (if my request was even granted in the first place). I have no problem with not getting the room I requested, and I really like being able to get into the room early. But I wonder if I would have received my requested room if I would have waited until closer to 4:00pm to check with the front desk.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

I have no problem with not getting the room I requested, and I really like being able to get into the room early. But I wonder if I would have received my requested room if I would have waited until closer to 4:00pm to check with the front desk.

We arrived really early to Poly (i.e., before noon) and I let them know that we would prefer our requested floor rather than getting the next available and that we were happy to wait longer to get a room on the 3rd floor. We had plenty to keep ourselves occupied (lunch, shopping, beach lounging, etc.). As it turned out, we ended up getting a room in the location we requested and it didn't take until 4pm to get it (although we would have happily waited until 4 if it was necessary). I don't know if they went out of their way to clean our room earlier or we just got lucky, but we got a text that the room was ready slightly after 12 noon.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

We arrived really early to Poly (i.e., before noon) and I let them know that we would prefer our requested floor rather than getting the next available and that we were happy to wait longer to get a room on the 3rd floor. We had plenty to keep ourselves occupied (lunch, shopping, beach lounging, etc.). As it turned out, we ended up getting a room in the location we requested and it didn't take until 4pm to get it (although we would have happily waited until 4 if it was necessary). I don't know if they went out of their way to clean our room earlier or we just got lucky, but we got a text that the room was ready slightly after 12 noon.

That is good to know for future stays!

 

[New Mouse]

I'd be curious to know if dvc is short changing dvc only resorts like okw vs disney/dvc resorts like poly when it comes to housekeeping. It seems all the people at poly are happy and with it being part of Disney's top 2, I wouldn't be surprised to hear more staff is allocated there.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Timely post for us. We just had a similar experience to OP at Boardwalk last Thursday. We arrived early (9:30 am) and I noted that in online check-in. We were transferring from an airport hotel, and I was not expecting to get in the room early, although of course i was hoping so. No text all day, which was anticipated.

We were in the lobby by just before 4 pm and anxious to get in the room to shower and get ready for an early (5:30) dinner. At 4, I went up to the desk and asked about the status of our room. The CM made a call and then sheepily told me that it was almost ready, etc. She made it sound as if it would be a few minutes, but after thirty+ minutes I went back up to the desk, and she made another call and then tried to tell me that check-in now was after 4:30 etc. I cut her off and said, that's interesting. Let's walk over to that little DVC desk and see what he has to say, because I can assure you he isn't telling people that check in is after 4. She looked embarrassed and said it would be just a few more minutes and we finally got the text at 4:45 pm.

Yes, i know there are far more important things going on in the world and this is a minor annoyance in the scheme of things, but as an owner i expect our room to be ready by 4 pm. If they expect me out by 11, that's the deal. I'm paying dues, and if they can't fulfill the obligations for whatever reason we should be informed. I'd pay more in dues to insure my room is ready, but that's me. Our son is special needs and we can't hang out in the park all day so we are used to coming in and taking breaks in the afternoon etc.

Our room not being ready on time has happened to us consistently enough for me to think it's becoming more common. I do not want it to be the norm.

Of course after the wait neither of our room requests were met. Sigh.

It’s not hotel vs timeshare for me but rather that we hire Disney to prepare rooms and manage the property and there should be accountability for it.

I definitely think room requests should go and no room number sent to a guest until 4:00 pm or someone is at the resort and checks in, then first available clean room is given.

Good suggestions. I 100% agree. I do request rooms but I'd sacrifice that for a consistent 4 pm check-in.

I've been following this thread with interest. There are many folks who have polar opposite perceptions on this topic.

I don't care if you call it a hotel, timeshare, squatters cabin, commune, hostel, or linen closet. DVC is supposed to be deluxe accommodations. Disney is sitting on nearly $60K of my hard-earned dollars and gets another $2,500 a year in dues from me. I don't think it an unreasonable expectation to have the doggone room, that I had to reserve 11-months out from my arrival, ready for me at 4:00 PM as indicated. And I ain't buying all the wishy-washy lawyer language saying that 4:00 doesn't really mean 4:00. Nonsense.

Whew! I feel much better after getting that out.

Well said. I feel the same way.

 

[Boopuff]

After reading through all of this I really wonder if Disney is doing any type of room requests. You often read on this board there are so many "helpful" third-parties that will "fax, email, text" the hotel on your behalf for a room request. I wonder if CM's just file all of them in the circular file. And with the advent of the internet, those renting points also love to request premium locations, thus clogging up the works. I think if they want to allow requests, they should only allow DVC owners staying on their own points to request anything. Or just do away with requests unless needed for medical reasons.

 

[Wedgeout]

I may have to put in the request for “last villa cleaned”. I know a request is not guaranteed. See if I get it.

 

[princesscinderella]

I bet if someone requested a first-floor room near the elevator and ice machine with a parking lot view next to the dumpsters you could get into it at 4:00 PM.

I bet there is someone out there reading this that's like, "crap, that's my favorite room, don't let the secret out BeachClub2014! I really like to be near the laundry room, sometimes I take 2 week trips to Poly and I don't even visit the parks, I just wash my clothes twice a day and mobile order pork nachos from Capt Cooks."

We always request a certain 2 bedroom villa at the very end of the long hallway at kidani in pumba because it has the best view of the animals and the backstage pens and we get it 75% of the time because everyone usually requests close to elevators or the lobby. . It’s a 6 minute walk to the lobby but we don’t care.

 

[DebbieB]

Possibly off topic, but we always do split stays. It would be great if somehow when you check out early from your first room you could get priority to check in early to your second room. The Disney scheduling system could probably not handle that level of detail, but I can always hope.
ETA: We have never tried it, but I wonder if we told the front desk at 8:00am at our first resort we were checking out, if we could ask if they could call the front desk at our second resort to request that we get the earliest available room at that second resort.

I had a split stay late last September from BLT to BWV. I put 10:00am for my arrival time. I Ubered over around 9:15am and went to the checkin desk. Got the room ready text around 12:15pm. And it met my request. It was a Wednesday (right before the 50th), so it may have been a lower check-out day.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I'd be curious to know if dvc is short changing dvc only resorts like okw vs disney/dvc resorts like poly when it comes to housekeeping. It seems all the people at poly are happy and with it being part of Disney's top 2, I wouldn't be surprised to hear more staff is allocated there.

pit definitely seems to happen at some resorts more then others. But there could be 1000 different factors leading to that.

 

[Louis morrell]

And, that is what bothers me to be sitting there and it is after 4 pm and you are not getting a room when others just arriving are because they were lucky to get the room cleaned earlier in the cleaning rotation.

Like I said, prior to 4 pm...I am fine with not being given a clean room that is ready, especially if it was a request. But, come 4 pm...anyone who requested first available and has arrived, should be changed.

Of course, the best situation is that 99% of the rooms are ready by 4 pm and this isn't an issue.

I have no dog in this hunt because it never matters to me when my room was ready. Just asking.
I read both of your post about others getting a room of the same type and view as you while you were still waiting. Do you know if they also had the same length of stay?
I know nothing about the hotel business but I would bet it is a bear to work out the logistics with different check inn, check out dates, longer and shorter length of stay etc.

 

[Sandisw]

I have no dog in this hunt because it never matters to me when my room was ready. Just asking.
I read both of your post about others getting a room of the same type and view as you while you were still waiting. Do you know if they also had the same length of stay?
I know nothing about the hotel business but I would bet it is a bear to work out the logistics with different check inn, check out dates, longer and shorter length of stay etc.

That is a good point and could be. But I went up to the desk after and asked again and was told no room yet.

When I inquired about having no clean rooms at all, it was when it was mentioned there were no others to move me to.

So, I get it’s not easy, but I am sure requests don’t help.

 

[CraigInPA]

DVCMC has contracted with WDW to provide property management so it’s all the same in terms of staff, etc.

CMs that work for DVC resorts vs hotel are all employed by Disney so they have control over where the staff go.

In this case, the issue is whether or not we are getting what we are paying for in contracting with them

However, there isn’t really a recourse because we can’t change who is property manager.

All we can do is express our dissatisfaction to DVCMC that rooms not being done close to the 4 pm is an issue.

I've never been pleased with the DVC/DVCMC/Disney relationship. When DVC contracts with an entity owned by its largest shareholder, and that shareholder controls the Board of Directors, it's pure "inside dealing". Has the responsibility of the DVC Board to consider alternative suppliers been blunted by them also being executives paid by Disney? When members complain about the problems of DVCMC not getting rooms ready on time, the DVC Board should be documenting these and working with DVCMC to improve their services. Is that being done? Is there a key performance indicator that is being tracked to determine if rooms are being made ready by 4pm? If so, how about letting us see what's being reported, and what is considered "acceptable"? It may well be that the KPI for rooms being ready is 90% by 4pm and is not being met, or it might be 50% ready by 4pm, 80% ready by 6pm, and 100% ready by 9pm and is being met. We just don't know, but I think we should, as members and shareholders, be told what it is.

 

[tjkraz]

As it turned out, we ended up getting a room in the location we requested and it didn't take until 4pm to get it (although we would have happily waited until 4 if it was necessary). I don't know if they went out of their way to clean our room earlier or we just got lucky, but we got a text that the room was ready slightly after 12 noon.

I wouldn't call this lucky because it happens hundreds of times daily. Housekeeping is clearing rooms starting in the early morning hours, and most people have their villa before 4pm. Late room assignments do happen, but they shouldn't be viewed as the norm.

 

[Boopuff]

I'll still contend that cleaning a 3 bed GV takes a...long...time! It's like cleaning a house! If you're in a basic POP room, the mousekeeper can whip through probably 4-5 rooms in the time it takes to clean a big 'ole villa. I'd love to know how many villas one mousekeeper has to clean in a day and the length of time to clean them (is a studio allowed 'x' time, double that for a 2 bedroom and triple for a GV?) I'll love to see those stats.

 

[lowlight]

I wouldn't call this lucky because it happens hundreds of times daily. Housekeeping is clearing rooms starting in the early morning hours, and most people have their villa before 4pm. Late room assignments do happen, but they shouldn't be viewed as the norm.

I'm not picking on your argument, I would do the same if someone said "most people aren't getting their room on time". All we have in this thread is anecdotal evidence. Do you in fact have empirical data showing that most people have their villa before 4 pm? I think it's fair to say it's a common enough complaint on the internet to say that "enough" people are not getting their room ready by 4 pm that it's worth looking into. If you have the hard data, I would love to see it.

 

[lowlight]

I'll still contend that cleaning a 3 bed GV takes a...long...time! It's like cleaning a house! If you're in a basic POP room, the mousekeeper can whip through probably 4-5 rooms in the time it takes to clean a big 'ole villa. I'd love to know how many villas one mousekeeper has to clean in a day and the length of time to clean them (is a studio allowed 'x' time, double that for a 2 bedroom and triple for a GV?) I'll love to see those stats.

Definitely, I'd be shocked if cleaning a 3BR GV takes less than 1.5 hours. That's a big job, especially cleaning every surface like they do with enhanced cleaning. I'd guess it's still quicker than cleaning a 3BR house though, because all the surfaces are made to be easily wiped, whereas a house may have special care surfaces or stubborn surfaces, plus a load of junk in the way as most people don't keep their houses as sparse as a hotel room.

 

[Sandisw]

I'll still contend that cleaning a 3 bed GV takes a...long...time! It's like cleaning a house! If you're in a basic POP room, the mousekeeper can whip through probably 4-5 rooms in the time it takes to clean a big 'ole villa. I'd love to know how many villas one mousekeeper has to clean in a day and the length of time to clean them (is a studio allowed 'x' time, double that for a 2 bedroom and triple for a GV?) I'll love to see those stats.

Of course it does but it’s still on the property manager to figure it out and if it does need to be adjusted in the contract then do it.

But, it’s not okay to make a contract and promise X and then just not deliver on it.

Again, we need to at least express our disappointment in the process and if staffing is the issue, then I think they need to think of more creative ways to limit the owners not being able to have a room close to 4:00 pm.

 

[lowlight]

Of course it does but it’s still on the property manager to figure it out and if it does need to be adjusted in the contract then do it.

But, it’s not okay to make a contract and promise X and then just not deliver on it.

Again, we need to at least express our disappointment in the process and if staffing is the issue, then I think they need to think of more creative ways to limit the owners not being able to have a room close to 4:00 pm.

Sandi, you're one of the more knowledgeable people on this matter. Is sending feedback about bad experiences the only way we can voice our displeasure? That seems a little too "screaming into the void" for me.

 

[bumbershoot]

We were in the lobby by just before 4 pm and anxious to get in the room to shower and get ready for an early (5:30) dinner.

Sigh. Don't do that to yourselves.

She looked embarrassed

She almost certainly was covering up being annoyed at a guest thinking that a salesperson is going to tell people the truth or have ANY actual knowledge of how things actually worked.

as an owner i expect our room to be ready by 4 pm.

You're causing yourself problems. Stop. Read the online checkin message and take it to heart, then cancel your 5:30 dinner reservations, and go enjoy the day until you get that text.

I'll still contend that cleaning a 3 bed GV takes a...long...time! It's like cleaning a house!

Absolutely.

I think it's fair to say it's a common enough complaint on the internet

Don't we all know that complainers talk far more than happy people? And when you see the complaints it's the same people. Like if you kept seeing posts here over the years about people who were able to stay in their unsatisfying room after official checkout time while having a new room cleaned and prepared for them, you might think it happened all the time. When it was actually just posts by me over the years talking about ONE experience we had (and clearly saying never ever to expect it) because my then-husband is a very VERY good hotel negotiator. You'll see repeated complaints aby the same people about the same stay. Meanwhile those of us who get our rooms at perfectly fine times don't create posts about it incessantly.

But here: on my recent stay I got the room ready text before 4. Of course, I was in Daytona at the time, because I read the online checkin wording and KNOW that checkin STARTS at 4 and is not a guarantee of a room. I once waited for a room. Once. (see the above waiting in one room for another room to be ready) It was miserable. That decision caused us stress, boredom, and a crappy day. I won't do it again. So I was visiting with family while picking up my cousin, rather than rushing back to Orlando in hopes of an early room.

But, it’s not okay to make a contract and promise X and then just not deliver on it.

What contract?