Early check in -- safe or sorry?

[CK1]

If you check in early (say, 7 or 8 am), do they necessarily tell you which room you will have, if the room is still not available?

If they say they are "holding" a room for you, how resassured do you feel taht they are indeed doing just that?

If you walk away from the desk at 8 am after "check in" with no definite room assignment yet, do you believe you're walking away from your options as well, resigning yourself to whatever is left?

If you check in early to get the best room, but then leave, do you defeat the purpose of checking in early (unless your only reason for checking in early was to stash your bags and go have fun, and you will be happy with whatever they give you...)

(If a CM changes your room assignment and you're not there to hear it, does it make a sound? You get the idea!!)

What, then, would be the "best" time to check in -- 8 am? Noon? 2 pm? 4 pm?

 

[Chuck S]

No, if your room is not ready, you will not be told the exact location. This partly is for the security of the guests which may not have checked-out yet. Also, some clod would probably hassle housekeeping to "hurry up and get my room ready".

In the past, I believe a room has been assigned at the time you check-in...but that certainly may no longer be the case...it never hurts to ask.

As far as "best time"...luck of the draw.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I kind of think checking in early is not necessarily getting you the best room. I think what you request at the time of ressie is what is most likely to determin. Of course, that is assuming you aren't asking for too many things or a specific room

 

[spiceycat]

the new rules - medical reasons and family (more than one room) will be held - everything else is up for grabs.

worst yet - their are now only 4 smoking building at OKW - 12, 19, 25 and 41 - so I am very, very sorry for you smokers.

I just talk to Jackie.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by CK1
(If a CM changes your room assignment and you're not there to hear it, does it make a sound? You get the idea!!)

What, then, would be the "best" time to check in -- 8 am? Noon? 2 pm? 4 pm?

I have wondered this myself. I always ask for the building number at OKW and the general location when I check in other places.

I think checking in early will be better than later. I'll be at OKW bright and early for my GV on 12/28 .

 

[pixiechick]

We've decided to try for a later time, in the 3pm range. From what people have been told by Jackie L., it all depends on what is clean and ready to go. Is that true, will all CMs follow that policy? Who knows...but I figure our requests are not so specific that we won't get a decent room. I hope...

 

[Dancind]

When they gave me the credit card receipt to sign at BCV a week ago, the room number was on the receipt. I made a note of it, even though we weren't officially given the number, but were supposed to call later for it. All the CM would tell me was "woodland view, first floor" when I asked. We walked by to check the location but didn't try to go in until well after 4 pm. Diana

 

[pixiechick]

Originally posted by Dancind
When they gave me the credit card receipt to sign at BCV a week ago, the room number was on the receipt. I made a note of it, even though we weren't officially given the number, but were supposed to call later for it. All the CM would tell me was "woodland view, first floor" when I asked. We walked by to check the location but didn't try to go in until well after 4 pm. Diana

Obviously then, the "we are only assigning clean/ready rooms" is not always true. The more I think about it, the more I question it.
What happens when the resort is full? I check in, but no one has checked out. They would have to assign me a room that isn't ready yet. Given the time of year, and the popularity if the FTP, I would think that a full house would be possible.
I think I need to stop thinking about this, in the interest of my mental health!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Well, I know my strategy... I will get there early, and tell them I will take the first available room with [fill in requests here], even if it is not ready until 4:00pm.

How it really works is currently a mystery ...

 

[InstImpres]

When I checked in at VWL a few weeks ago I was given an option of ready now (11am) not meeting requests or ready later meeting requests.

I was told the room number on ready now and did not accept it. My they told me to check back in 2 hours and see if my room was ready. It wasn't. I went to high tea and it was ready, and exceeded my expectations when I returned at 5pm.

Sandy

 

[skelooch]

I always request specific room numbers, when I checked in last time they told me which of those rooms was available, I would choose the one I wanted, and they told me if it ready for move in or I had to wait till after 4:00 pm. Last time I had to wait till after 4.
I usually request at least 4 rooms. I helps to have floor plans of all the floors with room numbers on them, and which ones are studios, 1BR and 2BR. The only thing I can't tell is which 2BR are lock-offs or dedicated, that will be my next undertaking.

 

[Michelemouse]

When you check in you are given your room keys but if the room is not ready you are not told the number. But...the room keys are already coded for your specific room so they are definitely assigning you your spot at that moment. Then, later in the day, you can call the front desk to see if your room is ready. When it is they will give you the number and you will be all set. If they weren't assigning specific rooms you would have to go back to the front desk to have your keys activated for access to your room.

 

[sitchu2]

Let me share what happened to me in Feb.

Transferring from AKL to BCV I called the front desk of BCV at 8am and told them I will be transferring over. I asked if there was an epcot view available and they said sorry we are booked and no epcot views are available. I was a little bummed, (requested at 11 mos. since pre construction and had family along) So in no hurry to check in and using the luggage transfer option I went and spent the day at epcot and lesiurely made my way to check in at exactly 4pm.

I asked at the desk in one last ditch effort if there would be an epcot view available and miraculously the cm said let me check if its clean ill be right back and sure enough she assigned us a 2br 5th floor epcot view.

Was it luck? Was it timing?

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by pixiechick
I think I need to stop thinking about this, in the interest of my mental health!

There might be more than a germ of truth in this. I make my requests, show up and let the chips fall where they may.