Early Check in.

[mb168]

From a couple of threads there have been mixed feelings on the early check in at the resorts. For those of you that don't know, you can check in before the posted time and get a key/charge card and your packet, but no room number. They give you a card with a phone number and tell you to check back later for your room number. No need to go back to the lobby and wait in line, the key already works. I like it because you can get on with your vacation without leaving the parks early to go back and stand in line with EVERYONE that is trying to check in at the same time. Your room is already resered so you aren't "stealing" the "good" rooms from people who can't get there until later. It also makes the lines shorter for those that can't get there 'til later because everyone isn't trying to check in at the same time. Anyway, here's your chance to voice your opinion.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't see the point of everyone in line at the same time, it would be a zoo.

I like it because you can get on with your vacation without leaving the parks early to go back and stand in line with EVERYONE that is trying to check in at the same time. Your room is already resered so you aren't "stealing" the "good" rooms from people who can't get there until later.

I wouldn't count on your room being "reserved". There have been a few posts lately from people who reported having to get new keys when they returned because their room had been switched, usually to something less favorable.

I don't understand the part about "you aren't stealing the good rooms from people who can't get there until later". People who arrive early are most likely to get the good rooms than people who get there late, regardless of when they made their reservations. I would be in favor of a return to the old system where room requests were preassigned by date of reservation.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

I check in the minute I arrive. Frequently, my room is ready.

Can you imagine if everyone waited until the 4pm check-in time? What a mess that would be. Fairly silly.

 

[doc428]

I have a question. Can you early check-in around 2:00 AM? We have an upcoming reservation to start on a Saturday. We are going out on Friday nite, probably not come back to our hotel that nite until after the bars close arround 2:00. It would be so sweet if we could check-in then, instead of waking up early the next morning.

 

[Chuck S]

doc428,

I don't think you can check-in until 7am (maybe a little later). The computers have to reset, the charge activities have to print out for those folks checking-out.

I usually check-in upon arrival, and that can vary for us anytime from 8am to 4pm. I remember when we could call prior to arrival for "express check-in", give them a credit card # by phone, and simply pick-up out packet and keys at a "Member Expess CHeck-in" desk. Of course, as the resort sold out, that was discontinued.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Wouldn't it be more difficult for everyone if we all had to wait till 4pm and check in at the same time. Oy, what a headache at 4pm!

 

[Tagrel]

While it might seem to make sense to make everyone wait for their room until the 4pm checkin - that would just cause a whole NEW set of problems.

Bell Services would go crazy with everyone wanting luggage all at once.

The lines at the front desk would be crazy.

The front desk phones would ring off the hook with all the people getting their room at the same time and calling to discuss problems with the room.

Housekeeping would go crazy with all the calls for things like extra hangers, towels, burned out lights, etc, etc...

Maintenance would have similar issues...

Its much better to space out the checkins over time as the rooms are available. Sometimes you will get lucky and get your room early, and other times you won't. It the people that EXPECT to get the rooms earlier than 4pm that have the problem - and its their problem if they have unreasonable expectations.

We always have alternate plans (pool - park - whatever) to fill our time until the room is available. And I'd say about half the time the room has actually been available early. But we ALWAYS consider that a lucky bit of magic and enjoy it as a special occurance.

 

[Merilyn]

We check in when we get there just in case our room is ready. Can you imagine the nightmare if everyone checked in at the same time? The lines would be out the door and down the road. If our room isn't ready then we go and do something and come back later, but we only have to get the keys- a much quicker process. Even with everyone checking in at the same time, some will have the good room, some not. In my opinion, all the rooms are GREATTTTT when we are at our favorite place-WDW!!!!!

 

[MJTinNH]

Nothing wrong with early check-in. I just do not expect to immediately have access to my room. I can check-in and start my vacation.

 

[tjkraz]

I see nothing wrong with the current system in place--guests are allowed into their rooms when they have been released by housekeeping and are ready for occupancy. Any speculation that pressure to get guests into rooms early has lead to lackluster housekeeping is just speculation.

 

[spiceycat]

hey I want the old system back - you checked in over the phone - and going by the front desk was a breeze - they just handed you a envelope - keys and room number were in there - never had a problem.

Well I didn't have a problem....

One day when we arrived there were people all over the place. The computers were down and the front desk couldn't check anyone in nor give them a room. Since I have done the early check in over the phone - my room was ready - boy I got a bunch of looks - less than 3 weeks later DVC did away with this system...

I still miss it!!!!

Say not enough people were using it - no - too many people complainted that I got a room when they didn't!!!

that is the system that I want back badly!!!

 

[jx3smom]

We always check in early and usually have to wait for our room but once in a while it is ready. I'd rather do it that way then wait in line. It would be a total zoo.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by spiceycat
hey I want the old system back - you checked in over the phone - and going by the front desk was a breeze - they just handed you a envelope - keys and room number were in there - never had a problem.

Well I didn't have a problem....

spiceycat, I never had a problem with that system, either. But, I do think today it would be a problem...just look at all the complaints from folks who don't have the "perfect view", "perfect location" or "I didn't get every single little request out of my list of 100, and it ruined my whole vacation."

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Originally posted by DebbieB

I don't understand the part about "you aren't stealing the good rooms from people who can't get there until later". People who arrive early are most likely to get the good rooms than people who get there late, regardless of when they made their reservations. I would be in favor of a return to the old system where room requests were preassigned by date of reservation.

I don't believe this to be true. The Room Ready process assigns rooms from those that have been cleaned and are ready for occupancy which meet one or more of the guests' requests. The earlier you check in the fewer such rooms are likely to be available, so your chances of getting a "better" room just because you check in early is actually reduced. If you get a room assigned from the "not yet cleaned/ready" pool, it's more likely to meet your requests than if you accept a less satisfactory room from the "cleaned/ready" pool just so you can get into your room right away.

Ralph

 

[JimC]

Early check-in is fine with me. If a room is not ready that is fine as well. We certainly can find something to do in the mean time

 

[Lesley]

I don't believe this to be true. The Room Ready process assigns rooms from those that have been cleaned and are ready for occupancy which meet one or more of the guests' requests. The earlier you check in the fewer such rooms are likely to be available, so your chances of getting a "better" room just because you check in early is actually reduced. If you get a room assigned from the "not yet cleaned/ready" pool, it's more likely to meet your requests than if you accept a less satisfactory room from the "cleaned/ready" pool just so you can get into your room right away.

Yes, this is how it seems to work now....and while since this was started my room has always been ready upon check in, I have received my requests less and if I have no requests I seem to end up with the least desireable rooms. Luckily, I'm not too picky....but to get the ground floor at BWV several trips in a row was weird...neighboring rooms even. Add that to the dumpster view (not really a dumpster) at VWL and the only studio with no window at OKW....we're on a rather depressing roll. I believe I will begin making requests at check in, since it seems the ones on our reservation make no difference.

We had to wait for our room much longer in the past....but we had some truly wonderful ones! I guess I need to make it clear if I'm willing to wait for what I want.

But this really has nothing to do with what this poll is asking, unless this is what the op was intending to ask.

 

[megrod74]

I think the issue brought up in other threads has more to do with when you have access to the room than when you check-in. If housekeeping really is feeling rushed, then they should change the policy regarding entering the rooms early, not checking in early.

Yes, this is how it seems to work now....and while since this was started my room has always been ready upon check in, I have received my requests less and if I have no requests I seem to end up with the least desireable rooms. Luckily, I'm not too picky....but to get the ground floor at BWV several trips in a row was weird...neighboring rooms even. Add that to the dumpster view (not really a dumpster) at VWL and the only studio with no window at OKW....we're on a rather depressing roll. I believe I will begin making requests at check in, since it seems the ones on our reservation make no difference.

This is very interesting. I'm not picky about rooms either, but I may have to make it known at check in that I am willing to wait also. I also wish that they would go back to the old system of assigning rooms at the time of reservation. Does anyone know why it was changed? Too many complaints of room not ready early? Enforcing a 4pm room entry would alleviate that.