First DVC Visit Questions...

[disney212]

First visit as DVC owners. Is it best to check in online or once you arrive. I keep seeing folks asking about room requests, is there anything I should be requesting at SSR (we are early 40's sans kids). Can you pre-pay baggage for return flight like you do when staying on a nonDVC package? Is it ok to order tickets from Mouse Savers. Will purchases be sent to resort like nonDVC stay? Any advice appreciated.

 

[alanapapa]

First visit as DVC owners. Is it best to check in online or once you arrive. I keep seeing folks asking about room requests, is there anything I should be requesting at SSR (we are early 40's sans kids). Can you pre-pay baggage for return flight like you do when staying on a nonDVC package? Is it ok to order tickets from Mouse Savers. Will purchases be sent to resort like nonDVC stay? Any advice appreciated.

I can answer a few of these:

• We have not requested a certain area or floor at SSR, we love the entire resort
• We have done both, Online and check in at resort, have not noticed much difference
• yes you can order tickets from whatever source will get you the best price
• Yes, purchased items can be sent to the room like any other guest

HTH

 

[crazybones27]

First visit as DVC owners. Is it best to check in online or once you arrive. I keep seeing folks asking about room requests, is there anything I should be requesting at SSR (we are early 40's sans kids). Can you pre-pay baggage for return flight like you do when staying on a nonDVC package? Is it ok to order tickets from Mouse Savers. Will purchases be sent to resort like nonDVC stay? Any advice appreciated.

I don't know if it's better to check in online or at the resort. I always do online check in since I can. What I like about it is that they have our packet all ready at the front desk when we walk in. They don't have to go through a lot to check us in really. Only on our last trip did we have a hiccup with our online check in. We were checking in to BLT for one night and they didn't have my key all set in the packet. With a little work the CM fixed everything and we were good .

As for requests I have small children so I requested The Springs to be closer to the main pool for the kids and Artists Pallete. If you want to request a location you must call Member Services and have them add it to your reservation, but remember it's just a request and might not be honored. We've actually done really well with our request .

I can't comment on the pre-paying for the flights since we drive . You can purchase tickets from MouseSavers(Undercover Tourist) . We did this for our trip in Sept 2010 and we upgraded them to the AP when we got there.

Yes the park shops will send your purchases to the resort if you would like them too .

If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Things like resort package delivery, buses, DME, etc. are perks of all WDW resorts, and not specific to DVC or non-DVC.

Whether or not you can check your baggage and pre-pay I think depends on the airline. We usually fly Sun Country, so it's not an option for us. since it's not one of the airlines Disney deals with.

 

[Lynne M]

Is it best to check in online or once you arrive.

Online check-in gets your paperwork and key printed up ahead of time, and you stand in a separate line which may or may not be shorter than the regular check-in line. You go up to the desk, show photo ID, they hand you your key and packet, and you're on your way. If you think you'll have a lot of questions for the front desk CM, or might want to change your room location at check-in, online check-in likely won't save you much time, and you might as well check in when you get there.

I keep seeing folks asking about room requests, is there anything I should be requesting at SSR (we are early 40's sans kids).

Some people have strong preferences for particular locations, views, etc. If there's a particular area you'd like to be in, or a particular view that you want, by all means call MS and make the request. If not, there's no need to make requests.

Can you pre-pay baggage for return flight like you do when staying on a nonDVC package?

Yes. DME and the return flight check-in are exactly the same as they are at all Disney resorts.

Is it ok to order tickets from Mouse Savers.

Yup, you can buy your tickets any way you like. There are no packages with DVC, so there's no ticket purchase requirement.

Will purchases be sent to resort like nonDVC stay?

Yes. DVC resorts are Disney resorts, and the resort operations are the same. DME, package delivery, transportation, free parking at theme parks....all the perks of staying at a Disney resort are the same, regardless of whether you're paying with cash or DVC points.

The only difference you'll notice is that you won't have daily housekeeping included with your stay. Everything else will be just the same as your other Disney resort stays.

 

[disney212]

Thanks for all the great answers. Looks like will proceed like we did before we became DVC members except I will use mouse savers for my tickets! I also prefer to check in online so everything is waiting for me. You guys rock!

 

[cemeb4dk]

depending on your length of stay and if you will return within a years time don't forget about the dvc discount on annual passes.

 

[hakepb]

FYI, I don't think purchases are sent to your room. They can be sent to the resort, but you pick them up at a common area like the general store.