GCV...What do you think my chances are?

[ssxa]

Hi Everyone...we are checking in to our GCV 1bdrm on Sunday Oct 2nd and checking out on Sunday Oct 10th. When I called a few months ago to make the reservations, I requested an early check in and late check out...I just emailed again with the request and also for an upper floor with a Park view. What do you think my chances are to get these requests??? Has anyone had luck with this at the GCV? I'm a little concerned because our flight arrives at 5:50am and leaves at 5:20pm. I'm not sure what our kids would do after 5 hours of flying if we can't check in and rest for another 10hrs!!!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Early and/or late check ins are very rare in timeshares. I can tell you a late check out will be impossible. The only way you will have "early" check in is if the room was empty the night before, and that is not very likely given the popularity and small number of units at GCV.

You may want to consider accommodations elsewhere for the night before and last day of your trip in order to have a place to relax and rest until your unit is ready, or after you check out of your villa.

 

[DebbieB]

Hi Everyone...we are checking in to our GCV 1bdrm on Sunday Oct 2nd and checking out on Sunday Oct 10th. When I called a few months ago to make the reservations, I requested an early check in and late check out...I just emailed again with the request and also for an upper floor with a Park view. What do you think my chances are to get these requests??? Has anyone had luck with this at the GCV? I'm a little concerned because our flight arrives at 5:50am and leaves at 5:20pm. I'm not sure what our kids would do after 5 hours of flying if we can't check in and rest for another 10hrs!!!

There's really no way to gauge your chances for a view. The day you check-in those rooms could already be occupied, so you would have no chance. If alot of people check-out that day from those rooms, there would be a good chance. The only way you will be able to check-in in the morning is if a room was empty the night before, housekeeping usually does not start cleaning rooms until 8:30 or 9:00 and that's if rooms were already checked out. Chances are if a room was empty the night before, it would not be one with a view.

 

[Mtnman44]

I'm pretty sure everybody that stays there would like a park view so I doubt you need to request it...they know.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm pretty sure everybody that stays there would like a park view so I doubt you need to request it...they know.

I don't know how closely they match up the requests but if you don't request it they may assume you don't care about the view. I would put it down.

 

[the donut]

I'm pretty sure everybody that stays there would like a park view so I doubt you need to request it...they know.

Actually, I've got the pool view request for the next one. Just thought I'd mix it up a little. Maybe a pool view request is the way to an early check in?

On our last stay for a 2BR park view, we checked in at 6:30 am with the desk and didn't receive our unit until 4pm. We did get the park view though.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Now this was about four years ago. We stayed at the Grand Californian (the villas didn't exist yet). We arrived about 11:30AM. We walked up to the desk to check in and were told we couldn't check in until 3PM. We asked about it because having been to WDW multiple times we always checked in early. Then we found out about DLR - the room keys could not hold the park admission - they had to be separate. We asked about charging to our room and they gave us a little card to give to the vendor. Completely different than WDW, almost antiquated compared to WDW.

I don't know if it has changed much in the past four years, but you might not be able to check in until 3PM and with it being a DVC timeshare, the rule there is no late check outs period.

Good luck.

 

[Pakey]

We had no luck with an early check in. In fact, it was sometime after 4pm when the room was ready, probably closer to 5pm. We had arrived around noon.

We did get a theme park view, without request.

 

[toniosmom]

Although check-in time is typically 4pm, there have been many reports of people getting into their rooms early. We got into our 2BR at 11am in March. You never know -- it's really just luck.

Regarding a late checkout, that is highly unlikely. It isn't fair to the family coming in after you. Put yourself into the shoes of that family. Imagine not being able to get into the room until, say, 6pm because the previous family checked out late. For a family like mine, with a small child, it can really put a damper on the first day of vacation.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[toniosmom]

Sorry, duplicate post.

 

[the donut]

If you need a place to rest until your room is ready, I recommend the hearthstone lounge right off the lobby. It's got comfy chairs and couches, full bar, and salty bar snacks. We often take a breather there before we head home on check out day. You could also hang out by the pool or even rent a pool cabana.

 

[kikiq]

You can check in early and use all the facilities, go to the parks and they will text you when your villa is ready. We had a last minute stay over a weekend, checked in early, family swam in the pool in the morning, had lunch, went to DCA for a couple of hours, came back to the pool and around 4:15 pm, we got a text that our villa was ready. If the weather is nice, you can go to the pool area early and claim your lounge chairs and sleep. Or you can sleep in the lobby, there are plenty of families that do it when they check in early. Unfortunately no late checkout in the villas.

 

[DebbieB]

Now this was about four years ago. We stayed at the Grand Californian (the villas didn't exist yet). We arrived about 11:30AM. We walked up to the desk to check in and were told we couldn't check in until 3PM. We asked about it because having been to WDW multiple times we always checked in early. Then we found out about DLR - the room keys could not hold the park admission - they had to be separate. We asked about charging to our room and they gave us a little card to give to the vendor. Completely different than WDW, almost antiquated compared to WDW.

I don't know if it has changed much in the past four years, but you might not be able to check in until 3PM and with it being a DVC timeshare, the rule there is no late check outs period.

Good luck.

It has changed, you can charge right to your room key. I was there about a year ago, actually I was staying at GCH the day the villas opened. I had a room package, my ticket was separate, it was sent to me before the trip (UPS signature required).

I believe I was able to check-in early afternoon.

 

[ssxa]

Thanks for all the replies...Not really what I wanted to hear, but yes never really thought about the fact that the Villas are so limited. 4pm does seem very late for a check in though. We've hotel hopped here a bunch (Hawaii) and never had to wait until 4pm. But oh well, we'll enjoy it either way!!! Thanks again!!!

 

[Disney Princess]

If you absolutely want a place to rest and sleep on your last day of the trip, you could try to add a day to your reservation. You would be spending the points for a night that you would not be sleeping there, but you'd have a room to use during the day. It might be worth the points cost to you.

 

[AZDisFamily]

We own at VGC and when we went for the first time last February, we arrived at 9am, they held our bags at the bell desk and texted us around 5pm that our room was ready. We asked for a later check out and were told that was not an option due to the capacity at the property that particular weekend.

 

[DebbieB]

3pm or 4pm is the norm in the hotel industry.