Has anyone changed resorts at check in?

[karen4546]

Hi all! Has anyone checked in to a DVC resort that they have never stayed at and realized that they should have stuck with what they know and booked their "home" resort?

If I check in to my resort but have "booking remorse" is it possible to switch resort (If available of course) for the next night and the rest of our stay?

If so, how do I change? Do I call member services? Where do i just modify and pay the extra points? Has anyone done this before? Advice appreciated.

 

[Sandisw]

I have not done this but have modified a resort day before check in and changed it.

Normally, once you check in, the reservation is set. I don’t know if you can change but you would have to call MS and see if they can do it for you,

You would not do it at the resort itself.

 

[lovin'fl]

Typically all the DVC would be booked solid. ANd you'd have to modify with MS or member website then your points become holding. So if you have any extra leftover they will be in holding.

 

[RoseGold]

Normally, DVC runs at 95% capacity. During Covid, they have been more flexible on bookings, but probably not THAT flexible, because they don't want to pay to clean another room.

 

[Dean]

Hi all! Has anyone checked in to a DVC resort that they have never stayed at and realized that they should have stuck with what they know and booked their "home" resort?

If I check in to my resort but have "booking remorse" is it possible to switch resort (If available of course) for the next night and the rest of our stay?

If so, how do I change? Do I call member services? Where do i just modify and pay the extra points? Has anyone done this before? Advice appreciated.

I don't think it feasible and is likely next to impossible. What has been reported a few times over the years is that people went to check in and there was no availability for their room type or in a couple of cases, for anything at their destination resort. I know it's not supposed to happen but it does occasionally. In some cases they were given hotel rooms with other incentives, in some cases they were given a different room type with return of some points or an upgrade and in at least one case years ago, they were sent to their home resort (OKW) from BCV without other options if I recall the story correctly. Several of the reports that stand out, including the hotel room with concierge were from the same issue with BCV but I don't recall what the cause was if it was known.

 

[LTJoeFlo]

Hi all! Has anyone checked in to a DVC resort that they have never stayed at and realized that they should have stuck with what they know and booked their "home" resort?

Yes and No...We had an awful experience in 2014 at a specific resort and it was horrible. We tried to give it a second chance this year and regretted it within 5 minutes after check-in. I completely understand how you might feel.

If I check in to my resort but have "booking remorse" is it possible to switch resort (If available of course) for the next night and the rest of our stay?

If so, how do I change? Do I call member services? Where do i just modify and pay the extra points? Has anyone done this before? Advice appreciated.

I have never done this AFTER check-in. But, I did do it in the hotel lobby prior to checking in. I called member services and switched to a more expensive room (PVB studio to BLT 1BR). I think if you switch to a cheaper room, you lose the remaining points. You might be able to switch assuming you make the switch prior to tomorrow check-out time. Doesn't hurt to call MS.

 

[Homemom]

Yes. We checked into OKW, made it to our room, and immediately knew it wasn’t for us. We called and there was an opening at SSR. There was a few points difference they charged us and we moved right away.

 

[gharter]

Before we were DVC members, we were moved several times when we had split stays. Each time we were moved to the resort where we had the most days reserved.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We had a short trip to WDW and then back to Orange Beach for a few nights at the beach on the way home. A tropical storm was hitting Orange Beach on the day we were checking out, so we stopped by the front desk to see what we could get (no online booking at the time) instead of driving through the TS to get home. We wound up at the BCV for another four nights. We were just going to stay at OKW where we had been for four or five nights already, but BCV was available so we moved there. We had already packed everything up since we couldn't call MS when we found out our trip was cancelled the night before.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I've only done it right before check in but have read a few reports here and there of people moving for one reason or another. All you can do is ask and see. I'd call Member Services, not talk to the front desk.

 

[lovin'fl]

We had a short trip to WDW and then back to Orange Beach for a few nights at the beach on the way home. A tropical storm was hitting Orange Beach on the day we were checking out, so we stopped by the front desk to see what we could get (no online booking at the time) instead of driving through the TS to get home. We wound up at the BCV for another four nights. We were just going to stay at OKW where we had been for four or five nights already, but BCV was available so we moved there. We had already packed everything up since we couldn't call MS when we found out our trip was cancelled the night before.

We were at WDW for New Year's 2018. We stayed at OKW for 3 nights and then Poly for 2 more. A freak snow storm was hitting the south on our drive home to NC so we went to Poly desk (day before check out) to see if anything was available. He told me he could not look at any DVC, that I would need to call MS (i already looked at member website and saw nothing available). So I asked about CRO. It was also marathon weekend. So everything almost was fully booked. He talked to his buddy at all star sports and said they could get me in. I told him I needed to go ask DH. I went aside and looked at booking via my phone. There was some crazy expensive suite available at Grand Fl or there was a standard room at CSR. The CSR was kinda pricey like $275/night. But I grabbed it for 2 more nights. I think the Poly desk guy quoted me like $210 for All Star Sports so I felt it worth it.

I inquired some other time too, about extending our stay. Was told they cannot access DVC booking. Want to say the other time was at BWV. We also had a 2BR lock off at BWV for one trip with in laws and they backed out the day before departure. So I called MS on drive down to get the studio part dropped off to save some points. They did do that for us. But we had SSR 2BR dedicated for the last 2 nights and they could not help with that. Instead we stalked the RAT all week to modify to a 1BR anywhere...modified a couple times as things popped open. Landed on a 1BR at BWV which meant we didn't need to change resorts.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Our friends did this! They checked into Vero Beach and it was rain all day the entire length of their stay so they called MS, SSR was available the remainder of the stay so they woke up the next morning and drove to WDW.

 

[Dean]

Just a word of caution. While the resorts have limited access to your points, they do not have the same access or knowledge that MS has. I've seen a number of reports over the years where people made last minute changes at the resort only to find out their points were in a mess because the resort pulled new points rather than using the same points. I remember one where someone simply asked for an upgrade like you might at a hotel and it was granted but without their knowledge, they took the points difference from their account. If anyone does this or is force to for whatever reason, definitely check your account to be sure the points are OK and it wouldn't be a bad idea to call or send an email to DVC MS.

 

[ParrotBill]

Just a word of caution. While the resorts have limited access to your points, they do not have the same access or knowledge that MS has. I've seen a number of reports over the years where people made last minute changes at the resort only to find out their points were in a mess because the resort pulled new points rather than using the same points. I remember one where someone simply asked for an upgrade like you might at a hotel and it was granted but without their knowledge, they took the points difference from their account. If anyone does this or is force to for whatever reason, definitely check your account to be sure the points are OK and it wouldn't be a bad idea to call or send an email to DVC MS.

Agreed - don't let the front desk make any changes without you talking to Member Services. And don't try to do this when Member Services is closed. At your request, anyway. if THEY move you it should be with no change to your costs or points.

 

[Carol_]

We added a night on at Vero Beach from the front desk last minute after we decided we liked it and wanted more. Went well, no complaints. Nobody screwed anything up. (They called MS for us and had it changed.)

 

[matheke]

We did once before a cruise. I was just happy to be out of there. They booked a new room for us and gave us a taxi voucher to move.

The original resort ran us in circles. Every time I would inquire as to when our room would be ready, it was another excuse. Your room is being cleaned, then you room was taken out of inventory for maintenance, then you room is being cleaned, we had a late check-out. Finally after 6 hours we got our key and walked to the far end of the resort to find neither key worked. Back to the lobby and I asked to be moved to another resort. We got lucky and they had one studio at SSR.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just a word of caution. While the resorts have limited access to your points, they do not have the same access or knowledge that MS has. I've seen a number of reports over the years where people made last minute changes at the resort only to find out their points were in a mess because the resort pulled new points rather than using the same points. I remember one where someone simply asked for an upgrade like you might at a hotel and it was granted but without their knowledge, they took the points difference from their account. If anyone does this or is force to for whatever reason, definitely check your account to be sure the points are OK and it wouldn't be a bad idea to call or send an email to DVC MS.

We had that happen at VGF just because of a change in room assignment. We had a continuing stay and even double checked in the morning and they said they had us in the same room but they had actually changed the floor. They put us back in the same room but that put points into holding and they used new ones. I also knew to watch and called MS after a week or two to fix it as it was not automatically corrected as VGF said it would be. Not a big surprise. The MS CM was po'd and said that the resorts are supposed to call them when doing a change like that. I will say that it seems like a system design flaw that the room assignment causes points to be touched when it's the same category and point requirements.

 

[Bppdisney]

We are actually going to try this tomorrow. We are at Poly now. Have been here since Saturday. 4 adults in a studio. My son is coming in on Thursday to stay with us until Sunday. We are pushing the limits with 4 in a studio. 5 is going to be a no-go for us. Just not enough space for us. So we are going to try to switch to a 1 bed at another resort. Not sure if they will let us. But we will try. There is a lot of availability at other resorts as of right now.

 

[com_op_2000]

No exactly your scenario :
Once cause of over booking at VWL:
Booked a studio at VWL, when we tried to check-in, we had been upgraded to a WL 2 bedroom lake view suite. Called some family members to come and join us for an unexpected vacation.

 

[karen4546]

We are actually going to try this tomorrow. We are at Poly now. Have been here since Saturday. 4 adults in a studio. My son is coming in on Thursday to stay with us until Sunday. We are pushing the limits with 4 in a studio. 5 is going to be a no-go for us. Just not enough space for us. So we are going to try to switch to a 1 bed at another resort. Not sure if they will let us. But we will try. There is a lot of availability at other resorts as of right now.

were you able to change ?