Hotel check in

[Motherfletcher]

I love checking into RPR when Pia helps me. I've heard that HRH check in can be rude. I have had to prove at PBH that my reservations included Club access. Which is your favorite hotel to check into?

 

[patster734]

I'm abstaining my vote because I haven't stayed at the HRH yet. I do like RPR's check in better than the PBH's because it more spacious. PBH's check in area seems cramped to me.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Have to agree that RPR has been my best check in experiences. I havent had a problem at the other two but RPR employee's are just SO nice and really make me feel welcomed.

 

[aztecgoods]

I don't know they seemed pretty equal to me, RPR probably is a little bigger, haven't been to HRH yet. Staff seemed to be similarly helpful.

 

[LEO_Magic]

RPR For sure!!!

 

[Motherfletcher]

During our RPR Labor Day weekend stay our room was on lobby level right next to the elevator. The lobby was real close. I had heard complaints above how slow check in was so I thought that I'd take a look at it at a time that I would consider a peak hour (4-5pm) on a holiday weekend Friday. It was active to bustling at times but there were always at least 2 check in people available to take guests. I did see 2 of them pretend like something big was on their computer (Tetris) and made someone wait. The wait was less than 3 minutes.
From time to time a Polynesian lady would come out to meet guests. A girl working check in even came out and squatted down to meet a doggie guest.
Our last stay they had a hula dancer one evening which was interesting and we received lemonade once. Last year at this time was our longest lobby experience when we tried to get a room as hurricane Wilma approached. We had our 2 dogs and the lobby was full of other evacuees and their livestock. Overall RPR has exceeded my check in expectations.

 

[robvia]

It all depends on when you check in.

Show up at 3pm in the afternoon, and I'm sure they'll be grumpy and over worked. Show up at 7am when no one is there, and check in is a breeze. Like on my last visit to the PBH, I was the only one at the counter at 7am, and both girls were very friendly. It only took a couple minutes to get my keys and hotel info packet.

It's funny, my parents sent me the Orlando-Sentinel classifieds. And under the hotel section, the major chains in the Orlando area are all there. You can find Lowes (all 3 onsite hotels listed), Peabody, Nick Hotel, and a few others. The thing about the listing that amazed me, is that EVERY job (position) in the hotel is listed, which means the hotels must have a revolving door when it comes to hotel staff. They're looking for employees in every position of the hotel all the time. You name it, the job title is there (waiter, chef, reservations, maids, janitor, life guard, etc.)

 

[Motherfletcher]

Yeah, they don't have the turnover of McDonald's but at PBH I recognized no one at check in. They even had a Mgr. reception shown on my ressie and the MOD had to come out and welcome us and I didn't recognize him.
At RPR there are a hand full (4 or 5) of employees that have been there since they opened. Its kind of nice for them to recognize you as a repeat customer.
At WDW's Poly there are quite a few that have > 20 years.

 

[AlexandNessa]

I voted for RPR, because I found the PBH staff cold when we stayed there. But, I have to say that as often as we've stayed at RPR, some check-ins are better than others!

BTW, great to meet you, Motherfletcher! And, I do so truly apologize for single-handedly bringing down the average score of the Motherfletcher family at MIB that we did not beat the other car. I did get 480K one time. That, sadly, remained my high score of the trip.

 

[Motherfletcher]

480k is nothing to sneeze at! Did you beat Mike? It was great meeting ya'll too. Usually my kids make fun of all things Dis but this time they didn't!
God, those beds were nice at PBH. I wish I still had that room!
My foot doctor told me that they were staying at PBH when Dick Chaney was there and there were lots of Men In Black.

 

[goofy!]

I am abstaining too as I have never checked in at HRH.

I have had wonderful check-ins at RPR and I have had the check-in from Hell at RPR. We arrived at about 1:30am. I was surprised to see a long line of wacko travellers (about 20) like us checking in during the wee hours of the morning. But, phew - only one family checking in at the Loewsfirst desk, and nobody else in the LoewsFirst line. That Platinum card sure does come in handy (or so I thought).

It took the Loewsfirst family in front of me quite a long time to check-in as they had a large party and were trying to get who was staying in which room straight. Lots of reprinting of the keys. Meanwhile, the regular line continued to fill up.

After about 15 minutes, the LoewsFirst receptionist finishes and looks at me and says "I'm sorry", but we don't have a Loewsfirst line during the middle of the night. You have to go stand in the regular line. This family in the regular line has been waiting a long time and I have to wait on them first. WTH????? What is this sign here then for LoewsFirst people. And that little sign on your counter? If you closed the line during the night, why don't you take the signs down?

Now I don't begrudge the people who were waiting in the regular line. (well, at least not at first) They were there before me and probably were as cranky as I was. What I was livid about was that I stood in that LoewsFirst line for 15 minutes and only when I stepped up to the desk did the lady feel it necessary to tell me that I had to move to the other line. And then the family in the regular line started to call me names, etc. Not wanting a scene, I just moved to the regular line and told the other guy - who was phenominal what happened. BTW - he was the only other person working the desk, so it was busy and quite crazy and LOTS of tired, cranky kids and adults.

I haven't had a problem yet with PBH, but I am sure it will happen sooner or later.

Edited to add that when the mgr at RPR heard what happened they fell over themselves to apologize. It wasn't their policy at all and they were surprised the reservationist said that too us. The guy who checked us in told mgt what happened. We had stuffed animals delivered to our room every night for the whole 7 day vacation. We had milk and cookies, wine, a huge basket of candies for the kids, nuts and basically every thing on the welcome list delivered nightly. It was getting a bit ridiculous actually

It just depends on the person checking you in. Sooner or later you are going to encounter somebody who is having a bad day, is just plain cranky or is a rotten employee and hasn't been fired yet. Unless it happens repeatedly, it shouldn't reflect completely on the resort.

 

[tink606]

RPR, all the way, they have the fastest and friendliest staff out of all 3.

 

[highlander447]

RPR for me as well

 

[morningstar]

What is up with the attitude at HRH? I swear I go in ready to fight! Last time everything was going fantastic (we had a new girl) and then when the manager overheard the upgrade, welcome gift. etc (we are platnium members by the way); he nixed it! Told the girl that the upgrade was not really in the system and sorry he could not offer it to us! He was actually rude to the new girl and I felt embarassed for her. I say all the time, if this wasn't my kids favorite hotel, I would be staying elsewhere.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

What is up with the attitude at HRH? I swear I go in ready to fight! Last time everything was going fantastic (we had a new girl) and then when the manager overheard the upgrade, welcome gift. etc (we are platnium members by the way); he nixed it! Told the girl that the upgrade was not really in the system and sorry he could not offer it to us! He was actually rude to the new girl and I felt embarassed for her. I say all the time, if this wasn't my kids favorite hotel, I would be staying elsewhere.

Sounds like the manager picked up on a mistake she was about to make. I'm guessing your rate didnt qualify, and if it did I would have said something.

 

[morningstar]

Its the inconsistencies at HRH that make me crazy. I always book the same way - their website with AAA rate. Sometimes they give the benefits, sometimes they don't. I guess I should just be glad when they do, but I always find their staff the least receptive of any hotel I have ever stayed at. Seems like I am bothering them by checking in! By the way, FAN2CSKr, love your avatar. Steve Tyler was behind me at a light the other day - driving a Morgan (car, not horse!). I wanted to pull over and follow him, but my husband wouldn't let me!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Maybe I shouldn't have voted because we haven't stayed at PBH yet...but I voted for RPH. I have stayed at the HRH 2 times and both times was very turned off by the check in process (really the people I guess). The first time I thought I just got a snotty, rude worker. When it happened the second time as well (and we were staying club level this time), I decided we would not be going back to the HRH. RPH was quick and friendly. It reminded me of checking in to the Poly; the CMs just seem so much more friendly than at other resorts.

 

[macraven]

i have been to all three hotels.

when i stayed at pbh, the front desk at hrh did the set up for me as they were over booked and switched me over there on their nickel, therefore, no issues checking in at pbh. all was smooth.

last weekend i checked into rph at 7:55 am and it wasn't a breeze.

i stood in the loews check in line and was told since they were already working with a check in to go to the regular line. so i moved to it behind another person. no big deal to me.

for some reason, unknown to me, there was an error in my check in.
i was overcharged in january for the hotel as i booked and paid the one night in advance. rph check in had no notes on it but i had the letter sent out from rph back in mid january. i showed it to the checkin gal and she said she had no notes on my file. it took a little time, but was honored and my rate was adjusted.
two days later, i recieved messages on my cell about them moving my room.
very confused but found out since my last name is common, it was due to a computer glitch.
it was my first stay at rph and it was okay but check in was not smooth as i have read here for the other posters. it was not a check in that would make me refuse to go there again. i will probably stay there again sometime in the future to try it once more. the concierge desk was good. i had them print out my boarding pass before i left the hotel.

since i have had 12 past stays at hrh, i have seen some of the same faces there at check in. the nice thing is they have remembered me. some of the past trips have been twice in one year.
i have never encountered rude or problems at check in at hrh.
i have only had 2 early check ins there before 10 am.
usually have to wait until about 2 pm to get the room assigned.

maybe because i have been a regular repeat customer at hrh, i have always been offered upgrades at check in time even though my loews card is gold.

yes, i voted for hrh for best ease in checking in.

i can always change my mind on that when i try rph again in the future.

i'm leaving that option open. guess the time of day makes a difference at some of the hotels. i have heard of some guests complain on employees at hrh, but i have not ever had that happen to me. if i did, my thoughts on it could be swayed like it has to others i guess.

i find it interesting on what you all are posting on here.
it does help newbies make a better decision on choosing a hotel they think would suit them and their families.