Is it a waste of time to try to request early check-in?

[las3888]

I don't even know if they will take the request for early check-in and put it in the system. I would like to do all that I can to at least try. I realize there are no guarantees and in my experience, early check-in does not happen often. We have had decent success at OKW, but never at BWV. Our next trip will be BCV. My guess is the resort is so small and we are in a 2BR. There are probably so few that it won't be worth it, but I also want to do all I can to at least try. Thoughts?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Our documents state check in time is after 4:00 PM. You can check in at any time, but you may not get your unit until after 4 PM. I've never heard of anyone requesting early occupancy. I suspect it is the same as late occupancy....not available.

 

[crisi]

I am of the opinion that it never hurts to ask - as long as you don't determine that asking is a guarentee of getting - and it sounds like you definately know that.

 

[las3888]

I am of the opinion that it never hurts to ask - as long as you don't determine that asking is a guarentee of getting - and it sounds like you definately know that.

Thanks for the post...you're right, it never hurts to ask. I did end up calling. The reservation agent did put a comment in our reservation. I doubt it will do much, but at least I feel like I tried!!!

 

[thepops]

You could certainly check in at the resort, but your room might not be available. Just leave your bags with the bellhop and go off and do what you'd like for the day and they'll call you when your room is ready I believe. That way you're all set when you come back.

 

[JaxFLBear]

You could certainly check in at the resort, but your room might not be available. Just leave your bags with the bellhop and go off and do what you'd like for the day and they'll call you when your room is ready I believe. That way you're all set when you come back.

If your room is not ready when you checkin, they will give you the room key and a card with a phone number to call to check status. If they room is ready, they will give you the room number. When you get to the room, call bell services if you left you luggage with them and they will bring it up to the room.

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

Last time we requested early check in, we got our room at 6:00 PM

 

[CarolMN]

If you really need to check in early (as opposed to "we'd like to, but don't want to pay for it"), make a reservation for the night before. Tell MS to note that you won't be arriving until (whenever you expect to arrive). That's the only way to be sure.

 

[Dean]

I've gotten my room as early as 7 am and often at noon to 2 pm. If you don't have any other requests it is easier to do so.

 

[castleri]

My daughter checked into BCV today at 6am and was abel to be in the room at 1:30 which worked fine for her. She was at the Yacht Club for a conference and then transferred for the extra night to the BCV. As others have said you can "check in" early any time - you just may not be able to "get into" your room until later in the day.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I know in the recent past we didn't make any requests at all and were in our BCV one bedroom at 1:30.

 

[Caskbill]

You can check-in anytime and as mentioned they will give you keys and all the other information you normally get.

If a room is ready you'll get it. If not, you call later to find out what room was assigned.

As to getting into the room early or not, it all depends on a number of other factors. Here are my thoughts on what probably impacts room availability.

1. Was the resort full the previous night or were some rooms 'empty' and thus available immediately.

2. What day are you checking in? If it's a Sunday that's the heaviest check-in day of the week, so depending on what time of day you actually get there, any available rooms may already have been taken by people ahead of you.

3. What type of villa are you getting? Obviously the cleaning time varies considerably between a Studio and a Grand Villa. Thus certain types of rooms may not be available until later.

4. What people are checking out? Pure speculation on my part, but someone with an early flight may be checking out early and the room can be made available sooner. Whereas a large family in a 2-b/r may need to take the full 11:00 am checkout before they're ready to go. So if you're getting a Studio it might be possible it would be ready sooner than someone else getting a 2-b/r villa.

5. What type of 'requests' do you already have. Smoking-Non-Smoking is no longer an issue, but if you want ground floor, upper floor, a certain section of the resort, or a specific view, then these all affect the number of units that might be available earlier than others.

Just some thoughts....

Personal experiences, we've gotten rooms as early as 7:00 am, and as late as 6:00 pm. (meaning we were there by 4:00 but the room wasn't ready). The latest we've ever checked in was about 11:00 pm because that's when we finally got to the resort, and of course the room was ready.... , but, it was probably the least desirable location in the whole resort.

 

[CarolA]

I think the bigger issue is what are the OTHER requests.

I have gotten early check in quite often. My requests... used to be "no smoking" now it's NOTHING! It's easier to find me an acceptable room LOL!

 

[bnlbebes]

As other posters have said...

I would think that your chances of getting an "early check-in" would depend on your other requests. The more requests, the lesser likelihood of getting them all. Make only one request, and that should be the only you are most likely to get.

With that being said...

Aren't the rooms at DVC resorts pre-assigned? I know that it is often not possible to change your assigned room at check-in due to this. So, how would they be able to allow for early check-in if the occupants of your pre-assigned room have not vacated the room in time?

 

[Dean]

Aren't the rooms at DVC resorts pre-assigned? I know that it is often not possible to change your assigned room at check-in due to this. So, how would they be able to allow for early check-in if the occupants of your pre-assigned room have not vacated the room in time?

Some are and some are not, but even if your's was, they can always change it if something's available. As noted above, you can check in early (often as early as 4:30-5:30 AM) but the question is actually getting the room number and getting in to the room. Even when they tried to preassign all of the rooms, they changed them all the time, you know, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. That's why if you arrive late, you tend to not get as good a room.

 

[MinnieGi]

I would agree with other posters that any other requests for specific views, floors, etc. will impede getting an early check-in. The only time our room has not been ready early was when we requested specifically the Grandstand section of SSR. We checked in at 2:00, but the room was not ready till 3:30. Still not bad and I was glad I physically went to the desk at 2:00 b/c when I was passing by around 3:30 to go to our room the reception area had a monster of a line!!

Many trips we are arriving at our resort by 1:30 and a room is available but we are not picky and only used to request non-smoking and now we don't even have to request that!

 

[DVC 1998]

Some one has a sense of humor.

 

[las3888]

Good point about requests...I have zero. I am hoping that helps!

Does anybody know if any member of our party can check in or does it have to be the person on the ressie or spouse? We will be in a 2BR with in-laws who are not DVC members . I wonder if they get there first, can they check in or do they have to wait for us? When I made the reservation I am pretty sure I gave all of their names...??

 

[CarolAnnC]

Good point about requests...I have zero. I am hoping that helps!

Does anybody know if any member of our party can check in or does it have to be the person on the ressie or spouse? We will be in a 2BR with in-laws who are not DVC members . I wonder if they get there first, can they check in or do they have to wait for us? When I made the reservation I am pretty sure I gave all of their names...??

If their name is on the reservation, then they can check in. Keep in mind that they will then need to use their credit card to put down on the room, and pay for the Dining Plan for everyone if you have reserved that too.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I've gotten my room as early as 7 am and often at noon to 2 pm. If you don't have any other requests it is easier to do so.

Dean, have you been able to get in early since they started offering Magical Express? We have discovered that already available rooms are usually given to folks coming in on ME. It's just a little frustrating to check in and be told "nothing is available right now", only to hear the folks checking in from the ME bus who filled the lobby just as I got there, being told their rooms were ready.