Just for your info......

[Gigashadow]

Our Christmas at Disney World (OKW 2 Bdrm) was fun filled and exiciting as all of our stays with DVC. But, just a little warning, as always my wife calls in the reservations for all our trips. This trip we were seperated for the trip down to Florida (Grandmother will not fly and I wont train/car) so thankfully even with thier 2 hr departure delay from Amtrak Penn Station we both arrived in Florida close enough for me to pick them up at Amtrak Orlando. The plan was if either party was delayed, we would just meet at OKW and check in. When we arrived at OKW, I went in alone to check in and was told that my wife needed to check us in and since I wasn't on the ressie I could not do it. I looked at the CM and said "I have my DVC card with the same contract number as my wife" He said that it didn't matter, for security reasons I could not check in if not on the ressie itself. He said it protects me from my wife or myself that might be going through a seperation or problems and try to make resservations we both didn't want. Dumbfounded (not pissed at the CM, but at this questionable policy) I proceed to tell the CM that as a legal 1/2 owner on my deeded 480 point ownership if I was alone to check in "I would check in alone if I needed to" and that anything my wife or myself does that we don't agree on was legally our problem since we both are owners on the VWL deed. Needless to say, I went and got my wife to check in. So for now makke sure you tell them when you call in your ressie everyone who can check in.

I would recommend and I am writing a letter myself to claify and have this policy changed. I will include this inconvienence that could have been a problem. My main point will be that reguardless of who makes the resservation, any and every owner on the contract that made the resservation with co-owned points should always be on the resservation without having to specifically ask for it. Anyone else added to the resservation would stay as was before - you would need to add them yourselfves.

I dont question the CM's actions if he was following the rules and guidelines. The last time my family used Amtrak, they were delayed in SC due to a train ahead that derailed for almost 24hrs. I just dont feel a need to have to be added to a ressie or have rules bent for something that I 1/2 own with my wife or vice versa.

 

[Sammie]

I am surprised when MS made the reservation your wife was not asked for the names of the other family members.

That is usally the situation and takes care of any check in problems.

 

[Gigashadow]

Of all 5 DVC stays so far we have never gave any names or been asked for any. Like I said my wife made them all and was the only one on the confirmation letters. I always thought it was mandatory to "add" who ever was going to be in another room you reserved or if other family/friends were to be allowed to check in and be handed room keys. I always check my family in without my wife by my side.

 

[DVC-Don]

He said that it didn't matter, for security reasons I could not check in if not on the ressie itself. He said it protects me from my wife or myself that might be going through a seperation or problems and try to make resservations we both didn't want.

Simular rule here at our office. We have people going through divorce or separations calling or walking in all the time trying to cancel/make changes in the other parties insurance policies. We will only make changes for the first named insured.

 

[Deemarch]

Gigashadow....Wow! If I was a member of DVC when I was going through my divorce, I would have kissed the CM for this! Unfortunately, at this time in our world, it is to protect. I will just make sure that all of my guests are listed. Thanks for the info!

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Gigashadow
...(snip)......I would recommend and I am writing a letter myself to claify and have this policy changed. I will include this inconvienence that could have been a problem. My main point will be that reguardless of who makes the resservation, any and every owner on the contract that made the resservation with co-owned points should always be on the resservation without having to specifically ask for it. Anyone else added to the resservation would stay as was before - you would need to add them yourselfves........(snip)..... I just dont feel a need to have to be added to a ressie or have rules bent for something that I 1/2 own with my wife or vice versa.

While I understand your frustration, I agree with the current policy. For me, it's a matter of safety, and armed with the proper knowledge, members can easily avoid the problem you encountered. Rather than change the policy, I think that at the time the reservatiopn is made, MS should always ask for the names of all the adults who will be occupying the unit . Since not everyone knows that when the reservation is initially made, MS should explain that anyone whose name is not on the reservation (including a co owner or spouse) would not be allowed to check in without the person whose name is on the reservation. I know from personal experience that you can call back to add or change names on the reservation after it has been made.

I'm sure that your wife would have put your name on the reservation had she known about the policy. Obviously, if your name had been on the reservation, you would not have had any trouble at all.

You sound like an honest person with good intentions and a loving family - too bad we can't say the same about everyone. I'd rather not undo a policy that was implemented for our safety, especially since it is relatively easy to avoid any check in problems once we are aware of the policy.

FWIW, it may be that women look at this issue differently than men. I know I am always much more concerned about personal safety than my husband is - and for good reason.

YMMV. Best wishes.

 

[wvalx]

Originally posted by Sammie
I am surprised when MS made the reservation your wife was not asked for the names of the other family members.

That is usally the situation and takes care of any check in problems.

I just made a ressie yesterday and they only asked the ages of my kids. I think I'll have to call back and "add" my wife to the ressie.

BTW, I can't imagine a separated or divorced person showing up to check in on the other's reservation, that would be crazy. Now a divorced or separated person trying to change a contract, that I could see happening!

 

[Gigashadow]

Insurance and property ownership have are difficult to fully compare when it comes to the laws that govern each. For instance, a joint ownership on a bank account allows either member to basically wipe out an account without closing it and the bank has no legal responsibility for either parites actions - it is up to seperating owners to file for the account to be "held" until a court order says otherwise. If it had a primary owner, then it would be up to the owner to remove the secondary person's name from the account - once again the bank holds no liability for the actions of the secondary member unless after that person was removed. Same holds for credit cards. Property such as Homes, Cars, Boats are direct ownership whom ever is listed on such properties - any "owner" listed could do anything they want just short of selling said properties. They could paint it pink, remove or add items , ete, ete. If there is a problem with the owners, then they must legally submit with the courts or agreements made by both parties with lawyers to stop any further actions.

The DVC is a Timeshare for ownership purposes and thus real estate. Any name listed on ownership is just that, an owner of that contract. So seperated, divorced or in love to the end - they are equal owners until that contract is sold or re-written in any legal manner.

And yes, if the agreement is written as such, then I will have her "add" LOL - me to the reservations every time as I would suggest to everyone!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Wow, thanks for the heads up! I guess I will add my DH to our reservations

 

[RobDoc]

This topic has been discussed here many times.

The resort will only provide room keys to the name/names on the reservation. This has been policy for years now. They have recently started asking for a photo ID in addition.

Any time someone other than the member who made the reservation will be checking in, they MUST be on the reservation or they will not be given room keys. This has usually been mentioned when guests other than the owner were arriving before the owner and staying in the same room, but also applies for anyone wishing to check-in and receive a room key- even another member-spouse.

You certainly don't have to add any names to an existing reservation ... UNLESS you want to allow someone else to be able to go thru the check in process.

Enjoy!

 

[sdamico71]

I appreciate the warning! My husband has been making our reservations as of late, but I typically check us in. Going forward, I will make sure that he indicates both names on the reservation so that either of us can check us in.

 

[Cinderelli]

I'm glad to know this, too. I always make all of our reservations and I'm sure I have never given all of our names to MS (now CRO is another story). I make the ressies, but DH checks us in. We've never had a problem before, but will keep this in mind for our next stay.

I can see how this could have a negative impact on the situation described by the OP (if the family had been delayed). MS should definately be asking for everyone's name and I don't believe they are.

 

[Tagrel]

Wow - this is going to cause quite a stir when all the friends/family/renters whose names were dropped from upcoming reservations (There were a couple other threads about that) start rolling around. Sure hope they all get the right names back on those reservations!

Thanks for the heads up. I've never added my wife to the reservation - teach me to assume!

 

[RellingTwin]

Many years ago I was a desk clerk at a small beach front hotel. I checked in a family (a mom and 2 small children). A few hours later the husband shows up and explains that he THOUGHT he had to work, and by the time he found out he could go on the family weekend trip, his family was already on the way. I called the room, but mom and kids were not there. He asked for a key, which I did not give him. I explained I must have the permission of the person on the resistration. He was angry, but left to find his family on the beach.
I found out later:
He watched the family on the beach, and watched them return to the room. He then waited until the mom went to the soda machine and the kids were alone in the room, then knocked on the door and snatched the kids! Thankfully...he was caught a few hours later on the road heading out of state.
Yes, they were going though a divorce and a custody fight was in full swing! When one of the policeman (who I happen to know) came to interview me for the report, he told me the man's plan was to get a key and grab the kids while mom was sleeping, thereby giving him several hours headstart, before mom even knew the kids were gone.
Thankfully this situation ended happily(no one hurt) but it could have easliy ended very badly.
I worked in the Hotel bussiness for about 10 years after that and often told new employess of this event to drive home the point that we must be careful of who we give keys to.
I know it can be a pain in the neck when you travel seperatly, but the days of handing out keys to a room without permission are over.
I also have a story of a teen who called and cancelled the family reservation (on 4th of July weekend) so that they would have to go home. He did not want to be apart from his girlfriend!After that we added a "code word" without which the reservation could not be cancelled.

 

[colleen costello]

Thanks for reminding us of this policy. I was made aware of it last year, by a thoughtful CM who told me to add my parents' names to the reservation, in case I was delayed in travel.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We always have all people staying named on the ressie, so anyone can check in. A couple years ago, an 18 YO guest arrived early in the morning, and we were not getting in until after noon. They checked him into the room, and we were surprised to find him there waiting for us when we wen to check in. A nice surprise!

 

[Figment2]

I have had problems at OKW with guests checking in even when their name was on the reservation and they had a copy of the confirm in hand. The desk clerk told me to call OKW directly about a week before to make sure the notation is made that guests can check in first.

This only seems to happen at OKW. Never had a problem at BWV (which is actually my home).

C.

 

[wdwstar]

Is this a new, recent policy? we were there this past aug and we brought dsis and her family with us, so we needed two studios,
i made all ressies, but for the second studio i put dh name on it, keep in mind we switched from bvc to bwv to wlv to , bwv to bcv,
yes this was a last minute trip, we had to take what was available, even switched the ressies while down there so we didnt have to move again. anyways when i checked in, i also checked in for dh while dh was getting the luggage. why i didnt put the room into dsis, because she wasnt planning on putting down a cc on the room, so, we thought it was just easier to make the ressies in our names, instead having dsis be bothered by the checking in, but if this is a new policy ill have to call and add dh on our current ressies and all ressies. thank you

 

[marley]

Even though there is a policy, it could just depend on the CM as well.

We were in Florida all last week and checked into a Holiday Inn, the Hard Rock Hotel, and the Wilderness Lodge. Every reservation was in my name and my husband checked in every time. I did, however, hand him my confirmation letter as we got to each hotel so maybe that made a difference.

I agree though with the policy to only let those who have made the reservation (and anyone listed on it) be the only ones that can check in. It would have been a nuisance (I was busy rearranging the car every time), but I would have gladly gotten out of the car to check-in to insure my familiy's safety.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I just made a ressie yesterday and they only asked the ages of my kids. I think I'll have to call back and "add" my wife to the ressie.

I just recently made an OKW ressie myself. They only asked how many were in the party and what portion was adult and/or children. They didn't ask for any names or ages. This was about a week or two ago. I suppose I should call back and have my husband's name put on the ressie too, just in case. Thanks for the head's up.