Late arrival strategy to run by you

[JoEllen]

We always arrive after 6 pm for check in to a 1 BDRM at OKW which often means we don't have location requests met. Wondered if any of you in similar circumstances have just booked a studio the first night and checked in bright and early the next day for your 1 bdrm.

DH doesn't want to stay in a hotel the first night but is agreeable to moving within OKW. Logic suggests that we might have a better chance with location requests as well as save a few points that first evening!

Have any of you fellow late-comers tried this?

 

[spiceycat]

I tried it last year - none of my request were meet at either time - now I fax - try that method and give them a phone number to call you if they have a problem. then when you check in make sure you bring your fax with you - so far I have not a problem (didn't even have to show the fax) to get the building I want.

Sorry folks but if the room controllers at OKW would stick to requests made at the 11th month having priopity like they say they would - we would not have a problem - but they don't. Until they do - I fax.

if you are asking for a particular room - you might still have a problem alot of DVC stay for a while - several weeks and even months - so it is best to ask for view and/or a location

view - water, golf, woods - location - near a bus stop, pool or HH. but I am sure that you know that.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for that question, JoEllen. We've been wondering about the same strategy. However, when we tried it at HH in March, we only got 1 of our 2 requests met for the 1 BR by checking in at 9:30 the next morning. But we're still thinking of trying it at OKW and at HH again next year. Glad to see someone else was wondering about doing the same thing.

 

[RobDoc]

You may want to refer the post in <a href="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=338559&perpage=15&pagenumber=1">this thread </a>by DVC Nut (2nd from the bottom). He is a MS CM and has been a room assignor in the past.

I always just make requests when the reservation is made and have usually had them met- regardless when I arrive. There have been a few occasion when requests, other than non-smoking, were not met, but that has happened fewer than 5 times in almost 50 DVC trips.

Make sure to prioritze your requests and make them as generic as possible (if you request a specific room or building you are less likely to get the request). I'd suggest requesting smoking preference, type of view and floor (if that is important to you).

There is nothing wrong with your plan to try a studio the first night, but it may not enhance your chances of getting all requests made either- depending on the day of the week and occupancy level or the resort itself when you will arrive.

Good Luck!

 

[DebbieB]

We arrived on a Friday night around 6:00pm last Month (May 9th), OKW 1 bedroom. I was worried about our requests too. I sent a short fax on Monday afternoon, said we would not arrive until after 6:00pm and asked if a room meeting our requests could be held. We checked in about 6:15pm and got everything requested, the room was pre-assigned. It probably helped that it was a Friday night, since alot of members checkout on Friday.

 

[Lisa F]

I would think that the inconvenience of having to check out and then back in again (losing a whole day having to check out by 11am and possibly not having your room ready for you until 4pm) would pretty much negate any benefit of having your requests met. Not that we've ever had ours met, so I wouldn't know, but overall it doesn't seem worth the hassle (unless they are medical requests, in which case they should be given priority anyway).

Lisa

 

[Pa@okw95]

When it comes to OKW it really doesn't matter where you stay, they are all great. This is not BWV or BCV where the location may make a difference at OKW it does not . I would not worry about this at all. I have made 15 trips to OKW and never asked for a location-if you want non-smoking make sure you stress that other than that let the chips fall where they may--I have always been happy with my location there.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
You may want to refer the post in <a href="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=338559&perpage=15&pagenumber=1">this thread </a>by DVC Nut (2nd from the bottom). He is a MS CM and has been a room assignor in the past.

I always just make requests when the reservation is made and have usually had them met- regardless when I arrive. There have been a few occasion when requests, other than non-smoking, were not met, but that has happened fewer than 5 times in almost 50 DVC trips.

Make sure to prioritze your requests and make them as generic as possible (if you request a specific room or building you are less likely to get the request). I'd suggest requesting smoking preference, type of view and floor (if that is important to you).

There is nothing wrong with your plan to try a studio the first night, but it may not enhance your chances of getting all requests made either- depending on the day of the week and occupancy level or the resort itself when you will arrive.

Good Luck!

I do the same Doc and never (except one time) have not had my requests met. Personally, I think faxing is a waste of time, your reservation will have the same info on it from MS and why be redundant?

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
When it comes to OKW it really doesn't matter where you stay, they are all great. This is not BWV or BCV where the location may make a difference at OKW it does not . I would not worry about this at all. I have made 15 trips to OKW and never asked for a location-if you want non-smoking make sure you stress that other than that let the chips fall where they may--I have always been happy with my location there.

Some are better than others. We stayed in building 28 once and our room was surrounded by trees and brush, which made the room dark. We enjoy sitting out and watch the ducks and birds walking around, there were very few there. I noticed 29 was even worse, the trees were right up to some of the porches. Both are on a fairway, so I assume that they do this to protect the buildings from ball hits. So after that I requested water view, there are usually fewer trees around those buildings and lots of nature. We then had great water views in 31 and 43 the last 2 years. We spend more time relaxing in the room when staying at OKW so having a nice quiet peaceful location is important to us.

 

[JoEllen]

Thanks everyone for the good suggestions and for the link, Doc.

There are three buildings that DH really likes (because of the golf views!) and that is our only request when we book at OKW. We have been unable to get any our our three bldg choices for the past two years. We may try the studio strategy for our next trip and see what happens.

Your right Lisa F, the inconvenience of the move may outweigh the bldg choice!

 

[Simba's Mom]

JoEllen, which 3 buildings is it that DH likes for golf views? We've always requested a golf view (DH thinks vacation and golf are one and the same-he loves golf), but so far we haven't been very impressed with the golf views we've gotten. Still love OKW, but would like better golf views.

 

[mickeys#1fan]

I'm with your DH on moving. But if you want to make it easier, just leave the bulk of your luggage at the bell stand, and have them bring it up to your 1 BR. Then bring a bag with only the things you'll need for the one night in the Studio. Moving is alot more hassle free that way.