Late check in = lousy room?

[Desnik]

We will be arriving in Orlando about 9:30pm on Sun Nov 12th. We are using DME and I expect to arrive at SSR around 10:30pm. I have never checked in so late. Will we get a lousy room location or not be able to have our requests made? The only request I made was non smoking and close to main bldg. We usually check in early and have our pick of at least 2 room locations.

 

[CarolA]

One of the best rooms I have ever had at OKW was for a midnight check in.....

 

[Dizma]

My experience has been late check in=room assignment suicide. We won't be doing that again. It was a holiday weekend @OKW.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

It is my understanding that when you arrive they pull up the rooms that are ready at that time and give you one of them. Rooms are not pre-assigned. So that means all the people arriving all day may have snagged all the rooms close to the main building. On the flip side it seems just as likely that a great room might not come open until evening. I seems like you would have a 50/50 chance. Just remember, a bad room at Saratoga Springs is better than a great room at home!

 

[DisneyMomJen]

We checked in at 5:00 at the BCV this past August in a 2 bedroom. This was for a 10 night stay. We were assigned to what I considered a horrible road view. I asked to be switched, they contacted a manager who gave us the option of 3rd floor last room by the parking lot. That is what we took. I asked if we got such bad rooms since we checked in late. The answer was no, they are all booked. Based on this experience, I would definitely try to check in earlier.

 

[tmt martins]

We checked in on a SUN at 10:00am and got a bad location so I really don't think it matters.And our bad location was not that bad just a bit of a walk to the main building and pools.

 

[OKW Lover]

I've never found any really lousy rooms at DVC. But realistically, if you're not getting there until late there isn't anything you can do to change your odds. Just be sure your preferences are listed on your reservations.

 

[Sox_Fan]

Last week we checked into SSR at about 3:30. We were given a choice of the rooms available and ready at that time (there were three - one in The Springs and two in The Paddocks; I chose The Springs). My impression is that you are offered a bigger selection if you arrive at a time when a lot of rooms are ready and relatively few people have checked in yet. When this is probably varies daily, but I would guess early afternoon is usually best. What I don't know (and they don't tell you) is how many rooms are empty but not ready yet - again, this probably varies daily as well.

Assuming this to be true, keep in mind that the last room to be cleaned may be the best in the lot, and you could end up with it if others check in before it is ready - you just never know.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We just got back yesterday and were never offered our choice of rooms - stayed 5 nights at OKW, 4 at Boardwalk and 4 at Saratoga. Checked in at OKW at 2 and our room was ready, 1:30pm at Boardwalk and room was not ready but it was by 4pm and checked in at noon at SSR and no room until 7pm when they put us somewhere else b/c they didn't get the 'engineering' issues in the original room fixed - and we had been hanging around for hours waiting at this point. Had only 1 request for each also and that was for a no smoking 2 bedroom!

From our experience I assumed they assigned the rooms ahead of time?

 

[CarolA]

It is my understanding that when you arrive they pull up the rooms that are ready at that time and give you one of them. Rooms are not pre-assigned. So that means all the people arriving all day may have snagged all the rooms close to the main building. On the flip side it seems just as likely that a great room might not come open until evening. I seems like you would have a 50/50 chance. Just remember, a bad room at Saratoga Springs is better than a great room at home!

I am sorry, but I called a DVC Hotel manager on this last week when I checked in at 10:30 and my room was not ready at FIVE! It's not exactly true he finally admitted, but he would NOT tell me what they were doing back there. (He did find me a room since I wanted to know how on the "room ready" theory there had been NO non-smoking studios ready in that amount of time!!!! Nonsmoking was my only request. I was nice to him, but I pointed out that it was MY understanding that rooms were NOT preassigned and were assigned as we arrived... He indicated something like "well there is some adjustment as you arrive" ) There is apparently some "preassignment" with the ability to move. The manager was VERY vague on this whole mess!

(And my room at OKW at midnight was the CLOSEST I have ever been to the main pool and community building)

 

[doodlebugs]

I knew that we would be checking in to BWV around 7pm last Sunday and wondered how this might effect our room assignment being during the busy Food & Wine season. I had made three notes on my reservations in regards to room preference. Called BWV the day before check in and noted it would be 7 pm or later before we checked in. We did check in around 7pm and to my complete surprise, we got the perfect room---everything that I had noted. Was not given a choice of rooms at check-in. Nothing was even said, but boy did I get the room I wanted! It was wonderful and I can't wait to return! Hope the same works out for you.

 

[Simba's Mom]

One of the nicest rooms I got at BCV was when I checked in latest, almost 8:00 pm. It met all my requests. However, unlike when I've checked in early in the day, I wasn't given a choice of rooms, I was just told "Here's your room".

 

[Pinnie]

We have recieved the dreaded HANDICAPPED access studios when we arrive late at BCVs in December. I always can guess my room number.

This year, again, our flight isn't arriving at MCO until after 11:00 pm. and by the time we get our luggage, rental car, etc. I am sure we will be tubless this trip, too.

pinnie

 

[DisDaydreamer]

For us, arriving after 5 pm seems like a total waste of points. We think it is better to stay in a moderate hotel room and then hit DVC early the next morning with our preferences made clear. It is always a hit or miss situation, but I think in general if you have any preferences you need to get there early to give yourself the best chance of getting your preferences. I often see people posting the "we were not given a room choice at check-in" I have to believe it is because you didn't ask what all was available or state any preferences. When you check in the CM DOES have the vision of seeing what will BECOME available and we have on a number occasions opted to not take an available room and to wait for another room that better meets our preferences, but that opportunity comes with getting there early. Good luck to all...

 

[LVSWL]

We have recieved the dreaded HANDICAPPED access studios when we arrive late at BCVs in December. I always can guess my room number.

This year, again, our flight isn't arriving at MCO until after 11:00 pm. and by the time we get our luggage, rental car, etc. I am sure we will be tubless this trip, too.

pinnie

We also received the HA room at VWL with a 11:30 check-in. Our only request was non-smoking. It was a nightmare for 2 days until we could move to our new reservation!

 

[princessesrule4]

For us - yes :

 

[dvc guy]

Room assignments seem to be a mystery that no one at Disney will go on the record with.

We have checked in to OKW at various times of the day, never after 4 PM and I always request non smoking top floor. I always ask the Cm before they print out all the information if I am getting what I asked for. At that point and I have been given choices a few times.

Along with my request I tell the CM that I do NOT need to be near HH. I think this helps a lot in getting what I need.

If Disney confirmed room requests what would we talk about.

 

[dumbo71]

With all due respect here and really treading lightly with this: When you arrive late, you will get, in most cases, the leftovers. I see nothing wrong with this either. What should they do hold a good room for you???? In any business you serve in the order they arrive.

The early bird always gets the worm and the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Add those together and you can see why the early arrivers get the better pick of rooms. Someone arriving early that doesn't like there room choice will have far more options to be moved. Late arrivers simply have what is left. If you CHOOSE to arrive late then that is the chance you take.

Life is full of choices and you DO have a choice to arrive early. You could stay off site the first night and check in early the next day. If you don't like that idea I say hope for the best. What destination are you flying from that you cannot get in ealrier? California? WA?

Good luck and I hope you get the exact room you want. I just wouldn't bet on it.

disclaimer: arriving early is not a guarantee of a "good" room. Quite frankly any room at WDW is just fine by me.

 

[twotoohappy]

We also received the HA room at VWL with a 11:30 check-in. Our only request was non-smoking. It was a nightmare for 2 days until we could move to our new reservation!

better than the dumpster view that I got



When I'm at BWV (the last 3 trips I've made and all BW views) I've gotten my requests met each time. One check-in was 11pm, one 7am and one 2pm.

My requests.....
Near Jellyrolls
Next to Jellyrolls
As close as possible to Jellyrolls

The room assigner must know me by now

 

[Rozzie]

Life is full of choices and you DO have a choice to arrive early. You could stay off site the first night and check in early the next day..

We have learned that this is the only way to possibly getting room requests. We stay offsite the first night, and check in waaaaaaay early. By 8am.

This trip I am checking in super early, since it is a Sunday. I plan to be at SSR (we will be at GF for Fri/Sat night) by 6am to give myself a fighting chance for my Congress Park, 2nd floor, non-smoking, non-accessible, view of Fulton's.

Sure I may not get it, but as long as I am in Congress Park, I'll live. I understand the circumstances may not always allow early check in, but we have made adjustments in our travel to accomodate my desire (DH calls obsession with) for a particular area.

Sending good vibes to the OP on her room selection. I do agree, anywhere in the world is better than at home!