ME users getting room assignments before check-in?

[CarolAnnC]

I am so glad it turned out well for you Lisa! I am sure the holiday weekend must have played a part, but 8 pm is still way beyond reasonable. Glad it turned out to be a nice room for you too!

 

[mello]

Because someone using ME is going to spend more money at Disney restaurants, stores, etc.. If you have your own car you are much more likely to eat offsite, visit other Orlando attractions, buy your sundries at Wal-Mart, etc..

Giving additional perks to visitors who spend more at Disney is nothing new. Take EMH's - Disney offers them to Disney resort guests as a perk in exchange for spending more money at Disney. This would be the same sort of thing.

Yup.

 

[jekjones1558]

Since I seem to have opened a can of worms, I just want to clarify that I was only told that ASMu is using this pilot system and that it had been tried at Yacht Club, but with not such good results. At no time did I say that this system was being used or has been used at any DVC resort. Perhaps it has been done with DVC, but I certainly did not hear one way or the other.
Okay, let the discussion continue, but just wanted to clarify and apologize in case my original post was misleading in some way.

 

[zulaya]

Jean, you didn't open a can of worms. There were a couple of comments on your thread by other posters about the subject.

That's why I posed the subject of this thread in the form of a question.

 

[keishashadow]

only used ME once, also sunday before Columbus Day '06; was the latest we've gotten a room assigned

just wondering, in a shameful sort of way ; in theory if you just sign up for the "free" ME (without intending to utilize)...

would you go to the head of the pack or would you have to actually ride the bus?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am going in April staying at BWV, using ME. I will post how soon we get into our room. OUr flight doesn't arrive to MCO until 4:30p. So by the time we get there, it will probably be 5:30p or so. I don't know if by that time we would have normally gotten in our room or not. But I will post!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'll be using ME for my F&G show stay. In the past, DM and DSis used ME and DH and I arrived in a rental car. They were about 50 -50 for getting into a room on arrival, about the same per cent as we. These times have usually been before noon.

Bobbi

 

[AKV707]

DW and I will be using ME for the first time on our July trip. We will be in a 1 br value at AKV. I have requested savanna view. I will be curious to see if we get it.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I have nothing against this new practice, if in fact it has been implemented. It looks like Disney is just trying to be more efficient.

DVC Mike,

You and I are in a minority here. I think it's a matter of how people are interpreting the pilot procedure.

If, as some people here seem to saying, all clean rooms are set aside for DME passengers only (and everyone else has to wait), then I could see the objection. If it means that DME passengers are given rooms that were originally pre-assigned to someone else, then it would be quite unfair. But that's not how I read the description of the pilot.

As I read it, it's just a matter of starting the check-in process while DME passengers are still on the motorcoach, with no other changes to how rooms are assigned. If that's the case, then this is simply a matter of making the check-in process faster and more efficient.

 

[CarolAnnC]

DVC Mike,

You and I are in a minority here. I think it's a matter of how people are interpreting the pilot procedure.

If, as some people here seem to saying, all clean rooms are set aside for DME passengers only (and everyone else has to wait), then I could see the objection. If it means that DME passengers are given rooms that were originally pre-assigned to someone else, then it would be quite unfair. But that's not how I read the description of the pilot.

As I read it, it's just a matter of starting the check-in process while DME passengers are still on the motorcoach, with no other changes to how rooms are assigned. If that's the case, then this is simply a matter of making the check-in process faster and more efficient.

Oh I hope I was not confusing the issue here. I was not referring to the pilot procedure program apparently being tried out in some non DVC resorts, I was commenting on the Program being trialed at BWV in June 2006 which was exactly that ME passengers were being given the rooms ready and cleaned ahead of non ME resort guests. They were very clear that ME guests were being assigned the rooms that were ready ahead of everyone else and there was nothing to be done about it at that time. Once they arrived at the airport they would have the rooms assigned in anticipation of their arrival. But, guests already checked in waiting for villas would have to continue to wait. However, sounds like from some subsequent BWV guests that program may have been discontinued. I sure hope so.

 

[jekjones1558]

As I read it, it's just a matter of starting the check-in process while DME passengers are still on the motorcoach, with no other changes to how rooms are assigned. If that's the case, then this is simply a matter of making the check-in process faster and more efficient.

This was exactly my understanding of the pilot project as well.

 

[Chuck S]

But what does "starting the check-in process" mean, exactly? As we drive down, check-in usually consists of pulling up the reservation in the computer, checking room availability, then verifying ID and leaving a credit card, printing room keys and then actualy receiving your room number, if ready, or waiting for the room to be made ready. All of about 5 minutes.

Since it is doubtful that they are taking credit card info and fully verifying ID at the airport; that leaves, pulling up the persons reservation, (which takes seconds in real time) and assigning a room that is ready, thus again, possibly taking a ready room away from someone physically standing and waiting in the check-in line who did not arrive via ME.

Unless there is some super secret difficult check-in process that we don't know about.

Again, I don't have a problem with the system, I just think they should level the playing field and make it available to all in route DVC members.

 

[Kurby]

Originally Posted by shazen
Because someone using ME is going to spend more money at Disney restaurants, stores, etc.. If you have your own car you are much more likely to eat offsite, visit other Orlando attractions, buy your sundries at Wal-Mart, etc..

Giving additional perks to visitors who spend more at Disney is nothing new. Take EMH's - Disney offers them to Disney resort guests as a perk in exchange for spending more money at Disney. This would be the same sort of thing.


Yup.

sorry that`s wrong

just because you may or may not leave shouldn't have any barring on anything - we`ve driven down the last 5 years and have never once left the property once we checked in.

plus the fact that we have driven down instead of flying has actually made us spend more because we ``have lots of room`` to bring stuff home. when we were flying we were very aware how much room we had in our luggage and would pass on stuff for that reason.


EMH is is a perk of going to the right park on the right day - if you choose to go to MK and it`s not EMH you`re not angry since you know ahead of time it isn`t happening there that day.


``As I read it, it's just a matter of starting the check-in process while DME passengers are still on the motorcoach, with no other changes to how rooms are assigned. If that's the case, then this is simply a matter of making the check-in process faster and more efficient.``

have to disagree with this too - if that was the case then the person who`s room wasn`t ready would have been given a different room instead of having to wait hours to get the one that was dirty.

 

[squirrlygirl]

only used ME once, also sunday before Columbus Day '06; was the latest we've gotten a room assigned

just wondering, in a shameful sort of way ; in theory if you just sign up for the "free" ME (without intending to utilize)...

would you go to the head of the pack or would you have to actually ride the bus?

I didn't catch when this may or may not have started, but in Sept. we were signed up for magical express, and ended up renting a car at the last minute. We did not have a room assigned when we checked in--we were given our choice of 3 rooms that were ready. So, if this practice was in place, I vote for actually ride the bus

As for level playing field, I think it is level. If you want the "perk", ride the bus. That is available to everyone. Just like getting my luggage transported for me. If I want it done, ride the bus.

But I suspect my opinion is in the minority here.
I also love spinach, broccoli, and exercise.

 

[Kurby]

But I suspect my opinion is in the minority here.
I also love spinach, broccoli, and exercise.

oh well that says it all

 

[LVSWL]

Because someone using ME is going to spend more money at Disney restaurants, stores, etc.. If you have your own car you are much more likely to eat offsite, visit other Orlando attractions, buy your sundries at Wal-Mart, etc..

Giving additional perks to visitors who spend more at Disney is nothing new. Take EMH's - Disney offers them to Disney resort guests as a perk in exchange for spending more money at Disney. This would be the same sort of thing.[/quo
???I don't think so. We drive to WDW, and usually park at our DVC resort and do not get back in our car until it is time to leave to go home, so this theory doesn't fly. Hey, maybe those of us who drive to WDW can call and say we are an hour away and would receive our room over others.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Well following that theory, they will next be keeping history files of our KTTW accounts and awarding perks based on how much we actually spend. We should get treated as kings and queens according to the money we leave there each trip!

 

[Brian Noble]

Don't look now, but Disney's Customer Relations Management software probably already knows how much you spend on a typical trip. Even if you don't route your charges through your room. If you put something on a credit card, and you've ever used that card for any booking where you also gave your address or phone number to Disney, well, they've got you.

 

[LVSWL]

Oh I hope I was not confusing the issue here. I was not referring to the pilot procedure program apparently being tried out in some non DVC resorts, I was commenting on the Program being trialed at BWV in June 2006 which was exactly that ME passengers were being given the rooms ready and cleaned ahead of non ME resort guests. They were very clear that ME guests were being assigned the rooms that were ready ahead of everyone else and there was nothing to be done about it at that time. Once they arrived at the airport they would have the rooms assigned in anticipation of their arrival. But, guests already checked in waiting for villas would have to continue to wait. However, sounds like from some subsequent BWV guests that program may have been discontinued. I sure hope so.

We checked in at 10am in June 07 and did not receive our room until 6pm that evening. We watched tons of people come in and receive keys and go straight to rooms during our time in the lobby. Like you, I hope that this practice has been discontinued!

 

[BroganMc]

Unless there is some super secret difficult check-in process that we don't know about.

This is what I'm wondering. Seriously, I'm harder to please since I need a certain type of HA room and have my preferences for location. I also have to go through the routine of which credit card is on file and getting X number of parking permits. I also get extra maps and activity schedules. And still, I'm at the counter maybe 10 minutes tops.

I just don't see how pre-checking in rooms helps the process along any. You still need to verify IDs, sign off on credit cards and give out room directions.

I'd be surprised if this pilot program works in practice. Seems like much ado about nothing.