Nightmare at OKW Hospitality House

[Nanajo1]

I think the photo ID is not just a Disney requirement but a government one. Any time I've checked into a hotel I've been asked for a photo ID.

 

[jarestel]

I guess I am surprised folks are so quick to dismiss an idea that would eliminate many of the problems that are always discussed in this forum:

1) Waiting in Line
2) Not knowing your room until you check in.

Agreed. It seems there are many who will stay up all night thinking of reasons why something won't work, but won't give a moment's thought to how an idea could be made to work. Remember, we were told for years by naysayers how on-line access to our DVC information wasn't workable, it was cost prohibitive, ya-da ya-da ya-da and whoa... we now have on-line access to some of our information with more enhancements on the way.

Thanks for taking the time to at least think about solving the problem. There may be some issues with implementing your ideas, but with a little thought, I'm sure DVC could come up with a better check-in and room assignment procedure. The positive changes in DVC over the past few years have been driven by members who suggest change, not by those who oppose it. ( AP discounts, dining plan, looking at on-line reservation data, member cruises etc... )

 

[bom_noite]

To begin with - I dont complain. Never have, Never will. Give me a room next to the road with a HC shower and dont let me in until 7 pm. I dont say a thing - is my nature.

But, these things bother lots of folks. My whole goal with my suggestion was not to satisfy me - but others. My first boss told me: "Feel free to complain if you see problems! But, when you complain include a suggestion or I refuse to listen."

If you dont like my previous suggestion - try this one:

Automated Kiosks. Upon reservation you supply a credit card number. Upon arrival, you insert the credit card (or your DVC membership card) in to the Kiosk and your cards are printed out automatically. In addition, a slip telling you when your room should be available would be printed.

This same system works for Theater/Sporting Event tickets and Plane Tickets. Why would it not work for hotel reservations?

 

[Chuck S]

Other problems included in knowing your room number in advance would be what seems to be "human nature." How many folks, knowing their room in advance, would say "why isn't room 7624 ready NOW, they may even try to move luggage in before the previous guest has vacated...some people are stupid, why create a security/privacy issue. A small percentage, no doubt, but still there are those....

How many threads would we see here..."Anybody have room 1234 for Decemeber 4 to Dec 8th...wanna trade...let's call MS."

"I don't care why that room went out of service, it is MY room and I want it." How many more meltdowns would we witness?

Oops, I pushed 7 day park hopper, I wanted 7 day base. How do I change that, my keys are already printed?

There are just not enough ways to "idiot-proof" and secure a kiosk type of system. At least not currently, as rooms would have to be able to be re-assigned up until you actually check-in.

The thought of a kiosk isn't in and of itself a bad suggeston, but there has to be a way to address the "what ifs." The system has to remain somewhat flexible.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I checked into VWL on 12/29, took ME, no problems at all, we landed at MCO at 9:30am, and were in our room by 11:00am!!! Just two people ahead of me at checkin , they said the room they had assigned me is not ready, but thre is another one ready? I didn't care so we took it! Our luggage arrived by 1:00pm! Perfect!

Now I have a question, why do you have to get your boarding passes from the concerige desk? I would think if everyone does this, it's taking CM's away from other things? I print the passes before we leave home. Or don't bother, and as long as you check in online, thats all they want? Am Imissing something?

 

[Chuck S]

I checked into VWL on 12/29, took ME, no problems at all, we landed at MCO at 9:30am, and were in our room by 11:00am!!! Just two people ahead of me at checkin , they said the room they had assigned me is not ready, but thre is another one ready? I didn't care so we took it! Our luggage arrived by 1:00pm! Perfect!

Now I have a question, why do you have to get your boarding passes from the concerige desk? I would think if everyone does this, it's taking CM's away from other things? I print the passes before we leave home. Or don't bother, and as long as you check in online, thats all they want? Am Imissing something?

I think it depends on the airline. If you have an airline that allows onsite luggage check-in the skycap/luggage desk will print your boarding passes. I think the luggage desk uses a system approved by TSA, if your airline doesn't allow onsite luggage check, then it uses the regular airlines website at the concierge desk.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I think it depends on the airline. If you have an airline that allows onsite luggage check-in the skycap/luggage desk will print your boarding passes. I think the luggage desk uses a system approved by TSA, if your airline doesn't allow onsite luggage check, then it uses the regular airlines website at the concierge desk.

Still not getting it!!! Prior to ME, could you check your bags in at the resort? Why wouldn't you just do it at the airport, check your bags and get your boarding passes at the airport? We always got our airlines tickets prior to leaving home, and if we didn't have boarding passes, just get them at the airport?

 

[Chuck S]

Still not getting it!!! Prior to ME, could you check your bags in at the resort? Why wouldn't you just do it at the airport, check your bags and get your boarding passes at the airport? We always got our airlines tickets prior to leaving home, and if we didn't have boarding passes, just get them at the airport?

I don't think you could check your bags at the resort prior to ME. As far as why check them at the resort and not at the airport...convenience. We rented a car, and it was much easier for us to check our bags at the resort than to hassle with the luggage and Mom's wheelchair at the airport after dropping off the car. We did have to get our boarding passes from the airport kiosk, though...Delta's system was being flaky and not allowing the skycap at the resort to print them.

But for us, the onsite luggage service is great!

 

[Nanajo1]

Southwest assigns a boarding letter to the passes which determines when you board the plane. The earlier you print the pass the more likely you are to get the early boarding letter. Southwest does not assign seats so the first on board get the first choice of seats. Southwest now lets you print your pass 24 hours before your flight. We only have carry-on luggage so having the boarding pass allows us to go directly to the security check-in.

 

[belle3]

I was there on 1/1/06 checking out.....no lines when I was there...no CM's either Had to shout "hello" a few imes to get someone from the back to come out to the front area. Guess that's what happens when you leave OKW at 4:30 am, though Checking in on Christmas around 12:00pm wasn't too bad, either...had a room available in a certain building, and it was OK with me....very crowded, and I did see some people waiting in line (about 20 or so)on NYEve when I went trying to find my lost cell phone (another long story, no happy ending, though... ) at the Lost and Found...

 

[Pluto 2]

you said you arrived on jan 1. a lot of people leave that day that are there for christmas and the new years. so yes i will imagine that a lot of people will arrive on that day since all them rooms got opened up. so it should be busier then normal but they knew all them people were coming so they should of had all the places open to checkin.

 

[living la vida mickey]

We checked in at OKW on 1/1. The line was terrible. We have been members since '93 and I 've NEVER seen anything like this. For most of the time, there were only two CMs working the desk. Toward the end, they added a third. The line extended into the library and was almost to the back wall by that time. We got there about 12:30 and it took us an hour and a half to get to the front of the line for check in and then we had to wait another 20 minutes for one of the CMs to be free because the guests who were checking in before us weren't happy with anything. What I noticed was that there were several people checking in that were monopolizing the CMs for over 2O minutes at a time. They weren't happy with anything offered to them. When we got to checkout, the room pre assigned to us wasn't ready but she offered us 4 other choices which were. We had a great studio that was non-smoking, non-handicapped and near a bus stop. We were checked in in about 6 minutes. We had a great vacation, beautiful weather and we were glad to be HOME. I think that there was a problem with the NY and Sunday thing, but I also think that people have gotten extremely picky in the last several years and seem to like to cause problems so that they can get special treatment. That's my take on it anyway.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

but I also think that people have gotten extremely picky in the last several years and seem to like to cause problems so that they can get special treatment. That's my take on it anyway


This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Until I read this board, all I would ask is for non-smoking. If you want a certain location, unit, etc, buy a fixed week, fixed unit timeshare. They really shouldn't take any requests, (except smoking/non smoking, handicapped unit, and this shouldn't be requests it should be a guarantee!!) at checkin, offer something and then go from there!

 

[lisareniff]

WOW!! An hour and a half wait!! I lose my patience after 20 minutes!

 

[ObieTrice]

We checked in to OKW on the 1st, but at 10 am, and the wait was minimal. We went on to the parks, and called to find out our room number, and were in a great 1 bedroom at 4:00. It was the first time we did not stay in a studio at our home resort (BCV), and our family really enjoyed all of the space that a one bedroom provided to spread out. We had very little interaction with the OKW CM's during our week there, but they were always gracious and accomodating when we did talk to them.

I hope that you enjoyed your stay!
Jackie

 

[Deb & Bill]

I checked in at OKW on 1/1 at about 7:00AM. I was the only one there at that time. But I was one who wound up in a villa that the previous guests failed to leave on time. They didn't leave until after 4PM, so the housekeepers worked to get the room cleaned by 5:30. It wasn't as bad as Robin's situation, but Carl also came through for us. The housekeepers were outstanding.

The rest of our trip was uneventful. But we opened the connecting studio on our fifth day to change our one bedroom into a two bedroom. No problem with this, but we were expecting a full cleaning on that day since technically we had to check out and re-check in. The CM at the desk got with housekeeping and they cleaned the villa the next day. They hadn't scheduled a full cleaning until our 8th day (the day before we left).

 

[robinb]

It wasn't as bad as Robin's situation, but Carl also came through for us. The housekeepers were outstanding.

Poor Carl said that he had never seen anything like 1/1/06 in the 14 years he has been in the hospitality business. We had no requests (other than no-smoking, which was met), but since we had a GV it was pre-assigned we had to wait for that specific one to be ready. As for your unit, I'm sure they thought that the previous occupants would have been out before 4:30 when you checked in at 7:00! Rude, rude, rude. I can see being 30-60 minutes late ... but 5 1/2 hours?

Our housekeeper (the housekeeping manager, I think Carl said) said that our unit was a "big mess". He OK'd that we could enter the GV while he still cleaned the upstairs for another hour while we relaxed in the downstairs living area. On one hand I was annoyed that housekeeping was still there. On the other hand we appreciated that fact that we could start to "move in" and relax. Our friends had a cooler full of beer that wasn't too warm, so we passed the time comfortably. The worst thing for us was being told at 4:30 that our GV was ready. Given the fact it wasn't clean until 8:30, my guess is that our previous tenants didn't leave until late afternoon either. Grrr ...

At least we were well rested for the late-night 3 AM EMH at the MK . Still, I think I'll stay put on 1/1 next time and change resorts on 1/2 instead and let the dust settle first.

 

[Doctor P]

I really believe that 1/1 falling on a Sunday had a lot to do with the problems this year as well as the problems at MCO, so I would think that some of this would not be as bad in the future.