Online check in disaster!

[lordnamis]

LOL, I don't know how the other person does it but I do know that it worked for me once at OKW. I was given a room that was not what I liked and asked for another and told there was none available. I put a 20 on the counter with a smile on my face and asked her to look again as a joke not expecting anything to change, well guess what she says let me see what I can do and goes to a different computer at the end of the counter and comes back with a room where I wanted. I didn't know what to do with the 20 because I was kidding however she took it after she gave me my check in package. So yes the 20 will magically open rooms that weren't available 2 min earlier. As a DVC member that actually makes me a little sad that this can happen never done it again. Oh and sorry to whomever got a room in building 35 last summer with a view of 10 air conditioning units I believe I took your room.

 

[Chuck S]

This whole online check-in process is not saving anyone any time, when we still are calling the resort to make sure our requests are in writing. Lots of redundency here....why isn't there a blank "request" field to type in everything?

I don't think a blank request box would work out well for many people. A lot of people have no idea how to phrase a request to convey what they really want. Working in customer service at a video store for years, I can only imagine what some folks would type. I know we had a lot of customers that would call and ask if we "had that movie with that guy from TV in it that was in that cop show."

 

[keishashadow]

Hmmm....nope, will checkin the old fashion way (you'd be surprised what room a $20 bill gets you!)

It has been my experience that when Mr. Andrew Jackson speaks, he can get quite a bit done almost anywhere, anytime. Mr Grant and Mr. Franklin have even more "pull" oddly enough...

never crossed my mind to use the old vegas $20 trick @ "home"

guess it's a different brand of pixie dust

 

[BWV Dreamin]

LOL, I don't know how the other person does it but I do know that it worked for me once at OKW. I was given a room that was not what I liked and asked for another and told there was none available. I put a 20 on the counter with a smile on my face and asked her to look again as a joke not expecting anything to change, well guess what she says let me see what I can do and goes to a different computer at the end of the counter and comes back with a room where I wanted. I didn't know what to do with the 20 because I was kidding however she took it after she gave me my check in package. So yes the 20 will magically open rooms that weren't available 2 min earlier. As a DVC member that actually makes me a little sad that this can happen never done it again. Oh and sorry to whomever got a room in building 35 last summer with a view of 10 air conditioning units I believe I took your room.

LOL!!! Hmmm.....your method worked like a charm! Yep, that's kinda how it works!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, if my 11 month booking request is wiped out by doing online check-in, I guess I wont be trying that little feature. I don't see a lot of point to it anyway. It's not like checking into an airline.

 

[LisaS]

This whole online check-in process is not saving anyone any time, when we still are calling the resort to make sure our requests are in writing. Lots of redundency here....why isn't there a blank "request" field to type in everything?

I agree with the request text box idea. Members can type in exactly what they told MS when they made their original reservation. If using online check in is going to overwrite the request I gave MS, then I want to replace it with exactly the same text. This is a case where providing a couple of "one size fits all" generic checkboxes just doesn't work since requests can be very resort specific.

Or better yet, just carry over any requests from the original reservation. If they want to have some check boxes as well, then fine but don't delete or ignore the information that has been there for nearly 11 months!

 

[David Raguso]

I think this all has to do with the staff at Saratoga Springs not properly handling the online check.

in summary i posted a week or so ago about my experience at SSR March 5-9 where a friend and i had requests to be in grandstand or springs and they put us at congress park. before i left and even when i got back i was assured that there wasnt a mistake with the online check, that when you do the online check in, you wont see the special requests on the screen but they will be see by the person at check in and the person who fulfulls the room assignments. therefore its the person who did the room assignments just missed our special requests.

apparently whoever does this for saratoga springs is not doing their job.

 

[carol1231]

We didn't do the online check in last week when we stayed at SSR, but I did see a sign like someone else posted. The sign for online check in was at the far right of the check in desk. I did get my area request, I'm glad I didn't try the online check in, and I dont' think I will be trying it in the future.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Liljam]

LOL, I don't know how the other person does it but I do know that it worked for me once at OKW. I was given a room that was not what I liked and asked for another and told there was none available. I put a 20 on the counter with a smile on my face and asked her to look again as a joke not expecting anything to change, well guess what she says let me see what I can do and goes to a different computer at the end of the counter and comes back with a room where I wanted. I didn't know what to do with the 20 because I was kidding however she took it after she gave me my check in package. So yes the 20 will magically open rooms that weren't available 2 min earlier. As a DVC member that actually makes me a little sad that this can happen never done it again. Oh and sorry to whomever got a room in building 35 last summer with a view of 10 air conditioning units I believe I took your room.

Well if it will get me a lovely water view close to that bridge to SSR when I arrive for my stay in a THV I may have to try this, the last thing I really want is to be all the way over at the end of the property! I'll tae what I get (I'm easy) but if a $20 will move me a little closer to where I want, it;s worth a shot !

I do agree it's a waste of time to call the resort except in the case of the poster who may have had their requests canceled when they did the OCI without knowing that it could cancel other requests. I won't use the OCI unless I feel really confident that it works properly - requests and all. I still think the best way to secure any requests will be to show up early and ask at the desk when you arrive.

 

[Sheribo]

We have stayed in the Paddock and enjoyed it so that's not what I meant by disaster. I was referring to the wiped out request. We wanted to try each different section and the Grandstand & Congress Park were the only two we haven't been to.

I have contacted dvc member satisfaction. Other than the automated response, I haven't heard anything yet. Although it's only been 24 hours.

And today, when we went to the Carriage House, they did have a sign on the counter to the right for online check in guests. There was no one manning the desk but they might have just been watching for members to walk up. When we got in yesterday, there was no sign so we approached the CM and he told us to get in line with everyone else.

BTW, we are having a great time. Beautiful room and it's smokin' hot. It all worked out but we won't do online check in again.

 

[twinklebug]

I think this all has to do with the staff at Saratoga Springs not properly handling the online check.

in summary i posted a week or so ago about my experience at SSR March 5-9 where a friend and i had requests to be in grandstand or springs and they put us at congress park. before i left and even when i got back i was assured that there wasnt a mistake with the online check, that when you do the online check in, you wont see the special requests on the screen but they will be see by the person at check in and the person who fulfulls the room assignments. therefore its the person who did the room assignments just missed our special requests.

apparently whoever does this for saratoga springs is not doing their job.

I both agree and disagree. A request is nothing more than it's name. It is not an obligation on the part of DVC to get the room you want. If needed, a handicapped room "request" is however a requirement of your visit and is booked as such. If they messed that up I'd be very upset for the person who needed it.

That said, allocating rooms to members is not an easy task and some CMs are better at shuffling the pieces of the moving puzzle around than others so most everyone is happy. Even if the CM is not looking at the requests, they are still doing their job providing they give every reservation a room... they're just not doing anyone any favors.

... That said, if I don't get my requests, I do double check at check-in if they can accommodate me.

 

[famsen]

I can't believe they are allowed to take money from guests.
I had the most awesome concierge person help us move from Coronado Springs while I was in the middle of a nervous breakdown.
Coronado was super overbooked with a convention. It was loud, busy and I almost got run over by the inter-resort tram. The line for the food court was about 50 people deep and we had just arrived from driving an 18 hour trip from Chicago.

I started to have a panic attack. I asked concierge if there was a quieter location we could be moved to. He said they were very busy and that if I was uncomfortable with the crowds then, it was only going to get worse because and IRS convention was due in the next day. I really got panicked and asked if he could help find us a reservation at any other resort. I told him I would pay any difference in price.
He got us moved to a studio at SSR without any extra charges.
He calmed me down and was so wonderful! I tried to give him a tip. He told me he couldn't take it or he could be fired. I offered to buy him a margarita when he was off duty. He thanked me profusely but again said it was his pleasure to help and was not allowed to take any gratuity from guests.
It was his getting us that studio at SSR that made us want to buy DVC and we became members on that trip (that was almost two years ago).
I actually am quite appalled to hear a check-in guest services member took a bribe to get someone a better room.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

never crossed my mind to use the old vegas $20 trick @ "home"

This is an everywhere/anywhere trick when requesting services of any kind...

And a big Thank You to lordnamis for posting your reply as you did. I didnt want to be 'that guy" (suggesting the proper means in which to go around the systems). Although I would suggest a bit more subtle approach, your method seems to have worked. I am more of a handshake ($ in palm) while looking them in the eye while introducing myself type of guy, but in the end the result is the same...

Another great example is the valets - Try tipping the valet attendants $10 on the first drop and then $5 each time after and see how quick your car shows up when you request it. Our last trip to BWV after day 2 of 10, the valets (2 of them) gave me their direct cell numbers and I would simply text them my arrive/depart times. My car would be warmed up and waiting for me before I got to the lobby every time with the heat on in the mornings and the AC on the afternoon/evenings with the radio turned down to a minimum no mater how loud I had left it prior. One of the two noticed I was running low on gas before departing for the airport on our last day and text me back to ask if I would like to him to fill up at the hess station and get me a receipt to save me time. Now that is service, but you have to pay for it. It always cracks me up when people complain on here about how terrible the valet services are at dvc - I always think, but never reply, 'did you tip them $1 and expect to go to the front of the line?'

I learned long long ago, when it comes to service, you get what you pay for...

 

[dcfromva]

I agree with the request text box idea.

There was a text box on Mar 11th, when I did the OLCI for our upcoming stay on Friday. The next morning someone reported on the Dis board they were first having trouble accessing the OLCI system and then when it became available, they only had 2 check box options ground floor or close to transportation... I went back into my ressie (you can go back in and make changes, you just can't change the number of people in your party) and those two options were all I could see, too.

I have no idea if this is the way they want the OLCI to work or if it is a software glitch....

 

[David Raguso]

My feeling is that if Disney feels that really cant handle the requests then they shouldnt accept them. However if they allow people to make requests then they have to accept the responsibility of processing them.

The only time that i would accept if the requests arent granted is if the resort is totally sold out during the time of stay, otherwise requests should be accepted.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I did do the online check-in for a visit this Friday and over the weekend. The ONLY reason I did was because I'm arriving on Friday at a busy time of the day and was hoping for a seperate line. I'm book preferred and have no special requests (which I did see there were only 3 choices : 1)close to transportion 2) ground floor 3) pack and play.

If there is no seperate line, I won't be using this service in the future.....I'm at POP just for a 3 day weekend trip.


Maria

 

[BWV Dreamin]

This is an everywhere/anywhere trick when requesting services of any kind...

And a big Thank You to lordnamis for posting your reply as you did. I didnt want to be 'that guy" (suggesting the proper means in which to go around the systems). Although I would suggest a bit more subtle approach, your method seems to have worked. I am more of a handshake ($ in palm) while looking them in the eye while introducing myself type of guy, but in the end the result is the same...

Another great example is the valets - Try tipping the valet attendants $10 on the first drop and then $5 each time after and see how quick your car shows up when you request it. Our last trip to BWV after day 2 of 10, the valets (2 of them) gave me their direct cell numbers and I would simply text them my arrive/depart times. My car would be warmed up and waiting for me before I got to the lobby every time with the heat on in the mornings and the AC on the afternoon/evenings with the radio turned down to a minimum no mater how loud I had left it prior. One of the two noticed I was running low on gas before departing for the airport on our last day and text me back to ask if I would like to him to fill up at the hess station and get me a receipt to save me time. Now that is service, but you have to pay for it. It always cracks me up when people complain on here about how terrible the valet services are at dvc - I always think, but never reply, 'did you tip them $1 and expect to go to the front of the line?'

I learned long long ago, when it comes to service, you get what you pay for...

Excellent examples.....while it may not seem "fair", actually this is done all the time.

 

[OrlandoNative]

Checked in at SSR yesterday also. I did not use on line check in because I suspected that I would not like the room I was assigned to which I didn't. Like always they wonderful and worked with me to get a room I was happy with. However, I was speaking with another guest by the pool and they did use on-line check in and got a room they were unhappy with. She wanted a first floor room which they had requested in their reservation because she is afraid of elevators. Instead they got a 3rd floor room. The CM refused to change the room and this was at 11 am on Saturday. She said they would never use on-line check in again. By the way the computer system crashed at 10:30 am yesterday morning and the afternoon was chaos at 4 because people who had already checked in were trying to get their keys.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well I'm also taking online checkin off of my list. We have one cash day in the middle anyhow so I was nervous about the 3 reservations being linked up so we don't have to move. Now I'm more interested in getting either of my requests (grandstand or congress park), or at least a section with a pool. We got a really crappy room last year at YC and "nothing else is available" so I seem to have the bad room luck.
Hopefully since we arrive on a Monday at 1030AM we can have a good choice.
Robin M.

 

[gkrykewy]

I am more of a handshake ($ in palm) while looking them in the eye while introducing myself type of guy, but in the end the result is the same...

Bill in palm while making eye contact? Seriously? That sounds like an awkward Will Ferrell character.