Please check out on time!

[Christopher5927]

I found the following reminder in February's Vacation Magic email update interesting:

" Remember Resort check-out time
An increasing number of Members are checking out of their Vacation Homes late, which means those rooms may be unavailable to other Members for on-time check-in.

Please remember that it's important for all Members to check out of their rooms no later than 11 a.m. to give the Resort Housekeepers enough time to clean the rooms for arriving Members. Your Member neighbors thank you for your cooperation in adhering to the 11 a.m. check-out time."

Firstly I have never been late checking out of anywhere (I'm not being a goody goody, I just think rules are there to be kept) and am also wondering if this is the explanation for accommodations being unavailable until after 4pm.

Hope I'm not opening a can of worms, but does anyone regularly stay until after 11am?!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We ALWAYS check out early in the morning, put our luggage in the rental car trunk, and head for a park. I do notice that there are a lot of folks still taking things out of the OKW units when we return mid afternoon, so yes, I think it IS a BIG problem!

I don't think they would be sending out a reminder in the newsletter if it wasn't an issue.

 

[keishashadow]

IMO, they should put an automatic surcharge on the credit card on file, or member account for this rude behaviour.

I'm thinking $100...per hour.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Hope I'm not opening a can of worms, but does anyone regularly stay until after 11am?!

I can't see how this would "open a can of worms"...

I have never stayed later. It's common courtesy. I know, in most instances, there's a family who just climbed out of a Magical Express bus, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, waiting for the room...plus, I find getting up and out on the last day actually helps us get more out of that last day, if that makes any sense.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are usually out of our room by 9AM at the latest. Then I call Housekeeping to let them know the room is vacated.

When we checked into OKW on New Year's Day a year ago, we couldn't get into our room until after 5:30 because the previous guests did not check out until after 4. The housekeepers were excellent trying to get the mess cleaned up (the other guests had had a big NYE party in the villa). DVC is not allowed to remove the other guests items from the room to get it ready for the incoming guests. We were told that they had about 5-8 rooms that had not been vacated timely (way late) on that day. And with it being a holiday, the housekeeping staff were actually supposed to be off by 4PM.

I agree that guests who don't vacate should be charged by the hour. Same thing should go for guests who make a big mess requiring extra time to clean.

 

[DMKEDM]

I am also "innocent" of staying in my room past check-out time; never have done it; never will.

BUT...how could they possibly know?

There IS no check-out procedure!!! It's all automatic ... meaning on the trips where we have a 7 a.m. flight back (pretty common) and we're gone by 4 a.m., there's no way (that I can see) that Mousekeeping even knows they can clean our room starting at 4:01!

I suppose they could "turn off" the key right at 11 (I've always worried about getting back into my room on check-out day mornings...probably part of the reason I've never even cut it close--paranoia can really help w/the motivation to obey the rules!)...that wouldn't help in cases where people just stay in their rooms, of course...Disney could instruct Mousekeeping to go in and clean anyway, as of 11...that would drive some lingerers out...and the previous poster's idea of an overtime surcharge applied to the lingerer's bill could help, too...

But the real question in my mind is how can check out time possibly be consistently enforced w/automatic check-out? Mind you, I'd HATE to lose automatic check-out...it's great to not have to go by the front desk on the way out...but some sort of auto feature--a phone call to a computer center, perhaps? noting when the departing guest has left actually could help a lot in scheduling Mousekeeping into vacant rooms earlier in the morning???

 

[dwelty]

We checked out of SSR at 12:30 pm on our last trip. My wife lost the safe key we think it fell into the Christmas tree box that we had already packed up and sent to the next guest in line. (P.S. if anyone with SSR tree number 3 found it, please let me know) Anyway, we called at 9:30 am to have them open the safe, and they did not show up until 12:00pm! The manager came with the maintenance guy and apologized for the delay, they opened the safe and did not charge us the fee for loosing the key (Because they took so long) We felt like morons checking out so late, but it was not our fault!

 

[jdvm]

If we have a late flight, we get the room for an extra night rather than get out at 11:00. That way we can enjoy ourselves, shower and change and then head to the airport. It's a bit of a waste of points, I know.
And, if I have ever needed to check out a little late...say 11:30 or 12:00, I always check with the front desk to see if it's OK.
John

 

[mic_KY_mouses]

I shake my head in amazement when I read about issues like this. Why are some people so self-centered to think the rules don't apply to them?

I'm not making a judgement against all renters because the majority probably follow the rules, but I do wonder if it is mostly renters who break this one. I might be wrong, but it would be interesting to see.

 

[korbbec]

The only time I check out late is when I request a late check out and get it approved at the front desk. If they say no I understand they need the room.

 

[Inkmahm]

I just assume the hotels are always full and they'll need my room. We're gone by 9 am or so anyway.

 

[jekjones1558]

If our mousekeeper is not in the hall when we check out, we put the tag on the door turned to the "please service" (or whatever it says) side so the mousekeeper will know we have left. I agree that an hourly fee should be charged to those who seem unable to follow rules designed to be fair to incoming guests. I sometimes wonder if mousekeeper errors would be reduced if there were fewer guests cheating mousekeepers out of time they need to do their jobs properly.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The only time I check out late is when I request a late check out and get it approved at the front desk. If they say no I understand they need the room.

But there are no late checkouts with DVC. The rooms take longer to clean and all members should realize this.

I agree with mic_KY_mouses on this one. Members should know better and no one should be that self centered to think the rule doesn't apply to them.

 

[jdg345]

We've only checked out late one time ... at VWL ... and it was because it took Bell Services over 2 hours to come retrieve our bags. Even then though, we were only like 15m late.

 

[jdg345]

But there are no late checkouts with DVC. The rooms take longer to clean and all members should realize this.

I agree with mic_KY_mouses on this one. Members should know better and no one should be that self centered to think the rule doesn't apply to them.

I dunno about that ... we asked Mousekeeping once about late check out and they said it had to be cleared with the front desk. We didn't need it that trip, we were just curious if it was offered.

I'll ask again next time we're in The World.

 

[shovan]

I am also "innocent" of staying in my room past check-out time; never have done it; never will.

BUT...how could they possibly know?

There IS no check-out procedure!!! It's all automatic ... meaning on the trips where we have a 7 a.m. flight back (pretty common) and we're gone by 4 a.m., there's no way (that I can see) that Mousekeeping even knows they can clean our room starting at 4:01!

I suppose they could "turn off" the key right at 11 (I've always worried about getting back into my room on check-out day mornings...probably part of the reason I've never even cut it close--paranoia can really help w/the motivation to obey the rules!)...that wouldn't help in cases where people just stay in their rooms, of course...Disney could instruct Mousekeeping to go in and clean anyway, as of 11...that would drive some lingerers out...and the previous poster's idea of an overtime surcharge applied to the lingerer's bill could help, too...

But the real question in my mind is how can check out time possibly be consistently enforced w/automatic check-out? Mind you, I'd HATE to lose automatic check-out...it's great to not have to go by the front desk on the way out...but some sort of auto feature--a phone call to a computer center, perhaps? noting when the departing guest has left actually could help a lot in scheduling Mousekeeping into vacant rooms earlier in the morning???

Immediately after the bellman picked up our bags, a housekeeper was at the door. So if the resort has bell services they must inform housekeeping when checkout occurs. The not English speaking housekeeper seemed ticked that I wasn't out of the room yet. And this was at 10:00! I told her we needed to double check the room & some wanted to come back to the bathroom. Could she please give us a half hour? She still seemed annoyed or just couldn't understand me.

 

[spiceycat]

I dunno about that ... we asked Mousekeeping once about late check out and they said it had to be cleared with the front desk. We didn't need it that trip, we were just curious if it was offered.

I'll ask again next time we're in The World.

It use to be.

but when the members were asked which would you rather have - check in early OR check out late.

check in early won - BIG TIME.

I generally leave around 4 am in the morning. so I am gone. we use to call housekeeping so they could start cleaning. but got told that housekeeping has a schedule???? and that is what they try to follow. So someone not checking out would be bad news of this reason.

 

[spiceycat]

BUT...how could they possibly know?

But the real question in my mind is how can check out time possibly be consistently enforced w/automatic check-out? Mind you, I'd HATE to lose automatic check-out...it's great to not have to go by the front desk on the way out...but some sort of auto feature--a phone call to a computer center, perhaps? noting when the departing guest has left actually could help a lot in scheduling Mousekeeping into vacant rooms earlier in the morning???

that other timeshare I stay out has a charge for anyone who stays pass the 10:00 am check out. Now you do have to check out here. they say you can call over the phone - but so far when I try that they tell me to come to the front desk. Not a problem here - it is small.

DVC could have someone knock on each room and then with master key check the rooms.

we did at one time have a number to call. but DVC did away with that problem quickly - less than a couple of months if I remember correctly. (might have interferred with the housekeeping schedule).

how do they know you are still in the rooms? How have you been lucky enough not to be woken up (doesn't happen often because I generally leave earlier) at 7 am with a knock on the door..... maid service....

believe me Disney could find out.

did anyone else notice - on our last trip there were actually English speaking Americans workings as maids again.

so hopefully the language problem won't be a problem for much longer.

 

[shovan]

We have requested late checkout both visits to BCV. We were told they never allow it for DVC rooms.
We were rather upset about this on our last trip. My DH is handicapped & in a WC. The Beach Club (nor any of the other resorts we've stayed in) have a companion bathroom in the lobby. My DH needs my assistance in the bathroom. So when we are flying, not being able to go to the bathroom right before leaving is a problem. We explained all of this to the management at the BC on the last trip & were pretty much told "Sorry, but we can't help you". We had to go back into World Showcase before getting on the bus just to use the bathroom!

Even with these issues we were out of the room by 11:00. I guess some people just don't care if they cause problems for the next guest.

 

[BCV23]

Shovan, I seem to recall that the bathrooms by the quiet pool are single rooms so you could help your husband there.

The Polynesian used to have a companion restroom although it wasn't marked that way.

We try to get out early..by 8 or 9am but last time we were right at 11. I was the last one in the room and called Housekeeping as I always do to let them know we're gone. This was the first time I reached someone who seemed clueless why I was calling. She wanted to know if I wanted them to come and clean right away.