Resorts handle on-line check in differently!

[BEASLYBOO]

It's odd, when I've done on-line check in I've had different experiences at different resorts. I did on-line check the last two times we've stayed at SSR and both times when we arrived the room had been pre-assigned, our keys were printed out and the villa was ready. Had it not been for a late addition to our party, and needing an additonal room key, we would have been set to go.

Now I also did on-line check in at OKW and BWV but neither time was the room pre-assigned. At OKW I asked if there was something available in the Turtle Pond area, she said let me check and boom I got it and the villa was ready! At the BWV, I asked for a particular floor at check in and got it as well but of course the villa wasn't ready till 5:30pm (usual for BWV's).

It seems that each resort does it differently, why would there not be a standard procedure for all of the DVC resorts to follow?

What's been your experience.

 

[cvjw]

BLT - room was preassigned, but not ready.
VWL - room was preassigned, and ready.
BWV - room was preassigned, and of course not ready.
KV - room was preassigned, and not ready.
JH - I'm not sure about this one. Had to wait in regular check-in line, and the CM seemed to be searching for a villa for us. Villa not ready.
BCV - room was preassigned, villa not ready.

 

[disneynutz]

You will find that each resort seems to do their own thing to a certain degree and it seems that they don't talk to each other. I guess that's typical for a large company.

Bill

 

[kimberh]

Last visit, BCV's Room was preassigned and not ready. It was 4:00, I did Not do online check in. I asked for another room on the same floor and received it.

 

[JimC]

We have noticed differences regarding check- in and room ready as well. Consistency of guest experience should be important to Disney. For check-in, this has got to be a challenge---guests who leave late, villas that require extensive work to make ready, villas that need to be taken out of inventory, cost controls limiting staffing, required turn volume (number of vacated rooms being reoccupied that day), early arrival of new guests, and varied room requests. I try to keep this all in mind when I show up to pick up our key cards.

 

[Sandisw]

We have only used online check in for our DVC stays and so far:

BWV - room ready and preassigned--arrived around 12:30 pm
BLT - room ready and preassigned--arrived around 8:30 am
VWL - room preassigned but not ready until 1:00 pm

BLT - room ready and preassigned--arrived at 12:00 pm

BCV - room ready and preassigned--arrived around 12:30 pm

BLT - room preassigned but not ready until 12:45 pm.

Check in all the time was easy and went fast. I do not have CC charging on the cards so that helped.

And, so far, we have been really lucky to have our rooms ready most of the time and even when they were not, we were in them by early afternoon.

Of course, I am taking my aunt, cousin and her daughter this summer and I have a feeling my luck will run out in terms of having the room set prior to 4:00 pm.

 

[DebbieB]

The last 2 times I checked into BWV it was around 2:30 and the room was ready. I did not do online check-in. In 11 years of checking into BWV, my room was always preassigned, ready about half the time. I only asked for a different room once and that was when I checked in at 10:00am and found out they put us on the first floor.

 

[spiceycat]

sounds like the room assigned to you was given to someone else.

so you were left with no assignment.

okay that is my opinion.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our last 2 stays at BWV were very bad for room access. Both times it was for only 1 night, a Saturday to Sunday and each time we got our room after 6PM! The first time was last June, and DDiL went up to nudge them, and she got us a $100 gift card....the next time was in March, and I went up to nudge them at 6, and just got another room. They had one ready, not ours, but standard view and it worked! I don't know how DDiL does it, but she manages to get a better deal than I ever could!

Both times I had done on line check in and had no requests.

I have to say that our best check in again for 1 night and with on line check in was at SSR for a treehouse. "Our" THV wasn't ready, but when the CM noticed we were only staying for 1 night, she said that she would see what she could do, since we didn't have much time in the treehouse. It was 11 AM, and she got us one that was ready!

 

[drusba]

We have used on-line check in at both BWV and AKV. At each room was apparently pre-assigned but they don't give the number until it is ready and at each we have had it ready upon arrival and also not ready until 4 p.m. AKV Kidani is not that good for on-line check-in because it still makes you stand in the check-in line when there is a crowd because there is no special line for those who did on-line check-in.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I have to say that our best check in again for 1 night and with on line check in was at SSR for a treehouse. "Our" THV wasn't ready, but when the CM noticed we were only staying for 1 night, she said that she would see what she could do, since we didn't have much time in the treehouse. It was 11 AM, and she got us one that was ready!

Nice!

I have to say the fastest check-in for has always been SSR, OKW second, villas always ready and I generally arrive around 1pm every time! The longest check-in AKV Jambo and BWV, adn those 2 resorts are the only 2 where the villas was not ready when I arrived! As far as BWV irregardless of on-line check in or not, the text, phone call that your villa is ready has never worked! You definitively have to "nudge" them along to get your villa!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Nice!

I have to say the fastest check-in for has always been SSR, OKW second, villas always ready and I generally arrive around 1pm every time! The longest check-in AKV Jambo and BWV, adn those 2 resorts are the only 2 where the villas was not ready when I arrived! As far as BWV irregardless of on-line check in or not, the text, phone call that your villa is ready has never worked! You definitively have to "nudge" them along to get your villa!

BWV wasn't always like this. I've had rooms ready there around 11 or 1. I've had the CM look at me and ask if I've liked the previous rooms that I've had, because there will be one in that general area.

I just thought of another BWV stay, longer and over NYE and also with on line check in. We had a standard view 2 bedroom and it was ready for us, around 2. I remember because around 3, we were all already in the unit, with the BWV Christmas tree just having a great time planning the visit.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

The few times I've had to wait, I must admit, it's never bothered me, I'm just happy to be there!

 

[dbs1228]

We did on-line check-in for BLT and AKV in Feb. My parents arrived at BLT before us and they were told the room was not ready that they would call them when it was. They unloaded bags with bell services, walked to the car and got the call it was ready (a matter of 10 minutes and room was preassigned) When we showed up at 11AM at AKV they had my room preassigned and it was not ready. We went to the park until 2:30 and when we got back it still was not ready so I asked if any room was available (in our cat.) since we were there only 1 night thought I would give it a shot, with in 10 minutes we were in a different, clean savanna room. CM was very nice and helpful.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

when we got back it still was not ready so I asked if any room was available (in our cat.) since we were there only 1 night thought I would give it a shot, with in 10 minutes we were in a different, clean savanna room. CM was very nice and helpful.

and this happens a lot, the pre-assigned rooms aren't ready but others are. IMO, the rooms that are ready should be given to those as they arrive. What sense does it make to have someone wait till late in the day to get their villa just because it was pre-assigned when there are villas ready for the taking available!

 

[dbs1228]

and this happens a lot, the pre-assigned rooms aren't ready but others are. IMO, the rooms that are ready should be given to those as they arrive. What sense does it make to have someone wait till late in the day to get their villa just because it was pre-assigned when there are villas ready for the taking available!

Completely agree! I never could understand this. While in college I worked at a hotel/conference center and the manager would try to pre-assign rooms but it was more work for me at the front desk because there would be many rooms available and clean but but blocked for people who would not arrive until the evening. We did a lot of switching around unless there were specific needs i.e. H.A. rooms.

 

[DebbieB]

and this happens a lot, the pre-assigned rooms aren't ready but others are. IMO, the rooms that are ready should be given to those as they arrive. What sense does it make to have someone wait till late in the day to get their villa just because it was pre-assigned when there are villas ready for the taking available!

Because DVC room assigning can be a puzzle. With 2 bedroom lockoffs, both the 1 bedroom and studio have to be available on the day a 2 bedroom lockoff reservation checks in. If they just assign rooms randomly as people check-in, they could very easily end up with 1 bedrooms and studios available but none connecting for the 2 bedroom reservation. So they have to block the lockoffs and then look for people who are checking out on that day to fill it as either a 2 bedroom lockoff or separate 1 bedroom and studio so that both rooms will be vacant that day. This is what was explained to me by the AKV conceirge desk (we were trying to get moved from the pool view side to the savanna side). It's not like a regular hotel where all rooms are the same.

 

[Chuck S]

I've done online check-in at OKW. Most of the times, the room was preassigned...but it seems if the resort isn't really busy, they like to offer some choice of location when you arrive.

I don't mind taking a few minutes to check-in, if the line isn't too long, and being offered a choice. And I really appreciate the shorter wait time of having the room pre-assigned and packet ready when there is a long-line waiting for standard check-in. I think OKW has a pretty good system.