Room Not ready at check-in???

[fla4fun]

Check in at (most, at least) hospitality properties STARTS at the published time. Anything before that time is preregistration; if your room is ready, you will be given the active keys when you register - but as the OP found out, even the published start time for check in doesn't mean your room will be ready.

There are some properties that don't even allow guests to start registering for their reservations UNTIL the official check in time. Even when that's not the case, it's impossible for every guest to check in AT that time - that's why, even though we all generally think/expect that 3 PM means the room will be ready for occupancy, the actual official wording is AFTER 3 PM (or whatever that given property's time is).

That actually happened to us at a Holiday Inn many years ago. Check in was 4pm, and we arrived about 5 minutes to 4, and they made us step back from the desk and wait the five minutes, and then they checked us in. It was totally bizarre!

The latest I've gotten a room at Disney was 6:30pm. I don't know what the hold up was, but when we finally got into the room, they sent us an apology and a fruit basket because of the delay. We hadn't kicked up a fuss or anything - we arrived about 4pm, and just went to dinner while we waited. Most of the time I get my room between 2pm and 4pm, which is why I typically will check in after work, since I get off work at 4pm and I won't have to wait around for a room.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Disneyland Resorts do not allow you to check in prior to 3PM and your room might not be ready even then.

 

[darby888]

Disneyland Resorts do not allow you to check in prior to 3PM and your room might not be ready even then.

Maybe just lucky, but our last couple of stays at GC we were able to get into our room prior to noon. I think if the room's available they will offer them.

 

[eliza61]

Just some few tidbits to remember when checking in from a former hotel worker.

Check in times have to be very fluid especially if you tend to have a resort that is generally fully booked.
Guest leave late
Guest may be a bit more "sloppy" (for lack of a better word) than normal. For example, We once had a room with twin toddlers, very nice family but unfortunately spilled juice and formula on the carpet alot. So when housekeeping did get in, it required a lot more attention than normal.
One or two kinks in the mousekeeping system and it can really back up.
Staffing issues.


Whenever you travel to the world I would try to have a back up plan if you can't get in the room.

 

[Smoothdancer]

If you cant check in until 3:00 will they hold your luggage for you if you arrive early?

 

[SandrainNC]

We got to AKL at 3:00 and were told that our room wasn't ready and that they only guarantee that rooms will be ready by 5:00 (even though check in is at 3:00). I had never heard of that before and was not happy. I didn't really fuss or anything. Just kind of said we have ADRs at 5:00 at Chef Mickey's and hadn't planned on not being able to get into the room at check in time. She told us we could freshen up at the bathrooms at the pool. Luckily we walked around for about 45 minutes and I called the number on the card they gave me and the room was ready. By the time our luggage got there and everything we were running back out of our room. So we don't make ADRs on check in day anymore (we have to eat early with the little ones).

Sandra

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you cant check in until 3:00 will they hold your luggage for you if you arrive early?

They sure will. You can leave your stuff with Bell Services.

 

[JerseyJanice]

If I were you, I would call the resort's main number a few days before my arrival, ask them to note my expected arrival time, and request the room be ready for you then. They'll give you the spiel about it not being guaranteed, and you should plan for that just in case. You don't want to start a trip disappointed with your resort right off the bat.

Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[EnnEss]

Had this problem once, got there around 7am (redeye flight) fully expect to wait until 3 for a room, went to the parks, called the number around 2, no room yet, no big deal, called at 4, still no room, upset at this point. If i check out late im subject to fees, they better have my room at their time, 3pm. Also, im calling long distance and roaming international prices because Im not from america so its a couple bucks a call. At 4 i told them call me, they said no, thats not how it works, i told them i was under the impression my room should be ready at 3, so they can call me, or i can keep calling back and they can comp the first night.

Got a room around 5 oclock, only to then not have the key card work. Went back, they said they gave me the wrong room, and moved me across the resort, carrying the bags all the way (this was a mod).

There's no exscuse for this. Its because the rooms aren't clean, i get that. Hire more cleaning staff, dont bet on some of your guests checking late, and if you think thats worth the risk, do more than act like its not the hotels problem, because it is.

The manager didnt pull out that guranetee rooms are ready by 5pm on me, if he did I would have wanted to see that in writing on my package agreement, maybe its there, but i'd want to see, then i'd ask why they have a check in time. It does clearly outline the fees you may pay for a late check out.

OP, I think if your check in time on your ressies says 3, you're entitled to it. And ask to talk to the manager and explain why you're room isn't ready if its not at some time around then. They have to make sure they have a room for the length of your stay is part of the hassle, I for instance knew that between 7am and 3 there were probably more than 100 people who got a room, but not me. I told the manager when it was after four and they'd given us the wrong room and we were now waiting on another one that the time had come for him to eat the cost of their mistake, get me a room right now (i didnt ask for any discount off my stay or anything) and either deal with a dead room for a night or upgrade someone else down the line to a hotel with vacancies (there were some, late april, slow time) because Im tired of waiting because whoever, or whatever (cpu im guessing) plans rooms had failed us both. After finally getting to talk to a higher lvl manager, he got me a room.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Respectfully - again, hotel check-in STARTS at the published time. It is virtually impossible to check everybody in at exactly, say, 3 PM, so most hotels allow you to preregister; if a room is ready in the category you reserved earlier than that, most properties will assign you to that room.

But back to the "...check-in starts at...". Logistically, it is virtually impossible to even physically check in all guests at that specific moment, even if every guest is present (which I realize is almost impossible). The property does not even guarantee your room will be ready AT that 3 PM start time. They simply can't.

Conversely, and technically, if a hotel guaranteed every room would be ready for occupancy at X time, they would be within their rights to insist that all guests be there AT that time to check in.

Does it stink? Sure. Especially if you're staying for just one night, your per-hour room rate is higher if your room is ready at 5 than if it's ready at 3. Do I like it? Nope. Agree with it? Nope. But it happens. I've been at one of those hotels where they don't allow anyone to check in until X time. You think Toy Story Midway Mania is a madhouse? Ha!

 

[EnnEss]

That's their problem to deal with. They list check in times, so its reasonable to expect it to be ready then. They list check out times, penalized fiscally if you're late, reciprocity is a reasonable thought. If you're there at 3 and its not ready til 330 or 4, thats one thing. If you're there at noon, expecting a room around 3/330, and 5 rolls around and youre still waiting, they messed up.

If they want to avoid this issue, they merely need say on the reservation, your room will be ready at X time. Say 5, or 6, or 7. But, people would go to a different hotel, because that's not acceptable, they know it, thats why they don't do it. They count on scrimping on cleaning staff as much as possible and gamble that some people check in late. If they don't, they get to deal with it, thats the cost of doing it the way they do.

If it was as simple as the pp said, they'd merely change the time, but its not. Its a cost/benefit analysis by the resorts so dont be so willing to accept the cost for their benefit in this case. Its nothing you have to be rude about, but if they need to be reminded of the cost of their choices when they are incorrect, thats how it is. Check in actually doesnt start at 3pm at any disney resort. You can check in whenever you want that day, as I said I've done it pre 7am, but you have no reasonable expectation of a room until 3 and even then some slack is probably nice to give, but only to a point.

 

[marsrunner]

The actual wording in the legalese section of my reservation confirmation e-mail is

Resort Check-In/Check-Out
Check-in time is usually between 3 and 4 p.m. (some hotels have check-in after 4 p.m.), and check-out time is usually between 11 a.m. and 12 noon. During peak periods, check-in may be delayed one to two hours.

That's sufficiently vague. No concrete times on anything, even check-out.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We checked in this past trip, 2 weeks ago at 10:15am at the BCV. I was pleasantly surprised when the CM said, "Your room is ready". Gotta love it!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

We were just at All Star Movies last weekend (we got there at 2 on Thursday) and were told our room would be ready "between 3 and 5." When I said, "Isn't check in time at 3?" the cast member repeated very snottily, "Your room will be ready between 3 and 5." I explained that I would be happy to wait until3 but not 5, and that we did not want to leave our luggage with the luggage services because DH had brought a musical instrument ( a rather delicate $2000 musical instrument, but I didn't say that ). She just shrugged her shoulders.

I then asked if there were any other rooms in the resort that were ready, and voila! There WAS a room ready, but they would not have told us if we hadn't asked. They count on people not being assertive.

So know I know if that happens again (it happened to us once at Caribbean Beach, too), I will be politely assertive and, if the front desk clerk can't help me, I will ask to speak to a manager. Like you said, I don't mind waiting until 3, but I had a problem with waiting until 5!

I should emphasize that we stayed polite during the entire interaction, but the cast member would not have given us the ready room if we hadn't been assertive--she was definitely not voluntarily helpful.

 

[dburg30]

Doesnt sound like you needed to be assertive, all you had to do was ask lol..


As stated, check in time starts at 3pm, some places will let you check in early (like WDW). It's called 'check in' time, not 'rooms ready time'.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Doesnt sound like you needed to be assertive, all you had to do was ask lol.

Asking is being assertive. Yelling or being rude is being aggressive. I always try to make the point that being assertive DOES NOT involve rudeness.

 

[Deb & Bill]

But I agree with the PP who said the fewer requests, the easier it is for you to get into your room earlier. If you were the one who needed the higher floor, near the elevator with a view of the castle from the left, not directly by the pool, they may want to try to grant your wish. If you say, any room in my category, you have a much better chance of getting a room sooner.

 

[amgangi]

I'd just want a guarantee that at 3 I'll have my room ready. Not have to wait until 4 or later.

QUOTE]

On our last trip to Vegas our room wasn't ready until 3AM!!! We (and a lot of other guests) were not happy to have to wait esp after a long flight from the East coast. We were all compensated with a $100 credit for their 24 hr restaurant but unfortunately all those people who were put out were trying to get into said restaurant lol

 

[amgangi]

Disneyland Resorts do not allow you to check in prior to 3PM and your room might not be ready even then.

I was there over Mother's Day this year and we got into Paradise Pier resort early. Maybe cause we were on DVC points?

 

[PADISFAM]

so for a funny story.........we are here now at AKV, checked in on Tuesday & since we are DVC check-in isn't until after 4p......going to MNSSHP that night so we were just hanging around the resort, taking pics (lots & lots ), when bell services strolled behind me.............DH says 'turn around'.......me looking around (clueless as ever ...........huh?)............that's our luggage! ..............so we strolled along behind him...........& yep, our Keys worked & this was at 2:30p...........