Room ready changed…

[MarriedAtDisney]

We’ve been DVC members for 20+ years. Have a lot of points across multiple resorts. And I’m noticing a real trend of rooms not just not being ready by 4…but never being ready by 4. I realize the language is the checkin ‘starts’ at 4. But if you’re getting a room at 5 or 6 and you have to be out by 11. That just doesn’t seem reasonable.

 

[kanerf]

When the resorts re-opened after COVID, I do not think they brought back all of the housekeeping staff that they had before the pandemic and with a smaller staff, they cannot complete the work as quickly. In addition, more sanitizing procedures may have been put in place due to the pandemic which take longer to complete.

 

[tx911]

We’ve been DVC members for 20+ years. Have a lot of points across multiple resorts. And I’m noticing a real trend of rooms not just not being ready by 4…but never being ready by 4. I realize the language is the checkin ‘starts’ at 4. But if you’re getting a room at 5 or 6 and you have to be out by 11. That just doesn’t seem reasonable.

I agree. It's been 6pm for me the last 2 times.

 

[joeyB33]

Only been a member for 4 years but never waited past 3:15. Consistently have room around 2:00pm

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

I agree. But that’s a reason not to be ready by 4. As owners of the timeshares, I think we should set an expectation that rooms are ready BY 4, and then have Disney, as our operations agent, tell us what it will take to make that happen. If that means additional staff during peak times or whatever, fine, let us know what that is. I’d even be ok with a surcharge to have a room ready earlier if necessary.

 

[emchen]

We’ve been DVC members for 20+ years. Have a lot of points across multiple resorts. And I’m noticing a real trend of rooms not just not being ready by 4…but never being ready by 4. I realize the language is the checkin ‘starts’ at 4. But if you’re getting a room at 5 or 6 and you have to be out by 11. That just doesn’t seem reasonable.

Perhaps room sizes make a difference?

I hardly ever have a 1BR (or above) ready before 4. On the other hand, studios are often ready before 4.

Also, SSR and OKW during school months are also typically ready before noon no matter what the room size, for obvious reasons.

When the resorts re-opened after COVID, I do not think they brought back all of the housekeeping staff that they had before the pandemic and with a smaller staff, they cannot complete the work as quickly. In addition, more sanitizing procedures may have been put in place due to the pandemic which take longer to complete.

Definitely a factor if that is the case.

I agree. It's been 6pm for me the last 2 times.

Probably not studios?

Only been a member for 4 years but never waited past 3:15. Consistently have room around 2:00pm

Probably always book studios?

 

[RuntheMouse]

We rarely have to wait until 4 for check in. Quite frankly I’ve been shocked at how early our rooms have been ready lately. Every trip this year (5) our room has been ready early. The only place we’ve had to wait past 4 was at BWV.

ETA: This has been a mix of studios and 1 bedrooms.

 

[joeyB33]

Probably always book studios?

Had 1-Bed at Bay Lake ready at 10:30, 1-Bed at Boardwalk ready 11:30, 2-Bed at Beach Club ready 11:15, 1-Bed at Riviera at 1:45.

 

[Genie+]

I’ve noticed this too. Sometimes we get early check-ins. It is only in recent years that we’ve had late check-ins.

I am not convinced the wording ‘starts’ at 4pm was intended to imply WDW/DVC has the right to give you a room anytime that evening. My interpretation is check-in starts at 4pm so never rely on getting an early check-in. But legally the contract is 4pm check-in and 11am check-out. That is the terms. If they don’t deliver your room until 6, 7 or 8pm… they are NOT protected by that ‘starts’ at 4pm wording. There’s reasonable grounds to request a partial credit and if that fails, escalate via payment source of credit card. Now we can choose to be gracious and accept late check-ins, which so far we’ve done because in the big picture we’ve gotten plenty of early check-ins. But that’s not the same as meaning I must accept all 7pm check-ins. If 6pm check-ins became habit on their end I would start pushing back anytime it inconvenienced our plans.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

I feel that room type and resort probably has something to do with it too.

 

[Sandisw]

We have been fortunate that we have only had late rooms a handful of times.

It was brought up at one of the meetings and that not having rooms as close to 4 as possible is an issue.

While there was no real info, they didn’t seem to imply that we should at least let people know.

I think letting the board know would be good to keep them in the loop.

 

[CarolynFH]

I know for some time after reopening Disney was having trouble hiring housekeepers. I don’t know whether they now have what they consider full staff or not. I think that’s likely a large part of the problem.

 

[Tigger's ally]

I’ve noticed this too. Sometimes we get early check-ins. It is only in recent years that we’ve had late check-ins.

I am not convinced the wording ‘starts’ at 4pm was intended to imply WDW/DVC has the right to give you a room anytime that evening. My interpretation is check-in starts at 4pm so never rely on getting an early check-in. But legally the contract is 4pm check-in and 11am check-out. That is the terms. If they don’t deliver your room until 6, 7 or 8pm… they are NOT protected by that ‘starts’ at 4pm wording. There’s reasonable grounds to request a partial credit and if that fails, escalate via payment source of credit card. Now we can choose to be gracious and accept late check-ins, which so far we’ve done because in the big picture we’ve gotten plenty of early check-ins. But that’s not the same as meaning I must accept all 7pm check-ins. If 6pm check-ins became habit on their end I would start pushing back anytime it inconvenienced our plans.

Technically, when it says check in STARTS at 4 p.m. they are not giving anyone an ending time. STARTS at 4 and ENDS at 8 is what it could be for all anyone knows.

We were at OKW the last trip and it was 3:00 when our GV was ready for check in. It's always about how busy, what day you check in, etc. If you check in on a Wednesday for instance, there are fewer rooms turning that day but the staff should be there to do it quick. If you check in on a Sat or Sun, there is massive turnover.

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

Perhaps room sizes make a difference?

I hardly ever have a 1BR (or above) ready before 4. On the other hand, studios are often ready before 4.

Also, SSR and OKW during school months are also typically ready before noon no matter what the room size, for obvious reasons.


Definitely a factor if that is the case.


Probably not studios?


Probably always book studios?

Room size might be an issue. I don’t know how they sequence cleanings. It could also just be bad luck. It happens. But it has been the norm for us recently, and that shouldn’t be the case. I’m ok with rarely, but not 4 rentals in a row at different resorts over 1-2 years.

Ps, the people are always great…. I’m not complaining about them. I don’t know what the issue is, only our experience.

 

[Boopuff]

I also think the time a room/villa is turned over also depends on the size of the room and the extremely messy folks who can de-rail a cleaning team. It would be great if the rooms were ready right at 4pm. But there are so many moving parts in the hotel industry. And don't forget the people who linger well past the 11 am check out!

 

[Skywalker3]

Looked over our 3 stays/rooms for 2024:
March: SSR 1 bedroom, room ready text: 3:02
March: CCV 1 bedroom, room ready text 3:15
Oct: BWV 1 bedroom, room ready text 1:41
so, knock on wood, no issues getting rooms this year before 4, hopefully it'll stay that way

ETA that DH's solo trip stay in Jan, 2024, Riviera studio: room ready 12:06

So far, the one standout time that the room was ready late was at BCV, Oct, 2020, it was around 4:45 that room was ready, 1 bedroom at BCV.
also edited the above times, had been off an hour, for the 2024 stays, but still all were before 4:00, so that was good!!

 

[gmi3804]

The only consistent thing is the knocks that start at 8AM on check-out day. That’s what the front desk must feel like when we nag and demand before 4PM on check-in day.

 

[Tigger's ally]

I also think the time a room/villa is turned over also depends on the size of the room and the extremely messy folks who can de-rail a cleaning team. It would be great if the rooms were ready right at 4pm. But there are so many moving parts in the hotel industry. And don't forget the people who linger well past the 11 am check out!

Yeah, no offense to those with little ones as we were there many years ago, but my grand villa the last trip looked ready to move into when we moved out. Bedding was the only thing that was disturbed and we stayed 4 nights. We were all adults, at least by disney standards. We didn't eat in our villa either. Just had drinks in the fridge. Beer and water and some soda. It would have been an easy clean for the staff.

 

[Tigger's ally]

The only consistent is the knocks that start at 8AM on check-out day. That’s what the front desk must feel like when we nag and demand before 4PM on check-in day.

Now, I have never heard those at all, but we fly out early.

 

[muppets3d]

Technically, when it says check in STARTS at 4 p.m. they are not giving anyone an ending time. STARTS at 4 and ENDS at 8 is what it could be for all anyone knows.

We were at OKW the last trip and it was 3:00 when our GV was ready for check in. It's always about how busy, what day you check in, etc. If you check in on a Wednesday for instance, there are fewer rooms turning that day but the staff should be there to do it quick. If you check in on a Sat or Sun, there is massive turnover.

Check in starting at 4 means you can begin checking in at 4 - meaning your room should be ready then.