"Room-Ready" vs. "Pre-assigned Room": Policy?

[Deep-Thots]

Many times on these boards, posters have made mention of the fact that DVC has adopted a "room-ready" policy with regard to check-ins.

Can someone tell me whether this is, in fact, a hard and fast policy? Is it written down somewhere, or is this just what people have been told is the "unofficial rule"?

Info greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

 

[RobDoc]

Here is a recent thread that addresses the issue. Basically, it is a policy adopted by the resorts themselves to facilitate check-in procedures.

<a href="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=739623">Check-in Policies</a>


Enjoy!

 

[dianeschlicht]

When I called to change my January reservation, I specifically asked about this because I had a very knowledgable MS cast member. She said that all DVC resorts were basically doing "room ready", but that each resort had a room comptoller who pre assigns rooms for each day. By that, she meant that medical requests were given priority and after those, it was basically a free for all.

 

[Deep-Thots]

When I called to change my January reservation, I specifically asked about this because I had a very knowledgable MS cast member. She said that all DVC resorts were basically doing "room ready", but that each resort had a room comptoller who pre assigns rooms for each day. By that, she meant that medical requests were given priority and after those, it was basically a free for all.

After reading through the thread recommended by Doc and reading your response, Diane, I think that it is entirely a free-for-all based upon resort and who happens to be in charge that day/week.

I tried to check into the BWV at 11:30 AM this past Wednesday and was told my studio (requested NS due to medical reasons, non-HA) wasn't ready (carpet shampooed), but that my requests had been met. Great: I was willing to wait for that!!

(I'm one of those people who would change vacation dates to insure that I don't get a smoking room. I'm much less vociferous about HA; it has just been my unfortunate experience that I tend to flood the floors in bathrooms with roll-in showers, and then almost always slip, nearly cracking a bone of some sort in the process.)

Checked back at 1:30. Still not ready. Finally, at 3:55, ready.

So, it was very clear that BWV was not following (at least on that particular day, during that particular time, with me particularly ) a room-ready policy. I know this because my niece and I hung out mostly in the lobby during that time (it was pouring and cold), and I saw two other people who were checking in during those hours happily receive at least NS studios (not sure about HA: no one remarked on it).

Sadly, after my wait, it turned out that neither one of my requests was granted. To make a long story short, however, one of the bellmen took pity on me and interceded with "Ops," enabling me to secure a room-change the next day.

Anyway, this is kind of a long way of saying that I think the MS CMs have very little idea of what's really going on at the resorts with regard to room assignments and check-in.

I just wish Disney would be consistent and adopt some sort of standard policy.

(And, on a side note, there is no way it takes five hours for a carpet to dry. For heaven's sake, my husband and I own a residential carpet steamer/shampooer (is that a word??)/cleaner, and it leaves the carpets almost dry when we're done running the machine over them. Surely the industrial-strength gadgets employed by Disney must be of much higher quality than our piddly little residential model??!! )

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I just wish Disney would be consistent and adopt some sort of standard policy.

I agree. On one trip we switched resorts 1/2 way through. The first resort (VWL) was not using a room ready system but at our second resort (BCV) they were.

HBC

 

[tjkraz]

After reading through the thread recommended by Doc and reading your response, Diane, I think that it is entirely a free-for-all based upon resort and who happens to be in charge that day/week.

Perhaps not an all-out free-for-all, but I agree there is no consistency.

In December we stayed one night in a studio at BCV before moving to a 2B at SSR. During our BCV check-in, I was told that all of our requests were met (they were), but our room was not yet ready. Got into the room around 2:30-3pm if memory serves.

The next day we checked into SSR at 10:30am. The CM showed us a map and indicated the three rooms that were ready for occupancy and let us select our room. We were unpacking 15 minutes later.

 

[rmontgo892]

Perhaps not an all-out free-for-all, but I agree there is no consistency.

In December we stayed one night in a studio at BCV before moving to a 2B at SSR. During our BCV check-in, I was told that all of our requests were met (they were), but our room was not yet ready. Got into the room around 2:30-3pm if memory serves.

The next day we checked into SSR at 10:30am. The CM showed us a map and indicated the three rooms that were ready for occupancy and let us select our room. We were unpacking 15 minutes later.

Did you have a lot of requests? Was BCV more "crowded" than SSR?? Did you arrive/check in at BCV later than SSR? It sounds like room ready did in fact "work" though because your studio was ready before 4pm?

Don't hold me to it, but over the years we found checking in with points or cash at an "early time" seemed to get us in quicker to the room. I am sure there has been an exception but for the life of me I can't remember??

 

[tjkraz]

Did you have a lot of requests? Was BCV more "crowded" than SSR??

Same requests for both: Non smoking and one view request.

The dates we were there were December 10-17. My guess is that both resorts were at capapcity since this is the low-point, high-demand December period. People here trying to get reservations for similar dates were reporting zero availability at any of the DVC resorts.

Did you arrive/check in at BCV later than SSR?

Actually we arrived at BCV earlier--about 9am vs. 10:30am at SSR.

It sounds like room ready did in fact "work" though because your studio was ready before 4pm?

Absolutely. I wasn't trying to comment on either system in my prior post, but I don't mind admitting that I'm a big fan of Room Ready. It's my understanding that under RR you aren't obligated to take a room just because it's immediately available--you can still wait for something to be cleaned later in the day if it will meet requests.

But I think it's great to get folks into the rooms when they are ready. For our next trip, we arrive in Orlando around 10am (only direct flight available from our home airport.) My first stop will be to check-in at the resort. If we get a room right away...great. The kids can have the early-afternoon nap in the room they are used to. If not, we'll head over to Epcot until 4pm.

The big downside to Room Ready is that the late arrivers may get stuck with the undesirable rooms. The reality is no system will please everyone. IMO, the best thing they could do is pick one system and stick to it.

Don't hold me to it, but over the years we found checking in with points or cash at an "early time" seemed to get us in quicker to the room. I am sure there has been an exception but for the life of me I can't remember??

That's the goal of Room Ready. When rooms are pre-assigned, I can't imagine it matters whether you arrive at 9am or 9pm--when housekeeping (and perhaps maintenance) releases the room, the guest is granted access.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I tried to check into the BWV at 11:30 AM this past Wednesday and was told my studio (requested NS due to medical reasons, non-HA) wasn't ready (carpet shampooed), but that my requests had been met.

Hey Deep-Thots looks like we were in BWV at the same time. I didn't have a problem getting my studio on Tuesday but the only thing I asked for was Non-smoking. When I checked in I also asked about a room near an elevator. I got one on the lobby floor overlooking the quiet pool...could've been worse I guess...I know the DVC was on the full side because I made my reservation at the last minute.

Someone on another thread suggested requesting a room with a tub rather than non-HA...this was under the theory that a quick reading CM might only see the HA part of the request.

 

[eileenfk]

A room-ready method makes sense only where rooms are equal (at least as far as things requested).
Otherwise it makes the more sense to do

1) medical
2) date reservation was made

I know that I am never again taking the red-eye flight, to insure I get there in time to get a decent room.
(I did end up with a very nice room, but I don't think I needed to arrive that early to get it).

The more things they make part of the basic room type, known to be availabe when the reservation is made, the easier room assignment will become.

- Eileen

 

[Deep-Thots]

Hey Deep-Thots looks like we were in BWV at the same time. I didn't have a problem getting my studio on Tuesday but the only thing I asked for was Non-smoking. When I checked in I also asked about a room near an elevator. I got one on the lobby floor overlooking the quiet pool...could've been worse I guess...I know the DVC was on the full side because I made my reservation at the last minute.

Someone on another thread suggested requesting a room with a tub rather than non-HA...this was under the theory that a quick reading CM might only see the HA part of the request.

Too bad we missed each other!

While I didn't make my ressie at the last minute, I surmised that the resort was full based on the fact that they had no NS/Non-HA available for me to switch to until the next day. To be honest, I was kinda hoping that BWV was following the room-ready policy when I checked in (as they appeared to be when you checked in). Oh well.

The tub request is a good idea if you are in a studio. In a 1BR, though, that request wouldn't necessarily work since you already have a tub there -- a big one at that!

I just wish DVC would pick one policy and stick with it.