Rough start to DVCing.

[rynosmom]

We had similar issues while there in July. We had an early flight and arrived at SSR at 9:30am. We were fully aware that are rooms may not be ready but upon check in we too were told that they should be ready "soon". Rooms were ready about about 3pm no big deal but not "soon". Mousekeeping on check out day started the 1st knock at 8:30am. I explained that we had a late flight and would not be vacating the room till 11am. She proceeded to knock 2 more times and each time I reminded her that we were not leaving till 11am. I too think I will forgo express check out from now on maybe that will help.

 

[msp2mco]

We've learned through experience not to try to check in early. It works sometimes, but we'd rather be in the parks than waiting at the resort. Shortly after SSR opened, one of the rooms we had reserved wasn't available for hours after it should have been ready, and they compensated my brother-in-law $100 for the trouble.

The whole check out system could be improved if guests called Mousekeeping to say they were leaving their rooms. That would allow them to start cleaning the empty rooms right away and leave the other guests alone.

 

[zev]

I did NOT post this to complain! I just thought it was a rough start on the first day of our first vacation "home" and thought I would share. .

I think you should complain. It sounds like you were very reasonable and di not have a temper tantrum like some other DVCrs. (I hate when the low level employee gets the brunt of an abusive person) I would even say write it down and send it to member services, guest satisfaction, ssr managment etc. The front line cast members usually do a great job and the issue might even be in managment. Nothing wrong with wanting to speak to a higher up. And if that does not help I think a legit complaint on paper is ten times more productive then a verbal lashing. You may not get immediate satisfaction but in a corporate monster like Disney you need that paper trail for when they really screw up!!!

 

[vellamint]

We had similar issues while there in July. We had an early flight and arrived at SSR at 9:30am. We were fully aware that are rooms may not be ready but upon check in we too were told that they should be ready "soon". Rooms were ready about about 3pm no big deal but not "soon". Mousekeeping on check out day started the 1st knock at 8:30am. I explained that we had a late flight and would not be vacating the room till 11am. She proceeded to knock 2 more times and each time I reminded her that we were not leaving till 11am. I too think I will forgo express check out from now on maybe that will help.

I am trying to remember how to opt out of express checkout....its been sooooo long since I waited on a line at ANY hotel to check out!!! lol

I think I may do this also as we need to wait for the Disney Cruiseline bus which isnt coming until 12:45......I want to stay in the room as long as I can.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am trying to remember how to opt out of express checkout....its been sooooo long since I waited on a line at ANY hotel to check out!!! lol

I think I may do this also as we need to wait for the Disney Cruiseline bus which isnt coming until 12:45......I want to stay in the room as long as I can.

You'll need to be out by 11:00. No late check outs with DVC.

 

[toocherie]

You'll need to be out by 11:00. No late check outs with DVC.

I don't think they were talking about a late check-out--but how to opt out of express check-out so they could stay in their room until 11 a.m. and not be bothered by Mousekeeping. I would like to know that too.

Also, I thought at one point that rooms were assigned on a "room ready" basis? Is that still the case? (it must not be--since why would someone who checked in at 9:30 have to wait until late afternoon to get their room in that case?)

 

[vellamint]

You'll need to be out by 11:00. No late check outs with DVC.

I don't think they were talking about a late check-out--but how to opt out of express check-out so they could stay in their room until 11 a.m. and not be bothered by Mousekeeping. I would like to know that too.

Also, I thought at one point that rooms were assigned on a "room ready" basis? Is that still the case? (it must not be--since why would someone who checked in at 9:30 have to wait until late afternoon to get their room in that case?)

Yes.....thats what I meant. I plan on staying out at Jellyrolls LATE and do not want to be woken up by housekeeping. We will be out at 11!

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

I may be demanding.... but frankly it's not OUR problem that they "only" have five hours to clean all of the rooms... If you're going to be in this industry - you figure out how to do it.

I travel for work a LOT..... and hotels are expected to have a room for you by 4ish for check-in. checking in at 6 or 7pm is completely unacceptable when you are paying full fare for that 'day'. This feels like they are skimping on room service resources. figure it out DVC...

I usually start or end my day on cash (friday or Saturday) saving my points for mid week. If i paid (and i do) 500-700 for a two bedroom and i didn't get it until 7pm. I would be very very hot.

 

[BeccaG]

I may be demanding.... but frankly it's not OUR problem that they "only" have five hours to clean all of the rooms... If you're going to be in this industry - you figure out how to do it.

I travel for work a LOT..... and hotels are expected to have a room for you by 4ish for check-in. checking in at 6 or 7pm is completely unacceptable when you are paying full fare for that 'day'. This feels like they are skimping on room service resources. figure it out DVC...

I usually start or end my day on cash (friday or Saturday) saving my points for mid week. If i paid (and i do) 500-700 for a two bedroom and i didn't get it until 7pm. I would be very very hot.

Thanks for saying what i don't have the guts to say! I will wish pixie dust and flame suits for us both!!

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think housekeeping knows if you have express checkout or not. They will probably still bother you. I haven't heard of issues lately but for awhile there was problems with hangup calls on checkout morning, allegedly housekeeping calling to see if you were still in the room.

 

[hlyntunstl]

I don't think they were talking about a late check-out--but how to opt out of express check-out so they could stay in their room until 11 a.m. and not be bothered by Mousekeeping. I would like to know that too.

I've never had an issue as long as I leave the Do Not Disturb tag on my door as someone upthread mentioned until we're ready to leave. We use express check-out everytime. Not sure how to handle phone call though...is there a forward to voicemail on the phone? That would force them to check your room only to see the DND tag making them wait until at least 11 to knock.

To opt out of express check-out, I believe you just don't leave a credit card on file orindicate that you want to use a different card for room expenses than the one you may have added to your KTTW. On my last trip, I was told that as long as I had a card on file, I was all set for express checkout and didn't have to stop at the front desk.

 

[WDW Enabler]

We (DW, DD and myself) have been home about 3 dozen timesand only had to wait for a room twice. We normally do not have a view request or anything else except at SSR (we always want to be near Ms. Sundee at community hall). We have been lucky enough to get into our room as early as 6:15 a.m. at OKW once (don't ask it is a long story).

As far as mousekeeping... we have never had to say we are still in the room more than once but we do not relax in the room in the morning.

Michael

 

[MiaSRN62]

We had an incident one time at OKW on checkout day---we had been up very late the previous night for MNSSHP and we were sleeping in until last possible moment (left time to be out by 11 am). All bags were packed the night before. The phone rang twice early in the morning & woke us all up---we were not happy.
We did have Do Not Disturb sign out front. So now, we unplug the phone the night before checkout
We always use express checkout and have never had housekeeping knock on door when we had the sign outside.

ps : to the OP. I'd be ticked about the keys/lock thing. This happened to us at POP. We were exhausted having gotten in very late. I think we checked in around 12:30 am to 1 am. Of course, we were in the 80's section (pretty far from lobby) and they made us cart our luggage all the way back to the lobby to get new keys. New keys did not work either so the second time I demanded they come to me as I had had enough for one night. They ended up moving us closer so I had to cart luggage anyway.
Key issue at BWV too---but it was resolved pretty quickly.
Maria

 

[tjkraz]

I may be demanding.... but frankly it's not OUR problem that they "only" have five hours to clean all of the rooms... If you're going to be in this industry - you figure out how to do it.

I travel for work a LOT..... and hotels are expected to have a room for you by 4ish for check-in. checking in at 6 or 7pm is completely unacceptable when you are paying full fare for that 'day'. This feels like they are skimping on room service resources. figure it out DVC...

Of course, your typical hotel doesn't have to deal with consistent occupancy rates of 95+ percent. Nor are they typically cleaning 1000+ sq ft villas which can go up to 7 days between housekeeping visits.

Even though only a fraction of DVC members are on-line, if these issues were commonplace we would be hearing about it a lot more frequently. We'll never know the extenuating circumstances involved in any late room access. Could be an unexpected shortage of manpower, guests who refused to leave, a room that needed emergency maintenance, or any number of other things. You can only plan so much before Murphy's Law rears its ugly head.

With the way the current point charts are so weighted toward weekday stays, I have a feeling we may see less of this in 2010 and forward. The point reallocation will probably have many members reevaluating their arrival and departure days, and hopefully relieve some of the resort pressures witnessed under the current arrangement.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

Try out your points at a different resort, there are some that love SSR and some that hate SSR. Even though my first contract is there it is one of my least favorite resorts, having stayed at the Boardwalk and Animal Kingdom Lodge as well i'd have to say AKL is my favorite! Everything at SSR is so spread out and thinking of how inconvenient it would be if they gave you the wrong keys and you had to return them to the front desk. Twice at that resort I have been in the building which I swear is the farthest from everything (6427) and it would be so inconvenient to have that happen after a long day of travel. The layout of the resort and general inconvenience of the bus service is enough to make me want to sell my SSR points and attempt a BLT resale whenever one comes available. I still have my AKV points and am very happy with that purchase!