Separate Check-Ins?

[SuzGM84]

In anticipation of our upcoming trip, DH and I have been watching you tube vids of various resorts and Tim Tracker to get pumped up (not that we need it, but its much better than watching the terrible TV that is out during the summer...but I digress).

Anyways, in some of the videos we've been watching, some resorts look like they have separate check in desks for DVC rooms and some they do not? I know VGF is a separate building, so I'd assume that is a separate check in. But what about the rest of them? We don't want to show up looking like the total DVC newbies we are and go to the wrong check in desk (if there is a wrong check in desk).

And before anyone says "you can do online check in," we know that. We like to go to the check in desk to be sure the bands work, we get a room we like in a location we want, etc. etc.

 

[erionm]

BLT & VGF have check in desks in the Villas building which are open from 7 am to 10 pm daily. Outside of those hours you need to check in at the main building.

At AKV, you check in at the building you are staying in (Jambo House or Kidani Village).

 

[SuzGM84]

BLT & VGF have check in desks in the Villas building which are open from 7 am to 10 pm daily. Outside of those hours you need to check in at the main building.

At AKV, you check in at the building you are staying in (Jambo House or Kidani Village).

Thanks @erionm !! That's what I originally thought, but then I started overthinking things.... Appreciate the info from those in the know

 

[nicki.momof3]

Wilderness lodge has a seperate check in at the villas - I highly recommend it. Kirk is the cast member and he is amazing. He adjusted fastpasses, added come magic, and gave us the perfect room.

 

[disneynutz]

Wilderness lodge has a seperate check in at the villas - I highly recommend it. Kirk is the cast member and he is amazing. He adjusted fastpasses, added come magic, and gave us the perfect room.

Mr Kirk is one of the best CM's that we have ever met. We make it a point to stop by and see him when staying at CCV/BRV.

Bill

 

[disneynutz]

Is the BCV desk closed?

Bill

 

[CraigInPA]

And before anyone says "you can do online check in," we know that. We like to go to the check in desk to be sure the bands work, we get a room we like in a location we want, etc. etc.

You'll get the room that the room assigner has already assigned to you. If you don't like the location, you'll then get to wait until another room becomes available. If you're arriving in the afternoon or later, the chances of getting an alternative room that day are slim, at best.

 

[mustinjourney]

Is the BCV desk closed?

Bill

When I've stayed at BCV, I have always check-in at the main lobby. There is a concierge desk at the BCV lobby, but it doesn't seem to be manned regularly enough to plan on using it. Seems like there is just one person there, and if they have to go anywhere, you SOL.

 

[mustinjourney]

In anticipation of our upcoming trip, DH and I have been watching you tube vids of various resorts and Tim Tracker to get pumped up (not that we need it, but its much better than watching the terrible TV that is out during the summer...but I digress).

Anyways, in some of the videos we've been watching, some resorts look like they have separate check in desks for DVC rooms and some they do not? I know VGF is a separate building, so I'd assume that is a separate check in. But what about the rest of them? We don't want to show up looking like the total DVC newbies we are and go to the wrong check in desk (if there is a wrong check in desk).

And before anyone says "you can do online check in," we know that. We like to go to the check in desk to be sure the bands work, we get a room we like in a location we want, etc. etc.

BLT is separate from Contemporary. I'm not even sure if they can check you in from the contemporary. (*ETA -- they CAN check you into BLT from the contemporary desk)
VGF can be separate from main building -- but the main building will also check you in, regardless of what time it is.
PVB is in the main building.
As someone else already said, AKV depends on which building you're in.
BCV is at main building -- there is a concierge desk at the villas, but you never know if someone will be there.
BWV is the main building. Not sure if there is a separate concierge desk there. I certainly never saw it when I was there in Nov. 2017.

I assume SSR and OKW would only be main building since those are DVC only resorts -- although I have never stayed at either.
BRV/CCV -- never been there. As others have said though, it would appear BRV has a separate check-in. I'm assuming CCV does not since those are in the main building.

VGC has check-in at the main lobby.

 

[gillep]

BLT is separate from Contemporary. I'm not even sure if they can check you in from the contemporary.
VGF can be separate from main building -- but the main building will also check you in, regardless of what time it is.
PVB is in the main building.
As someone else already said, AKV depends on which building you're in.
BCV is at main building -- there is a concierge desk at the villas, but you never know if someone will be there.
BWV is the main building. Not sure if there is a separate concierge desk there. I certainly never saw it when I was there in Nov. 2017.

I assume SSR and OKW would only be main building since those are DVC only resorts -- although I have never stayed at either.
BRV/CCV -- never been there. As others have said though, it would appear BRV has a separate check-in. I'm assuming CCV does not since those are in the main building.

VGC has check-in at the main lobby.

Yes, they can check you in to BLT at the contemporary. I wasn't sure if BLT had a separate desk when we were there in April, and never bothered to look into it, so we just went to The Contemporary. They were able to check us in, and we were able to check our bags with bell services at The Contemporary while waiting for our room to be ready, when we called for our bags we just let them know where we had checked them and they were brought right up to us at BLT.

 

[Lynn CC]

In anticipation of our upcoming trip, DH and I have been watching you tube vids of various resorts and Tim Tracker to get pumped up (not that we need it, but its much better than watching the terrible TV that is out during the summer...but I digress).

Anyways, in some of the videos we've been watching, some resorts look like they have separate check in desks for DVC rooms and some they do not? I know VGF is a separate building, so I'd assume that is a separate check in. But what about the rest of them? We don't want to show up looking like the total DVC newbies we are and go to the wrong check in desk (if there is a wrong check in desk).

And before anyone says "you can do online check in," we know that. We like to go to the check in desk to be sure the bands work, we get a room we like in a location we want, etc. etc.

I never knew about Tim Tracker, thanks for the tip, I'll be glued!

 

[mustinjourney]

Yes, they can check you in to BLT at the contemporary. I wasn't sure if BLT had a separate desk when we were there in April, and never bothered to look into it, so we just went to The Contemporary. They were able to check us in, and we were able to check our bags with bell services at The Contemporary while waiting for our room to be ready, when we called for our bags we just let them know where we had checked them and they were brought right up to us at BLT.

good to know!

 

[disneynutz]

When I've stayed at BCV, I have always check-in at the main lobby. There is a concierge desk at the BCV lobby, but it doesn't seem to be manned regularly enough to plan on using it. Seems like there is just one person there, and if they have to go anywhere, you SOL.

At one time they checked DVC in at that desk. Gave you snacks and drink while they did it.

Bill

 

[mustinjourney]

At one time they checked DVC in at that desk. Gave you snacks and drink while they did it.

Bill

That would be nice

 

[bumbershoot]

We like to go to the check in desk to be sure the bands work, we get a room we like in a location we want, etc. etc.

I’ve never noticed that anything they do with bands at the front desk had anything to do with the door.

Kidani told me multiple times that the bands worked but when we went up there (andnwhemnwr had them go up for us twocenmore since the room was far away and the then husband was injured) the bands didn’t work.

We were told our rfid cards did NOT work and we needed to come back quickly to fix them, and we used the non working card to enter the SSR gate just fine.

The front desk doesn’t seem to know much anout if a band will actually work.

And you can ask about your room even if you’ve done online checkin.

 

[karrit2000]

I've never ever seen anyone at the desk in BRV. Always checked in in the main building, that's where ME drops you anyway. Last time I stayed there I spend 3 or 4 hours in the BRV lobby because I had a late afternoon flight on Check out day and wasn't up for going to a park. Saw a few life guards pass through a couple of times & the activity crew but no one was ever at the desk. Never saw anyone there the whole week I stayed there. They never even replaced the outdated times guides.

 

[gillep]

I’ve never noticed that anything they do with bands at the front desk had anything to do with the door.

Kidani told me multiple times that the bands worked but when we went up there (andnwhemnwr had them go up for us twocenmore since the room was far away and the then husband was injured) the bands didn’t work.

We were told our rfid cards did NOT work and we needed to come back quickly to fix them, and we used the non working card to enter the SSR gate just fine.

The front desk doesn’t seem to know much anout if a band will actually work.

And you can ask about your room even if you’ve done online checkin.

Agreed. Even though we checked in at the Contemporary when we were staying in BLT I asked the person at the front desk of BLT which way to go to get up to my room # and he said that he wanted to check my MB to ensure that it would work in the elevator because we were on the 16th floor. Well whatever he did worked fine for me in the elevator but when I got up to the 16th floor my MB would not let me into my room so back down to the guy at the front desk I went, it seemed he had no special insight into whether my MB would actually work or not. It has actually happened to us a few times that our MBs didn't work on the door and the person at the front desk never seemed to know why even after scanning it into their system.

 

[mustinjourney]

Agreed. Even though we checked in at the Contemporary when we were staying in BLT I asked the person at the front desk of BLT which way to go to get up to my room # and he said that he wanted to check my MB to ensure that it would work in the elevator because we were on the 16th floor. Well whatever he did worked fine for me in the elevator but when I got up to the 16th floor my MB would not let me into my room so back down to the guy at the front desk I went, it seemed he had no special insight into whether my MB would actually work or not. It has actually happened to us a few times that our MBs didn't work on the door and the person at the front desk never seemed to know why even after scanning it into their system.

I've had issues with MBs -- but only at BCV. And it was only my MB. My wife's worked just fine. I've started putting extra people on the reservation just to increase the chance that one of the bands will work. hahaha

 

[pharm55]

BRV/CCV -- never been there. As others have said though, it would appear BRV has a separate check-in. I'm assuming CCV does not since those are in the main building.

Just FYI - CCV can check in/out with concierge at BRV between the hours of 7am-3pm. Concierge we dealt with is Kirk and he was amazing!!!!!! He got us a room at 10:30am (we were moving from cabin to villa). Don’t know if there is anyone other than him or if he works every day but even if you don’t check in with him then make sure you stop and say hi as like someone else said he can adjust fastpasses and make some Disney magic.

 

[disneynutz]

Just FYI - CCV can check in/out with concierge at BRV between the hours of 7am-3pm. Concierge we dealt with is Kirk and he was amazing!!!!!! He got us a room at 10:30am (we were moving from cabin to villa). Don’t know if there is anyone other than him or if he works every day but even if you don’t check in with him then make sure you stop and say hi as like someone else said he can adjust fastpasses and make some Disney magic.

I agree, Kirk is one of the best CM's that we have met.

Bill