slow poly check in

[bfosbenner]

I am just back from my DCL 4 night and 3 nights and Poly. DCL was wonderful!! But after the hour drive from port to check in at Poly, I was disappointed at the almost half hour wait just to get to check in. It seems evident to me that there are cutbacks that affect service. I have never waited that long at any Disney hotel. The CM just appologized and rolled her eyes when I said that my wait took half a long as my drive from port.

 

[epcotfan]

I've had long waits checking into other Disney Resorts as well. I've had long waits at the All Star Music and CBR. Shortest check in was at the Contemporary. My mother had to wait for an hour in line at CBR (Nov 2001) before she got to the registration clerk. Mind you she checked in on a Sunday morning. I guess it depends if a large tour group arrives ahead of you or the day of the week. Saturdays and Sundays tend to be really busy.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

I was disappointed at the almost half hour wait just to get to check in.

There are so many tragic events occuring throughout the world, I only wish my greatest disappointment was a half-hour wait to check in to The Polynesian Resort. Besides, the CMs provide exceptional personalized service (in my opinion) and take the time at check-in to confer upon everyone that most unique Disney hospitality we have all come to expect...

 

[dznyntnh]

Sometimes I have to wonder if some people's expectations are just a little too high.

A half hour wait for check in, depending on the time of day is not that bad. It's certainly no worse than waiting at the grocery check out line or getting stuck behind someone in the Wal-Mart line.

You're on vacation and you have expectations, but so do everyone else in front of you.

We checked into POR in November, 2001, the Saturday they decided to close POFQ and move everyone to POR. MY mother and two friends stood in the check-in line for almost 2 hours and this almost ruined a surprise for one of mother's friends that we had planned for almost a year (her daughter was arriving from MCO with me). But, we didn't let a little inconvenience on our first day ruin a great trip.

You're on vacation. Lighten up! A lot worse things can happen to you.

 

[TLinden16]

Were there a lot of other people from your cruise line bus checking in at the Polynesian that day? Unfortunately, when there is an influx of people from the Disney Cruise line bus checking in, it causes backups. When we stayed at the CBR, we got there right after a busload of people from the Disney Cruise line, and we had to wait about 50 to check in, and then another half hour to get a bellman to take us to our room in a van.

What time of day did you check in? No matter what hotel I stay in anywhere (not just Disney), there are always long waits when I try to check in between about 10:30 and noon because so many people are trying to check out at that time.

I hope that the wait was your only disappointment on your trip.

Karen

 

[peachgirl]

There are so many tragic events occuring throughout the world, I only wish my greatest disappointment was a half-hour wait to check in to The Polynesian Resort.

I don't believe the op said that the wait was their greatest disappointment in life. Like us, I'm sure waiting an excessive amount of time to check-in was a bit frustrating. Compared to famines, death and destruction, it rates pretty low on the scale. However, on vacation, prompt service is fairly important to some people, including me.

"It's certainly no worse than waiting at the grocery check out line or getting stuck behind someone in the Wal-Mart line"

When they start charging me at the grocery store what they charge me at WDW, then the two will become comparable. I really expect better service from WDW than I do WalMart.


This is coming from one of the greatest Disney defenders of all time. Unfortunately, the severe cutbacks in staff and services were painfully evident on our last trip. I realize that reduced attendance results in reduced services. I guess I prefer a fully operational WDW rather than cutbacks and bargain prices.

 

[dg39]

I only wish I were there now waiting on that long line to check in. That may be the only line I don't mind waiting. Actually last year for our stay at he CR, the line wasn't long at all. We only waited a few minutes, it was really short. But the wait for our room to be ready was another story. I do know that check in is at 3pm, so I'm not complaining. We just came from driving from NJ. and we got there around 10:30 am. We waited & waited & waited so long for our room. We didn't complain, because we had no right to. My kids walked around the lobby, visited the gift shop & went near the pool. I grabbed a cup of iced coffee & just sat there people watching. Yes it was a long wait, but one I did kinda enjoy. Its easy to understand when you check in, your full of excitement to get to your room, unpack & start your vacation.

 

[LvsTnk]

Arrive after midnight, they address you by name when you pull up to the entrance and all your paper work is ready to go. Needless to say that is about the only good thing about checking in that late No Lines No Waiting!

 

[bfosbenner]

Ok, OK, OK! I guess I was just lucky the other 6 or 7 times. And I was trying to use my time wisely since our time was limited. It was 9:30 am and there were only 2 people in front of me with only 2 CMs helping but one disappeared for a while. I had higher expectations than my usual Port Orleans or Wilderness Lodge checkins since it was a "Deluxe " resort on the monorail. We needed our KTTW card to go to the parks. I just expected more CMs.

 

[Geoff_M]

I've had long waits on occassion too with minimal people in front of me, but a lot of it has to do with business is being transacted in front of you. As most hotels, you walk up and give them your name, credit card and frequent flier number, ask about room preferences, and you get the key and you're all set. At WDW on check-in the person in front of you may also be:
Purchasing park tickets.
Setting up charging on their room key.
Purchasing E-night tickets.
Checking or making PS reservations.
Asking basic questions about WDW transportation.

I clocked one family in front of me at the Poly and it took 15 minutes to transact all the stuff the guy needed. The CM wasn't goofing off or chatting with the guy.

I'd also guess that at 9:30 AM they don't have a lot of people available to work the front desk.

 

[>>^..^<<]

I agree with the OP - nothing worse than waiting, and waiting... but to me it depends on one thing.

If there is a big line up and only a couple of CM's with lots of empty - unstaffed - check in spots... this drives me nuts and I would be the first to ask that they send some more staff out immediately. (manager, assistant manager, there are people back there that can "fill in")

However, if there is a decent amount of CM's and it is just that too many guests arrived at the same time - then I will patiently wait - they are doing the best they can.

I hate when this happens at the bank... 10 empty teller spots - and a huge line up.

>>^..^<<

 

[Cris]

30 minutes is crazy!! At Deluxes the managers usually freak out if someone is waiting. But then again it is the poly so I guess they are so relaxed lol.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have always had a wait of over 30 minutes at POR. But, we've always been checking in mid-afternoon. I figure I'm doomed at the Polynesian this August. We'll be checking in around 3:30-4:00. The lines will probably be horrendous. But, I'll be getting my e-night passes so I'll be patient!!

 

[deb305]

I agree with OP, 30 minute wait for a deluxe is not acceptable. I've traveled a lot for business, and most hotels take less than 20 minutes for check in. Yes you are on vacation but is your family time any less valuable than a business persons? 30 minutes to an hour check in with children in tow isn't the best way to start a vacation. At least at WDW it is quickly forgotten.

 

[lexiluke]

Sometimes it's all in the way things are handled that can make the difference in one's impression of an establishment. If the wait for those in line is becoming a bit long, someone should come out and apologize for the wait, explain why it is taking extra time, and offer coffee or a soda to those waiting. This would make people less resentful, and if they understood the reason for the hold up, maybe they would also become more patient.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi deb305.

I've traveled a lot for business, and most hotels take less than 20 minutes for check in. Yes you are on vacation but is your family time any less valuable than a business persons?

I, personally, don't see the accuracy of comparing the check-in at a WDW resort to a business person's check-in at a major city locale. It is precisely because of the valuable nature of family time that Disney check-in takes a bit longer than the typical business-abrupt procedure. The CMs have ALWAYS made sure we had all of the information necessary to make OUR vacation "magical." A few extra minutes per family can make a substantial difference in the quality of each guest's visit.

30 minutes to an hour check in with children in tow isn't the best way to start a vacation.

My son is well-behaved to begin with. He is also disciplined enough to wait - impatiently perhaps - but certainly not without consideration for the other guests awaiting check-in. As a matter of fact, I have noticed the inability of many a business traveler to adjust to those delays which seem to inevitably stalk us all at one time or another.

30 minute wait for a deluxe is not acceptable.

It seems ok to me. Guess I'm a cheap date...

 

[lucysdad]

We just got back from the Poly and our check in took only 10 minutes. if it had taken 30 I would have been been more than disappointed, I would have been calling for the manager. When you pay a fortune for a holiday you don't want to waste time standing in a line waiting for the privilege to give them your money so your holiday can start. There are enough lines as it is. Your first impression should be magical!

 

[KathyTX]

I also get frustrated with the long waits at the Poly check-in, and expect better service. I really don't think that waiting in a check in line for 30 minutes or more (absent any unusual circumstances) should be expected.

I DREAD the check in experience on every Polynesian visit.

(In March we stayed in the concierge building for the first time. Check in was a breeze- quick, painless, and comfortable! You never even enter the main building- You're whisked directly from your car to the concierge lounge. Wish I could afford to travel that way every trip! )

 

[LadyLt]

Originally posted by deb305
I agree with OP, 30 minute wait for a deluxe is not acceptable. I've traveled a lot for business, and most hotels take less than 20 minutes for check in. Yes you are on vacation but is your family time any less valuable than a business persons? 30 minutes to an hour check in with children in tow isn't the best way to start a vacation. At least at WDW it is quickly forgotten.

Ok, I'm going to steal a story from a co-worker. This was more then a year ago, before I went to work at the Polynesian. After waiting awhile a man came to her station to check in. He was furious that he had been forced to wait to check in and he displayed quite a bit of attitude to her. She continued checking him in and he wanted to talk about his room location and view. Then he wanted to know what type of park tickets she could sell. He selected his tickets and had those added to his reservations. Then he wanted to know about character meals and make a couple of Priority Seatings. And then he wanted to know about e-ride nights. She said he suddenly stopped and looked at her and grinned. He said "The guy before me did the same things, didn't he?" She smiled back and said "Yes." Then he said "And the one before that, and the one before that." She said "Yes." She said that he then laughed out loud and apologized for the attitude that he had given her. She says that to this day, he is one of the favorite guests she has ever checked in.

Some of you may expect the five minutes, no talking checkin that the businessman gets in a large city hotel. But how many of you have tried to talk the CM into giving you a certain area? How many of you have bought your e-tickets at check in? How many want to ask questions about the resort or the parks?

One of the main ideas of a deluxe hotel is that you get the attention and information that you need. If you go to a value or moderate resort, you stand in one line to check in and then you go stand in another line to make P.S. or pick up dinner show tickets. We don't send people off to a second line. We try to do everything that the guest needs or wants.

I want to add one more thing. There are certain periods everyday when we stand around with no one waiting to check in. Then a Mear's Shuttle or a Disney Cruise Line bus will arrive and the lobby will be a mad house. It takes 30 minutes or more to get all of those guests checked in. If it makes you furious to have to stand in a line, why not get a drink in the coffee shop? Or enjoy the lobby and explore the immediate area for a few minutes? This may not work in the busiest seasons of the year when bus after bus arrives. But it frequently is a boom or bust situation on guests waiting to check in.

 

[mamamia]

I've only gone to Disney 2 times. But in my planning I allowed a little over an hour from the time we land to get from the airport to Disney - (via a towncar), and then another 1 hr. to get through the check in line and into our room. I know I allot more time than necessary, but this way I don't get stressed out.

So when we went to the Contemporary last November, I was shocked that no one was in line to check in. I saw so many people at the airport who were on there way to Disney (I convinced myself that they were all staying at the same place as me! LOL) and I was prepared for a long wait. I was so surprised when we walked in to the lobby and no one was there and our room was ready. It was 10:00 a.m.

I am hoping that for our upcoming trip in Sept. at the Contemporary that the wait will be short, but I am preparing myself for a long wait.

Like a previous poster said, if there's a long wait I will have my DH takes the kids to the game room or get something to eat, or browse the gift shop.