Total Nightmare @ Disney

[KellyNY]

It's been like that for years. Their policy is check-in after 3pm. And yes, I do find it acceptable.

If they said check-in is AT 3pm, and I don't have access to my room until after 3pm, then that would be a problem for me.

Personally, I couldn't care less where you stay.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not a problem, but obviously it is for you.

Can you point where it said STARTS or AFTER. See my post above, it is paste from my email from Disney, I do not see those words. Just because you accept it, does not mean it is right. Yes, it is a broken rule and yes, it is a problem.

 

[ols386]

If that's the policy, then I should be able to check in at 3:01 without any problems.

Saying that check-in starts at 3pm, is not the same thing as saying, you'll automatically be able to check-into your room at 3 or 3:01.

 

[brunette8706]

It's been like that for years. Their policy is check-in after 3pm. And yes, I do find it acceptable.

If they said check-in is AT 3pm, and I don't have access to my room until after 3pm, then that would be a problem for me.

Personally, I couldn't care less where you stay.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not a problem, but obviously it is for you.[/QUOTE]

*
Yes, it is a problem, and not just for me, but when people are getting to the hotel at 7 a.m. they should be getting the first available room. And, if I may add, it was unacceptable to a CM at the WL! She even told me that she understood why I was upset because the room wasn't made up till after 3:30. Just sayin............

 

[brunette8706]

Can you point where it said STARTS or AFTER. See my post above, it is paste from my email from Disney, I do not see those words. Just because you accept it, does not mean it is right. Yes, it is a broken rule and yes, it is a problem.

*
Exactly!

 

[ols386]

Can you point where it said STARTS or AFTER. See my post above, it is paste from my email from Disney, I do not see those words. Just because you accept it, does not mean it is right. Yes, it is a broken rule and yes, it is a problem.

Still don't see why it's a problem.

Why...is it a problem?

 

[tlbwriter]

Saying that check-in starts at 3pm, is not the same thing as saying, you'll automatically be able to check-into your room at 3 or 3:01.

The post I responded to didn't say check-in "starts at 3pm." It said "their policy is check-in after 3pm." To me, that means I can check in any time after 3 pm. It doesn't mean I can check in "some time after 3pm." They shouldn't need an unlimited window of opportunity. This isn't the cable company we're dealing with. And if that's what they're doing, they should at least tell it like it is. "You can check in sometime between 1 pm and 5 pm."

 

[ols386]

It's been like that for years. Their policy is check-in after 3pm. And yes, I do find it acceptable.

If they said check-in is AT 3pm, and I don't have access to my room until after 3pm, then that would be a problem for me.

Personally, I couldn't care less where you stay.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not a problem, but obviously it is for you.[/QUOTE]

*
Yes, it is a problem, and not just for me, but when people are getting to the hotel at 7 a.m. they should be getting the first available room. And, if I may add, it was unacceptable to a CM at the WL! She even told me that she understood why I was upset because the room wasn't made up till after 3:30. Just sayin............

Ya know, I'm not going to sit here and argue with you about it. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, as the saying goes.

If it bothers you, then that's your right to feel that way. It just doesn't bother me.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

OK... after my BLT experience, and all the posting re "at" vs. "begins at", etc., I decided to look up my confirmation sheet from my most recent DVC reservation (for May 2011).

At the bottom: "Check-in after 4:00 pm/Check-out by 11:00 am."

Hmmm...

This seems to say to me that rooms unavailable at 4pm is still abiding by the letter of their statement here? Then again, by the letter of the statement, 4:01pm is AFTER 4pm, and so my room should be ready then!!

Since they seem to be departing from industry standard, I personally think they should be more direct; an explicit statement like: "Check-in begins at 4pm (rooms not guaranteed to be ready at this time)".

But whaddo I know?!?!

 

[blondietink]

FWIW, i stayed at The Swolphin in August and couldn't get in my room for an hour and a half after check-in time. It was not that they didn't have a room ready, it was the fact that they didn't have the room I reserved available (2 queen beds with a balcony). Never got it either. I was ticked.

I also stayed at a Sheraton in DC in August and also had to wait an hour and a half after check-in time to get to my room. Yes, my cooler sitting in a hot car (it was 97 degrees out) was a real issue. To be fair, there was a strike going on at the hotel by the maintenance and housekeeping department.

So, it is not just Disney that doesn't have their rooms ready at the stated check-in time.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

...and have to tip bell services for something I shouldn't have needed.

True... good point.

 

[flicx]

Ok, but the bottom line is that Disney doesn't have to follow the rules of other hotels. It doesn't appear that they are having any problem getting people to stay at their resorts. As long as people stay at their resorts, and keep coming back to stay at their resorts, they won't change.

Wow,they can do what ever they want.Here is the mentality that drives me nuts,hey they get alot of people to go so(insert problem here)doesn't matter!!

 

[tlbwriter]

This seems to say to me that rooms unavailable at 4pm is still abiding by the letter of their statement here? Then again, by the letter of the statement, 4:01pm is AFTER 4pm, and so my room should be ready then!!

Since they seem to be departing from industry standard, I personally think they should be more direct; an explicit statement like: "Check-in begins at 4pm (rooms not guaranteed to be ready at this time)".

Yes, I think this would be a good, and accurate, way to put it. Because I DO think that "check in after 4 pm" means "check in any time after 4 pm."

 

[dqpowell]

Saying that check-in starts at 3pm, is not the same thing as saying, you'll automatically be able to check-into your room at 3 or 3:01.

I'm sorry, but you are just wrong here, there's no other way to put it. Your idea of what that phrase means renders any notion of a check-in time meaningless. It's no different than saying check-in time begins at 7 am. After all, some people can check in that early if their rooms happen to be ready. What you're doing is equating ANY check-in with EARLY check-in.

Check-in time has an industry-standard meaning, and WDW exists within that industry.

David

 

[doconeill]

Still don't see why it's a problem.

Why...is it a problem?

Because not everyone cares to arrive at their resort after check-in time and are told, "Sorry, you are too early, your room isn't ready, go away and come back in a few hours."

The post I responded to didn't say check-in "starts at 3pm." It said "their policy is check-in after 3pm." To me, that means I can check in any time after 3 pm. It doesn't mean I can check in "some time after 3pm." They shouldn't need an unlimited window of opportunity. This isn't the cable company we're dealing with. And if that's what they're doing, they should at least tell it like it is. "You can check in sometime between 1 pm and 5 pm."

You know, it really doesn't matter if it says, "at", "starts at", "after", or anything like that. Because they are referring to the time you can "check-in". When you "check-in", you are supposed to be able to take possession of your room. If the room isn't ready, then you haven't really checked in. Disney is choosing to redefine "check-in". If they want to, fine - they should word it as "you can generally check in after 4pm, but your room is unlikely to be available until after 6pm". But then, what's the difference between a 7am check-in and a 4pm check-in then? If you have to wait for the room in either case, why bother saying check-in is at 4pm? Just say it is at 7am and your room will be available whenever they feel like giving it to you, and be done with it.

What is really annoying about this is that this is so contrary to the Disney ideal. Disney is what used to set standards that exceeded that of others, and what others strived (and often failed) to meet. Now Disney is doing the opposite - failing to meet the standards of others.

 

[KellyNY]

Still don't see why it's a problem.

Why...is it a problem?

If you do not see why a broken rule is a problem then I cannot help you.

 

[flicx]

What is really annoying about this is that this is so contrary to the Disney ideal. Disney is what used to set standards that exceeded that of others, and what others strived (and often failed) to meet. Now Disney is doing the opposite - failing to meet the standards of others.

Yes I agree,well put

 

[dqpowell]

Disney is choosing to redefine "check-in". If they want to, fine - they should word it as "you can generally check in after 4pm, but your room is unlikely to be available until after 6pm". But then, what's the difference between a 7am check-in and a 4pm check-in then? If you have to wait for the room in either case, why bother saying check-in is at 4pm? Just say it is at 7am and your room will be available whenever they feel like giving it to you, and be done with it.

This.

It's the same idea I was getting at in my last post, but you stated it more clearly.

David

 

[ols386]

The post I responded to didn't say check-in "starts at 3pm." It said "their policy is check-in after 3pm." To me, that means I can check in any time after 3 pm. It doesn't mean I can check in "some time after 3pm." They shouldn't need an unlimited window of opportunity. This isn't the cable company we're dealing with. And if that's what they're doing, they should at least tell it like it is. "You can check in sometime between 1 pm and 5 pm."

I guess I've always thought that check-in was ANYTIME after 3pm. Although, most of the time my rooms have been available when I arrive, around noonish.

 

[KellyNY]

Ok, but the bottom line is that Disney doesn't have to follow the rules of other hotels. It doesn't appear that they are having any problem getting people to stay at their resorts. As long as people stay at their resorts, and keep coming back to stay at their resorts, they won't change.

I guess for me personally, it's not a problem. If I can't get into my room at 3pm, then it's not a big deal for me. I'll just go and do something else for awhile.

WOW, WOW, WOW....

Disney does not have to follow rules??? Those not rules of other hotels, those are industry rules!!! They do have problems getting people on property, why do they have all the promotions anyway? I just returned, with Free DP, parks were half empty, CBR rooms were standing empty. I never saw so many empty rooms in all my stays. Really, WOW.

 

[WDSearcher]

You know, it really doesn't matter if it says, "at", "starts at", "after", or anything like that. Because they are referring to the time you can "check-in". When you "check-in", you are supposed to be able to take possession of your room. If the room isn't ready, then you haven't really checked in.

So, if I "check in" for my reservation at Jiko and my table isn't yet ready, does that mean I haven't checked in? They find my name, check me off, hand me a little pager thingy, and tell me that my table will be ready soon. Doesn't all of that constitute being "checked in"? When I check in at the airport ticket counter, I don't get to board right then and there. So am I not checked in until I'm actually on the plane? I've shown my ID, they mark me as having arrived, and I'm at the gate waiting until I'm allowed to board. Doesn't all of that constitute being "checked in"?

Checking in means that you've made yourself known to the checker (in the case of a resort, the front desk) and they have noted your appearance on whatever list they check you off on. It doesn't mean that you instantly get a room (or seat or table).

The dictionary definition of "checking in" is "act or instance of showing one's ticket to or registering with an authorized agent, as in an airport or hotel". It says nothing about taking possession of your room. Checking in tells the resort that you're there, nothing more. While it is common practice to have a room available for you at that time, I've never seen a guarantee of that on the resort documents (at Disney or anywhere else).