Total Nightmare @ Disney

[brunette8706]

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

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[RescueRanger]

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).

Sorry, but that is a weak argument. You are making excuses for Disney. If "checking in" meant just checking in with the front desk to let them know you were there and not meaning you get your room, then why does Disney allow you to "check in" as early as 7am? Oh, that's probably because it's obvious. You can "check in" and get your documents as early as 7am, but your room may not be available until the 3 or 4pm "official" check in. By the way, I have not read most of this thread, but just saw the above post and had to respond. I can't stand it when Disney apologists think we should give WDW a pass for less than acceptable customer service.

 

[KellyNY]

I thought you were in diagreement with check-in/out times?

If there was an attitude problem with a cm, then definitely, that should be reported.

I agree and expect what I see when I book and definitely would not be happy if I do not get what was promissed but since I had no problems I personally see no need to write letters at all. As I said we discussed what someone else experienced (problem with both check in time and attitude), not my experience.

 

[KellyNY]

Sorry, but that is a weak argument. You are making excuses for Disney. If "checking in" meant just checking in with the front desk to let them know you were there and not meaning you get your room, then why does Disney allow you to "check in" as early as 7am? Oh, that's probably because it's obvious. You can "check in" and get your documents as early as 7am, but your room may not be available until the 3 or 4pm "official" check in. By the way, I have not read most of this thread, but just saw the above post and had to respond. I can't stand it when Disney apologists think we should give WDW a pass for less than acceptable customer service.

ITA with you. BTW, you can check in as early as 10 days online.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I worked at a hotel (a JW Marriott) for a few years.

11 am for checkout and 3 pm for checkin is very normal for any hotel. You need the time between to get the rooms cleaned. Even if you hired more people to clean rooms, which would cause an increase in room costs, you still can't store unlimited room cleaning carts which are needed to clean.

People checked out or just left their rooms. The front desk or housekeeping would check the rooms that people didn't check out of to see if they were still occupying the rooms. If not, the room was released (but automatically set to 'dirty'). Unfortunately, sometimes the hotel is so busy, and folks request late check out or just refuse to leave the rooms until they are ready, that all the rooms can not get cleaned within the time needed. Also, you prebook people into rooms based on their requests so when one person comes in at 4:15 and their prebooked room isn't clean, you can't always move them into another room without undoing potentially dozens of other prebooked rooms.

As a customer, you don't care about this process, but as someone who was on the other side of that desk, I have some empathy for them.

 

[larryz]

... our luggage was totally misappropriated and some never arrived until the next day...

I do not think you meant to say what that word means -- stolen -- and perhaps meant to say "misallocated" or "misplaced."

 

[nanalisa]

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.

Again, my trip confirmation from WDW says check in 3:00, so it should be a problem for you too. It's a problem for a lot of us. If we just stand there a smile while they tell us we can't get in our room at 3:00, then nothing will ever change. Like I said before, I love Disney as much as the next gal, but aren't they running a business here? I don't understand the complacency here.

 

[WDSearcher]

But checking in at a restaurant isn't checking in at a hotel, for starters. That is, unless they allow you to sleep on the table overnight. You don't have luggage with you, and supplies, and many other things that you can't just carry around everywhere while you wait.

When I check in at the restaurant, I'm carrying bags of stuff I bought, a camera, my kids. I sure would love to immediately sit down. I don't like having to carry that stuff around everywhere while I wait. At an airport, I have luggage with me, and supplies, and many other things that I don't want to just carry around everywhere while I wait. At least at a resort, I can give all that stuff to the bell staff, get my tickets and go play in the parks while I wait for my room. At a restaurant, I'm stuck hanging out in the waiting area, where there never seem to be enough chairs. I still don't see the difference, really. Checking in is either checking in or it's not.

And no, they don't guarantee it, because there are always exceptional circumstances. At Disney they have become "normal" circumstances.

Normal? Really? So ... the vast majority of the people who "check in" at 3pm are not able to get their room? I don't know how you could possibly know that. I'll bet an awful lot of people get their rooms the moment they "check in". (With the exception of those making special requests, which I think we can agree is a whole different animal.) Maybe we should do a poll to find out how many people had to wait a significant amount of time for their rooms after checking in to see if it really is a "normal" occurance or not.

So, at Disney, what is the difference before 3/4pm than after? Why is 3/4pm the "check-in" time? What great event happens at the tolling of the bell that signifies reality has changed?

Well ... if "check out" is 11am and (for the sake of argument) every single person checking out decides to wait until 11am to vacate their room, I would imagine that some industrial engineer somewhere calculated that it would take from 11am until, say, 3 or 4pm to clean enough rooms to allow most people to get their rooms upon check-in. Because, of course, Mousekeeping also has to clean the rooms of the people who did NOT check out and who expect THEIR rooms to also be ready no later than 3pm when they decide to come back for a nap or a swim or whatever. And I also imagine that if I owned a large resort and had rooms to clean and things to send to maintenance and regular rehab and laundry and employee breaks and such to take care of, that it would be helpful to have several hours between the time guests leave and the time guests start arriving to do that stuff.

I don't think that it was Disney who decided that 3/4pm is a "magic time". I think that's been an industry range for quite some time and across several continents. For the reasons listed above.

 

[WDSearcher]

Sorry, but that is a weak argument. You are making excuses for Disney. If "checking in" meant just checking in with the front desk to let them know you were there and not meaning you get your room, then why does Disney allow you to "check in" as early as 7am? Oh, that's probably because it's obvious. You can "check in" and get your documents as early as 7am, but your room may not be available until the 3 or 4pm "official" check in. By the way, I have not read most of this thread, but just saw the above post and had to respond. I can't stand it when Disney apologists think we should give WDW a pass for less than acceptable customer service.

And I can't stand it when anyone who posts an argument supporting Disney is called an apologist. Geez. I don't call the people who think Disney is wrong Disney-bashers, y'know? I respect their opinion and offer a counter for the sake of discussion. I don't chuck them into a negative stereotype.

To answer your question, Disney allows you to "check in" as early as 7am because it's their resort and they can. But it's funny .... people don't mind that Disney "breaks the rule" by allowing check-in prior to the stated check-in time so that they can get their tickets and enjoy EMH or start their package a day early, but they sure do get all upset if Disney "breaks the rule" by not having a room ready at the stroke of 3. Seems to me that if there's no problem bending the rule one way, there shouldn't be a problem bending the rule the other way.

 

[doconeill]

Well ... if "check out" is 11am and (for the sake of argument) every single person checking out decides to wait until 11am to vacate their room, I would imagine that some industrial engineer somewhere calculated that it would take from 11am until, say, 3 or 4pm to clean enough rooms to allow most people to get their rooms upon check-in. Because, of course, Mousekeeping also has to clean the rooms of the people who did NOT check out and who expect THEIR rooms to also be ready no later than 3pm when they decide to come back for a nap or a swim or whatever. And I also imagine that if I owned a large resort and had rooms to clean and things to send to maintenance and regular rehab and laundry and employee breaks and such to take care of, that it would be helpful to have several hours between the time guests leave and the time guests start arriving to do that stuff.

I don't think that it was Disney who decided that 3/4pm is a "magic time". I think that's been an industry range for quite some time and across several continents. For the reasons listed above.

I think you missed the point...what I am getting at is why say check-in is at 3/4pm, if checking in then is absolutely no different that if I checked in at 7am?? There has to be a reason why they tell you what the real check-in time is. Otherwise it serves absolutely no purpose.

I understand that they need to clean the rooms. And they have that time. Disney perhaps has to start being more strict about check out time. But I would think that the number of people failing to check out late is small, but the rooms still aren't ready.

 

[doconeill]

And I can't stand it when anyone who posts an argument supporting Disney is called an apologist. Geez. I don't call the people who think Disney is wrong Disney-bashers, y'know? I respect their opinion and offer a counter for the sake of discussion. I don't chuck them into a negative stereotype.

Funny, I was called that in the other recent TFH...

To answer your question, Disney allows you to "check in" as early as 7am because it's their resort and they can. But it's funny .... people don't mind that Disney "breaks the rule" by allowing check-in prior to the stated check-in time so that they can get their tickets and enjoy EMH or start their package a day early, but they sure do get all upset if Disney "breaks the rule" by not having a room ready at the stroke of 3. Seems to me that if there's no problem bending the rule one way, there shouldn't be a problem bending the rule the other way.

What rule breaking?? There is no rule that says they can't check you in early. Every hotel does it. They just tell you up front that your room may not be ready before the posted check-in time. It is supposed to be ready by the posted time though, when you can fully check-in. Again, why tell anyone that check-in time is at 3/4 if you are no likely (well, probably more likely but still not close to 100% like it is supposed to be) to get your room than if you checked in at 7?

So, you'd be OK arriving at 5pm, and being told that your room won't be ready until after 10pm? What's the limit?

 

[ols386]

Again, my trip confirmation from WDW says check in 3:00, so it should be a problem for you too. It's a problem for a lot of us. If we just stand there a smile while they tell us we can't get in our room at 3:00, then nothing will ever change. Like I said before, I love Disney as much as the next gal, but aren't they running a business here? I don't understand the complacency here.

My confirmation for October 27 says "check-in after 3:00 pm check-out before 11:00 am"

I typed it word-for-word. This is exactly what it says. Your confirmation doesn't have the word "after" 3 pm???

Just because it's a problem for a lot of you, doesn't meant it has to be a problem for me, because it isn't. If my room is not ready when I arrive, I go to a park, or go get something to eat, whatever. It's not a problem for me. I interpret that to mean that I am guaranteed to check-in after 3pm. Not any specific time after 3pm, just after 3pm. As stated before, most of the time when I arrive (which is usually around noon), I am able to check-in and get access to my room.

And I don't understand the uproar regarding this.

 

[Suellen]

My confirmation for October 27 says "check-in after 3:00 pm check-out before 11:00 am"

I typed it word-for-word. This is exactly what it says. Your confirmation doesn't have the word "after" 3 pm???

Just because it's a problem for a lot of you, doesn't meant it has to be a problem for me, because it isn't. If my room is not ready when I arrive, I go to a park, or go get something to eat, whatever. It's not a problem for me. I interpret that to mean that I am guaranteed to check-in after 3pm. Not any specific time after 3pm, just after 3pm. As stated before, most of the time when I arrive (which is usually around noon), I am able to check-in and get access to my room.

And I don't understand the uproar regarding this.

You should really just walk away from this thread. Take it from me... some people will just continue to brow beat you into submission that it IS in fact a problem for you ~ you just don't know it yet. Trust me ~ I've been down this road.

 

[doconeill]

I've already said, it really doesn't matter if is says "after" or not. "after" is in fact better wording in that it doesn't imply that YOU must check in right at 3pm - but the industry standard is that they should have your room ready by the time you check in, as long as it is after 3pm.

Not really concerned if it is a problem for you or not. But it is a problem for others.

 

[si-am]

Even if it says "check in after 3pm," that still implies that the room would be ready any time after 3pm. Like, 3:15.

 

[ols386]

I've already said, it really doesn't matter if is says "after" or not. "after" is in fact better wording in that it doesn't imply that YOU must check in right at 3pm - but the industry standard is that they should have your room ready by the time you check in, as long as it is after 3pm.

Not really concerned if it is a problem for you or not. But it is a problem for others.

If you are speaking to me, I stated that it was NOT a problem for me, because a pp stated that it SHOULD be a problem for me.

I agree that they should have your room ready by the time you check-in, as long as it's AFTER 3pm.

 

[larryz]

We don't make hospital rounds in our practice, the hospitalists do it for us so that helps.

"Hospitalists"? Are they the folks who take care of sick hospitals?

 

[maxiesmom]

Even if it says "check in after 3pm," that still implies that the room would be ready any time after 3pm. Like, 3:15.

So when does after become to far after? If 3:15 is ok, is 3:30? Or how about 3:45? I believe one poster(maybe the OP I'm getting a bit confused here) complained when their room was 1 hour late getting released to them.

Honest question: Would you all be happy to pay an additional $50 a night for Disney to hire more housekeepers in order to get all the rooms ready in a 4 hour window? Or do you think they should kick people out earlier, or make check in later? Because it is apparent they cannot get the rooms ready with the help they have in the window of time that they have. Which part would you want to change?

If you want all rooms available right at the time check in opens up, what would you do to make it happen?

 

[si-am]

So when does after become to far after? If 3:15 is ok, is 3:30? Or how about 3:45? I believe one poster(maybe the OP I'm getting a bit confused here) complained when their room was 1 hour late getting released to them.

Honest question: Would you all be happy to pay an additional $50 a night for Disney to hire more housekeepers in order to get all the rooms ready in a 4 hour window? Or do you think they should kick people out earlier, or make check in later? Because it is apparent they cannot get the rooms ready with the help they have in the window of time that they have. Which part would you want to change?

If you want all rooms available right at the time check in opens up, what would you do to make it happen?

I think Disney is doing enough price gouging across the board that they can certainly afford to hire extra mousekeepers. I don't really understand why I'd have to pay extra to have my room ready by the official check-in time. Perhaps Disney should say check-in is at 4pm or 5pm and then no one could complain.

Funny now the "nightmare experience at Disney" has turned into a thread about my room-not-ready experience, when I never said it was a nightmare. Just an annoying inconvenience.

 

[ols386]

So when does after become to far after? If 3:15 is ok, is 3:30? Or how about 3:45? I believe one poster(maybe the OP I'm getting a bit confused here) complained when their room was 1 hour late getting released to them.

Honest question: Would you all be happy to pay an additional $50 a night for Disney to hire more housekeepers in order to get all the rooms ready in a 4 hour window? Or do you think they should kick people out earlier, or make check in later? Because it is apparent they cannot get the rooms ready with the help they have in the window of time that they have. Which part would you want to change?

If you want all rooms available right at the time check in opens up, what would you do to make it happen?

I sure do not want them to hire additional mousekeeping staff, if it's going to raise the price of the room. I think the rooms are already fairly pricey.