What Time Do You Check In (DVC Resorts)?

[ceejay13]

We usually take the same flights and it usually gets in around 10:30 AM so we are usually there before noon. The last 3 stays we have been lucky enough to have our rooms ready also.

 

[WDWLVR]

We usually take an early morning flight so we'll check in about 11 or so. Most times the room isn't ready but our request is. Just drop off our things and hit Epcot. Then call and when the room is ready we head back.

 

[msdis]

We have had after midnight check-ins 3 times in less than 2 years and our rooms were as good if not better than an earlier check-in so I think it is just hit or miss and how they schedule the rooms according to how long you will be there and probably who checked out when.

Law of average says everyone has to get a crappy room once in a while. Once you know what the crappy rooms amount to, it's easy to see that an ok room is not so bad. I would say we have had crappy to fantastic and all inbetween. We have yet to have a good room at OKW and that's where we will be on Sat. Our optimism is not real high on this one though. Maybe we'll get lucky!

NS requests though should not be optional. We have had the displeasure of getting one by mistake or default and they really should not be optional. PU!!!!

 

[lsutigger2]

I think we have always checked in before noon. If we drive (11 to 12 hours) we break up the trip and drive about 8 hours the first day and the remainder of the trip on the next day. This trip (at the end of this week we will arrive at VWL about 9:00 am and we'll see if it has any effect on room.
The only time our room wasn't ready when we arrived was last year when we stayed at OKW.
This is an interesting poll. Thanks for thinking of it.

 

[lenshanem]

I agree Debbie. Our nonsmoking studio at OKW I think had been smoked in and then covered up by a deodorizer. I'm not 100% sure, but the smell caught you when you walked in. It was something that is for sure.

I'm curious about two things -

One, what day does everyone think is the best day of the week to check in? We usually check in on Sunday, but this last trip it was a Saturday night.

Two, what even guarantees you'll get a room you're thinking you're getting when it is not ready in the morning when you check in and they give you a card to call back for the room number. I've yet to be given the room number when I checked in early.

I'm pretty sure last trip to BCV we were bumped after we had checked in. The CM told us we were close to our parents room, then we we got our rooms later in the day and they were on opposite wings.

Thinking back to a VWL trip the CM there wouldn't even tell me what floor we were on. So how do I even know if checking in early really even helps my chances of a request being filled?

Seems to be that there must be a certain window when check in and requests being filled are at their best? Maybe around noon or very early afternoon as the rooms are being cleaned?

Thoughts?

 

[timC]

We usually roll into WDW around 3pm. We drive in from Houston, leaving home at 8am the day before, and stopping for the evening in Pensacola. The next day, we start out early am once again... and make a quick stop at Publix before we arrive.

I know a lot of folks want to get there early to try for a good room... Honestly, we've never been dissapointed with our room, when we get there in early afternoon... This summer, our standard view BWV room was terrific. I was so impressed with the view I actually called down to the front desk to double check they hadn't upgraded us.

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We usually drive down and arrive the night before. Spend the night at the CBR or POR and move over the next morning. So I voted 8am to noon.

But our November trip is just DD and me, so we're flying. We should check-in around 5pm. Since this trip was rescheduled from September, I'm happy just to have a room.

 

[MaryJ]

It doesn't seem to matter if we drive or fly, we check in about the same time......noon to 4:00. I think that every time our room has been ready. The only time we had to wait for a room was when we switched resorts mid-stay and got to the BWV before noon.

 

[Beast fan]

We typically arrive at the DVC resort before 2p.m. I like early a.m. flights out (before 8a.m.). Including changing planes in ATL or CVG, that puts us at the desired airport (SAV, PBI, or MCO) around 11:30-noon.
We've never had a problem getting our room when we arrive. We've also never had a problem with the non-smoking request. After reading this discussion, I'll keep your concerns in mind the next time we travel to DVC and mention it at the desk that...... if someone gets a room that has been smoked in, and complains, that I'll switch with them (same size room, of course!).

Dave

 

[disneyberry]

<font face="times" size="+0">Hey DrTomorrow.
I was fretting about late check-in a few months ago, and did a very similar poll:
What time do you usually try to check-in at DVC resorts?

The results for that one indicated between 10am and 4pm was the majority, spread out pretty evenly.

HTH!</font>

 

[MJTinNH]

Usually noon to 4pm. I like the mid-morning non-stop out of Manchester. That puts us in Orlando between 2-3pm. Quick stop @ the grocery store and we are at the check-in desk by 3:30-4pm.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We usually check-in around 11:00ish. Every time we have checked-in at either VWL or VB, we have seen absolutely zero evidence of a "room ready policy". We have asked at both places, and they looked at me like I had multiple heads.
In fact, my rooms have generally not been ready until 4:00.

MG

 

[MiaSRN62]

I voted for check-in noon-4 pm. We drive down from PA. It's a 17 hour drive so we stop for the night, usually in (southern SC). We try to get back on the road by 6-7 am so we can arrive in WDW at noon-1 pm to check-in. Last year we checked-in late (4 pm) to BWV during the height of a bad electrical storm and got a not-so-great PV room. Can't say for sure if checking in after our normal noon time got us this room or not.

Shan asked what day of the week we check in. It really varies. We've checked in on a Thurs and Sun usually, but this trip in a few weeks will be on a Tuesday. Wonder if this will lessen my chances for a good room since most people are already checked-in by the weekend ? I don't think too many people are checking out on a Tuesday. We will most likely be there around our normal noon-1 pm time. I'll be curious to see.

 

[lenshanem]

and they looked at me like I had multiple heads

Is there a smilie anywhere for that?!?

 

[Doug Wolfe]

I try to check in around 10am or 11am....I have been very fortunate to get in most of the time in the AM.