Why is the check-in so long at SSR?

[bunny]

We checked in on Oct 8 at 11 AM and waited in line for nearly an hour and then it took 1/2hr for check-in to be completed. At the time there were no rooms available which was fine but the wait time was terrible. That is the longest it has ever taken for us to check in to a resort. Did we just choose a bad time? Next year I think we will arrive on Saturday instead of Sunday. Does a Sunday check-in guarantee long check-in times? Secondly the woman who was checking us in spoke very poor English. And didn't seem to know how to use the computer system. Is that normal? We just bought DVC last year and were less than impressed with the CMs working at Saratoga Springs.

 

[dumbo71]

We checked in on Oct 8 at 11 AM and waited in line for nearly an hour and then it took 1/2hr for check-in to be completed. At the time there were no rooms available which was fine but the wait time was terrible. That is the longest it has ever taken for us to check in to a resort. Did we just choose a bad time? Next year I think we will arrive on Saturday instead of Sunday. Does a Sunday check-in guarantee long check-in times? Secondly the woman who was checking us in spoke very poor English. And didn't seem to know how to use the computer system. Is that normal? We just bought DVC last year and were less than impressed with the CMs working at Saratoga Springs.

I have to say this is the exception not the norm. SSR probably has many newer cm's still training. Many of the cm's switch around and work all of the DVC Resorts. I had a cm at OKW that also works at SSR.

Another factor in longer check ins is ME. Depending on how many people come in on the ME bus the wait could be considerable. You could have came in right behind a bus, who knows.

Hopefully you'll have a better experience next time.

 

[disneybride96]

We checked in on a Sunday about 10:30 am just a few weeks ago. Only about a 5 minute wait for us. They were training a new person. If she hadn't dropped my credit card behind the comupter, it wouldn't have taken long at all.

 

[tjkraz]

Does a Sunday check-in guarantee long check-in times?

Why did you arrive on a Sunday? Low points? Well, you're not the only one. Sundays are always very, very busy from a check-in standpoint.

As for the CM quality...it's not like they ship all of the bad CMs to one resort. You can run into that anywhere. Never hurts to comment, though. Even though the managers should be on top of that sort of thing, a little reinforcement helps. If you know the CMs name, send a note to DVC and SSR care of the resort manager and let them know about your experience. Unless circumstances were beyond her control (computer problems, etc.), it sounds like a little additional training may be in order.

 

[Sammie]

Since check out is at 11am it is possible you got caught in the check out crowds too. Also if a ME bus has just unloaded it is just bad timing.

We have checked in for 4 stays at SSR and never waited to be helped and our process took about 10 minutes.

 

[starbox]

I think check-in times are largely luck of the draw. We stayed at both OKW and SSR in August and the check-in at OKW (on a Sunday around 2pm) was horrible - the line was all the way out the door and the lobby was packed. I waited almost an hour and then the room was not ready.

Four days later, we checked in with no wait at SSR. CM was incredibly helpful, even offered to send a balloon arrangement at no charge when she saw it was DS's birthday (we've gone every year for his birthday and nobody has ever done anything like that). Our room was ready at 11:00 am.

I did not think of it as "SSR=good and OKW=bad" - I think it was just the luck of when I happened to arrive.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've never had a long wait at any of our DVC resorts. But we did see OKW right after the ME bus unloaded. The whole room was wall to wall people, lined up to check in. And every station was staffed with a CM. I would have hated to check in at that time.

 

[Sammie]

We've never had a long wait at any of our DVC resorts. But we did see OKW right after the ME bus unloaded. The whole room was wall to wall people, lined up to check in. And every station was staffed with a CM. I would have hated to check in at that time.

One day during our stay I need to go the Front Desk and just as I got to the Front I saw the ME bus coming up the drive. I ran in like something was on fire and all the CMs laughed and said ME bus coming???

I got finished and out of there before the stampede.

 

[Dizz42]

I did not think of it as "SSR=good and OKW=bad" - I think it was just the luck of when I happened to arrive.

Very aptly put. We've been members going on 10 years and I believe it truly is the luck of the draw. It's taken as little as 5 minutes and as long as an hour. Please don't be discouraged.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We've been doing this for 8 years and I don't think we've EVER waited to get to a CM more that 10 minutes. The only time we experienced a language difficulty was last year checking in for a cruise. It was a surprise and somewhat stressful because it was our first cruise and we wanted to be sure we understood everything we were supposed to do. Sounds like the ME has a real impact on any given moment. Sorry for your first experiences. Hopefully, it won't happen again.

 

[Granny]

Check in procedures at a Disney resort is a much lengthier process than a regular hotel. In addition to room assignment there are things like DDP, charging privileges on room cards, names on room cards, packets, etc.

And that doesn't even count the time spent "discussing" room assignments with people who haven't had all their requests met!

I've waited up to an hour at OKW and VWL. For whatever reason, our trips to BWV have had us checking in within 20 minutes every time.

I agree....luck of the draw, and not just a DVC issue.