Are most DVC check-ins at 4?

hblackb

BWV owner
Joined
Aug 3, 2011
We are staying at VGF in late August. Being new to DVC, and this will be our fist stay at a DVC resort. What is the norm for check-in times, is it really 4pm most of the time? Just wondering what people have experienced in the past at the WDW DVC resorts.
 
You can check in any time you like...we've done so as early as 7:30 in the morning.

But as far as room availability, that is hit or miss. You should definitely plan on not getting into your room before 4:00 pm. If you do get in before that time, just mark it up to good luck.
 
You can check in any time you like...we've done so as early as 7:30 in the morning.

But as far as room availability, that is hit or miss. You should definitely plan on not getting into your room before 4:00 pm. If you do get in before that time, just mark it up to good luck.


Yes, that is what I was getting at, room availability.

Thank you
 
Mousekeeping seems to have a shift charge at 4:00 so you will see a flock leaving from the resort backstage around 3:30, they get paid time off if they finish their section.

The majority of our stays, we are in the room between 3 & 4, Our latest was 7:30.

:earsboy: Bill
 


Mousekeeping seems to have a shift charge at 4:00 so you will see a flock leaving from the resort backstage around 3:30, they get paid time off if they finish their section.

The majority of our stays, we are in the room between 3 & 4, Our latest was 7:30.

:earsboy: Bill
Wow, 7:30 are they allowed to do that? Did they give some points back for that?
 
Wow, 7:30 are they allowed to do that? Did they give some points back for that?

Yes, they can certainly do that though in my experience it is not common. One trip at OKW we got into the room about 7:30 pm and a few times at other resorts around 5:00 pm.

If you look at what they say, they say that check in starts at 4:00 pm. They will not compensate any points if they aren't ready by then. Think of it from their side...it could be that some guest really trashed a villa and it needed longer than the usual clean up.

In my 20+ DVC trips we usually get in right around four. Earliest was 10:00 in the morning and latest was that 7:30 at OKW.

Bottom line...check in when you can, and pack some necessities to get you through the day as a carry on if flying.
 
We've had a 6 PM room ready experience twice, both times at BWV. Once we were given $100 room credit, once we got nothing. My DDiL has a way of getting perks! When we got nothing it was just DH and myself!
 


We have had about 25 DVC check ins since we joined in 2009 and only a few times did we have to wait after 4:00, the longest wait was at BLT when our 1BR was available at 5:30PM. I have noticed lately that more often than not we are getting into our studios by 2:00-2:30 PM. In fact the majority of times we are getting notice of room being ready within an hour or two of check-in or when doing online check-in from an arrival time between 11:00 am and Noon. In fact when I think about it all of our delayed check-ins were for the larger villas either 1 or 2 BRs. When doing a split stay we might check out by 8:00 am at one resort and check in at the other minutes later. Rarely has a room been available for these early check ins. Usually 4 hours later we will get notice that a room is available. Only at BWV were we able to move ourselves out of one villa directly into another when we downsized from a 1BR to a studio after four days. We have stayed at every DVC resort at WDW except for BCV and PVB.
 
Every single trip, we werent able to get our room until at least 4PM. One time at BWV, it wasnt ready until 5:20. Good news is, we were prepared for this to be the situation (bathing suits/sunscreen/flip flops in carry on) and were able to relax and unwind while waiting for the room! My advice would be to be prepared for a 4:00 room and if if it becomes available sooner than awesome!! Enjoy your trip!!
 
Officially check in is "after" 4pm, so yes you can possibly get your room later than 4 pm. 5:30 has been our latest.
 
With over 140 trips over 20+ years of DVC, we have gotten our room at check-in 3 out of 5 times. We usually check-in between 8am and 9am. Only once we were really late after 6pm.
 
One thing we've been lucky with is check in. The lastest our room ready call (or call to them) has been "yep, its ready" is 3:00. But there are stories about 7:00pm or after - and no, there is no compensation.
 
I guess I've been very fortunate! We've only gotten in after 4:00 twice, out of at least 20 stays. Both times were by 5:00. Earliest was 10:00am.
 
I only had one late and I pitched a fit. I got there at 10 am and at 5 PM they tried to tell me that NO ONE after me had gotten a studio. I didn't believe that and asked for a manager. That's when I found out that the problem was the family in my studio had not left and were not planning to. They had extended their stay but the idiots at the front desk never looked to see if I could be moved to an empty studio. I was assigned X and I would get X regardless! (This was BCV and it's the ONLY time I have done online check in there LOL!)
 
For our last trip during Spring Break this past March, we arrived around noon to BCV via MDE, and since we did online check-in, was told to wait for the text saying our room was ready. Had some lunch at the Boardwalk bakery and at 1pm got the text saying room was ready. Got in no problem with MBs and dropped off backpacks before going to Epcot for a bit. Of course YMMV, but the text alert was pretty nice!
 
Our room was not ready until abuot 4:45 at VGC a couple of years ago. The front desk cm gave us each a use anywhere (except RSR) fastpass.
 

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