The "New" Age-Old Question..online check-in?

[CathieArms]

Okay, so I know it's all an individual thing and everyone has different experiences. Let me tell you my scenario and I'd love to have feedback on whether to do online check-in or not.

Checking in on a Monday morning for 10 days (in June).
Expect to arrive between 10:30-11 a.m.
2 BR at Beach Club Villas
Room requests: Dedicated 2BR and prefer a high floor on Epcot side.

The only thing I really care about is the dedicated 2BR, and I'd prefer it be on any but the first floor. The rest isn't that important.

Thoughts? It would be awesome to check in and not have to wait forever for a room.

 

[glammadiva]

I'm pretty easy going and have never gotten a bad room location and I do online check in. Your room may not be ready, but you might be
glad you did online check in should you arrive with an ME. I'm going in 19 days and will be doing online check in. Have a great time!

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I mentioned that I intended to use on-line checkin at the BCV a few months ago on the YC & BC thread.
I was advised by someone who works there, as well as others who have gone before me, that it wasn't necessary....
I haven't yet stayed there, nor have I ever done on-line check in, so I can't speak from personal experience.

 

[kaffinito]

When you do online check in you can put down your arrival time. I think you would have a better chance of having a room ready for you if you did online check in. I have used it myself when I'm arriving early at a resort.

 

[Sue M]

If you are willing to take what is given to you at check in, then do the on line check in, this is what it is meant for, grabing your stuff & going. No changes.

But, if you think you will ask for a different room, if you aren't given what you requested, then I'd do traditional check in.

This is what was recommended to be by a BC CM. So I plan on doing Traditional check in, because having a full balcony is important to me, and i will ask at check in (nicely) if one is available if I'm not assigned one.

 

[kaligal]

I did the online 3 or 4 times. One time it was quicker. The other times, I'd have waited less in the regular line.

The only request I ever made was to get a water-view room that I'd paid for, but was not available. We didn't get it and I was very upset about the whole thing. But that's a whole other story and a long one, at that.

Except for that one time, I've always gotten what I paid for and have been pleased as punch with my rooms.

 

[creativeamanda]

If your requests are important to you, and you feel you will ask for a different room if you haven't gotten it, then online checkin does not suit your purposes. You should go to regular checkin.

 

[maxiesmom]

Ihe only request I ever made was to get a water-view room that I'd paid for, but was not available. We didn't get it and I was very upset about the whole thing. But that's a whole other story and a long one, at that.

I had a similar experience with on line check in at the Music. I checked in 10 days out, and at check in was told my paid for preferred room was not avaialble. I had a heck of a time getting them to give me the extra money I paid for that room type back too.

I could be mistaken, but when we rented points for a Beach Club 2 bedroom I was told the member had to request a dedicated 2 bedroom. They did not give them to cash paying guests, only DVC members, or people who had rented points thru a DVC member. So unless you have rented points you may be out of luck on the dedicated 2 bedroom. I hope for your sake I am wrong, or that maybe it has changed from what it used to be.

 

[CathieArms]

I had a similar experience with on line check in at the Music. I checked in 10 days out, and at check in was told my paid for preferred room was not avaialble. I had a heck of a time getting them to give me the extra money I paid for that room type back too.

I could be mistaken, but when we rented points for a Beach Club 2 bedroom I was told the member had to request a dedicated 2 bedroom. They did not give them to cash paying guests, only DVC members, or people who had rented points thru a DVC member. So unless you have rented points you may be out of luck on the dedicated 2 bedroom. I hope for your sake I am wrong, or that maybe it has changed from what it used to be.

That can't be true because we were there in '09 as cash customers and had a dedicated 2BR. I have heard, however, that the 2BR units with 2 beds in the 2nd room are reserved for DVC owners, though I have no personal experience with that.

 

[magicbob]

...you might be glad you did online check in should you arrive with an ME.

Is the Magical Express on a set schedule? Is there a way to know when it is due to arrive at any given resort? That way, you could try to plan arrival time to "beat" the ME there. Or does it vary so widely, there would be no way to anticipate it? For example, if I'm planning to arrive by car at ASMo around 11:30 am, but I find out that ME arrives at 11:00 am, I might plan to leave earlier and get there at 10:30 am.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Sorry Bob - there's really no set schedule with ME. The ME busses usually wait at the Orlando Airport until they're fairly full then head out to the resorts... It all depends on when the planes arrive and how many WDW visitors are on them. Wish I could have had a different answer for you.

 

[magicbob]

Sorry Bob - there's really no set schedule with ME. The ME busses usually wait at the Orlando Airport until they're fairly full then head out to the resorts... It all depends on when the planes arrive and how many WDW visitors are on them. Wish I could have had a different answer for you.

That's what I figured. If, by chance, there's a long line when we arrive, I will just send the rest of the family to the arcade and/or gift shop while I get us checked in. All we have planned for our first day is some pool/relaxing time and then dinner at 1900 Park Fare. We're not in any rush to get to a park or anything on arrival day.

 

[JessicaKnits]

We did online check in in August and it worked out PERFECTLY for us. We stayed at Pop, and I desperately wanted a King room, which they are in short supply of. Making matters worse, we were arriving at about 4:30, so I was worried they would all be snatched up by then. I called the "hotel" about 2 weeks before our stay and they noted on the reservation my preferences (King Bed, renovated room, highest floor possible).

Not only did we bypass an ENTIRE Magic Express bus load of people by doing online check in, but our folio was already printed. The whole process took about 5 minutes, AND they met all of my room requests. I was so pleased with the whole experience, that I'm a little worried I would be accustomed to it now.

However, if time is not an issue for you, and since you are arriving early, you may prefer to do just normal check in.

 

[shell8558]

I've done the online check in at both CBR and POR with no problems. I was in and out within 5-10 minutes, while others in the traditional line were still waiting. I plan to use the online check in for my upcoming trip this month!!

 

[Okh]

I know a lot of people forestall online check-in in the hopes of getting an upgrade. In our case, we're already staying preferred so beyond there's really no reason to hope for an upgrade. We do preferred solely for the convenience and the room itself is just a place to sleep and clean-up anyway.

 

[DrMomof3]

We've always done online check-in and have always been very happy with our room. Several times when we did morning check-in, our room was already available (the exception was when we requested adjoining rooms). Last summer I had several room requests (I would have been ok without them) and we got exactly what I wanted.
I don't usually have lots of specific requests and we're definitely go-with-the-flow people. I love knowing that I'm all checked in 10 days before vacation! It gets me super excited!!!

Amanda