Help settle ongoing confusion about online check-in

[MatzoRella]

I have read most of the threads here concerning online check-in over the past few months, and remain as puzzled as ever because of conflicting input, LOL. So, at the risk of adding to the tedium on this topic:

1. Which is it? Are rooms pre-assigned or are they selected by the CM at check-in? Or does it depend?

2. Does the answer to 1. differ if check-in is in person rather than online?

3. Is one who has checked in online given a room that happens to be open upon arrival (many threads suggest this), or does it just seem that way because pre-assignments are based on forecast arrival time (indicated when you check in online), ensuring a high likelihood of your pre-assigned room's being ready when you arrive?

4. I'm pretty sure we have already established that if you put in room requests by phone to CRO, you can assume they will be seen (but not necessarily honored, depending in part on the answers to the preceding questions) whenever your room is assigned, whether you check in online or not. If you fill out the very limited request form upon checking in online, it MAY supersede the telephone requests you've already put in. So just do one or the other. Is this accurate? Also, it remains in dispute whether requests are more likely to be honored in initial room assignments if you check in in person vs. online, but a change can be requested in either event.

5. If you'll be checking in early, and if you don't much care which room you get, are they more likely to have a room for you if you've checked in online (and indicated planned early arrival online)?

This much is not in apparent dispute: Online check-in usually saves time as long as you don't quarrel with your room assignment (and it's considered a little rude to do so if there are others behind you in line, though you can move to the regular line to request changes) because lines TEND to be both shorter and more efficient for online check-in. Online check-in also means that your credit-card info is concealed from front-desk personnel (but it still exists in a potentially hackable database). Online check-in also signals to resort staff that you do intend to show up, always helpful if you'll be checking in late and if there is a risk either of overbooking altogether or just of having your pre-assigned room given away (but the latter is only ever a risk IF rooms are pre-assigned in the first place).

Thank you for any clarification you can provide!

 

[kat3668]

Rooms are preassigned by computer 3 days prior to arrival... If you are not happy with your room you can request a change even in the online check i n line. In September I requested Cabanas at CSR and was placed in Casitas... they gladly switched room no problem and even threw in a complimentary room upgrade. Just make sure your requests are noted on your original reservation.

 

[Missytara]

You are completely overthinking online check-in.

What you have suggested has nothing to do with one another.

 

[MatzoRella]

Thank you, Kat! Missytara, are you implying that room assignments are identical regardless of how one checks in? Thank you.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Rooms are preassigned by computer 3 days prior to arrival...

That's not true for guests staying Club Level at the Deluxe Resorts because their rooms are assigned by the Club Level Cast Members who work in the Club Level lounges.

 

[bumbershoot]

On one checkin last trip, they pulled the wrong folder (my last name can also be a male first name and the guy who met me in line and pointed me to the next available normal checkin CM pulled a file of a man with that first name instead of mine). When that was figured out and they pulled mine, they noted that MY room was not yet ready.

So they gave me the room assigned to the man whose folder they pulled. We had both done online checkin, both of us had rooms assigned, and they showed flexibility even not asked to (we were not in a hurry and I told the a few times that I didn't want to take someone's room).


I can't answer all your questions...I doubt anyone really can except those who came up with the online reg process...but my experience tells me that they assign them, but also have flexibility.


And so far I've dealt with the one person behind the online reg sign approx once...all the other times (we do very split stays so I've done it more than a few times so far) I'm called to someone else, met in line and sent somewhere else, or directed to the concierge desk for it...and not one CM has made me feel rushed at all.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

As I understand it, rooms are pre-assigned before you arrive, but are subject to be changed, like if a room has a maintenance issue.

Here are 2 instances where we've done online check-in, and not, and what happened.

1) All-Star Sports. Did online check-in. Only request was to be in a quiet area of the resort. Arrived mid-afternoon, room was ready, check-in process took about 5 minutes. Everything was printed and waiting for us.

2) CSR. Did not do online check-in, as we were traveling with another party and wanted to be sure our rooms were close together. I had requested Cabanas section. Arrived mid-day to check into both rooms. CM said they were in Ranchos, but that we'd been given connecting rooms. CM called the room assigner to see if we could get connecting rooms in Cabanas or Casitas, but none were available for that night. One room of the 2 was ready, the other was ready about an hour later. We kept the Ranchos rooms, which turned out to be pool-side on the 1st floor - awesome location. Check-in took probably 20 minutes as the CM talked to the room assigner for awhile, and the documents had to be prepared.

So, it seems to me that rooms are pre-assigned before you arrive. Otherwise, our connecting-room request could not have been met.

My personal feeling is that if I am not picky about room location, I will do the online check-in and roll the dice. If I need certain criteria met, I will wait and check in on arrival.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[MatzoRella]

You guys are wonderful. Thank you for the thoughtful responses. "Assigned but flexible" may help to resolve all the conflicting info we've seen here.

 

[Hopefully]

We checked into the Beach Club Villas 2 weeks ago and I did On Line Check In. We arrived about 11 AM and our Villa was ready
I had requested "Higher Floor, Water View" and I received 2nd floor, woods view, about as opposite as you can get. Since the room was ready, we took it. Now, the BCV's run at 95% or greater occupancy and requests are always iffy. Who knows if a higher floor, water view room even opened that day.
We loved the dreaded woods view room and had a great trip.

 

[myboysx3]

We are staying at Wilderness Lodge this week and have 2 rooms. I have already requested adjoining rooms. We had a pin and were told that it was for bunkbed rooms with a courtyard view. If I do online checkin will we still get these rooms? I was going to do the online checkin for the first time because our flight is early morning--should arrive around 11:00am and I was hoping rooms would be ready. We would like to head for the Magic Kingdom when we arrive. So will online checkin affect my room assignment?

can't wait to see Mickey!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We are staying at Wilderness Lodge this week and have 2 rooms. I have already requested adjoining rooms. We had a pin and were told that it was for bunkbed rooms with a courtyard view. If I do online checkin will we still get these rooms? I was going to do the online checkin for the first time because our flight is early morning--should arrive around 11:00am and I was hoping rooms would be ready. We would like to head for the Magic Kingdom when we arrive. So will online checkin affect my room assignment?

can't wait to see Mickey!

Bunkbed rooms with a courtyard view is a bookable category at WL, so that is what you should get -- that's not just a request. You're paying extra for both bunkbeds and the courtyard view. So no, your online check-in should not affect your room assignment. If the rooms aren't ready at check-in, you can leave your luggage with Bell Services and head to the MK. You'll receive a call or text message when your room is available, with the room number.

 

[myboysx3]

Bunkbed rooms with a courtyard view is a bookable category at WL, so that is what you should get -- that's not just a request. You're paying extra for both bunkbeds and the courtyard view. So no, your online check-in should not affect your room assignment. If the rooms aren't ready at check-in, you can leave your luggage with Bell Services and head to the MK. You'll receive a call or text message when your room is available, with the room number.

Thanks for the help! I will try the online checkin.

 

[happygirlagain]

Does anyone know if you are renting DVC points does it matter one way or the other to do online checkin?

 

[maxiesmom]

Bunkbed rooms with a courtyard view is a bookable category at WL, so that is what you should get -- that's not just a request. You're paying extra for both bunkbeds and the courtyard view. So no, your online check-in should not affect your room assignment. If the rooms aren't ready at check-in, you can leave your luggage with Bell Services and head to the MK. You'll receive a call or text message when your room is available, with the room number.

I have to disagree. Twice now I have been downgraded at check in from a bookable catagory to a lesser catagory. The last time I did check in on-line too. Apparently even doing on-line check in Disney still considers your room up for grabs and can re-assign you a new room if they so desire.

I don't think we are going to do on-line check in for our next trip.

 

[clarkfamily]

I have to disagree. Twice now I have been downgraded at check in from a bookable catagory to a lesser catagory.

What?!
I had no idea that this could happen!?
(One more thing to worry about prior to check-in...)

I assume they then refunded you the price difference?
I can't even imagine that they would allow this to happen.

You must have been so disappointed?!

 

[Missytara]

What?!
I had no idea that this could happen!?
(One more thing to worry about prior to check-in...)

I assume they then refunded you the price difference?
I can't even imagine that they would allow this to happen.

You must have been so disappointed?!

Happened to me one year when I accidently ended up at my home resort, POR, during Pop Warner week.

First of all, when we get there we were told we had already been moved to CSR. I put my foot down and insisted I stay there. I had booked the room a year in advance.

They ended up already having given away my riverview room and stuck us in a room in Acadian House facing the parking lot. They did refund the difference, but only after a great deal of discussion with the manager. The way he saw it, they offered to move me to another resort, and I didn't take it, so why should they have to refund me the difference?

 

[dvcHammer]

We are staying at Wilderness Lodge this week and have 2 rooms. I have already requested adjoining rooms. We had a pin and were told that it was for bunkbed rooms with a courtyard view. If I do online checkin will we still get these rooms? I was going to do the online checkin for the first time because our flight is early morning--should arrive around 11:00am and I was hoping rooms would be ready. We would like to head for the Magic Kingdom when we arrive. So will online checkin affect my room assignment?

can't wait to see Mickey!

Adjacent or adjoining means next to each other. Much different than "connecting" rooms that open up to each other with the pass through door. Got caught on that technicality once at POR. Was not a big deal as we were not traveling with kids.

Online check in does not effect room assignment. Rooms are assigned before you arrive regardless of online check in or not.

 

[maxiesmom]

What?!
I had no idea that this could happen!?
(One more thing to worry about prior to check-in...)

I assume they then refunded you the price difference?
I can't even imagine that they would allow this to happen.

You must have been so disappointed?!

I actually had to put up a fight to get the extra money back. They offered to move me part way thru my vacation when the room catagory I had booked opened up. As I was there during Free Dining, and didn't want the worry of that getting messed up, or the hassle of having to pack and unpack again, I said no. They apparently take that to mean they don't owe you anything. I took me sending off an e-mail once I got home to get my money back.

And for Disney it is not a problem. Because the only thing they guarantee you when you make a reservation is a room on property at one of their resorts. The room type isn't guaranteed, and even the resort is not guaranteed. So if they have to bump you, no harm no foul.

 

[thumbalyna]

Since I am staying at a value resort I would love to get bumped to another resort. In 2009 the people we were traveling with got bumped to SSR from ASM I was so jealous that we were still going to be in ASSP but I think they got bumped because it was pop warner week and they might have needed the room, who knows though....i am never lucky enough to get an upgrade lol

 

[softballmom3]

Since I am staying at a value resort I would love to get bumped to another resort. In 2009 the people we were traveling with got bumped to SSR from ASM I was so jealous that we were still going to be in ASSP but I think they got bumped because it was pop warner week and they might have needed the room, who knows though....i am never lucky enough to get an upgrade lol

Same here....a friend of mine was bumped from POP to the Contemporary a couple years ago....she was in heaven .