I don't know if I want to do online check in

PrincessesX3

Mouseketeer
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Last year at CSR we waited forever on the online check in line, while the regular line there was no one. And at CR two years ago, I felt the line was just the same.

I don't know if I want to do it, because I have yet to see the benefits. What do you think? Help.
 
Last year at CSR we waited forever on the online check in line, while the regular line there was no one. And at CR two years ago, I felt the line was just the same.

I don't know if I want to do it, because I have yet to see the benefits. What do you think? Help.

I think that depending on what time of day you arrive at the resort you are going to have to wait in line, no matter which option you choose.

I stayed at the CSR last year and the regular check in and online check in lines were totally equal, there was a 30 minute wait in each line. No benefit to online check in there.
 
Last year at CSR we waited forever on the online check in line, while the regular line there was no one.

Are you not allowed to go to the regular line if you do online check in? I realize that the idea of online check in is to theoretically get in faster, but if there was no line for regular check in, couldn't you have just gone there? :confused3
 


Last year at CSR we waited forever on the online check in line, while the regular line there was no one. And at CR two years ago, I felt the line was just the same.

I don't know if I want to do it, because I have yet to see the benefits. What do you think? Help.

When I stayed at moderate, I didn't think it made much difference, but when I have stayed at a Deluxe I think it made a BIG difference. At two different hotels they have met us at the door with our reservations in hand. They treated us like VIP guests even though we were staying in a standard room. I like feeling special.
 
We tried on line check in twice and waited longer than the regular line both times. Now, we don't bother. Not a time saver in my family's experience.
 
Each time I've done online check in and had to wait in line, a CM has come up and asked for my ID. They then retrieved my folder and walked me over to an available CM (either at Concierge or regular check in desk) to get us checked in. I continue to do online check in because it makes the checking in process go quicker. I'm going to be waiting in lines all week so, this is just my warm up. But, like I said, I've had good luck with short lines or helpful CMs trying to keep the line moving quickly.
 


When I stayed at moderate, I didn't think it made much difference, but when I have stayed at a Deluxe I think it made a BIG difference. At two different hotels they have met us at the door with our reservations in hand. They treated us like VIP guests even though we were staying in a standard room. I like feeling special.

Just stayed at the BC and did not do online check in and I was greeted once I exited the ME bus. We didn't have club level either. I was walked over the the next available CM.

The interesting thing about online check in is that there is usually only 1-2 CM's for online and then more for regular check in. If you get a family that has alot of questions or changes in the online check in line, it could really delay that line.

I also do NOT like to do online check in because I like to find out where my room will be and if there are any issues with the general location I like to change them at check in, if possible.
 
We've also had good and bad experiences with the on-line check-in line. My rule is if I'm staying value I will use it, but if not then I don't. The reason for this is I've waited longer in the regular line at Pop than any other place.

I do think if Disney is going to advertise that on-line check-in is such a time saver, they should try very hard to accomodate those guests in the on-line check-in line first.:thumbsup2
 
Each time I've done online check in and had to wait in line, a CM has come up and asked for my ID. They then retrieved my folder and walked me over to an available CM (either at Concierge or regular check in desk) to get us checked in.

This has happened to us (but without the ID check), and we've been called out of the online checkin line to the regular line.
 
If the regular check-in line is shorter, you can always join that one even if you've done online check in.

I've done on-line check in 3 times. At the Poly, there were probably 5 people in the regular check in line and only one person in front of us at the online check in desk. That person was finishing up their check in and we only waited a minute or two. This was about noon on a Friday.

At CSR, I've done online check in twice. Both times there's been no one in the online check in line. Once was at about 4:00pm on a Thursday and the other was around 9:00pm on a Thursday. That last time we were the only ones getting off at CSR on our DME bus.
 
I have a question on this:

My daughter and her friend will be arriving from LAX and getting there around 7:30. I'll be coming from the Northeast and won't be at the resort until closer to noon. The reservation is in all our names. How would online check in work with this, I mean, can I do online check in for them to arrive at a certain time and then input my information separately? Will I even need to formally check in since they will have already done so? Thanks!
 
Are you not allowed to go to the regular line if you do online check in? I realize that the idea of online check in is to theoretically get in faster, but if there was no line for regular check in, couldn't you have just gone there? :confused3

No. They pre-make your welcome packet with your keys when you do online check-in and have them filed at the online check-in desk, which is why there is a separate line and separate desk for it. In theory, a CM could help you but he or she would have to leave from behind the desk, and go get your stuff from the other desk. I suppose they would only do this in a pinch though.
 
smallworldnh said:
I have a question on this:

My daughter and her friend will be arriving from LAX and getting there around 7:30. I'll be coming from the Northeast and won't be at the resort until closer to noon. The reservation is in all our names. How would online check in work with this, I mean, can I do online check in for them to arrive at a certain time and then input my information separately? Will I even need to formally check in since they will have already done so? Thanks!

Actually, in Disney speak, there is a lead person on each ressie, withneveryone else being a guest. A ressie is not in multiple names.

Anyone can check in first, at any time. The lead person on the ressie will be sent the e-mail to do online check-in; anyone else can do it as long as they have the correct information to do so. I believe it is last name of the lead person, reservation no., dates of stay.

You can indicate the time of arrival as the earliest person arriving. You can pick up the packet and KTTW cards. Each person can return to the concierge desk later to add their charging info.

The only issue sometimes is with free dining, it used to be required that everyone check-in to prevent the party from creating a phantom person in order to get additional dining credits.
 
No. They pre-make your welcome packet with your keys when you do online check-in and have them filed at the online check-in desk, which is why there is a separate line and separate desk for it. In theory, a CM could help you but he or she would have to leave from behind the desk, and go get your stuff from the other desk. I suppose they would only do this in a pinch though.

Ok, but if there's a line at on-line check-in and several CMs at the non-on-line check-in sitting there not busy, is that a problem?

Please excuse my use of multiple hyphens;)
 
Micca said:
Ok, but if there's a line at on-line check-in and several CMs at the non-on-line check-in sitting there not busy, is that a problem?

Please excuse my use of multiple hyphens;)

Not a problem; one will call you up to the podium.
 
Ok, but if there's a line at on-line check-in and several CMs at the non-on-line check-in sitting there not busy, is that a problem?

Please excuse my use of multiple hyphens;)

I guess it depends on the scenario. They certainly won't have CMs at the regular check-in desk twiddling their thumbs while the online check-in line is 12 deep. But if there are 3-4 people waiting at online check-in and no one at the regular check-in, they may or may not take you. Depends on the time, how steadily busy it's been, etc.

I suspect online check-in has caught on more, especially since Disney makes it a point to notify you that you can check-in online. We arrived around 12pm on a Saturday which is a busy check out time and found the online check-in line to be much shorter than the regular check-in line, which also handles the check-outs. If you are arriving before check-in time, it may behoove you to do online check-in so you don't have to deal with people checking out in line too.
 
Thanks for the reply. I'm remembering a few trips back where we checked in on-line. It was a very slow time at the front desk. There were maybe one or two parties ahead of us at the on-line check in queue, and nobody at the regular check-in line. DW and I stood there looking at each other like "we checked in on-line WHY????" It was a very short wait, but it seemed like maybe in the interest of superb customer service one of the others might have offered to check us in at the regular line. If a CM would have to stand up and walk to another position to get the paperwork, I guess I don't see a big issue. :confused3
 
Ok, but if there's a line at on-line check-in and several CMs at the non-on-line check-in sitting there not busy, is that a problem?

Please excuse my use of multiple hyphens;)

It won't hurt to ask. They'll either go get your welcome packet or tell you that you need to head to the online check in first. I would assume that if they are able to help, they'll help the people waiting in line before others.
 
Ok, but if there's a line at on-line check-in and several CMs at the non-on-line check-in sitting there not busy, is that a problem?

Please excuse my use of multiple hyphens;)

This is what happened at CSR and the CM didn't help. I wasn't mad at them, just the people the online check in CM was helping, who wanted to which their whole room situation. That was annoying and held up the line.
 

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