Does online check in actially save time?

[tsmith76]

What are the advantages ? Don't you actually still have to wait in line, etc.?

 

[Pakey]

You do wait in line but you don't have to wait for credit card processing, room key printing, etc. Your packet is ready when you get to the counter.

 

[OKW Lover]

Yes it does save time - at least in our experience.

You may have to wait in line, but sometimes there is a separate line for those who have done OLCI. Those that have done OLCI move through very quickly since all their material is ready when they arrive.

 

[tsmith76]

Excellent , thx for the feedback

 

[cruisingkat]

We don't do online checkin - we have noticed that about 50% of the time we get done faster than the person who was last in the online checkin line when we arrived gets done. So for us it makes no difference. Credit card processing take very little time - just a couple of seconds.

 

[Mousemommy1]

What are the advantages ? Don't you actually still have to wait in line, etc.?

When it works as it is supposed to, it's faster. But when there is a busy check in at the front desk and everyone else did OLCI too, it's not.

We have done OLCI and breezed through the OCLI line in 5 minutes and we have done it and had to wait 35 minutes. I think your odds are the same either way honestly.

I just like to do it because it makes the trip seem that much closer.

 

[gwynne]

When it works as it is supposed to, it's faster. But when there is a busy check in at the front desk and everyone else did OLCI too, it's not.

We have done OLCI and breezed through the OCLI line in 5 minutes and we have done it and had to wait 35 minutes. I think your odds are the same either way honestly.

I just like to do it because it makes the trip seem that much closer.

I agree about the time. I won't do it online again, learned my lesson this last trip. The two online CM's were very busy, so I was checked in in the middle of the lobby. CM was balancing her ipad, trying to check me in, being interrupted by other guests who didn't realize she was a mini-check in desk...it wasn't a good experience. After all that, I needed a parking pass, and I waited a very long time while she ran around trying to find someplace to print it. I've never had a check in like this, anywhere. No more "quick service" check ins for me. I'm going "full service" from now on.

 

[greengeen]

In my experience online checkin lines don't go any faster than regular, the main reason being that guests in online checkin have just as many questions! Sure, the paperwork may be mostly done, but there's not that much paperwork anyway. Most of the time is spent answering guests' questions.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

So far we have been 2 for 2 with online check in here. No complaints and intend to use it again for my January trip. It was nice just walking up and being handed my folder

 

[MyOtherSS]

I would recommend it. We made note that we were arriving at 11am when check in was at 3 and they had our room ready.

 

[beer dave]

I believe room location requests are first come first served, so by checking in on line you have a better chance at getting your room request.

 

[jahber]

I believe room location requests are first come first served, so by checking in on line you have a better chance at getting your room request.

I don't know about that. When I arrived at POR in March (after doing online checkin), I was told the resort was overbooked. And they apologized and asked if I would be willing to change to a deluxe villa at Saratoga Springs. Did they even have to ASK??? But seriously, if room assignments were made early on when I checked in, surely I wouldn't have been bumped. At least, that's my thinking. But, who really knows how Disney handles room assignments, upgrades, and the like? I'm a FL resident with an AP, but surely that doesn't make me a target for special treatment (I'm certainly not a big spender like visitors on vacation!).
But fwiw, there was basically no wait in the OLCl line when I arrived. I would definitely do it based on my own experience.

 

[reelmom]

I did online check in in May at POP Century. They didn't have anything ready because they told me I never did it. Um..yes I did, Disney made the mistake. The CM made me feel like I was trying to get away with something. Anyways, it only took a few minutes to get my room but left me with a not so fuzzy feeling. I would still try it again next time.

 

[creativeamanda]

The short answer is it depends.

On how early you come (sometimes if you are real early, the don't have the packet ready)
If the person in front of you has a lot of questions.
If the person in front of you has a problem with their room assignment and wants to change.
If you come in the same time as a large group

When OLCI is used in the manner it was meant--grab and go--then it is pretty quick. But when those other factors come into play, it is another matter altogether.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I've done OLCI for the past 4 trips, and my experience has been successful each time, all but 1 trip my rooms have been ready when I got there. So doing the OLCI does give them an ETA so they try hard to get the room ready. We like it and will do it again in 8 days!!!

 

[ppony]

Think about it. Do the time math. All the stuff you'd have to wait to have printed and done on the computer, is already done.

There are 2 lines, one for online check-in and one for not. Sure, occasionally one might spend more time in the online line for unfortunate reasons, but by far, the time savings are great. Even if I had a lot of "requests" (which I never do) I'd still do it. Chances are (yes, there are always people w/ exceptions, but the odds are with you) It's saved us time every single time. If it didn't save more people time, they sure wouldn't continue it. No one would use it.

In the end, do it or don't. Ignore the math or don't. It's your prerogative.

 

[maxiesmom]

Think about it. Do the time math. All the stuff you'd have to wait to have printed and done on the computer, is already done.

There are 2 lines, one for online check-in and one for not. Sure, occasionally one might spend more time in the online line for unfortunate reasons, but by far, the time savings are great. Even if I had a lot of "requests" (which I never do) I'd still do it. Chances are (yes, there are always people w/ exceptions, but the odds are with you) It's saved us time every single time. If it didn't save more people time, they sure wouldn't continue it. No one would use it.

In the end, do it or don't. Ignore the math or don't. It's your prerogative.

Sometimes the math doesn't add up. If you may want to change your room location, it won't add up. If for some reason they have to change your room after having already assigning it to you, it won't add up.

I don't use OLCI anymore as I have found was ending up in the least desirable room locations more time than not. I've even been bumped from a paid for upgraded room location when using OLCI. That time we had to wait even longer for our room, as they had to go get a manager to figure out what had happened.

Not a fan.

 

[ppony]

Sometimes the math doesn't add up. If you may want to change your room location, it won't add up. If for some reason they have to change your room after having already assigning it to you, it won't add up.

I don't use OLCI anymore as I have found was ending up in the least desirable room locations more time than not. I've even been bumped from a paid for upgraded room location when using OLCI. That time we had to wait even longer for our room, as they had to go get a manager to figure out what had happened.

Not a fan.

Yes, I know. Hence why I said there are always exceptions. And people on DIS are very quick to point out every single one. "Sometimes" is the operative word to how often it doesn't work. Most of the time, it does. If you have specifics you just "have" to have, well then... I think room assigners do their best and honestly, too many people have too many requests so they just can't please everyone.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes, I know. Hence why I said there are always exceptions. And people on DIS are very quick to point out every single one. "Sometimes" is the operative word to how often it doesn't work. Most of the time, it does. If you have specifics you just "have" to have, well then... I think room assigners do their best and honestly, too many people have too many requests so they just can't please everyone.

Your comment about Do the Math sounded to me as if OLCI is best and quickest for everyone all of the time. As with everything else, there are exceptions.

If you want a certain floor/building/view/area of a resort, OLCI may not be for you. OLCI works best if you have no requests that you really want to have met, and would ask for a room change in order to get.

 

[fla4fun]

Sometimes the math doesn't add up. If you may want to change your room location, it won't add up. If for some reason they have to change your room after having already assigning it to you, it won't add up.

I don't use OLCI anymore as I have found was ending up in the least desirable room locations more time than not. I've even been bumped from a paid for upgraded room location when using OLCI. That time we had to wait even longer for our room, as they had to go get a manager to figure out what had happened.

Not a fan.

I have to respectfully disagree. It sounds like you are more particular about your room and it's location - which makes you a bad fit for OLCI. However, I have been using it since it first became available, and I have never felt like I received an "undesireable" room or location. Since rooms and locations are very subjective when it comes to good and bad, every person's experience will be different. The room I love, you may think is the worst in the resort, and vice versa.

I recommend that if a person has specific requests that will make or break their vacation, then they should not do OLCI. Also, if you know you are going to have several questions to ask regarding the resort, parks, transportation, etc., then you should not do OLCI. If you don't have any special requests or questions, then OLCI does save you time. So far, it has taken me less than a minute from walking in the lobby door to having my packet and heading to my room, and my room has been ready when I arrived.

I am a fan.

As to whether doing OLCI early gives you an edge regarding requests, your room isn't your room until you are in it. Up until they hand you those room keys, "your" room can be given to someone else or taken out of inventory for maintenance. I've done it on the first day, and I've done it just a couple days out, and I didn't notice any appreciable difference in the experience.