Does early online check in increase chances of getting room requests fulfilled?

[blackacex2]

You can now check in online 60 days early. If you check in 60 days early vs check in on arrival does that give you a better chance of getting the room you want? (I.e. high floor, etc)?

 

[TXGRMAMA]

No. You may be able to check in that early, but the resort personnel will not be looking at the reservations until three to six days before arrival. And they do not look to see what day you did online C/I. The only important thing to them is that you did or did not do online C/I. That determines how they process the paperwork on day of check in.

You best bet on requests is just to make sure that the Disney Reservation System puts those requests in the reservation. If the requests are available they will grant them for you. But if the room is not availble, there is nothing that can be done. Just remember the room assigners try their best to make guests happy.

 

[Ds4angels]

I called ahead to make our requests (3rd floor and TS) When we got to the resort (Saturday at 3:30) there were 3 families in the on line check in and no one for the regular check in. We walked right up, got checked in, chatted w/ 2 cast members, got exactly what we wanted.

 

[pl4bby]

Nope getting to your hotel as early as possible does. I put all my requests in but didn't check in until after 6 and none were met and the cm said because it is later the rooms I wanted were already taken. I said then what us the point of requests and online check in. She said just to get you your keys quicker.

 

[DebbieB]

Nope getting to your hotel as early as possible does. I put all my requests in but didn't check in until after 6 and none were met and the cm said because it is later the rooms I wanted were already taken. I said then what us the point of requests and online check in. She said just to get you your keys quicker.

The thing is if there is an issue earlier in the day or someone complains about their assignment, if you are not there yet they may switched yours with theirs.

 

[sachilles]

Truth is that is how most hotels/lodging facilities work. They usually block rooms on check in(at property). First to check in is first in line. Front desk agents have pools of rooms by type, as you check in the computer assigns your room based on room rotations. The front desk agent finalizes your room assignment, and if a request is easily accommodated then they do it.
Some lodging places where the specific units may be owned by the users like a timeshare type of place may book rooms at time of reservation. Blocking rooms at reservation time can be a real pain for the housekeeping staff who have to flip the rooms, since you don't know when folks are checking in. However the value in blocking at reservation time is there for facilities where each unit really is different.
Most lodging facilities do what is called room rotations. When the computer randomly selects a room based on type, it isn't really random. They are selecting the room that is firstly vacant and clean, then the room that has been used the least. This ensures the rooms get an even amount of wear and tear. In time shares or condos where they are owned by an individual, the rotation ensures that rentals are evenly distributed so commissions are fairly distribute amongst their owners.
In general, if you request a specific room, you want to be able to check in early, but not have to occupy immediately. The reason for this is if you arrive before the days check out time, your requested room could still be occupied and most definitely dirty. As folks check out, housekeeping cleans the rooms, getting updates as rooms become vacant at checkout. Housekeepers are assigned certain rooms to clean and can only get certain amount done in X amount of time.
Noon-6pm, the room you want may be vacant, but not clean. By 3pm, a majority of what is needed should be clean and ready for occupancy.
3pm-6pm the troublesome rooms that take a little extra time are being dealt with. If there is a particularly large room flip over, they could still be catching up.
By the time 6pm comes around, it's likely all the rooms that were planned to be clean for the day are clean. A vacant and dirty room likely won't get cleaned at that point even if it matches someones request.
So whatever rooms are being offered after 6 pm are not likely to change.

My suggestion is to arrive around 1-3pm to check in. State that if possible you are happy to wait for a room request to be honored, if it isn't currently available, and that you'll be happy to leave your bags with the bell staff while you go do something else.

Don't expect early arrival as well as a special room assignment. Don't expect a special room assignment after 6pm, and know that room choice will dwindle as the hours in the day pass. It's not to say you can't get your room request if you show up at midnight, but the more full the facility is, the less likely it becomes.

This is how many Lodging operations work. However ever place has their own peculiarities, so your mileage may vary.

 

[pl4bby]

The thing is if there is an issue earlier in the day or someone complains about their assignment, if you are not there yet they may switched yours with theirs.

Yup so now I get to the hotel by 10 am and so far so good.

 

[visitingapril09]

Our flight arrive at 550 am so we will be checking in around 7am!! We know the room won't be ready but we can't check in much earlier than that in hopes for getting our requests!!

 

[Sue M]

I called ahead to make our requests (3rd floor and TS) When we got to the resort (Saturday at 3:30) there were 3 families in the on line check in and no one for the regular check in. We walked right up, got checked in, chatted w/ 2 cast members, got exactly what we wanted.

I never used on line check in either, for those reasons, but with the new technology coming out, and the ability to pre book Fast Passes, I think all this is going to change, and on line booking will be the norm.