Anyone not do online check in, but wish you had?

[BensWife]

We are at the 2 week mark and playing the game "do we online check in or not". Right now we are leaning toward not doing the online check in. Have you ever wished you had done the online check in? Thanks.

 

[Sue M]

I was always afraid to do online check in. But my last 2 trips, this past Aug 2012, and Jan 2013 I did try it. I got all my room requests at both resorts, great locations at each.

When I waited to check in, I also got my requests 99% of the time. And sometimes a upgrade.

No upgrade with online check in, don't know if it's just a coincidence or you are less likely to get an upgrade with checking in on line . Maybe one if the CMs on this board that know how room assignment works can say?

I have read posts from people who have gotten upgraded doing on line check in.

Not complaining though, I got exactly what I requested, so I was very happy!

 

[dpswift]

2 years ago at POP I was extremely glad that I did the online check in because that line was empty and the other line was long,long long. It was very frustrating and I almost gave up. For our stay in February at AoA they would not let me do online registration because somehow they had me(the person whose name the reservation was under) listed as an infant. I do not know how that happened we started as a room only but I called and added 2 day tickets and the cast member knew that I was an adult. We got to AoA at 9:30 and the line was short. There were cast members pulling guests out of line for check out so we waited less than 5 minutes.


I think that the time of day and the resort that you are staying makes a difference. If I were staying at POP and planning on arriving at peak hours I would do online registation. However if I were arriving at an off time and I did not plan on going to the parks that day I might not. I have however had long waits at POP before online checkin started.

 

[fla4fun]

I have used online check in for every trip since they offered it (except BLT opening, when it was restricted). I can say the one time I was especially glad that I did it was last year when I checked in during one of the big computer down times. At the front desk, they were having to write everything down manually for people who had not done online check in, and those people had to go back to the front desk when the computers did come up to get their KTTW (they just gave out key cards). However, since I had done online check in, my keys had already been issued with the charge privileges on them, so I didn't have to go back to the desk again to get a new KTTW.

So if anyone hears of a big computer shut down for a day or two, and your check in day is affected, I encourage you to do online check in a few days out to make things much easier.

 

[bleeps]

Why wouldn't you do online check in? Hopes of an upgrade or something?

We always stay at YC or BC, and the experience of being greeted by name as you walk up to the doors, being handed a folder with everything you need inside, having the opportunity to ask questions, and then being wished "have a magical day!" is just unbeatable. Manual check in can take quite a bit of time, and that's even if there isn't a line. We've been upgraded (it's really all about how many rooms are available in what category at the time you are set up for your room in the system, regardless of whether that happens in advance or not), we've gotten our requests -- just never anything other than excellent experiences with online check in.....

 

[maxiesmom]

I haven't used on line check in for our last 2 trips to WDW, and I haven't had to wait in a long line, or in any line at all. Plus both trips my requests were all met. Haven't had that when I have done on line check in.

The only time I would use on line check in is if #1 I knew the check in area would be a zoo, such as a day where free dining starts or #2 I didn't have any requests at all and didn't care where my room was.

Otherwise I skip on line check in.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

We have never done online check-in. We don't see the need. We have never waited more than 5 minutes in a check-in line and when you are at the WL, taking in the majestic lobby takes more than 5 minutes!

Last trip and our upcoming trip we are lucky enough to experience WL CL and hence there really is no point to on-line check in since CL has a separate one anyway.

Oh, and NOPE!... Never regretted bypassing on-line check in one bit!!!

 

[RenaissanceBabe]

What tends to be the busy times for check in? I think we're going to be arriving at Pop around 6pm next week, wondering if we should consider this option.

 

[winterman]

I have used online check-in, every time since it became available. I find that it is most helpful when you are arriving prior to 'check-in' time. Our room was always ready even when we arrived at 10 AM.

One time, we were checking in at ASMu and the regular line was long. I was only the second in line at the online line, but I was taken over to the concierge desk. While one CM escorted me there, another went to get my packet. It was a magical way to start our vacation.

My last trip, I used online again even though I was arriving at 5:30 PM. It was my first solo trip and my first time at POR. There were 3 or 4 people in the regular line and no one in the online line, but I think that all the CMs were helping out the regular line. I was immediately taken to the concierge desk for check-in. And on that occasion, I was upgraded to a preferred room. I had made no requests other than first floor.

I have only had positive experiences with online check-in and will continue to use it.

 

[mickeynut1]

We are at the 2 week mark and playing the game "do we online check in or not". Right now we are leaning toward not doing the online check in. Have you ever wished you had done the online check in? Thanks.

We've never used online check in and have checked in at all times during the day (from early morning to very late at night) and have never waited more than 5 minutes (with most times not even having to stand in line).

 

[BensWife]

Why wouldn't you do online check in? Hopes of an upgrade or something?.

No, we have 3 families in a 2 bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs. We have some requests and I wasn't sure if they would be available with on-line check in. Also, we would like to have 3 different charge accounts for our room, and we weren't sure how that would all work out with the on-line check in.

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

We also have done online check-in every trip since it's been offered. We've always had our requests granted and on 3 occasions got upgraded. Once at AKL, once at CSR, and once at POR. I will say that in all of my experiences with online check-in the line is certainly shorter and faster. But of course that's just my experience. Hope this helps.

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

I LOVE on line check in! When you get there and there is a line for check in and you can go right past that...I am happy!

 

[wildcatfan]

We are also two weeks out and I have never done the online check in. I do usually fax my requests in a few days before we arrive. It is easy to request with online check in? Perhaps I should consider it. Have you ever done the online check in and then ask to be moved to another location?

 

[lupp2217]

Hi. I have a question. When I go on MDE I am not given an online check in option. Where is it?

 

[bigbabyblues]

We haven't used online checkin in the past,and don't plan to for our trip next week. Just don't really see the point, I guess. We will arrive before 8 a.m., and not expecting a long line.

 

[Dannek]

I did what a friend had suggested to me and did the online check in for my trip next week, but before hand I called reservations and had my room requests put in manually.

The online check in only allowed for a few requests which weren't what I wanted. I left the requests blank when I did the online check in. After I finished the online check in, I called reservations and had the CM check to make sure my previous phone in request were still present, and they all were.

By checking in online they know that I will be arriving a few hours before check in time, and hopefully my room will be ready at that time.