Online or in-person check in?
 

I've heard the Poly in-person is one of the slowest experiences. Would you recommend doing online 10 days out or doing in person in case you can request your most favored longhouse and view? Any drawbacks to doing online?

If your request are really important factor to your trip I would not do online. You can talk to the castmember and find out if your request where granted or possibly could change what you where assigned.

Good luck

:confused3 I didn't find Poly check in slow at all.

^This^

I've checked in online 3 of the several trips we have taken since online check-in was instituted. 2 of those 3 times the only request options available online were if we wanted a play-n-pack or fridge. All 3 times our room was as far away from the front desk as it could possibly be.

I think I'll stick to the regular check-in line from now on, unless we need more than one room.

When you check in online, you still have to check-in with a cast member when you arrive at the resort so you still have the opportunity to ask for a different room location. Online check-in just expedites the check-in process, it doesn't eliminate it. We do online check in all of the time and if I don't like my room location (which happened only once), simply ask if they have another room. We went to AoA in June and when I booked, they only had Cars left and we really wanted Nemo. When we arrived, I simply asked if there was anything available in the Nemo section. The CM checked, there was availability, so she re-assigned our room.

My suggestion, call in your room requests to CRO, do online check-in, ask to change your room at check-in if you don't like it.

Your room is assigned days before you arrive, whether you check-in online or in person. Simply by checking in online doesn't lock in your room assignment - you can always ask for it to be changed.

A few important points:

• Requests for buildings/floor/etc should be noted when you make your reservation. If you didn't do it then, call now and have it noted on your reservation. Waiting until check in (on line or in person) won't help you.
• Doing online checkin doesn't impact your requests. They stay on the reservation and the room assigner will see them.
• If you do on line check in, you can still ask the CM at the counter if your requests were honored. If they weren't you can ask for a change.

I've done online check-in for my past two trips. I've gotten the most important of my requests (which I called to add) both times. I had to wait for my room the first time but not the second time.

I've decided to believe that it doesn't really make much difference if you check in online. :thumbsup2

So far most people I've talked to have said they didn't get their room requests when they checked in online and that it was more difficult to change rooms that way. Though I wonder how true that is from what others have been saying. I know that they pick out your room the day or two before anyway. I've also heard that sometimes there is no difference in the length of the queue for online vs. not online. So it just seems like you never know what your own situation will be!

This!:thumbsup2

Which is why I don't do check in.

Actually, this is not entirely correct. While you possibly still have to wait in line to speak with a CM, if you do online check in you are supposed to take what you get. There are signs stating that. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of online check in. If you check in online you are stating that you will accept the room you get at check in. Otherwise, it holds up the check in process for those that used online check in, in order to be able to check in quickly. You were lucky the CM did that for you. Check in online is supposed to actually lock in room assignment.

Unfortunately, sometimes there is no difference in the length of the queues because those that did online check in are not accepting the rooms that they were assigned even though they are supposed to.

I hope at some point we do finally create a sticky for online check-in, because this is probably one of the most misinformed pieces of information ever posted.

We stayed at the Poly twice in the past 2 years and have done online check in both times. We had no trouble at all and got our requests both times. We called and had them add our room request to our reservations months ahead of time. I always call back right before we head to Disney to make sure my room requests are on there just double checking.

Me too :goodvibes

I used online ck in, it was super quick. The CM asked us if our room met our requests as he was giving us a map of the resort. We were very happy with our room, but would have had time to as the CM to change us if we were not happy.

I would use online for all return visitors, for 1st timers I would not use online (I did not use it for our 1st stay and was glad. I had a million questions and needed some extra time at check in).

I'm not sure why it's so misinformed.

The last time I stayed at ASMo in December there was a sign at the online check in that stated somethign to the fact that it was for guests who used the online check in and needed to pick up their folders but no room change requests should be made.

I realize different people have different experiences.