We officially had direct to room check in for both parts of our split stay (AKV - Kidani and BWV). We had attempted to already link our park passes to our magic bands. We arrived at WDW much later than our estimated arrival (we were driving and had a flat (slashed!) tire, on a car with tires of a somewhat unusual size AND we got stuck in 2 hours of traffic at a complete stop.) We were never texted our room number. We were rushing to make our dinner reservation at Boma as we arrived, and I noticed that there was no line at all at the Jambo online check in counter, so I stopped by to see if they could help me. They found our room number immediately and said we were ready to go. We did receive one of our requests (near an elevator). Our park tickets worked, our credit card was properly linked, all our FPs worked as intended, and our room doors opened. Very easy. Would have worked perfectly if they had actually texted our room number, but with no line, I was happy enough to interact to get it.
For part two of our split stay (BWV), we received a text that said to go to the front desk to get our room number. My mom reached the resort first, and indeed, the room was ready, and she was given the room number, and she got her magic band to work as a room key. However none of the rest of our party could access the room. (Another trip back to the lobby.) Then we realized they hadn't given us a parking slip for the front window of the car. (Another trip back to the lobby.) And then one of our bands didn't seem to have charging privileges. (Another trip to the lobby.) So, somehow, this check-in required 4 trips to the lobby to get everything straight. My husband joked that he got to know the front desk staff on this trip better than he ever had before.
So, anyway, we were 0 for 2 on actually bypassing the front desk, despite our attempts to try direct to room check in. We love the idea of it, but we know our way around the resorts we're most likely to be checking in to. I would hate skipping the point of first contact at a resort we were unfamiliar with; I'd have questions, and I would want tips about where to find certain things. I'm comfortable with the idea of it, even though it didn't actually work for us this trip, at resorts I already know well.