Does online check in actially save time?

[bowbat]

I've had rotten luck the two times I used online check-in, but it was just that: rotten luck.

The first time, we were staying at the Contemporary. Arrived and there was no one in the regular check-in line, but two families ahead of us in the online check-in line. The family being checked in had like 7 people, all of whom seemed to be celebrating something, so the CM spent 15 minutes making pins and congratulating them, and they had approximately 8500 questions. As it turns out, we shouldn't have had to wait in line at all. We had been upgraded to a two bedroom suite on club level and the CM who was in the lobby waiting for us didn't realize we were there in line. Which, obviously, was awesome, but we still left thinking online check-in wasn't great.

Fast forward about a year and I decide to give it another go. That time we were staying at WL, one night only, no parks, no special requests, easy-peasy. Well, we had the delightful luck to check in right as someone in the back was printing out (no exaggeration) HUNDREDS of room keys. Not sure why or for whom, but she was using the key-printer the online check-in desk used. I stood there for easily 20 minutes while the CM waited to be able to print out my room keys.

Despite my crappy luck with it, I just did it again for our trip tomorrow yay. Third time's the charm, right? And, really, I could have crappy luck doing regular check-in, too.

 

[maxiesmom]

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.

Actually, I'm not that particular about room location. Twice though I have ended up as far out as that certain resort can possibly place you. When not doing EBCI I have ended up with rooms closer to the main buildings. Which makes me think that when doing EBCI they give you whatever room is handy, and don't really look at requests.

Another time using EBCI I was downgraded from a preferred location and stuck out back. Before that, I would have thought that booking a certain room type, and doing EBCI would guarantee that you receive that room type. I mean, you are checking in 10 days out. They know you are coming, right? I hadn't made any requests, didn't specify a building or a floor. I just paid for a preferred room. And didn't get it.

Even so, I don't think we are disagreeing. If you (in general) want something specific in your room, and not getting it would cause you to ask for a room change, then EBCI is not for you. If you are happy with wherever you are placed, then you are a better fit for EBCI. But doing EBCI does not always guarantee a faster check in experience than you would have using standard check in.

 

[Disneylover99]

I've been to Disney resorts 3 times.
Each time I've done on line check in.
My requests after never been met.
But the cm 's have always been great in locating a room that sort of fits my request.

So online check in for us has actually taken longer.

 

[nkereina]

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.

This isn't true, at least not according to the POR CM I chatted with. I did online check-in for our last stay at POR and we ended up getting the exact opposite of our requests. The CM brought a manager over and we stood there for 20 minutes while they switched around some things to meet our requests. Had we done regular check-in, it would have taken less time. While we were waiting for the manager to be done, the CM explained that for online check-in, their first goal is to get people into rooms that will be ready based on their arrival time (this is why they put it in the online check-in form) and they don't take requests much into consideration since they have to consider housekeeping schedules and arrival times. Depending on the amount of people arriving, they may look at requests and accommodate them when/where they are able but I wouldn't count on that. We've found it easier to get our requests when doing regular check-in since they have less to consider when assigning rooms.