What is the benefit of Online checking in?

[robinbutterfly]

Is there a benefit to checking into the hotel room 10 days earlier online?
Also, how do I do it?
THanks!

 

[jksgrammy]

We found no benefit to checking in on-line. I completed the on-line checkin for our 12-12 to 12-19 trip. When we arrived at BC and walked into the lobby, we were greeted and escorted to the check-in desk. Since the on-line checkin line had two guests already there, we were escorted over to the "regular" check-in counter and were immediately assisted by a clerk, who explained that he was new on the job. We had to provide him with all our info, was told our room wasn't ready yet (we arrived at BC around 11AM) and he had to print out everything for us (there was no prepared package waiting for us). In fact, I had to remind him that he had to provide us with a parking pass that he forgot to print out.

We got a call from the front desk around 3:20PM that our room was ready.

Please note that I am NOT complaining about any of this, only that other posters have reported that by checking in on-line that all they had to do was go to the on-line checkin desk and they were handed a packet with all their room info and that almost all reported that their room was ready for them.

Would I use the on-line checkin again? Yes. Did it save us any time? No.

 

[havaneselover]

Our room at the CR was ready at 7AM because we did online check in (and because there was availability). We also were upgraded (probably a coincidence). Regardless, I'll do it again next year.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I did online checkin for our 8/30-9/6 trip. When we arrived at CBR we went directly to the online checkin desk. The CM said she had just finished printing up our paperwork. We were given our folder, our room was ready and we were in our room by 12 noon. We also got the building we requested. Worked beautifully.

FWIW, everything went our way that day. We landed at 10:45, bypassed the ME desk and went directly to the line for our bus. We waited about 5-10 minutes, loaded onto a bus which left within 5-10 minutes and were the first stop. Unbelievable that in a little over an hour we landed and were in our room. This was probably a once in a lifetime event, but we were happy.

 

[Baltazar]

The only benefit I see is another opportunity for them to make a mistake... but I'm an optimist.

 

[BlueBayou]

We used online check-in this Oct at POFQ. When we walked up to the desk they handed me a packet and the room was ready. Now we were checking in at 8:30pm or 9pm - so I would hope the room was ready

But check-in took all of 2 minutes for me.

 

[Sue M]

Thanks for asking this question. I haven't used the on line check in yet. In Aug we checked in the regular way. Was on line check in an option in Jan 09? We didn't do it then either if it was.
But in Aug, we did a split stay, and at POR there were 4 families ahead of us, and I didn't notice an on line check in desk. And at WL we were the only one checking in, so walked right up.
I'm still debating on whether to try it for our upcoming Poly stay.
I've always been lucky on getting a free upgrade, at AKL and WL stays! Would on line check in be less likely to get a free upgrade?

 

[robinbutterfly]

Thanks for asking this question. I haven't used the on line check in yet. In Aug we checked in the regular way. Was on line check in an option in Jan 09? We didn't do it then either if it was.
But in Aug, we did a split stay, and at POR there were 4 families ahead of us, and I didn't notice an on line check in desk. And at WL we were the only one checking in, so walked right up.
I'm still debating on whether to try it for our upcoming Poly stay.
I've always been lucky on getting a free upgrade, at AKL and WL stays! Would on line check in be less likely to get a free upgrade?

How do you get free upgrades? That is awesome!
When you do online check-in, does it already assign you a room?

 

[ckdsnynt]

We attempted to use on-line check in for our trip in Dec. We stayed at the Poly and at the end of the on line checkin process , it required you to leave a $500-1500 deposit on your credit card for room charges. The amount depended on your resort I believe. There was no option that I could find to not leave this.
We never leave a credit card for room charges because we do not charge things to our room. Therefore, we did not use the on-ine check in.
However, we did not get our request honored at the regular check in. I have a disability and use an ecv. I asked for ground floor, not too far out from the main building. We were given the third floor in the building farthest from the main building! At our request, we were changed to the third floor (nothing else available we were told) in a building just a little closer. So much for requests.

 

[LSchrow]

We attempted to use on-line check in for our trip in Dec. We stayed at the Poly and at the end of the on line checkin process , it required you to leave a $500-1500 deposit on your credit card for room charges. The amount depended on your resort I believe. There was no option that I could find to not leave this.
We never leave a credit card for room charges because we do not charge things to our room. Therefore, we did not use the on-ine check in.
However, we did not get our request honored at the regular check in. I have a disability and use an ecv. I asked for ground floor, not too far out from the main building. We were given the third floor in the building farthest from the main building! At our request, we were changed to the third floor (nothing else available we were told) in a building just a little closer. So much for requests.

just a suggestion: make sure your request is noted as "medical". medical neccessity takes precedence over simple "preference" requests. your requests are much more likely to be granted if it is for medical reasons. (i've never had a medical neccessity request not granted, but have had many a preference request not given)

 

[stitchfan18]

So you have to leave a CC for charging if you do online check in? We are checking in at the BWV next friday around noon and I was thinking about doing online check in for my mom and I, but I never leave a CC on file, even if it wasn't charged, wouldn't it still take that amount away from the available balance for your CC until they lift the hold? I'll be disapointed if we can't do online check in without a CC. We're traveling with my 16 month old nephew and thought it would be super easy and we could get to one of the parks a little faster...

 

[mickeystoontown]

I did online check-in for our August, 2009 stay at the CBR. Upon arrival, I went to the Customs House and got in the line for online check-in. We were the only family in line. The castmember took about 5 minutes to give us our packet, our celebration pins and explain to us where the room was. We were given a free upgrade from a standard to a preferred location.

 

[Sue M]

How do you get free upgrades? That is awesome!
When you do online check-in, does it already assign you a room?

I never asked for upgrades, but at check in the CM would just say, we've upgraded you to whatever, depending on your resort. Just a bit of WDW magic!

Can't say about on-line, I haven't used it yet. Thinking about it, but haven't come to a decision yet. I have a couple of weeks more to think!

 

[DebbieB]

How do you get free upgrades? That is awesome!
When you do online check-in, does it already assign you a room?

A room is not immediately assigned when you do online check-in. It is still assigned by the front desk.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

So you have to leave a CC for charging if you do online check in? We are checking in at the BWV next friday around noon and I was thinking about doing online check in for my mom and I, but I never leave a CC on file, even if it wasn't charged, wouldn't it still take that amount away from the available balance for your CC until they lift the hold? I'll be disapointed if we can't do online check in without a CC. We're traveling with my 16 month old nephew and thought it would be super easy and we could get to one of the parks a little faster...

I never did, nor did I leave a credit card when I checked in.

 

[crusoe2]

About the timing of the room assignment - I would assume this is done before your arrival in order to have your packet ready when you get there? What if I have a major problem with the room I'm assigned? How big a hassle would it be to get it changed?

 

[Disuser]

I did an online check in today for Wilderness Lodge. It was fast and simple. They asked if we wanted to leave a credit card number for charges to our room. They allow you to bypass that section if you are not leaving a card number.
I had made room reservations over the phone and some CM had put our country down as Afghanistan , so I took the opportunity to correct that little mistake to United States.

 

[ckdsnynt]

just a suggestion: make sure your request is noted as "medical". medical neccessity takes precedence over simple "preference" requests. your requests are much more likely to be granted if it is for medical reasons. (i've never had a medical neccessity request not granted, but have had many a preference request not given)

I didn't know how to do this! Makes sense tho. Where do you make this notation?

 

[ckdsnynt]

So you have to leave a CC for charging if you do online check in? We are checking in at the BWV next friday around noon and I was thinking about doing online check in for my mom and I, but I never leave a CC on file, even if it wasn't charged, wouldn't it still take that amount away from the available balance for your CC until they lift the hold? I'll be disapointed if we can't do online check in without a CC. We're traveling with my 16 month old nephew and thought it would be super easy and we could get to one of the parks a little faster...

Someone on here said you could bypass this section but I didn't find a way to bypass it and yes, it does tie the money up on your cc. So, I simply elected to do regular check in.

 

[aubriee]

I did an online check in today for Wilderness Lodge. It was fast and simple. They asked if we wanted to leave a credit card number for charges to our room. They allow you to bypass that section if you are not leaving a card number.
.

I used online check in for our Dec 12th-20th stay at CSR. I too bypassed that section and did not leave a credit card number. When I checked in, I swear the online check in line was much longer than the regular check in. There were only two CMs there and both were dealing with families who were having problems and were upset about something. When I finally got to a CM he made a comment that he saw I had not given a credit card for charges and he asked if I wanted to do so. When I told him no, it was not a problem at all. He then just handed me my packet and asked for my cell phone number and if I wanted a text message or voice mail, since our room was not yet ready.

When I was there Sept 25th-Oct 4th, I chose to use regular check in and was very glad I did. The online check in line was MUCH longer than the regular check in then also. My room was ready and I was through and on the way to my room faster than other people from my DME bus that had arrived with me to check in. On neither trip did I see an advantage to online check in.