Another Online Check-in question

[jennibug]

First off DH and I are Disney Vets, we go every year. We adopted our daughter last year and this will be her 3rd trip.

I typically do online check-in because we stay at the same resorts and know room locations and don't need the spiel.

We have decided to go this December with our three new daughters. Adoption on them may or may not be final when we go, not sure yet.

We have decided on AoA. We will be celebrating our twins birthday and three first time visits as well as an adoption celebration trip, plus Christmas. We will also be checking in really early about 6:30AM.

I'm debating not doing the online check-in and hoping for a bit of pixie dust for my girls. No, I am NOT expecting/hoping for an upgrade because this is the resort we want to stay at and there is not real upgrades there and the location is pre-selected by us. And YES I know that pixie dust is luck of the draw also. Overall I'm not really expecting anything but was just hoping.

What would you guys do?

 

[dansdad]

Whether you do online check in or not has zero affect on getting any pixie dust.

 

[jsebsirois]

I would still go with online check-in since you will be able to tell them about your celebration in advance. That way, who knows, they might have some time to prepare a surprise for you!

 

[jennibug]

I would still go with online check-in since you will be able to tell them about your celebration in advance. That way, who knows, they might have some time to prepare a surprise for you!

I'll probably do that. I was hoping (though once again I will say NOT expecting) to get a little extra attention paid to them

 

[minnie mum]

Other than the First Time or I'm Celebrating buttons, exactly what were you hoping for? You don't even have to hope for those- just ask the Concierge desk for them.

 

[Crazie4daMouse]

Other than the First Time or I'm Celebrating buttons, exactly what were you hoping for? You don't even have to hope for those- just ask the Concierge desk for them.

I'm wondering this myself...

 

[disnut8]

I'll probably do that. I was hoping (though once again I will say NOT expecting) to get a little extra attention paid to them

I am a big fan of online check in but in your case, I would say skip it and do the regular one.

I understand you just want some special attention paid to your daughters (congrats, BTW!) and the only way you might (and you have said you don't expect it) get that is with some special face time with a Cast Member. If you get it, you get it. If you don't you seem fine not to get it.

With the regular check in, you can say "we are celebrating our brand new family!" and then maybe ask where to get balloons or some special things for the room. You never know.

You aren't expecting anything but you probably won't get it with online check in. And at 6:30 AM, it's not going to be that busy.

 

[SPOERLX3]

CONGRATULATIONS JENNIBUG!

How exciting to have a 3 beautiful new pricesses to celebrate and enjoy Disney with!

I don't think it will matter whether you do the on-line check in or regular check-in since either way you get to talk with a CM.
My daughter and her new husband just got back on Saturday from their first anniversary celebration at Disney and they stayed at POP. She did the on-line check in and when they checked in she said they were treated like royalty. She said the CM was super sweet and overly excited that they chose POP to celebrate their 1st anniversary. They were granted ALL of their requests for their room, they gave them the "and they live happily ever after" pins and then they were given a card. When she opened it, it was signed by all the characters and it had an invitation/ressie for them at BOG for dinner. They were on the DDP so it worked perfectly since she had double booked one of her ressies

Here is some pixie dust coming your way for a super special celebration trip for you and your beautiful new family! Make sure your ressie includes what you are celebrating

 

[bowbat]

The one and only time we were upgraded (in a HUGE way -- from a standard room at the Contemporary to a two-bedroom CL suite), we did online check-in. It honestly doesn't make one bit of difference.

 

[jennibug]

Other than the First Time or I'm Celebrating buttons, exactly what were you hoping for? You don't even have to hope for those- just ask the Concierge desk for them.

As I stated above, I was hoping for a little extra attention. I'm not hoping for an upgrade or Mickey to greet us at the door. It's a special time for us with all the celebrations and my daughters haven't been given the love and attention that most children do growing up. They are all 13 and one is 14.

I thought perhaps a little more time at check-in would excite them.

Thank you for all the congratulations! After these three we are done!

 

[bumbershoot]

We almost always do online checkin, and we always get the spiel. I haven't really noticed it taking any shorter time than the few times we didn't do it. And nowadays they seem to miss something with the online checkin, or the cards they print don't work for charging even though you set it up so it would, etc etc, so I'm not sure where time-spent-at-the-desk changes with online checkin having been done or not.

 

[Sandi]

I think I would do on-line check in because of your anticipated early arrival time. Getting that information into the system might help you get an available room when you check-in. Certainly a long shot, but it might help. The time and attention by CMs will be mostly dependent on how many other guests are waiting and the personality of the CM. Nothing wrong with hoping for the best.

Good luck and congratulations to you and your girls! I hope they have a magical visit.

 

[dansdad]

As I stated above, I was hoping for a little extra attention.

We have always gotten the same amount of attention and care from the CMs no matter if we were in the regular check in line or the online check in line.

 

[coluk003]

IM going to be the one to say it as the wrath ill feel wont be much. But im sensing she wants a free upgrade for her MANY visits. Why else would one post how many times they have been there in a single year?

The "a little more time at check in", there are plenty of benches around to sit on if they would like to hang out in the lobby. Im sure you know this though from your past visits, so what EXACTLY are you looking for? I see you said extra time at check in, if that is the cast ask the CM at check in to take their time you want the process to take long to make it more magical

 

[jennibug]

Just to clarify I never said anything about my MANY visits in one year. I said we adopted my first daughter last year and this will be her third trip. My daughter has lived with us for over three years and everything was final last year. I've never gone more than once in a year and its usually every other year we go.

The reason for the extra time spent with them is because last year when we went we used online check-in and were rushed through because of a large crowd behind us. It was no big deal that's the point of online check-in.

The first time we went with her when we were celebrating her upcoming adoption was two years ago. We checked in at about 10:30 (using online check in) and she was given carnations along with the other child we had taken with us.

I'm a preadoptive foster mom and was just wanting a few extra minutes for my kids. Is it wrong for wanting them to get that too? especially when they have barely known any magic in their lives much less Disney magic? We are staying at AOA where we want to stay, how exactly are we going to get an upgraded room there?

I apologize for the rant to those saying kind words. To those that aren't my hope for you is that you gain all the information and be a lot less cynical before you judge in the future.

Besides in the long run we make our own magic now, going to WDW is a bonus!

 

[KAMLEM]

The reason for the extra time spent with them is because last year when we went we used online check-in and were rushed through because of a large crowd behind us. It was no big deal that's the point of online check-in.

I think people are just confused. I have NEVER seen someone complain that they were "rushed" through check-in, ever. That's something that most people are hoping for.

 

[mom2dina]

I was just talking to my kids about how many older children never get adopted and how sad that is.
Congrats on your new family, you have made the Magic happen, I hope you have a magical trip. God bless you!

 

[Lbachelot]

Just to clarify I never said anything about my MANY visits in one year. I said we adopted my first daughter last year and this will be her third trip. My daughter has lived with us for over three years and everything was final last year. I've never gone more than once in a year and its usually every other year we go.

The reason for the extra time spent with them is because last year when we went we used online check-in and were rushed through because of a large crowd behind us. It was no big deal that's the point of online check-in.

The first time we went with her when we were celebrating her upcoming adoption was two years ago. We checked in at about 10:30 (using online check in) and she was given carnations along with the other child we had taken with us.

I'm a preadoptive foster mom and was just wanting a few extra minutes for my kids. Is it wrong for wanting them to get that too? especially when they have barely known any magic in their lives much less Disney magic? We are staying at AOA where we want to stay, how exactly are we going to get an upgraded room there?

I apologize for the rant to those saying kind words. To those that aren't my hope for you is that you gain all the information and be a lot less cynical before you judge in the future.

Besides in the long run we make our own magic now, going to WDW is a bonus!

I am so happy for you and your beautiful new family! It takes a very special person to adopt even one child and you have gone above and beyond welcoming all of your beautiful girls into your heart and home! Best of luck on this exciting new journey and forget about all of the negative people.

 

[minnie mum]

To return to the original topic of the thread. I'm not sure, under the circumstances you have outlined, why you would want to do online check in. First of all you are planning to arrive very early in the morning. I doubt you will encounter long lines at the counter that time of day. Second of all you don't want to feel rushed while you are checking in. Isn't the purpose of online check in- to expedite the check in process so that you don't need to spend too much time in Reception?

Although, I have to admit that I have never wanted to spend more of my time on arrival standing around the Reception desk. I have a feeling my DDs were much happier with the shortest possible wait there and getting to the room/pool/park ASAP. Whatever you decide to do, have a magical time.