Any cons to Online Checkin?

[amyngary]

When it first started, there were Pro/Con threads re: online checkin. Now that it's been a couple of years and they added the "no need to stop at the front desk" feature, I'm wondering if this is the time to finally try it.

Are there any negatives to online checkin? I seem to remember for example that people felt they were less likely to get their room request if they did online checkin - has that improved?

Thanks for your input!

 

[jdkdorn]

any requests you made when you did your booking may fall off. The online check-in is really for WDW guest and made available to us. The requests they list do not really pertain to DVC. Both times we have used it we got nothing we requested and one time we did not get our room until 7 pm and it was dirty still. Many others have had good luck so you take it as a risk that you may lose your requests, if any

 

[disneynutz]

The con is that it isn't a DVC product but a Disney product that DVC put on their website. Much of the information doesn't apply to DVC and can be a dis-service to DVC members. A description for BCV states that you can have a view of the lake which is impossible from BCV.

Bill

 

[Simba's Mom]

When it first started, there were Pro/Con threads re: online checkin. Now that it's been a couple of years and they added the "no need to stop at the front desk" feature, I'm wondering if this is the time to finally try it.

Are there any negatives to online checkin? I seem to remember for example that people felt they were less likely to get their room request if they did online checkin - has that improved?

Thanks for your input!

This is exactly why we do online check-in now, the "no need to stop at the front desk". Until this feature, we never did on-line check in. Even when we did, we had to go to the desk and go through the check-in procedure again. At Kidani, the CM that met us looked at us like we were speaking a foreign language when I said "on-line check in".

 

[disneynutz]

This is exactly why we do online check-in now, the "no need to stop at the front desk". Until this feature, we never did on-line check in. Even when we did, we had to go to the desk and go through the check-in procedure again. At Kidani, the CM that met us looked at us like we were speaking a foreign language when I said "on-line check in".

We enjoy the front desk stop and the chance to verify our room location. Once you enter the room, you can be charged for a full cleaning if you wish to change rooms.

Direct to room is great if the guest wants to skip the front desk, it's Disney's way of reducing front desk workers and getting the guest to start spending money ASAP.

Bill

 

[bwang123]

it's Disney's way of reducing front desk workers and getting the guest to start spending money ASAP.

When we have a car, we use the time we are waiting for a room text, we usually are offsite getting groceries and not spending money with Disney.

 

[disneynutz]

When we have a car, we use the time we are waiting for a room text, we usually are offsite getting groceries and not spending money with Disney.

So do we but IMO we are the minority. New guests are eager to get into the parks, DME brings you to your resort and they don't want you to take the time to get your bags. They want you to skip the front desk, get into your room, don't ask for a different room, and be on your way. Don't get me wrong, Disney is brilliant when it comes to making money, 2 billion in profit each month. I don't fault them for that but we often forget why the exist, it isn't for the magic, it's for the money. Disney puts a magic spin on every cost cutting policy and process and while it can improve the guest experience, it improves Disney's bottom line.

Bill

 

[rocketriter]

We enjoy the front desk stop and the chance to verify our room location...

We did online check-in at Kidani early last summer. We were greeted by a fellow with an iPad who not only shared with us our room assignment, he also offered to change it if it was not to our liking and even made suggestions based on different locations' attributes. I have no idea if this is going to become more common, but it was a delight.

 

[amyngary]

Thanks all for the thoughtful replies. I am concerned about losing our requests, so I think I'll skip it until they make the requests more DVC-appropriate on the online system.

 

[udflyer00]

I think the system has been constantly evolving. Now with the ability for them to assign a room and have that electronically linked to your MagicBand while you are out in the park without ever going to the front desk is pretty awesome. We are a big family so we drive down so we just park our car at the resort in the area where we "requested" (obviously if we don't get that area we'd have to move it), but then once we get our text message that our room was available and it gave us the number while at the parks we could keep right on enjoying our day. Then just bus back to the resort and bam right into the room. So we've really liked the online check-in when we've used it.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

We did online check in for Oct 14 standard view studio and requested priority for first available, and then close to elevator. We waited all day and got near elevator, but we were texted to come to front desk for room and then magic bands did not open door.

 

[gdrj]

any requests you made when you did your booking may fall off. The online check-in is really for WDW guest and made available to us. The requests they list do not really pertain to DVC. Both times we have used it we got nothing we requested and one time we did not get our room until 7 pm and it was dirty still. Many others have had good luck so you take it as a risk that you may lose your requests, if any

I don't believe requests not being filled has anything to do with on-line check-in. We have done on-line since it has become available with the same success for requests as before. Depending on how and when we arrive we sometimes will check with front desk to see if requests have been filled.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

We did online check-in at Kidani early last summer. We were greeted by a fellow with an iPad who not only shared with us our room assignment, he also offered to change it if it was not to our liking and even made suggestions based on different locations' attributes. I have no idea if this is going to become more common, but it was a delight.

Where did the CM greet you? Weren't you able to go straight to your room? I think it's awesome that he offered to change it, but what if you aren't at the resort?
I'm just trying to understand this. Let's just say you get a text with your room assignment and don't like the location. How could you go about changing it unless you are at the front desk?

 

[rocketriter]

Where did the CM greet you? Weren't you able to go straight to your room? I think it's awesome that he offered to change it, but what if you aren't at the resort?
I'm just trying to understand this. Let's just say you get a text with your room assignment and don't like the location. How could you go about changing it unless you are at the front desk?

 

[rocketriter]

ME took us directly to Kidani from the airport. Upon entering the Kidani lobby, we were greeted by the man with the iPad. He sat us down for a moment on the lobby sofas, used his iPad to show us on a map where our room would be located and which savannah it would view, then suggested an alternate with a longer walk but a view of a different savannah if we'd prefer that. He was prepared to execute the change on his iPad, not needing the front desk computers. We chose the originally assigned location and were happy with it.

 

[rcs]

We've tried to use online check-in every trip since it was originally rolled out, 9 stays in all. We always put in a credit card so we could use the magic bands for charging. With only one exception (Vero Beach last April), it has *never* worked upon arrival.

Last week, we did a split stay between Grand Floridian Villas and Polynesian Bungalows. Went to use the magic bands for charging... didn't work. So, had to stop at the front desk at the Grand Floridian Villas to get it fixed. They said there was no credit card on the reservation, even though I showed them the confirmation printout from online check-in that showed I provided one. The answer, ,"Sorry, this happens a lot." Then, after moving to the Bungalows, the magic bands didn't open the door of our unit.. It took a trip (very long walk in this case) to the front desk to get the magic bands working with the doors.

Last fall, four separate trips to the front desk to get the magic bands to work for charging, even though we had provided the credit card at online check-in. Etc. Etc.

If this were a one-time problem, that would be one thing. But this has been 8 out of 9 for us. Your question should be is there *any* Pro to using online check-in? :-(

 

[rocketriter]

Following up on my earlier post (regarding online check-in at Kidani and being greeted by a cast member with an iPad who already had all our information), last week we had a similar experience at Aulani. After advance online check-in, we were greeted at the Aulani entrance by a cast member, again with an iPad, who identified us at once. He showed us our room location and floor on a map; they were exactly what we wanted. He would have changed the room right there if we didn't like it. The room was ready and spotless, and when we arrived it already had a candy/treat that I had ordered laid out for us. (They would have moved it had we not liked this location.) Again the process was effortless, courteous, and flexible. Now that this has happened for us twice in a row, I'm curious if it's spreading to other Disney resorts. We thought it was wonderful and made online check-in definitely worth the trouble.

 

[MichelleB]

We used it in June for a split stay. The first part was the Poly DVC and it worked flawless. The 2nd part was Bay Lake and that didn't work at all. The text said we had to go to the desk to check-in. The bands wouldn't work and had to be redone. They said there was no way they could've worked on our first half but they did and I had no idea why once we moved to BLT they didn't.

We got our request at Poly but not Bay Lake and the text for Poly came in before we arrived and Bay Lake was several hours after we'd said we'd be arriving.

 

[Murron]

I have done on line check in, but that being said I've never had a true on line check in experience.....that is, check in on line, get the room number in text message, go straight to room. I usually do have a request. Most are actually made so I might just be lucky or pick rooms no one else wants . Anyway...somehow or another I wind up at the front reception desk despite it all. Last time I thought YAY finally it worked....we arrived at the airport, got on Magical Express, received a text message with our room.....and the magic band didn't open the door. Back to the front reception desk anyway. On line fail.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks all for the thoughtful replies. I am concerned about losing our requests, so I think I'll skip it until they make the requests more DVC-appropriate on the online system.

No need to skip online check-in if your only reason for skipping it is requests.

We give our requests to MS, but still use online check-in. If you enter anything in the request section of the online check-in forms, it will override / erase what you told MS. We just totally skip that page without checking or entering anything on it. We get our requests sometimes and sometimes not. It's about the same success rate whether we use online check in or not. The key is to give your request to MS ahead of time (we do it when we book) and then just SKIP the request section of online check-in.

I like online check-in because I am the one who enters my credit card info, not the front desk. With online check-in, there is no need for anyone at the front desk to handle my credit card. IMO, that is more secure.