Can someone enlighten me on online check-in?

[scidawg]

It has been awhile since we have visited, and I don't believe this option existed before. What does checking in online do for me? We will still have to visit the hotel first before going to the parks, correct? What are the advantages?

 

[dansdad]

IMHO the process currently called online check-in is incorrectly named. They really should change it to online pre-registration because that is all you are doing. You are confirming your personal information and providing a credit card for room charging privileges. Then when you physically arrive at your resort, your packet is put together and ready for you with your KTTWs, resort info, etc. Theoretically, it speeds up the process of checking in when you arrive.

Now once they fully roll out the Fast Pass Plus system, you will be able to make your FP+ reservations 60 days prior to your arrival IF you have done the online check-in process. But until that time, the only advantage is possibly a quicker chec- in process.

 

[disnut8]

It has been awhile since we have visited, and I don't believe this option existed before. What does checking in online do for me? We will still have to visit the hotel first before going to the parks, correct? What are the advantages?

Yes, you will still have to visit your resort before going to the parks. However, if there is a huge line for regular check-in, the online check-in will be shorter (kinda like FastPass). All you should be doing is showing your photo ID and getting your packet and leaving. If your room is ready, you will have your number, if it's not, you will have already given a phone number for a text with your number. You shouldn't have to wait behind Family Johnson who has a ton of questions, needs to know the hours of the theme parks for the entire time they are there, wants to know what Toy Story Mania is, has to purchase tickets, needs detailed information on what poolside activities are going on, etc.

That's the theory. In reality, you want a shorter amount of time and hope Family Johnson doesn't get called out of the regular line because there's no one in the online check in line.

 

[scidawg]

info much appreciated. Looks like it SHOULD help us make rope drop for SWW.

 

[mrsmomo]

Is online check-in also where u make rm requests?

 

[dansdad]

Is online check-in also where u make rm requests?

You can. However, the new website has been very troublesome since it was rolled out. The tried and true way of making any room requests is still to call and have them added to your reservation. We have had 2 groups of friends do that recently and their requests were granted. We've also had 2 other groups of extended family that made their requests during online check-in and when they asked the CM if their requests were able to be met they replied that there were no requests made on their reservation.

 

[jasonumcp]

Is online check-in also where u make rm requests?

My travel agent was told by a Disney reservations CM that if you have any special requests (such as connecting rooms) to not do online check in. The computers will auto-assign the rooms without knowledge of the special requests and the CMs at check in have no way to "correct" this issue. I don't know for a fact that this is true, but as of right now I do not plan to online check in. Could be interesting when FP+ rolls out and we want to make reservations and have connecting rooms.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

My travel agent was told by a Disney reservations CM that if you have any special requests (such as connecting rooms) to not do online check in. The computers will auto-assign the rooms without knowledge of the special requests and the CMs at check in have no way to "correct" this issue. I don't know for a fact that this is true, but as of right now I do not plan to online check in. Could be interesting when FP+ rolls out and we want to make reservations and have connecting rooms.

Whether its true or not, I still will not do it. I like to talk to the CM - get a map of where my room is, bat an eye or two and hope for a better room... sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. As Wayne Gretsky says...."you miss 100% of the shots you don't take".

 

[scidawg]

Whether its true or not, I still will not do it. I like to talk to the CM - get a map of where my room is, bat an eye or two and hope for a better room... sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. As Wayne Gretsky says...."you miss 100% of the shots you don't take".

So I have seen several references to getting an upgrade in various threads on these boards. We are booked with a Woods view at WL. What would be an upgrade? Courtyard view? I mean, they aren't going to bump you up to Concierge Level are they?

 

[dansdad]

The computers will auto-assign the rooms without knowledge of the special requests

Not true. I have a distant cousin that currently works in the room assigning department. As of now it's still handled by humans.

and the CMs at check in have no way to "correct" this issue.

Also not true. As long as there is availability, the online check-in CMs can absolutely make changes to your room assignment.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

So I have seen several references to getting an upgrade in various threads on these boards. We are booked with a Woods view at WL. What would be an upgrade? Courtyard view? I mean, they aren't going to bump you up to Concierge Level are they?

I haven't had CL bestowed upon me yet...but my views have been changed and along with locations. There are many that have been upgrade to CL. It all depends on the availablity. I don't push it, nor do I expect it. Its kinda a "in the moment" thing.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

It has been awhile since we have visited, and I don't believe this option existed before. What does checking in online do for me? We will still have to visit the hotel first before going to the parks, correct? What are the advantages?

As other posters have mentioned, online check-in will shorten the time that you're standing at the reservations desk waiting for your KTTW & other paperwork as it will already be printed and waiting for you.

Do you HAVE to go to your resort before heading to the parks? Not necessarily. If you're using Magical Express and/or you bought park tickets as part of your resort package then yes, you'll need to go to the resort first. If you're renting a car, driving from the airport yourself AND you have an annual pass or tickets purchased separately then you can head directly to the parks and check in to your resort later.

 

[scidawg]

Do you HAVE to go to your resort before heading to the parks? Not necessarily. If you're using Magical Express and/or you bought park tickets as part of your resort package then yes, you'll need to go to the resort first. If you're renting a car, driving from the airport yourself AND you have an annual pass or tickets purchased separately then you can head directly to the parks and check in to your resort later.

ahhh, granted. Should have been more specific. We are driving in, but yes, our tickets are part of our package.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

ahhh, granted. Should have been more specific. We are driving in, but yes, our tickets are part of our package.

Yep, your tickets will be on your KTTW card which you'll receive when you check in. Definitely do online check-in. If you're hoping to hit rope-drop that means you're getting in early so it could be a VERY short line for check-in. You may not know which room you'll be in at that time, though, because there may be someone still in it (checkout is by 11:00 am, I believe) and/or it may still need to be cleaned. If your room isn't ready, leave your bags with Bell Services - avoid any potential break-in to your car at the park. WHen you do get your room number, just call Bell Svcs when you get to your room and they'll bring your bags up in a bit. HTH!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

My travel agent was told by a Disney reservations CM that if you have any special requests (such as connecting rooms) to not do online check in. The computers will auto-assign the rooms without knowledge of the special requests and the CMs at check in have no way to "correct" this issue. I don't know for a fact that this is true, but as of right now I do not plan to online check in. Could be interesting when FP+ rolls out and we want to make reservations and have connecting rooms.

I am not sure if this is 100% true. I know there is a box at the bottom of the request page that has "I would like my room ready early and to prioritize that over all room requests" box to check. I made the mistake of checking this in February and my specific request was trumped for a room that was ready. The CM just told me NOT to check that box next time. I have never had a problem with my requests not being met ( I have used online check in over a dozen times) other than that one incident. (they also were able to fill my request in February at check in and I even scored a upgrade from Standard to Courtyard at WL), it just took a minute or so.

 

[disnut8]

My travel agent was told by a Disney reservations CM that if you have any special requests (such as connecting rooms) to not do online check in. The computers will auto-assign the rooms without knowledge of the special requests and the CMs at check in have no way to "correct" this issue. I don't know for a fact that this is true, but as of right now I do not plan to online check in. Could be interesting when FP+ rolls out and we want to make reservations and have connecting rooms.

Not true. The on-line check in Cast Member can change your room assignment, trust me. I've been standing in the on-line check in queue and heard this being done. Any front desk Cast Member, on-line or regular line, is going to try and make the guest happy. Defeats the purpose of on-line check in when someone HAS to have a specific request but Disney definitely does NOT tell the guest it can't be done because they checked in on-line.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

My travel agent was told by a Disney reservations CM that if you have any special requests (such as connecting rooms) to not do online check in. The computers will auto-assign the rooms without knowledge of the special requests and the CMs at check in have no way to "correct" this issue. I don't know for a fact that this is true, but as of right now I do not plan to online check in. Could be interesting when FP+ rolls out and we want to make reservations and have connecting rooms.

I can vouch that this is not true at all. I had 3 rooms at CBR in 2010. I requested a first floor, corner room in Jamaica area with a connection to another room and adjoining the 3rd room. Did online check-in ... can't remember if it was at exactly 10 days out or less... and got EXACTLY what I had requested.

Requests are just that. Sometimes requests are accommodated, sometimes they're not but I don't think online check-in has anything to do with whether or not your requests are available.

 

[nkereina]

I spoke to some CMs at POR in 2011 and they did the room assigning and advised that their primary goal is to get online check-in folks into rooms that will be ready when they arrive. Any requests on the reservations are looked at secondary (if at all). So, if having a room thats ready when you arrive - do online check-in. If your requests are important, check-in in person.

The only way I would do online check-in is if I was arriving at a very busy time and/or had no requests.

Also, if room assignments ever start being done by a computer, there will always be a way for CMs to override it in person. Having worked at a hotel, it is way too important to be able to have the option to re-arrange rooms in a pinch for guests who are complaining in front of you.

 

[Happy99]

I have been told not to do online check in by cm's if a specific request is important or if you have a room only followed by package and want to stay in the same room.

 

[jojomoore]

We used online check in in 2009 and 2010 and both times it took less than five minutes to check in at AKV and BCV - 4 pm arrival. In 2010, we rented points and were met outside the front door with packet and Key to World card. After check in we went to concierge desk and bought tickets and had them put on card. Only took another 5 minutes.