Checking in ?

[abk96]

We'll be headed to the world in June and are flying. We are used to getting there early around 9 AM but could only find a later flight which will get us there around 3 PM.

Will this affect the room we get? Will checking in at home 24 hrs. in advance be better than waiting until we arrive?

How do they assign rooms? Is it on a first come first serve basis?

Just want to make sure I don't get stuck with whatever is left.

 

[Missytara]

We'll be headed to the world in June and are flying. We are used to getting there early around 9 AM but could only find a later flight which will get us there around 3 PM.

Will this affect the room we get? Will checking in at home 24 hrs. in advance be better than waiting until we arrive?

How do they assign rooms? Is it on a first come first serve basis?

Just want to make sure I don't get stuck with whatever is left.

On line check in and availability of rooms and ability to fulfill requests have nothing to do with each other. Availability of rooms has to do with how busy the resort is, if another resort overbooked, maintenance issues, refurbishments that take rooms out of inventory, if someone cannot leave that day due to inclement weather at home.

Room locations are assigned about three to five days before you check-in. Rooms are then assigned that day depending on availability. If you do online check-in, you must indicate a time of arrival and the CM will place you in a room that may fit your general requests, but may not be exactly what you are looking for, because they are pulling up the first available room. You can always ask to be moved, but IMHO that defeats the idea of online check-in being quick; in and out in just a few minutes.

However, since you are arriving much later in the day, it is most likely possible to get the room/area you are looking for, since almost all the available rooms are rolled over into inventory. You should have a very good chance, whether or not you do online check-in.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Online check in can speed things up a lot since your paperwork is for the most part already done/ in a folder. At that time of day I'd recommend it to avoid lines.

 

[abk96]

Thanks for your replies. That does make sense that the rooms would be ready and in the inventory by that time. I didn't think of that.

Online check-in might be the way to go to avoid longer lines.

 

[Sue M]

If you have a specific area you want to be in, I'd phone and have your room request noted on your reservation.
We've never done the on line check in. I think it depends on what resort you are staying at with lines. And luck. If a lot of people are getting off the DME at your resort, and if the Disney Cruise ship bus pulls up too!!

A friend of mine had that bad luck last summer at BC. I had checked in earlier in the day and had no wait. She arrived and had a longer wait because 2 busses pulled up at the same time.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I have a question along the same lines.

Let's say someone requests a "bear face" room at the WL and has paid for that category of room--an inner courtyard view. Of course, the "bear face" part is just a request. If Disney was planning on meeting that request when the room was assigned a few days out, but then, another family checked in earlier than you and requested a "bear face" room, too, what would happen?

Since you haven't actually checked in, would Disney give the last "bear face" room to that family? Would completing online check-in prevent that from happening?

Of course, it doesn't have to be a "bear face" room--any request, such as, close to an elevator, close to parking, etc. is the same. Does the family that checks in early always have an advantage? Or does online check-in make a difference?

 

[Missytara]

If you have a specific area you want to be in, I'd phone and have your room request noted on your reservation.
We've never done the on line check in. I think it depends on what resort you are staying at with lines. And luck. If a lot of people are getting off the DME at your resort, and if the Disney Cruise ship bus pulls up too!!

A friend of mine had that bad luck last summer at BC. I had checked in earlier in the day and had no wait. She arrived and had a longer wait because 2 busses pulled up at the same time.

I always check in the Saturday after Thanksgiving and arrive around 10:30 am - I even take the same flight every year.

Two years ago, they offered free dining starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We arrive at POR and the check-in line was out the front door of the lobby. The line for both types of check-in was not divided until you were halfway across the check-in lobby area. They just started taking everyone at every counter.

Again, this year, they offered it and we snagged it for our large crew. I half expected the same thing. Nope, we were first in line for regular check-in and there were about five people in line for online check-in. We were out while the fourth person was stepping up in the line.

So it definately can be different from year to year.

Also, I remember the first three years, I did the land/sea package and you check-in through the cruise line desk, whether your land package is before or after your cruise.

The first year (2000) I went to CBR and there were about 30 of us who got off the cruise line bus.

We walked into the lobby and it was literally packed to the gills. I bet there was at least an hour wait for check-in.

 

[Sue M]

I have a question along the same lines.

Let's say someone requests a "bear face" room at the WL and has paid for that category of room--an inner courtyard view. Of course, the "bear face" part is just a request. If Disney was planning on meeting that request when the room was assigned a few days out, but then, another family checked in earlier than you and requested a "bear face" room, too, what would happen?

Since you haven't actually checked in, would Disney give the last "bear face" room to that family? Would completing online check-in prevent that from happening?

Of course, it doesn't have to be a "bear face" room--any request, such as, close to an elevator, close to parking, etc. is the same. Does the family that checks in early always have an advantage? Or does online check-in make a difference?

There are some room assigners on this board and hopefully he will see your post and give you a better answer! But, I think yes, if someone checked in before you with the same request they would get it. I don't think on line check in would have a different outcome. All rooms are pre-assigned 3 -5 days out. But things change.