Checking in

[Jays2013]

Hi! We'll be visiting Disney this fall for the first time since 2003. So Magic Bands are new to us.

Between those and online check-in, do you even have to stop at the front desk when you arrive at the hotel these days? I think I saw something about getting a text when the room was ready. Could we go directly to the room and use Magic Bands to get in?

Or do I have my wires completely crossed here?

 

[ColoradoMom12]

If you get the text (we always do, but I've read here that some people have not received it), yes, you can skip the desk and proceed directly to your room. Your MagicBand will open the door! I think it's wonderful.

 

[Shanti]

Luck of the draw. You might get the "skip the lobby" text. You might not. We've had both experiences. Both ways were fine.

 

[Fangorn]

Your thinking is correct.

Theoretically - your mileage may vary -
if
1) you have your magic bands (meaning you are not an international guest)

2) you have done online check-in (which requires putting a credit card on your account)

3) have your cell number in your MDE profile and have checked the box saying it's OK for them to text you

Then you should get a text when your room is ready. That text will have your room number in it. Room numbers also apparently now will show up in your MDE app under the reservation once the room is ready. This is a new feature and I haven't experienced it yet. Indications are that this happens in virtually all cases, whereas the text thing doesn't always happen.

Sometimes they will send a text that the room is not yet ready, and sometimes the text will be that you need to stop by the front desk. I've had all three at different times.

Steve

 

[ColoradoMom12]

Yes, they now add the room number to the MDE app. We were there about 2 weeks ago. The number was added to the reservation in the app at the same time I got the text. I also got an email with our room number at the same time.

 

[dansdad]

Your thinking is correct.

Theoretically - your mileage may vary -
if
1) you have your magic bands (meaning you are not an international guest)

2) you have done online check-in (which requires putting a credit card on your account)

3) have your cell number in your MDE profile and have checked the box saying it's OK for them to text you

Then you should get a text when your room is ready. That text will have your room number in it. Room numbers also apparently now will show up in your MDE app under the reservation once the room is ready. This is a new feature and I haven't experienced it yet. Indications are that this happens in virtually all cases, whereas the text thing doesn't always happen.

Sometimes they will send a text that the room is not yet ready, and sometimes the text will be that you need to stop by the front desk. I've had all three at different times.

Steve

I'll add a fourth. You might not get any text or email and will have to stop by the front desk.

 

[buzznina]

Like everyone has mentioned, if it works perfectly then that is the idea to go straight to the room. We do not always do online check-in but the 2 times we did it was 50% and the time we got the text I still went to the desk because I was not happy with the room location and had it changed.

 

[tobikaye]

I have been twice since online check in to let you skip the front desk.

The first time, I had my room assignment while when I turned my phone back on after we landed at MCO. We could have gone straight to our room, but I had to reset my MB pin for purchases so I did stop.

The second time, I got a pin with my room assignment plus a text saying I still needed to stop at the front desk. The room I had booked was not available and they had to do some Disney Magic, which involved an upgrade to club level. They needed me to stop at the front desk if someone from the club level did not catch me as I pulled up to the resort so they could explain what happened.

 

[hes122]

We arrived at the resort before we got our text with our room info, so we stopped at the desk to get our room assigned (or re-assigned as the case may be; the room they originally had for us wasn't ready and we wanted to drop our stuff off).

Oh yes...we also needed to set up my traveling partner's credit card on her MB so we needed to stop for that as well, so we killed 2 birds with one stone.