Digital Key vs. Key Card - Which takes longer?

[cruisehopeful]

This might be particular to The Grand Californian, but I've had problems with room keys. My most recent stay, I went with digital key, online check in and avoiding the front desk. They digital key takes way too long to open the door. I actually timed it on my phone the last time I went into the room and it took 5 minutes. This was a month ago.

The prior 2 times I stayed there, I went to the front desk and asked for a key card. It was like pulling teeth to get one. The first time, the women helping me kept going to different machines and finally went through a door and came back extremely stressed out. At least the key worked. The next time I stayed there, I figured it would take a long time to get the key and just went in expecting that. We got a key after a couple machines failed to work and then we trekked to our room with our luggage, which was about as far as possible and neither key worked so we went back to the front desk with our luggage, waited in line again and finally got keys that worked. Both of those experiences were last year.

I'm considering booking there next month, but I can't stand the thought of it taking so long to get a working key. Waiting 5 minutes for the digital key to work feels way longer than 5 minutes. I don't know why they had such major issues coding key cards the other recent stays. I'm just wondering what other people's experiences have been in the past year. Is the lag with the digital key related to TMobile?

 

[varyth]

My husband and I are on TMobile and had trouble opening the door at VGC with the Disneyland app. Another member in our party (Verizon) did not have any issues with the digital key. Glad we requested physical key cards for everyone at check-in, just in case. We did not have any digital key issues at Aulani.

 

[foolish_mortals]

I have found that the digital key was slower but not nearly as bad as you mentioned. More like 2 secs with digital vs instant with the card.

 

[varyth]

When I tried, the digital key basically timed out and the door never unlocked. I know I allowed Bluetooth access for the Disneyland app because I had my MagicBand+ connected all weekend (and had all special effects in the parks). I gave up and ended up using the physical key card for the rest of my stay.

 

[DizMe]

I prefer the key card. It's faster and easier for me, plus when I've gone, only the main person on the reservation got the digital key, which was annoying. We all had the app and had linked the reservation. Maybe that's no longer an issue? I do like the sound of the digital key when it opens the door, though!

 

[RoseColored97]

We mostly used the digital key and had no issues with it opening immediately, also have TMobile. We did go down to the front desk during a slower time (5 people in line instead of 20 lol) and requested keys for early entry to make things easier, no problem at all. In fact, they have another person that walks down the check-in line that will pull you out of line to assist you if you need something really simple like keys. They have a smaller cabinet that they can code keys with off to the side.

That is one thing I will give GCH props for, they do try to make the line more efficient if they can.

 

[joseph821]

We mostly used the digital key and had no issues with it opening immediately, also have TMobile. We did go down to the front desk during a slower time (5 people in line instead of 20 lol) and requested keys for early entry to make things easier, no problem at all. In fact, they have another person that walks down the check-in line that will pull you out of line to assist you if you need something really simple like keys. They have a smaller cabinet that they can code keys with off to the side.

That is one thing I will give GCH props for, they do try to make the line more efficient if they can.

I am just going to check in at the GCH front desk when I get there for my August trop. I am not doing the online check in things or the digital key through my WDTC package. I want the key cards!!!

 

[longboard55]

What do you do about the pool and parking without a regular card key.

 

[Wesley815]

I always obtain regular key card, even if I have access to digital key. Not sure why the Front Desk Agent was so confused at your request. The others I've dealt with all quickly have keys and make one anytime.

Same applies for large chain hotels and Vegas- the digital keys (IMO) are more of a pain. Open app, hope things load, wait, tap button, wait, door opens.

I get it- first world problems but it literally takes a split second to wave plastic key card vs 10+ seconds with phone.