direct to room check in??

[Lewisc]

I think what I'm trying to say is there will NEVER be a "parks bus"

Magical express is a third party leased service and they're not gonna increase the complexity?

Which park? Downtown? Waterpark? Wide world?

And what kinda day we having?

500 for magic kingdom...or 5,000?
Divide that by 75 and tell me how big of a pain it would be?

And the don't have lockers at magic kingdom anymore... Much of an afterthought everywhere else...

Nope...this isn't a cutting edge developing plan

Some of the earlier DME materials told us future enhancements would allow guests to get their room keys at MCO and then be bused directly to a theme park. My understanding is the old computer system didn't allow for remote issuance of room keys.

Incoming guests aren't assigned, in advance, to a specific bus. A few guests want to ge to the MK...they'll get loaded in the same bus as Contemporary guests. A lof of guests want to go to the Mk. A non-stop bus.

Luggage is the issue. Installing lockers large enough to accommodate carry on bags is easy. Use magic band readers instead of coins. Easier to raise prices.

The issue is getting the guests with roller bags back to their resort. Disney buses aren't equipped to handle luggage. The complexity is setting up a system to "gate check" carry on bags at the DME area of MCO for delivery to resorts. This would reduce, or eliminate, guests hanging out at their resort waiting for a room.

 

[morninglemon]

beesly - two questions: did you book direct through Disney or through a third-party like Orbitz?
and: before you left, did Disney send anything to you to check on your room preference (double vs. king bed)?

 

[mcd2745]

Some of the earlier DME materials told us future enhancements would allow guests to get their room keys at MCO and then be bused directly to a theme park. My understanding is the old computer system didn't allow for remote issuance of room keys.

Incoming guests aren't assigned, in advance, to a specific bus. A few guests want to ge to the MK...they'll get loaded in the same bus as Contemporary guests. A lof of guests want to go to the Mk. A non-stop bus.

I don't know. THey used to issue key cards for DCL at the Magaical Express area at MCO. It was a great perk for people who got in the day before and stayed at the MCO Hyatt. They took your luggage directly from your room and you just went down to the DME area and you were checked in for your cruise right there - no need to do it at Port Canaveral - and got on a bus to PC. It was awesome, buy they ended it about a year-and-a-half ago. So if they could do it for DCL, one would think they could have done it for WDW. Obviously, the bands (which anyone would have to assume will make its way to DCL also - for everyone, not just the kids club) made it moot.

 

[beesly]

beesly - two questions: did you book direct through Disney or through a third-party like Orbitz?
and: before you left, did Disney send anything to you to check on your room preference (double vs. king bed)?

I booked directly through Disney. We don't leave until next week, but haven't been asked about double vs. king preference (which I didn't really notice until now because we don't have a strong preference one way or the other). We have been able to make room requests to be adjoining/nearby others in our travel party, and for our floor preference, view (pool or lake), etc. I just logged back in to view my check-in and don't see anywhere that I could note a preference for one king or two double beds - but I'd think one could probably call ahead to add that request.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I guess it's feasible... They want you in places to spend not waiting at hotels...

But the whole luggage/carry on thing is a bigger deal than is being made.

Where are we putting this junk? The last thing they want to do is have people handling luggage around the gates or cluttering paths...
It's a bigger deal than you think. Just my opinion.

On high turn days it would be a mess and there would be no way to mitigate it. And people would be booking fastpasses assuming a quick bus to the magic kingdom...another source of complaints.

The airport is under a major expansion now...maybe if Disney is having a "Disney terminal" of sorts
Built to better use the buses and assignments, more options would be available...

Or they could get rail built
To a new hub on property... Something that made
Sense 20
Years ago

 

[BalooFan]

I envy anyone who would have the stamina to endure a flight and then take MDE directly to a park. I need a couple of hours of down time at the resort before I hit a park!

 

[Lewisc]

I don't know. THey used to issue key cards for DCL at the Magaical Express area at MCO. It was a great perk for people who got in the day before and stayed at the MCO Hyatt. They took your luggage directly from your room and you just went down to the DME area and you were checked in for your cruise right there - no need to do it at Port Canaveral - and got on a bus to PC. It was awesome, buy they ended it about a year-and-a-half ago. So if they could do it for DCL, one would think they could have done it for WDW. Obviously, the bands (which anyone would have to assume will make its way to DCL also - for everyone, not just the kids club) made it moot.

The DCL and resort computer systems aren't the same. You kind of made my point. Disney was able to do that for DCL guests but not for resort guests. That's probably when the material said resort guest check in at MCO was a service planned for the future.

I guess it's feasible... They want you in places to spend not waiting at hotels...

But the whole luggage/carry on thing is a bigger deal than is being made.

Where are we putting this junk? The last thing they want to do is have people handling luggage around the gates or cluttering paths...
It's a bigger deal than you think. Just my opinion.

On high turn days it would be a mess and there would be no way to mitigate it. And people would be booking fastpasses assuming a quick bus to the magic kingdom...another source of complaints.

Luggage is the issue. It works if guests have checked luggage and personal items (which fit under the seat in front of them). It would work if Disney allowed the guests to check their carry on bags at the DME area for delivery to their resort. Disney could install lockers outside the parks. Lockers big enough to accommodate large suitcases. Lockers which work with magic bands so Disney could easily charge enough $$$. Park buses aren't set up to accommodate luggage. That's the issue. Disney CMS would need to politely direct guests with roller bags to their resort bus.


Advantage to Disney, it will reduce the demand on housekeepers to have rooms available before check in time.

 

[beer dave]

Along with your magic band, each guest receives 2 luggage bands. Load all at the airport on one of four buses heading to the parks. The bus drops off the people at the park, and then drops the luggage at a central hub, where they read the info on the luggage bands, and distribute the luggage to the respective resort. When you get to the resort, your bags are in the regular luggage storage area, or hopefully they will start loading your room with out you being present. Tips and charges are applied to the band.

 

[sachilles]

Certainly a logistic challenge, but not insurmountable. If the concern is carry on luggage or airplane gate check luggage, it seems to me that could be addressed. You need to address and overcome the uneducated in the process and solve those issues as they come up.
At the airport, you need a mechanism to send unwanted baggage to your resort. That should be fairly straight forward. Bag tags could be issued ahead of time, but also at arrival at mco.
People travel from all over to Florida. Those trying to escape the snow covered misery of the place called home, may arrive in Florida over dressed. Having a place for those folks to change, maybe near a gift shop that sells warm weather clothing would be a nice bonus. Discarded gear needs to go to the hotel.
Strollers would go with the guests to the park. Strollers go with the guest currently.
I think the luggage issue can be overcome.
People changing their mind as they arrive at mco is probably a bigger issue. Now, they can pre plan busses based on dme reservations. In this scenario you would need to be prepared to send a guest on five possible busses, dispatched based on their at the moment request. That could present a bit of a back up.
The easier solution would be to add a bus(es) to the transportation hub. They can then do MK and Epcot via monorail. AK and DHS via bus. Is that really any better than going to the resort and boarding a bus there? Maybe not for AK or DHS, but it may still be perceived as a benefit.


One would think the transportation project that is closing the race track, could be a factor in making this happen.

 

[Lewisc]

You guys are making this complicated. CMs already go to baggage area (carousels and unclaimed luggage offices) to get bags which weren't pulled on the tarmac. Those CMs would stop by the DME area in route to the luggage sorting area. Guests won't remember extra luggage tags. The CM will scan the magic band and print a luggage tag (or scan a preprinted tag and magic band) thus linking the newly checked luggage tag with the guest.

What's in this for Disney? Guests, like BalooFan could still go directly to their resort. Disney would have a formal system to ensure rooms are made available for early arriving guests. Currently guests who want a late checkout, past noon, are charged. Guests who want a room before checkin will have the opportunity to pay for that service. 50% discount for guests who want a room after 6a but before noon. 75% discount for guests who want a room after noon but before normal check in. Many hotels don't make rooms available prior to check in time. Anyone with a large (bin) bag will be told they need to check the bag or go directly to their resort. The won't be allowed to board the bus.

5

 

[humormeeee]

We stayed at All Star Movies starting on 3/13. We got a late start so we were not at our room at the time we expected 11 am (we got there like 11pm) but at 11am we got a text saying our room was ready and what room it was. When we arrived we went straight to our room and our Magic band let us in. As our bell services person was helping us we heard a lady say she waited in line for three hours to check in and her room key didn't work, so I'm glad we did express check in and check out!!!

 

[MelissaTnNc]

We just home from our stay at SSR and got a text with room number and resort section when it was ready. It worked out well as my daughter and I were at afternoon tea at GF and DH abd DSs were at the SSR main pool. I just sent the text on to them and they went right to the room. I have stayed at SSR prior so was familiar, but DH had not. So I told him to follow the signs. I was then in the lobby later when I picked up a map/packet.

 

[Vern-e]

Anyone had experience doing this and trying to get adjoining rooms with another party? Usually they have us wait until check-in to request.

 

[HockeyIsLife]

I guess I'm thinking



Yeah but do they have room numbers? I didn't think they did. We are stay at GF for the first time this Sept. I wouldn't know where to go. I hope they keep this an option instead of making everyone use it. Though if they send the map it might help.

I'd be worried though this would make it more difficult to switch rooms. I've always checked in and looked at the map to see where we were if I didn't like it I would ask very nicely and point to the spot I wanted. I usually got it too. I'm thinking this will make it harder.

Grand Floridian you literally HAVE to walk through the Main Building to get to anywhere else, So it will be easy to get your hands on a map, which the last time I stayed there they were out for anyone to take. And the desk is right there to the right after entry so you can make any changes you would need to there.

I would think this is more geared to moderate and value. I have only stayed at GF and YC, but both of those resorts lend themselves to be able to stop in at the desk should you choose. They will need the "concierge" service more, I would bet. We are staying at POR next month for the first time, and I think I could navigate to the rooms given that we are staying in Royal Rooms, and have a general knowledge of where the mansions are that house those rooms.
The map is on MDE for POR, but the buildings are labeled with numbers, and hard to read, rather than names. So I guess it wouldn't kill me to print it out ahead of time from portorleans.org.

 

[Disneychick75]

I didn't see blt on this, are they going to add it at a future time?

Just added a credit card at BLT for our April trip and there was this note:

If you already have a MagicBand or admission card, the notification may provide your room number and inform you that you may proceed directly to your room upon arrival at your Resort. Yes, I would like to receive notifications regarding when my room is ready and/or to inform me of my room number.

 

[sweetpea29488]

So you have to do online check in to get the direct to room check in?

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Anyone had experience doing this and trying to get adjoining rooms with another party? Usually they have us wait until check-in to request.

I made two room reservations, one for myself and one for my sister. The CM linked the reservations at the time they were made. If yours are not linked, call and add that now. During online check in my sister had the option of adjoining rooms, I did not. She marked that and the outcome was successful. We were given rooms next to each other. The rooms with a door would have been nice, but we made this work.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

So you have to do online check in to get the direct to room check in?

Yes. In addition, the room/package has to be paid in full with a credit card on file. I linked a credit card to my reservation, but never used it. I just wanted to take advantage of this amenity.

 

[dinolounger]

It's about time. Hotels in Asia such as those in the Shangri-La have been doing direct to room check in since 2009.

 

[bmwdw]

Perhaps these questions/concerns have been answered and if so I apologize for not finding the information myself. We will be going in October and are staying at OKW. I will be having our magic bands sent to our house and will sign up for online/direct to room check in. We will most likely get there early in the morning on Monday and would like to head straight to the park of our choice. My questions/concerns are this: Will we need to go by the resort first even if our room is not ready for any reason? Also, if we go straight to the park will they be able to tell we are staying on property without a parking pass or will that all be on the magic bands already? Trying to avoid having to pay for parking. TIA