Early Check In - On MDE

[slo]

I’m curious about early check in on MDE.

I always see the option to “start check-in now” on MDE, but I never do it. Is there an advantage to checking in early on the app? The option is available months before the arrival.

Have you done the early check in on MDE?
Did it make a difference for you as opposed to waiting until you get there?

My trip is in 23 days and I’m just wondering if I should hit that “start check-in now” today.

 

[Dug720]

If you do it, you *can* bypass the front desk. You don't HAVE to skip the front desk - it's a common misconception around here that if you do online check-in they don't allow you to go to the desk.

You can give them your approximate arrival time - and let them know if early arrival supersedes any other request.

You can set your card for charging to the room/magic band.

And they can text you your room number when it's ready, so if you want you can go directly there.

 

[highlander357]

My understanding is that if you were to call in with a room requests, then later do the online check in, the online check in will overwrite your previous room requests.

 

[Dug720]

My understanding is that if you were to call in with a room requests, then later do the online check in, the online check in will overwrite your previous room requests.

Only if you put anything in the room requests section. You don't have to make any requests there to complete online check-in.

 

[bakerworld]

When online check-in started it was a way to speed up the travel day. When it worked, which IMO was when ME still was attached to the Disney reservation, it was a nice perk to go directly to the room. Back when we went to WDW infrequently, and had questions, I preferred to check-in onsite. Now we've no more questions.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

OP the big advantage is that you can get your room # sent to you before you arrive and that will allow you to go straight to your room bypassing the lobby. It also lets you see ahead of time if that room is to your liking, if not then you know you need to go to the lobby and see if you can change it. Like others have mentioned, you can always go check-in at the lobby even if you did online check-in. We normally do online but then use touringplans to have them fax in our room requests. Also, if you do not do room requests and would just like a room quicker, the online has an option to pick earliest available room and this could get you a room quicker (no guarantee).

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

The biggest advantage is that you don't have to go to the front desk.
They just text you and put it on the app when your room is ready and your room number.
You can also select from what is now very minimal room requests.
I like doing it because if I don't have to go to the front desk I don't want to.
Although last year we arrived at the resort quite early so we did end up walking up to ask if any room was ready and they were able to get us one earlier than the text would have come.

 

[Marthasor]

I only do it once I have landed and I'm in the car on the way to the resort and sometimes I don't do it at all and just go to the front desk. I once did online check-in in advance and got sick on my day of check-in. Though I hadn't physically checked in, they "soft" checked me in and it took hours to undo it so I could modify my reservation to another date. I don't want to go through that again.