How to maybe avoid check in glitch

[Pats Dragon]

I just returned from stay at Pop and I had an annoying experience at check-in. For the last 3 visits we have had check in problems but this was the most annoying. I always do online check in and did, this trip. I booked 2 rooms but the 2nd room wasn't needed for 2 days. We arrived in the am and the cm took my credit card and id and said they would text when room was ready. Great-right? No. Two days later after returning from a long day at epcot and returning to my room I had a telephone message on room phone. (why not text since I could have stopped by?) The cm said that the new hold could not be for more than 1500 dollars and my account said over 1600. I tried to explain that I had paid the room amount at check in but he said that there must have been a problem with my card. (I KNEW that was not true.) I wrote a check for the week's stay but he could not get the bank approval. He was extremely nice but had never done a check and kept starting over. By that time I was getting worried. My card and my check were not working! I called a man in a suit who came over and got approval for my check and also approval for me to pay for the second room the day of check in with a check. I was totally stressed out by that time. Next day when I came by the desk to pay for the second room I tried my credit card and insisted on a receipt indicating payment. Went through easily.

Always make sure cm actually runs the card and gives you a receipt. I am sure that the first cm didn't run the card and that messed up the check in. Lots of people having problems with the new hold policy.

 

[bumbershoot]

So was this an issue with the charge for the room combined with the daily hold? I’ve always heard that the room’s remainder is charged early in the morning automatically, so it’s confusing why that hadn’t already happened.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm terribly confused. You'd been there 2 days and then you went by and you paid by check? Seems odd to pay for a hotel by check instead of credit card these days.

 

[sndral]

I'm terribly confused. You'd been there 2 days and then you went by and you paid by check? Seems odd to pay for a hotel by check instead of credit card these days.

I think OP initially ‘paid’ via credit card, received a VM indicating there was a problem w/ the card, so she/he went to the desk to sort it out & ended up having to pay w/ a check as the cc was still not working. I’m not clear whether the issue was in relation to room 1 or room 2, though.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Sorry. It is a long post and hard to follow. Yes I paid with card and nothing was said about glitch until 2 days later and there was a problem with room 1. Room 2 had not checked in. CMs could not tell me why my room had not been paid for but thought it was my card. I knew that you could tell immediately if a card had a problem so I didn't believe it but wrote a check. Manager had arranged for me to come by and pay with a check for the second room but I asked cm the day that I checked in to room 2 to just run my credit card which she did and I got a receipt. No problem. I think the new hold somehow automatically messed up the payment even though my credit card had more than enough credit to pay everything.

 

[AngiTN]

That is bizarre. I've always had them process the card even before we arrive so the room is paid in full. I look on the ap and can see the zero balance on the room
One suggestion to avoid it in the future, give them a call the day before you arrive and pay it off on the phone, rather than letting the system process it for you using online check-in?
Since you mention you've had problems for several trips in row. That alone is unusual for 1 guest to have check-in problems several trips in a row. Is it always with processing your payment?

 

[Brett Wyman]

Did you try calling the credit card holder? They may have just put a security hold on it for your safety.

And I'm surprised Disney would accept checks at all.

 

[kaytieeldr]

returning to my room I had a telephone message on room phone. (why not text since I could have stopped by?)

because the hotel is absolutely 100% positive that you have a room phone.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I think the new policy is to put a hold on the card at check in for any balance due for the room, but they won't process the charge for the room until check out (or the 5th day, for longer stays).

Maybe the problem OP hit is that the way they do holds caused them to go over the available credit limit, despite there being enough available credit for the actual charges.

Did you charge things to the room? You said there were $1600 in holds. How much was the room balance? How much did you charge to the room in those two days? I'm wondering if there were double or triple holds.

 

[SharonZ]

This post is really confusing, and they accepted a personal check?

 

[AngiTN]

I think the new policy is to put a hold on the card at check in for any balance due for the room, but they won't process the charge for the room until check out (or the 5th day, for longer stays).

Maybe the problem OP hit is that the way they do holds caused them to go over the available credit limit, despite there being enough available credit for the actual charges.

Did you charge things to the room? You said there were $1600 in holds. How much was the room balance? How much did you charge to the room in those two days? I'm wondering if there were double or triple holds.

This is the first I've heard of this part
So you can't pay for the room in advance?
What about packages? Which are certainly paid in full in advance?

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

This is the first I've heard of this part
So you can't pay for the room in advance?
What about packages? Which are certainly paid in full in advance?

You can. You can either call in advance of your stay, or at the front desk when you arrive.

This is about those who don't pay in advance and use online check in, and don't go to the front desk upon arrival, expecting to be autocharged on arrival day.

 

[Pats Dragon]

You are right that the post is confusing because the situation was confusing. Arlena is right I think. They did not process the payment and the amount left for the room was 1683. Maximum hold is 1500. Two prior issues were simple: 1.CM told me the room wasn't ready and it was but they wanted to see my credit card for the hold for incidentals. After 3 trips to the front desk a smart cm told me what was wrong and fixed it. 2. Confusion over primary room occupant which was easily fixed. They did accept a personal check and would also have accepted a check for second room. Now I know to make sure they run my card to pay for the room and there should be know issue.

 

[Searc]

You can. You can either call in advance of your stay, or at the front desk when you arrive.

This is about those who don't pay in advance and use online check in, and don't go to the front desk upon arrival, expecting to be autocharged on arrival day.

You are charged in full on check in day when you do online check in. You can't do online check in without providing a card to charge to.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Sorry Searc but you are charged in full MAYBE, but I was not charged even though I did online check in. As far as I know I have never been charged in full with online but then I have never bought a package which is different. Check out the posts on the "hold" posts and you will see that sometimes you are charged on 5th day or at check out. (even with online).

 

[Searc]

Sorry Searc but you are charged in full MAYBE, but I was not charged even though I did online check in. As far as I know I have never been charged in full with online but then I have never bought a package which is different. Check out the posts on the "hold" posts and you will see that sometimes you are charged on 5th day or at check out. (even with online).

I always do room only and up until my upcoming trip have always done online check in. My credit card has always been charged on check in day at the start of the Disney business day so my balance is zero when I arrive.

 

[dansdad]

I always do room only and up until my upcoming trip have always done online check in. My credit card has always been charged on check in day at the start of the Disney business day so my balance is zero when I arrive.

That is the norm, yes.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

You are charged in full on check in day when you do online check in. You can't do online check in without providing a card to charge to.

That is the norm, yes.

Not with the recent change, as of Feb 27
https://www.disboards.com/threads/new-credit-card-authorization-holds.3729383/page-12#post-60201619

New policy clearly says a "hold" will be placed on the balance due, but not charged until the 5th day or check out (which ever is first).

 

[dansdad]

Not with the recent change, as of Feb 27
https://www.disboards.com/threads/new-credit-card-authorization-holds.3729383/page-12#post-60201619

New policy clearly says a "hold" will be placed on the balance due, but not charged until the 5th day or check out (which ever is first).

I know that's what the policy says, it just wasn't my experience.

 

[mamapenguin]

I’ve done online check in, do I still have to go to the desk to check in or can I just go to bell Services to leave my bags?