Hypothetical, all things being equal except online check in...

[Alice Sr.]

Received the online check in email yesterday, I don't know why this stumps me every time. I typically do not participate as I always have a room request placed at the time I make my resv (usually 11 months to the day) and think the online will adversely affect my standing request (even when leaving that section plank online). But in thinking twice, if I were the scheduler and had two identical requests but only one room that met those specific requests would I likely give it to the one who had participated in online check in? I think so. So online check in it is.?. What is your opinion? Side note, we arrive late morning and having a room ready upon arrival is not a big deal. I place more weight on having the right room than immediate availability.

 

[jimmytammy]

We too feel the same. We are checking in next week at OKW, and online, it shows HH request with 2 more options to put in. When I made the ressie by phone, my requests were HH, ground floor for my DMIL for mobility needs. So, I look online, the elevator request box is checked and I cant uncheck. So I called DVC yesterday, the CM assured me my ground floor request is in. I asked her to remove the elevator as that would place us over across the street for sure and further from HH. I got the runaround basically telling me not to worry. I wont, but I will will wait to arrive and get room needed for her.

 

[lovin'fl]

OKW you have to book HH section, it is a booking on it's own (like theme park view at BLT). You can't get HH unless you book that. I own there and book a room for my inlaws about every other year. They are 70 and MIL has bad knees and FIL has COPD. I book HH section at 11 months out and then request first floor due to medical. Twice I was told that was a guarantee since it was listed as medical. And both times inlaws got first floor. The third trip, last month, when i put in medical first floor request I was told (for the first time) that it would not be a guarantee but just a request. I even sent message via member website. They did NOT get first floor (but once there and desk saw my inlaws they told them that they'd be in room on 2nd floor for 2 days and then they could move them down to the first floor...so that was good). You should have kept the elevator request.

 

[disneynutz]

Online check in was created by Disney for the non-DVC resorts. It is designed to reduce check in time to save Disney money and to get guests on their way to spend money. Direct to room is the next product to accomplish this.

DVC added access to online check in which seems like a positive impressive feature but the available requests do not match the DVC properties.

Adding requests to the DVC reservation still seems to be the better option.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We put in requests with MS and do online check in approx half the time. If I have already put in requests with member service then I don't even touch the online request section as I suspect that overrides. If I have something in particular That is especially important then after doing online check in I will give member service a call and double check that the requests are still there. At the resort it's always been fine. Even if they haven't been able to accommodate the request they have been able to see it and usually note to me that they weren't able to.

 

[SuperRob]

Received the online check in email yesterday, I don't know why this stumps me every time. I typically do not participate as I always have a room request placed at the time I make my resv (usually 11 months to the day) and think the online will adversely affect my standing request (even when leaving that section plank online). But in thinking twice, if I were the scheduler and had two identical requests but only one room that met those specific requests would I likely give it to the one who had participated in online check in? I think so. So online check in it is.?. What is your opinion? Side note, we arrive late morning and having a room ready upon arrival is not a big deal. I place more weight on having the right room than immediate availability.

In my experience, Online Check-In can help if you have a very specific request. You have a better shot of getting a specific room if they know you're checking in, versus others who may wait. I've always done online check-in, and I've never missed a room request. But admittedly my experience is the definition of anecdotal.

If you don't check in online, and you're arriving late, you run the risk of not having your request even SEEN before you get there. If you check in early, you stand a much better chance of the room assigner being able to juggle rooms to accommodate your request (like making sure to put someone checking out the day you're checking in in the same room, if possible).