Is It Worth Doing Online Check-In?

[Mommy2TwoMickeys]

Today is my 60 day mark to check in at VGF This is our first DVC vacation(stayed multiple times at Poly and other WDW resorts) and online check in was helpful to select room requests and let's face it, make our trip feel super close to reality I am just wondering if I should do it now that we have a DVC Reservation?? Thoughts?

 

[drusba]

The thing about room requests is that the list you will find on-line when you do on-line check-in is designed for Disney cash paying guests. Any room requests for DVC should be made through member services. Otherwise, on-line check-in does not assure getting any request or getting room earlier than you would if you didn't do it, and all it provides is a somewhat speedier check-in because your room keys will be ready when you get there.

 

[disneynutz]

We have found that on occasion it takes longer to physically check in after using online check in than just walking up to the front desk and checking in.

Several times the line for online check in was longer than the other line.

Bill

 

[Annielkd22222]

I don't use online check in anymore. I find it takes longer....and the rooms are not what I want.

 

[DanenRox]

I never saw the appeal of the online check in.

 

[DebbieB]

I always e-mail member services with my requests about a month before. I have never done online checkin but you may have to to activate the new fastpass+ when it comes out.

 

[Denmage]

Perhaps I am just lucky, but I have found that when I do online check-in and let them know that I will be arriving early, our room is ready sooner. When we don't do online check-in we have always had to wait till 4 pm or later for the room to be ready. With online check-in we have been able to check in as early as noon. That means less time worrying about checking in and more time heading out to do stuff.

(Of course, your mileage may vary. See dealer for details. Tax, title, and insurance are extra. Void where prohibited. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medication. And seek medical assistance at the first sign of a life threatening condition.)

 

[gonzalj1]

I don't see a benefit to online check-in at WDW. I haven't noticed a shorter wait or smoother process when checking in when I've used it. It might shave a minute or two off the process but nothing that I consider tangible.

That being said, I certainly saw a benefit at Aulani. It was beautiful to drive up on check in day and be handed our room keys under the port cochere. No lining up at the front desk, waiting for an agent and then going through the check-in process. We were given a quick tour of the lobby and a lay of the land and then sent to our room. I wish they could do this at all the resorts as it would really make the benefits of online check-in apparent to all.

 

[mdsd8700]

I prefer regular check in, no particular reason why it is just a ritual I enjoy. In our 3 years as DVC members we have been lucky enough to always get in by 4 (often much earlier) and nearly all of our room requests have been met. I am hoping our good luck streak continues.

 

[davedmaine]

We have found that on occasion it takes longer to physically check in after using online check in than just walking up to the front desk and checking in.

Several times the line for online check in was longer than the other line.

Bill

Exactly. I've stopped using it for that reason..

 

[paults]

I have used on-line check-in 2 times . Both times there was nobody at either desk. I went to the on-line desk and it took longer than the other guests who showed up after me at the regular desk. I was actually at the on line desk with a CM and nobody at the regular check-in desk when people show up at the regular desk and got finished before I even got my packet. I don't use it anymore what's the purpose if it takes that long. It does not get you a room any quicker unless you are really a lucky person.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I haven't seen a benefit or a detriment to the process! I think the only thing that makes a difference in either case, how long the lines are when you get there!

 

[tb1972]

We've been members about 2 1/2 years and have had 3 DVC stays so far. Each time I've done on line check in and requested early check in, it was granted. Who knows if on line check in had anything to do with it? I'm just thankful the rooms were ready when we arrived.

A benefit I like with on line check in is I can leave my credit card for room charge. It seems more secure to put the card on file via website than hand it over to the front desk. Just my opinion.

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[e46m3]

It depends if you have patient kids

 

[delilah]

I don't think it makes a difference to check in on line, really, although I do it most of the time. My last trip in June, I checked in on line for AKV Kidani. I made my original reservation in August, 2012, and checked only 1 week in advance, because I had a wait list request that was expiring then. Despite that, in my opinion, I think I got the worst savannah view room that they had, and I can't believe that they would assign that particular room to a person who had made a reservation 10 mos in advance and checked in on line.

Another time, there was no castmember at the on-line check in station, and I had to wait in the same line as everybody else, and it was a long one. And, it took the same amount of time to get the key cards as it did for anybody else. But, that was before DVC let you make your reservations totally on line, and they had misspelled my husband and son's name. We use a different last name, and they had assigned them the same last name as I have, which is comical, because my brother has stayed in rooms with us, and the castmember who was making the reservation repeatedly asked if my brother were my spouse. No, sorry, this is 2009, not 1959, and sometimes wives keep their own name when they marry.

Then, another time, I decided to change the credit card on file. But, I will probably continue to check in on line, out of force of habit.

 

[deb010305]

We used online check in twice, for SSR in October 2012 and for BWV in April 2013. The SSR made no difference, we had to wait in line, our villa wasn't ready early, and the names on a few of the key cards were incorrect.
Fast forward to BWV, for a totally different (better) experience. My DH hadn't even finished with the valet, and I went to go in and was met at the door by a CM with an iPad, she looked up our name, told us to have a seat in the lobby and went and got us our packet. The whole thing took maybe 7 minutes.

 

[kimberh]

We just used online check in at Beach Club. We had 8 room keys. When I arrived they had assigned Charging privileges to one of the children, so I had that fixed immediately. When we arrived at the room. at the end of the hall and I had asked for one close to the elevator, only one room key worked, the one she fixed charging issues on. I had to go back down with all 8 keys and make sure they all worked, before I make the trek back to my room at the end of the hall.
I will now just check in when I arrive and make my room requests through MS. I have always been fortunate there.

 

[CarolMN]

I almost always use online check-in. I add my requests through MS, though.

The reason I like to do online check-in is that I can enter my credit card in myself. From then on, I do not have to show or give it to any CM. All they see is the last 4 digits. IMO, this is "safer" than giving it to a CM at check-in.

Also, our check-ins at BLT and BWV have been very quick - like deb010305, we were met (and greeted by name) as we got off the ME bus and given our keys, bypassing the front desk. Made us feel special. Room was even ready once or twice. When it wasn't, we were directed to Bell Services.

 

[rfc0001]

I recommend it for room preferences. You can select up to three room preferences, so can tweak your location. E.g. at SSR we've used it to request Paddocks area to be near the new pool there. Using multiple, you could request Paddocks and Near Walking Path to Downtown Disney, to get on the end of the Paddocks closest to DD (and closest to the second entrance). At AKL we always request Sunset Savannah to have the possibility to see giraffes. Also, we request near the lobby which kills three birds -- you're near the busses, near the pool, and don't have to walk 20 minutes to the lobby (which the farthest building literally is a 20 minute walk -- try it sometime). Now, I usually tell MS the same requests, however it's not really clear to me how the MS requests get applied since I've flat out asked what the "standard" room requests are at AKL and they've said they didn't have any and they just type whatever I tell them--which knowing I'm just a number in the system, doesn't give me a whole lot of faith someone is going to read that comment and a) understand it and b) act on it. Personally, I have a lot more confidence in technology, since my ressie is flagged in the same way every other ressie is flagged for hotel or DVC guests. With so many guests and so many rooms, I have to assume it's an automatic process to assign rooms, so having standard requests from online checkin is going to mean you fair better in that process. Maybe I'm wrong, and MS requests actually cause your room to be manually filled *before* all the rest of the rooms are automatically filled. I can see if that's the case, your better off with an MS request. Would be nice if a former cast member could confirm how room assignment and manual room requests versus online room requests worked to get clarity on which is preferable. I can say I always get exactly what I ask for -- but I also call MS *and* do online checkin requests, so it's impossible to say which one "worked". It would be interesting to get anecdotal evidence here from other people who always use online checkin room preferences (and not MS requests) and conversely always use MS requests (and not online room preferences) and see if they always get what they request to see which one works more consistently/accurately.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Will the new Magic Bands now require you to do online check in? If so than I can see the increase in online check-in.