Is it worth it to do online check in?

[kc2kl115]

Hi everyone... we will be visiting wdw in 12 days and are staying at the WL. We will be arriving early before 10 am, is it worth it to do online check in now? What are the pros and cons to doing an online check in?

 

[tmbacon]

Minimal wait time once you arrive is a plus. We stayed at WL last month and did online check in. We got to the resort at 9:30 AM and our room was ready - maybe that was just a fluke, though. Either way, the CM did everything via an iPad, I didn't even have to wait in line at the front desk and we were on our way in minutes.

I believe you also have a chance to get free upgrades when you check-in online, but I don't have any experience on this front - others will chime in though.

 

[kc2kl115]

Minimal wait time once you arrive is a plus. We stayed at WL last month and did online check in. We got to the resort at 9:30 AM and our room was ready - maybe that was just a fluke, though. Either way, the CM did everything via an iPad, I didn't even have to wait in line at the front desk and we were on our way in minutes.

I believe you also have a chance to get free upgrades when you check-in online, but I don't have any experience on this front - others will chime in though.

Thanks!

 

[ajfd]

I've only been to DW once recently, so I can't truly compare "early" vs. "normal" check-in, but when I did it, I was very thankful I did.

Our plane was delayed by 4 hours and we didn't get to AoA until 12:30a. At that time, I just wanted to get to our room. There was a short line for "normal" check-in, as opposed to no line for the online check-ins. The process was very quick.

At that hour, the less I had to think, the happier I was.

All things considered, even if it only saved a few minutes, I would rather take those few minutes from my time at home instead of when I was on vacation.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

everytime I have done online check in, my room has been ready when I arrived around 10 - 11am

 

[livsmom04]

I have always done online checkin and when my husband and I did online checkin last August on our honeymoon. Our room was ready when we checked in at 7:30 that morning. We have never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a room.

 

[kc2kl115]

Thank you everyone, now as soon as the site is back to normal I think I will check in!

 

[sambisc]

We've stayed at a moderate resort the last two years. We opted for regular check-in and never had to wait in line, plus our rooms were always ready. Granted, it was January mid-week around 11AM so that might have made a difference. I like being able to talk to the check-in clerk and get answers to any questions I have.

 

[emmysmommy]

We've done on-line check in many times.... last time for YC we didn't and so glad we didn't. We wouldn't have received the upgrade we got in February. they assigned us the suite we received that morning instead of assigning the room in the couple days before. Just saying....

 

[cancersucks]

We've stayed at a moderate resort the last two years. We opted for regular check-in and never had to wait in line, plus our rooms were always ready. Granted, it was January mid-week around 11AM so that might have made a difference. I like being able to talk to the check-in clerk and get answers to any questions I have.

I always check in online, and have always had a check in clerk. Unless things have changed in the last year (which is entirely possible) so you can still ask questions and such.

 

[Sue M]

I was always hesitant to do online check in, I go twice a year. At WL I've never experienced any lines at check in.
But this year I decided to give it a try.
At AKL, last August, we did say we planned on arriving at 9:00 am, but room wasn't ready. That was ok, I didn't expect it to be. Resort was at full capacity or close to. So no magical upgrades, but I did get all my room requests!

So in January, I decided to try it again. Our room was ready early, and once again I got all my requests. Couldn't have asked for a better room location .

So I wouldn't hesitate about using online check in again. One note, when I do on line check in, I will take the room assigned. Asking for a different room isn't what on line check in is geared for. Look at it as the express lane. It's set up to take your packet and go.

I have heard of people doing on line check in, and still getting free upgrades. I don't know if doing on line check in increases or decreases your chances of getting pixie dust?

I think when they finally roll out the new system with Fast Pass + it will mean if you want that, and personalized Magic Bands, you will have to do online check in. It's going to be a game changer.

 

[dansdad]

I have been unable to think of one con to doing online check in.

 

[franluvsbubba]

Online chking is a definite YES! We go to Dis every year and ALWAYS do it. We always stay at ASM and the chk in line is ALWYS HORRENDOUS!!!! Where as the online chk in line is either empty or it has one or two in it.

 

[Missytara]

I always check in online, and have always had a check in clerk. Unless things have changed in the last year (which is entirely possible) so you can still ask questions and such.

You will want to go back and re-read her post; she meant that she would rather have the opportunity to ask questions, not just have her package handed to her. Most people's first impression of online check-in is that you just get your packet handed to you and cannot engage in any conversation with the CMs at the desk.

 

[maxiesmom]

I do have a word of warning about on line check in. Make sure you know what room category you have booked, and where those rooms are located!

The last time I used on line check in was for a stay at the Music. For some reason my packet wasn't ready, and they had to check me in the old fashioned way. When they handed me all of my info, I noticed I had been downgraded from a preferred room to a standard room. They didn't even tell me! If I hadn't known what was what I would have paid more for a room type I didn't get!

Because of that (and multiple times getting rooms located as far from the main building as possible) I won't use on line check in again.

 

[dansdad]

I do have a word of warning about on line check in. Make sure you know what room category you have booked, and where those rooms are located!

The last time I used on line check in was for a stay at the Music. For some reason my packet wasn't ready, and they had to check me in the old fashioned way. When they handed me all of my info, I noticed I had been downgraded from a preferred room to a standard room. They didn't even tell me! If I hadn't known what was what I would have paid more for a room type I didn't get!

Because of that (and multiple times getting rooms located as far from the main building as possible) I won't use on line check in again.

That's good advice no matter if you do online check in or not. We have had the same thing happen to us twice and neither time did we do online check in. The first time I booked and paid for river view at POR and was given standard view. The other time we booked preferred at POR and was not given a preferred room. Neither time were we informed we didn't get what we booked an paid for. With the water view room I could tell right away when they showed me on the map where our room was so I was able to get the $$ difference credited back, but I DID have to ask. With the preferred room, this was before the DIS, I didn't realize we weren't in a preferred location until like day 3. I had to go back down to the front desk and ask for a refund of the difference. So that can happen with or without doing online check in. Our last four stays we've done online check in with no issues.

 

[cancersucks]

You will want to go back and re-read her post; she meant that she would rather have the opportunity to ask questions, not just have her package handed to her. Most people's first impression of online check-in is that you just get your packet handed to you and cannot engage in any conversation with the CMs at the desk.

I apologize, I guess I worded that poorly. I was basically trying to say the same thing you are- you still get to speak one on one w/ a cast member.

 

[FancyNancy]

I stayed at POR last week and did online check in. We did not have a wait and were upgraded from a standard room to a river view royal room