New online check-in process

[Granny]

I read this in the recent Winter Disney Files magazine and didn't know if it had been posted here. It is a blurb called "Web-Footnotes".

Coming in December to www.dvcmember.com

Simplify your resort-arrival experience by checking in to any of the current eight Disney Vacation Club Resorts, as well as any Walt Disney World owned-and-operated Resort hotel, online before you arrive. (Note: This planned service is only available for check-in. Please contact Member Services to book or modify reservations.) Visit www.dvcmember.com within 10 days of your resort arrival time, and have your payment method and the names of each person in your traveling party ready. When you arrive at the resort, your welcome folder and room key will await you at a designated online check-in area in the main lobby. (Remember that rooms typically are available beginning at 4:00 p.m.) ​

This sounds like a pretty neat feature.

It does seem to go against "room ready" though, doesn't it?

What do you all think of this new process?

 

[DebbieB]

That's a good question. I wonder if those who do online check-in will have a better chance at their requests.

Perhaps the on-line check-in will ask for your arrival time and they will not process it until shortly before that time.

 

[DVC Mike]

It does seem to go against "room ready" though, doesn't it?

From what we've been told so far, they haven't said anything about how the online check-in process will impact the room assignment process. Perhaps there is no impact?

 

[Granny]

From what we've been told so far, they haven't said anything about how the online check-in process will impact the room assignment process. Perhaps there is no impact?

The paragraph I quoted indicates that when you go through the online check-in process, "your welcome folder and room key will await you" at a designated area. That made it sound like the room would be pre-assigned prior to arrival.

That's a good question. I wonder if those who do online check-in will have a better chance at their requests.

Perhaps the on-line check-in will ask for your arrival time and they will not process it until shortly before that time.

Debbie...good point about asking about the arrival time. That would make sense especially for those who are arriving before noon. I wonder if they will say that this process requires people to check-in later in the afternoon?

 

[melk]

I think this seems like a good thing for my upcoming situation. We're staying the first night at the Poly (a surprise for my family!!), then heading over to VWL for the rest of the week. I had planned that first morning to trek over to VWL in the morning and meet my family at the MK after I had checked us in. This way I can check us in from home before we leave, and we can just all head to MK for the day. My only room request is a pool view, not a huge deal, but we'll see what happens.

 

[DVC Mike]

The paragraph I quoted indicates that when you go through the online check-in process, "your welcome folder and room key will await you" at a designated area. That made it sound like the room would be pre-assigned prior to arrival.

With the electronic card keys they use, can't they hand you one and then assign your card key to a room later? I don't know how sophisticated Disney's card key system is, but this sounds like a possible approach.

 

[Starr W.]

With the electronic card keys they use, can't they hand you one and then assign your card key to a room later? I don't know how sophisticated Disney's card key system is, but this sounds like a possible approach.

When VB decided to change our room last Easter(because they had a huge mess to clean up and it wasn't going to be ready at 6pm) I had to go and get new card keys for the new room.

 

[zulaya]

I would love if they ask when you are arriving and have that be part of the process, hoping to get into my room sooner. We fly in from MN...usually the first flight of the morning. We're usually up no later than 5am and we're at the resort around noon Florida time. At that point, we are all ready to just relax.

I'm one of those where the sooner I get settled, the better I feel. I know, totally against how DVC works with that 4pm check-in. It's my problem and I know it.

My only question is how do they pre-assign rooms based on arrival time when they don't know when rooms will be cleaned and ready for occupancy? KWIM? I could check in online, have them ask me when my arrival time is, have them assign me room 123, only to have room 123 be at the end of that mousekeeper's cleaning route.

I suppose I am getting ahead of myself...we don't know if they will ask for arrival time...but if they do, you kind of wonder how they will work that.

 

[Granny]

My only question is how do they pre-assign rooms based on arrival time when they don't know when rooms will be cleaned and ready for occupancy? KWIM? I could check in online, have them ask me when my arrival time is, have them assign me room 123, only to have room 123 be at the end of that mousekeeper's cleaning route.

I suppose I am getting ahead of myself...we don't know if they will ask for arrival time...but if they do, you kind of wonder how they will work that.

That's why I was wondering if they would start disallowing check-ins before, say, 1:00 pm. Otherwise, how would they know what rooms would be available other than those not occupied the night before.

 

[tiggerrr]

That's why I was wondering if they would start disallowing check-ins before, say, 1:00 pm. Otherwise, how would they know what rooms would be available other than those not occupied the night before.

Which is why I'm willing to bet this won't work as planned. Sure, you'll be able to pick up your keys, but we'll still end up with being told "your room isn't ready, please call this number later to check on when it will be." Unless online check-in gives me a better chance at getting my request met, I'm not personally sure why I would do it. I've never waited behind more than one person when checking in, and have always found the check in process very smooth. And my room has not always been ready at check in anyway.

I'm not quite sure what the big deal is. Now for a value resort (where I've been before and stood behind many people), online check in may be a better option.

 

[zulaya]

I agree. My line has not been long at all. BUT, I don't check in on Sundays, which is know is a big check-in day. Maybe for that day, or busy times of year, online check-in could alleviate some of the standing-in-line check in at the resort.

My next trip isn't until June. I'm really looking forward to reports to see how well this works and what people think about it.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

My BIL/SIL are leaving Sat for OKW. She said she tried to check in on-line, and it's not available yet (as of yesterday).

 

[BrentR]

With the electronic card keys they use, can't they hand you one and then assign your card key to a room later? I don't know how sophisticated Disney's card key system is, but this sounds like a possible approach.

When we checked in this past november we were there early in the a.m., about 8 a.m. The clerk gave us our room keys but she did not give us the room number. I was a little confused becuase no where in the paperwork did i see our room number. I asked the clerk and she said to call back at 3pm and they would give us our room number. She indicated that the key we had would now work but since there were other guests still in the room she could not give me the number until the other guests had checked out and the room was ready for us to occupy. She took my cell number and said they would call us if we had not contacted them by the time the room was ready.

I have no idea on how the logistics of it all worked as far as how their keys expired. but when it was time for us to go to the room our keys worked. It was a little disconcerting to know there were to sets of guest keys that worked for the same but we never had any unwanted visitors!!!

Maybe it works just as you explained it, Mike, however that is not the way it was explained to us.

 

[dvcdisney]

It is my assumption that once you check in online and provide all the necessary information, you can pick up your welcome folder and key cards at the designated area when you arrive. However, if the room is not available at that time, you will be asked to call a number after 4pm. At that time, if the room is ready and after answering a simple security question, you will be given the room number over the phone.

Hopefully it will be this simple.

 

[BillPA]

From the DVC member's site:

Disney's Online Check-In

Scheduled to begin January 2009, Walt Disney World Resort will introduce Disney's Online Check-In service. This new service will allow you to register and check-in to your Resort hotel from the convenience of your own home or business. Designed to simplify arrivals, this service will be available to Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Disney Vacation Club resorts in operation as of December 2008. Disney Vacation Club Members will be able to participate in Disney's Online Check-In service through a link on this Web site.

Those who take advantage of Disney's Online Check-In service will be able to login and complete your resort check-in beginning 10 days prior to your scheduled arrival date. You will also be able to review your reservation, add room requests and enter information about special occasions you are celebrating during your visit.

Upon arrival, Key to the World cards and other registration materials will be waiting for you at a special welcome location where Cast Members will be available to provide additional information and answer questions. While we always strive to provide ready rooms for Members, this service does not guarantee guest rooms will be ready upon arrival at the Resort. However, rooms will continue to be available at standard check-in time.

 

[CarolAnnC]

With the electronic card keys they use, can't they hand you one and then assign your card key to a room later? I don't know how sophisticated Disney's card key system is, but this sounds like a possible approach.

Several years ago, we checked in at OKW and they gave us the KTTW cards instructing us to call back for villa number and to see if it was ready. We called around 4 pm and were told our villa was ready, but we needed to return to check in and pick up new keys. They did not have an explanation for us when we arrived back, except that the room that was planned for us was not available any longer. I suspect it could have been a number of things - perhaps the previous guests did not leave, there could have been maintenance issues, or it was a really really great room and they gave it to someone else, LOL!