****Official May 2012 Thread**** ALMOST TIME TO LEAVE!!

[Desiree]

can someone explain the pros/cons of online check-in?

I'm curious about this as well. We'll be arriving around 9 am so I'm thinking there may not be too many people in the lobby at that time anyway. I just kind of like the whole person to person check in atmosphere also.

 

[Cyrano]

can someone explain the pros/cons of online check-in?

That is a great question!

Can anyone help both of us? What is the pro/cons of online check in? ​

I'm curious about this as well. We'll be arriving around 9 am so I'm thinking there may not be too many people in the lobby at that time anyway. I just kind of like the whole person to person check in atmosphere also.

Can't help with on-line check in as we will be trying it ourselves in the summer.

The good folks over on the Resorts board here should be able to help if no one else pitches in

 

[ocalla]

Got my Mickey mail on Friday!!!

No DME booklet or luggage tags yet. Called Disney, they said it will be mailed separately, about 30 days prior.

Fingers crossed it does actually come in!!!

 

[Colleen27]

Question of the Day:

What are some travel tips that you have for others? This can be for traveling with kids, adults only, flying, driving, extended family, and much more. ​

Post-it notes for the auto-flush toilets are probably the single best travel tip I've learned from the DIS over the years. Two of my three were scared of those toilets (the 3yo still is) and post-its made all the difference in getting them to use public restrooms.

Also, when traveling with young children triangle crayons are worth their weight in gold. Sure, restaurants provide crayons but how many times have you had to retrieve them when they rolled off and fell on the floor? Our dollar store carries triangle crayons and colored pencils, and Crayola makes them as well so you could probably find them at Target/Walmart/Toys R Us if your dollar store doesn't.

That is a great question!

Can anyone help both of us? What is the pro/cons of online check in? ​

The main pro is that it is faster, though that depends in part on luck - how many other people are in the online check-in line and if they have issues/changes rather than just picking up their packet. And if you're arriving late it might help with getting a better room assignment, though that isn't a sure thing because assignments can be changed at the last minute sometimes.

The con is that your room assignment is done and your keys printed prior to your arrival, so if you have a problem with your room location or need something special done with your keys like charging privileges on a child's key or none on an adult key you end up negating the advantage of online check-in and tying up the line for others.

 

[bigsis1970]

Question of the Day:

What are some travel tips that you have for others? This can be for traveling with kids, adults only, flying, driving, extended family, and much more. ​

bring gum on the airplane for popping ears even if it's the crack of dawn..

Wear slip on shoes for the security point checks.

 

[vettegirl]

23 days aways and the excitment of returning is growing by the day 13 more days until online check in, sooooo exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ArielRae]

We are a little under 3 weeks until we leave for Disney and I am already getting the oh no my vacation will be over soon depression and we haven't even left yet. Our vacations are never long enough especially this one since we are only getting to do MK and the Waterparks this trip. Disney is getting to expensive so we are tent camping (first time ever) and skipping the other parks.

At least I have the cruise to look forward to. It will just be my mother and I cruising to puerto Rico on the Fantasy. She is footing the bill for this. I could never afford a 7 night cruise on Disney. She has always wanted to go to Puerto Rico and didn't want to go alone so she invited me. Girls trip!

 

[Anna114]

We are a little under 3 weeks until we leave for Disney and I am already getting the oh no my vacation will be over soon depression and we haven't even left yet. Our vacations are never long enough especially this one since we are only getting to do MK and the Waterparks this trip. Disney is getting to expensive so we are tent camping (first time ever) and skipping the other parks.

I thought I was the only person in the world that as my vacation gets started I'm depressed it is almost over.

We spent our honeymoon and the Poly. Neither of us had been to WDW before. As I walked into the MK I started to get very upset. I had waited so long to get there and it was almost over..... 11 days later oy vey.

 

[pigletto]

We are a little under 3 weeks until we leave for Disney and I am already getting the oh no my vacation will be over soon depression and we haven't even left yet. Our vacations are never long enough especially this one since we are only getting to do MK and the Waterparks this trip. Disney is getting to expensive so we are tent camping (first time ever) and skipping the other parks.

At least I have the cruise to look forward to. It will just be my mother and I cruising to puerto Rico on the Fantasy. She is footing the bill for this. I could never afford a 7 night cruise on Disney. She has always wanted to go to Puerto Rico and didn't want to go alone so she invited me. Girls trip!

I can relate a little. My excitement is a little dampened today, and it always seems to happen right before the trip
I think it may be because I'm three days out and there's a lot left to do. Instead of dreaming of fun like I have been for months, I am imagining everything that can go wrong!

That's kind of my personality though. I am a worry wart and being worried gets me to double check everything and make sure all the details are ironed out.
The good news is once I get there I completely relax.

I don't get too down when we leave because usually I shift back into "It's time to go home" mode and start worrying about next weeks schedule etc.

I drive my husband nuts. Our dynamic works for us though. I worry about everything to compensate for his "Meh.. it will all be fine" personality. We actually balance eachother out nicely

 

[disneydiva16]

I drive my husband nuts. Our dynamic works for us though. I worry about everything to compensate for his "Meh.. it will all be fine" personality. We actually balance eachother out nicely

This is the dynamic for my husband and myself also

 

[Jessica527]

I am thinking about this too! I have been planning our honeymoon and wedding for almost 2 years now and it feels like it is going to be over so quick! I just want it to last forever!

 

[twinkles]

We are a little under 3 weeks until we leave for Disney and I am already getting the oh no my vacation will be over soon depression and we haven't even left yet. Our vacations are never long enough especially this one since we are only getting to do MK and the Waterparks this trip. Disney is getting to expensive so we are tent camping (first time ever) and skipping the other parks.

At least I have the cruise to look forward to. It will just be my mother and I cruising to puerto Rico on the Fantasy. She is footing the bill for this. I could never afford a 7 night cruise on Disney. She has always wanted to go to Puerto Rico and didn't want to go alone so she invited me. Girls trip!

Lol! This is so my husband. As soon as we check in he says "well vacations almost over". Drives me crazy. I try to enjoy every day and then start planning another trip

 

[budafam]

That is a great question!

Can anyone help both of us? What is the pro/cons of online check in? ​

We did it on both of our last trips and if we were staying on property I would be doing it again (today actually). Why not??? If there's a chance to save you some time, I say go for it! We never had a line to wait in when we checked in and it literally took about 2 minutes.

 

[pooki1]

I am so excited! The packing has begun, I love May in WDW, the gardenias are blooming! {my favorite flower} I cannot wait!

 

[MarkF0wle]

That is a great question!

Can anyone help both of us? What is the pro/cons of online check in? ​

I just checked in on-line about 15 minutes ago. Not sure if it will help or hurt us as we've never stayed on property before, but a neat experience nevertheless. It's at least comforting to know I am on the system before I arrive.

 

[JoeDif]

So, to make the time pass....where are you staying, and what are your plans?? We're at CBR (which you probably saw in my ticker). We arrive on Friday, and plan to spend the afternoon/evening at MK. Dinner ressies at Cali Grill at 9:30pm (which I'm trying to change to earlier if possible ).
Sat morning at AK, then hop to Epcot for the afternoon/evening - late lunch at Le Cellier (and hopefully some adult beverages in WS ).
Sunday morning we're doing the KTTW tour at MK (DH has always wanted to do this), then hopping to Epcot for dinner at Rose & Crown and Illuminations.
Leave Monday morning

I've probably posted all this already on this thread, but I really need to pass the time (okay, I know I should be working )

We will be checking into the Beach Club next Thursday around noon. After that a walk over to EPCOT for lunch.

And now for something completely different....we didn't make a single plan for the rest of the week. It's going to be a total wing it week!!

You should enjoy the KTTW tour. We did it last year and it was really interesting

 

[salann]

thanks for answering about the online check-in. Guess if anyone is praying for a little bit of pixie dust, doing online check in is a guarantee that won't happen?

 

[pigletto]

thanks for answering about the online check-in. Guess if anyone is praying for a little bit of pixie dust, doing online check in is a guarantee that won't happen?

The only time I don't do online check in is when it really matters to me where my room is. For example I love the Alligator Bayou section of POR and I really really don't like the Ranchos section of CSR. So if staying at either of those two places I do regular check in so I can ask to be moved if needed. Once at CSR it was helpful for that.
Otherwise I do online check in at values and most deluxes because it doesn't matter to me as much

 

[jdd]

I've just found online check-in to be faster. I did it for our trip to FW two years ago, and our check in time was about 2 minutes. I walked up to the desk, gave my name and the CM handed me my folder. He did ask if I had questions, but I didn't, so we were good to go!

I've read to NOT do online check in if you're staying club level, so I didn't the last two years at the Poly. Not sure why, but I listen to the Dis

Pigletto, I did my online checkin for CBR this morning, and it asked me for a building preference (I chose Jamaica ). Anyway, I hadn't seen this option before, so maybe it's something new. Not sure if they have it for CSR or not....

 

[MarkF0wle]

Pigletto, I did my online checkin for CBR this morning, and it asked me for a building preference (I chose Jamaica ). Anyway, I hadn't seen this option before, so maybe it's something new. Not sure if they have it for CSR or not....

They do, I could request a section. But, request. No guarantees.