On-line Check In Advantages

[y2kdave]

What are the advantages of on-line check-in?

 

[disneynutz]

You can enter your CC info online and your wait time at the front desk when you check in may be shorter.

Bill

 

[kjd469]

I did online check-in for our stay at BLT last week. We arrived at 10 a.m., skipped the other larger line, and was handed a folder with our room keys in it- and our room was available!!! Definitely made me glad I did it

 

[dbs1228]

You can enter your CC info online and your wait time at the front desk when you check in may be shorter.

Bill

I used on line check in and did not give my CC info since I do not use room charging as a rule, just as easy to pay as I go. Everything worked great, room was ready no wait.

 

[Cee]

I've used it about 3-4 times now and it's always been quick. Short or no line at check-in and the packet is ready with the keys and I'm off.

 

[tjkraz]

The on-line checkin asks for your arrival time and they use that to try and guarantee a room is ready and waiting when you walk up to the desk. But this urgency to have a room ready and waiting appears to come at the expense of requests listed on the reservation. In other words, they place a higher priority on getting you into a room--ANY room--than meeting your requests when you do the on-line check-in.

If your top priority is getting into a room early, use the on-line system.

If your top priority is having the ideal location/view, forgo the on-line system and just check in normally. Working with a front desk CM to select your room will give you more flexibility in room assignment. Although there are still no guarantees of getting exactly what you want, and you may have to wait until after 4pm to get into the room.

 

[mickeys girl 52]

I did on line check in last trip and got my room right away. I am leaving for BCV and BLT on Sunday and was not sure if I should do on line check in for the BLT portion of my trip. I thought maybe they just assign you the first room available rather than take requests into consideration.
Turns out the CM I was talking to had just changed positions and had been a room assigner. She assured me that they really go out of their way to assign rooms according to requests and since they can do it 10 days ahead they can match up to someone they see is moving out of a room type that you requested. (makes sense)
So for me I think it will be easier. When I check out of BCV I will just send my luggage with bell services and go on as planned to Magic Kingdom that day, knowing my room will be ready at the end of the day and I will be already checked in.

 

[tjkraz]

She assured me that they really go out of their way to assign rooms according to requests and since they can do it 10 days ahead they can match up to someone they see is moving out of a room type that you requested. (makes sense)

That may be true of some room assigners but I doubt you will find that approach consistently adhered-to. In the times we have used on-line check-in, we have found the instances of receiving our requests reduced dramatically. And I'm not talking about detailed, hard-to-meet requests. We typically ask for simple things like a high floor or particular section of Saratoga Springs.

Last fall the only request for BWV was to be as close as possible to Hollywood Studios. We used on-line check-in and the room was ready at 9am. However we were about 5 doors down from the elevators (which is pretty much the polar opposite of our request.)

I've heard from multiple sources that on-line check-ins are given priority assignments based upon arrival time. And that's consistent with the "room ready" assignment system Disney has largely been using for a decade now. Perhaps some CMs go the extra mile to try and match folks with their requests but I have yet to see any real evidence of it.

I still say that if the requests are important, skip on-line check-in and work directly with a front desk CM. It may take 10 minutes longer but if the view is that important, it will be time well spent.

 

[alldiz]

That may be true of some room assigners but I doubt you will find that approach consistently adhered-to. In the times we have used on-line check-in, we have found the instances of receiving our requests reduced dramatically. And I'm not talking about detailed, hard-to-meet requests. We typically ask for simple things like a high floor or particular section of Saratoga Springs.

Last fall the only request for BWV was to be as close as possible to Hollywood Studios. We used on-line check-in and the room was ready at 9am. However we were about 5 doors down from the elevators (which is pretty much the polar opposite of our request.)

I've heard from multiple sources that on-line check-ins are given priority assignments based upon arrival time. And that's consistent with the "room ready" assignment system Disney has largely been using for a decade now. Perhaps some CMs go the extra mile to try and match folks with their requests but I have yet to see any real evidence of it.

I still say that if the requests are important, skip on-line check-in and work directly with a front desk CM. It may take 10 minutes longer but if the view is that important, it will be time well spent.

Thanks.....this is what I was wondering.

I don't normally do online checkin because of this reason.....

But I will utilize online checkin for my 1 night stay at AKV and pray i have room ready. That would be awesome!!!
Kerri

 

[toniosmom]

We used online check-in at Kidani last March. When we arrived in late morning, I was told that our room was not ready, but the one exactly one floor up was and did I want it. Being that the new room was comparable in my requests, I accepted. I had to wait for them to re-do all of the room keys, so it took about 10 minutes longer, but it was worth getting into the room immediately.

I plan to use it again for future trips.

 

[alldiz]

We used online check-in at Kidani last March. When we arrived in late morning, I was told that our room was not ready, but the one exactly one floor up was and did I want it. Being that the new room was comparable in my requests, I accepted. I had to wait for them to re-do all of the room keys, so it took about 10 minutes longer, but it was worth getting into the room immediately.

I plan to use it again for future trips.

Awesome.....I am only doing 1 night at AKV.....maybe I will do online checkin....AND request " any available room"....high floor please

 

[ffcheff]

I have a reservation for dedicated 2 br at BLT in two weeks. would they move me to a lock off to accomodate my check in time? I have two little ones and do not want the extra exit.

 

[eporter66]

We used online check-in last year for the first time when we stayed at Kidani. Our only request was top floor, and we got it. So - for us it was worth it and I plan on doing it again next year.

 

[jaurban]

I actually thought that perhaps the online check in would essentially lock in your requests, if possible, and prevent them from assigning your room to someone else who might ask for something different at check in. Since we usually don't arrive until 4 or later I thought by doing it online, if my room was assigned in the morning it would be held and others asking for that location would not get it (as my packet would have to be undone). Just my guess. We used it in August at BLT and did not find it any faster than regular check in though as there were a few people ahead of me in the online line, and I was sent over to concierge after a while.