On Line Check-in gets you in a room faster?

[Granny]

During our stay at VWL last week, I had occasion to utilize the services of the front desk a few times. One of those times I talked for several minutes with a CM who was staffing the on-line check-in station.

I asked her how the on-line check-in was working and naturally she said it works very well especially when the ME busses come in. She also offered up one comment that I found intriguing.

She said that for on-line check-ins, they really try to get them into their rooms as quickly as possible. There's an assumption that using on-line means that people want their rooms quickly. So they try their best to have a room for them when they check in. It sounds almost like a "room ready" approach for the on-line check-in guests.

I didn't check in on-line and our room was clearly pre-assigned (as it has always been at VWL) and became ready at 2:30. The room we got met my requests.

So it seems, based on this comment, that if you like the "room ready" approach then on-line check-in is the way to go. If you don't care when you get your room and may want better chances of getting your requests, then don't do the on-line check-in.

Or if you do check-in on-line, I guess you could always tell them that you aren't in a hurry to get into your room and would prefer for your requests to be met if possible. Of course, requests are requests.

I know this is just one CM's comments, but it seemed that she was sharing the philosophy that at least the WL/VWL management had told her to employ. I thought it was interesting.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I didn't check in on-line and our room was clearly pre-assigned (as it has always been at VWL) and became ready at 2:30. The room we got met my requests.

Granny, is it the same policy at each resort, because at OKW I get the impression that when I check in they look for a room at that moment?

Or if you do check-in on-line, I guess you could always tell them that you aren't in a hurry to get into your room and would prefer for your requests to be met if possible. Of course, requests are requests.

Having been ambivilent about on-line check in and never doing it, is there an area that asks if your in a hurry or not in the process?

Thanks for the info!

 

[GGOOFY1]

Hi Granny,
My friend did online check in over the weekend and their room was not ready. They were told that Check in was at 4pm and their room didn't need to be ready until 6 or 7pm (something voted on by the members??). At 5:00pm they went to the front desk and requested a different location (Miller's Road instead of HH). The CM said Miller's Road is booked, but we will switch you to a different room in the same building you were assigned that is ready. I can't imagine that OKW is different from other DVC resorts

 

[Meriweather]

We did not do online check in this June.....arrived at OKW about 11:00 am and our room was ready (but we had no special requests).
Last Nov. we got in about 9:30 am and room was ready also.

 

[bobbiwoz]

In June, I did on line checkin at the BCV. I had no requests. I arrived via ME around 11 AM. I was called that my room was ready at 1:30. This is about the same sort of service/timetable that I had when I arrived in the past.

Bobbi

 

[fatfish]

OP, sorry to hijack your thread, but does anyone know if on-line check-in can be done when staying on DP's? We're going to SSR in 2 weeks on DPs, and I'd check in online if I could. But since I can't "see" the reservation on DVCmembers.com, I didn't think I could do online check-in.

TIA!

 

[CapeCodFam]

Check in times vs. rooms ready has historically been all over the map. My expectation with online check in is that it may save us some time at the DVC desk since we provided pertinent info from home.

I'll bet the real boon to DVC/WDW is they can spread out the check in work so the front desks don't get slammed as much at peak times.

 

[Granny]

Granny, is it the same policy at each resort, because at OKW I get the impression that when I check in they look for a room at that moment?

I really think that every resort handles room assignments in their own way. I agree that when we've stayed at OKW and BWV it seems like "room ready" is the standard. In our many stays at VWL, it has always been pre-assigned rooms.

So this "policy" that the CM told me about might be for VWL only.

I'll bet the real boon to DVC/WDW is they can spread out the check in work so the front desks don't get slammed as much at peak times.

I agree...I think that the whole ME thing has many more people arriving at a resort all at the same time so I can see where on-line check-in would be a benefit to Disney. I just don't think they've really made it a benefit to members unless you come in on one of those loaded busses.

 

[starbox]

My one experience with online check-in resulted in the longest wait I've ever had for a resort. In all fairness, it was right after the program started.

We always check in early (like 8am) because we stay offsite the day we drive. About 1/2 the time, I've gotten a room at check in and never waited longer than around 2pm. We've found getting there early to be a huge advantage.

My first time with online check-in (at AKV), I indicated our arrival was 8am. My room was clearly pre-assigned and there was NO advantage to getting there early - our room was not ready until after 5pm.

Did not do online check-in on our next trip (split-stay) and had rooms upon check-in at BCV and VB. Got our AKV room before lunch.

 

[La2kw]

We just returned from three weeks in florida, checking into three different DVC resorts over that time period (with additional trips to Universal and Miami.

At SSR, we used online checkin because we were arriving around 8pm from the airport and wanted to save time. Naturally our room was ready and our location request was met, but the view request was not.

The second checkin was at OKW and I checked in at 7 am and was put into a handicapped room by a very slow and confused elderly cm. I noticed it was handicapped and returned to the front desk and spoke to a different cm and explained that I didn't want a handicapped room. After much playing around with the computer and being told checkin time wasn't until after 4 pm etc, etc. he managed to find me a room in the same building, one floor up from the previously assigned handicapped room.

The third check in was at WLV and we checked in at 2pm and had a room waiting for us that met all of our requests. That was the easiest check in and was not done online.

 

[Dodie]

Our last two trips I have done online check-in (VWL and then BWV) and the room was ready when we arrived. On the BWV trip, I was with other DVCers who had NOT done online check-in and they had to wait for their rooms.

Since you designate a probable time for arrival when you do online check-in, they have a good idea of when you're going to be there. I think that helps, especially with a pre-noon arrival like both of the ones I mention above were.