On-line check-in, or not?

[hookedonears]

Online check-in is available at our resort. We've never used it because we've always thought that it might reduce our chance to receive a complimentary room up-grade. Has anyone ever received a complimentary room up-grade after checking in online?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You are probably only going to receive a complimentary room upgrade if the resort or category is oversold, and then I don't think it matters whether you do online check-in or not.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I agree with the PP - regarding an upgrade

We always do online check in - I feel like it lets them know when we'll be there (which IMO is polite) and to our advantage our room is usually ready even when we arrive before the standard check in time. Also I like it that they know our preferences (we prefer the 3rd floor in Broadway - AS Music) - I can't think of a time they haven't granted our request since online check in began.

 

[hookedonears]

You are probably only going to receive a complimentary room upgrade if the resort or category is oversold, and then I don't think it matters whether you do online check-in or not.

It might behoove us to keep an eye on the room category to see if it's sold out. If it is, we may wait. If by 8 or 9 days before we travel, it's not sold out, I'll probably go ahead and check-in online.

 

[Missytara]

Complimentary upgrades are few and far between anymore, because Disney has turned what used to be requests over the years and turned them into profitable room categories that people are paying extra money for.

Complimentary upgrades only occur on the off-chance that availibility at another resort or your resort is in jeopardy or a room needs to be taken out of inventory for repair or there are refurbs going on in that resort. Disney will make every opportunity to ensure that it does not happen to where it is going to cost them profitability.

Hoping for a complimentary upgrade is setting yourself up for disappointment. It is nice if it happens, but over the years, Disney has found ingenious ways around it.

All online check-in does means your packet and possibly your room will be available when you arrive - nothing more, nothing less. All it is remains to be a time saver.

 

[Disfan1968]

The very idea of a complimentary upgrade is one that never even occurs to me. I see a lot of people "crossing their fingers" for one on these boards and I have always thought the same thing... it's setting yourself up for disappointment. I figure you are best off envisioning your trip as being exactly as you booked it in every respect, with a few monkey wrenches thrown in on top for crazy weather that might occur here or there, technology breakdowns etc. Lowering expectations can lead to a far better experience than raising them.

 

[firstwdw]

We did online check in for a nov trip and were upgraded from standard to garden view at a moderate. We didn't realize it until we got to the room.

 

[nkereina]

As PPs have mentioned, upgrades only happen when Disney is in a pinch. And before they'll upgrade you, they will try to move you to something comparable. If you're staying at CSR, they may try to move you to POR before AKL - for example.

Upgrades aside, online check-in solely expedites the check-in process for you. It's beneficial if you need to get somewhere quickly, know the spiel and want to to get in and out of check-in, or if you're arriving at a very busy time.

 

[nkereina]

We did online check in for a nov trip and were upgraded from standard to garden view at a moderate. We didn't realize it until we got to the room.

Not all standard view rooms are of the parking lot. We always book a standard room at the moderates and have always ended up overlooking a courtyard/garden/grass area. The only difference between standard view and garden view is that booking a garden view guarantees you won't have a parking lot view.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I don't think it matters. We always do online checkin because I feel like there is more chance of having the room ready early and getting our requests. Last year at AKL, we had a split stay - DVC room for a few nights, then a regular lodge room. Both standard view. And we were given savannah views both times, with online check in. (DH says if we stay there again we have to book the savannah view, now that he knows what he'd be missing, lol!)

Then in October, the CM at POR tried very hard to upgrade my parents to a Royal room, but there were simply none available. But checking in online had no effect on it. A lot depends on the CM doing the check in, and obviously what's available. I definitely wouldn't count on getting more than you book though.

 

[angierae]

The only person I know that ever got an upgrade got upgraded to the Grand Floridian because the Princess rooms at PORS weren't done in time for her visit (March of 2012) and they were told about that upgrade weeks ahead of time.

 

[firstwdw]

Not all standard view rooms are of the parking lot. We always book a standard room at the moderates and have always ended up overlooking a courtyard/garden/grass area. The only difference between standard view and garden view is that booking a garden view guarantees you won't have a parking lot view.

It was definitely an upgrade. We were at pofq and I have seen the maps of which rooms are standard, garden etc. We were on the opposite side of the building from the standard rooms and we overlooked a fountain and the grassy courtyard where movies are shown.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

We did online check in in July for Wilderness Lodge and were upgraded from a woods view to a courtyard view. My husband, while appreciative of the gesture, was irritated that our room looked out over the pool rather than a bunch of trees... but I suppose that is a story for another time. To answer your questions, yes we have been upgraded after doing online check in.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

If you do an online check-in, is there a way to request a room close to another party you're traveling with? We have two rooms at CBR, under two different reservations (one for my family, one for my parents).

 

[nkereina]

If you do an online check-in, is there a way to request a room close to another party you're traveling with? We have two rooms at CBR, under two different reservations (one for my family, one for my parents).

You can call and have the reservations linked together, which denotes you are traveling with them. You'll need both reservation numbers to do this. I would also have it noted on both reservations that you'd like the rooms near each other as well.