On-line checkin

[manning]

advantages ?

 

[AngiTN]

You have a chance of letting them know you'd like a room ready early (if you do)
You have a chance of getting your room number via text and go skip going to the front desk, if you want
It gives you a chance of putting in a couple of basic room location requests, if you don't want to call (since calling is a PITA)
Just to name a few of the reasons I do it

Most importantly, there is no disadvantage at all

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Potentially avoiding the front desk all together is the biggest advantage about it in my opinion.

 

[ashleyann31]

There is definitely no disadvantage to doing it. It is nice to get a text when your room is ready and you can by-pass the front desk. Being able to give your room location preferences is also really nice.

 

[Amy11401]

You have a chance of letting them know you'd like a room ready early (if you do)
You have a chance of getting your room number via text and go skip going to the front desk, if you want
It gives you a chance of putting in a couple of basic room location requests, if you don't want to call (since calling is a PITA)
Just to name a few of the reasons I do it

Most importantly, there is no disadvantage at all

Is there a fee if you would like your room to be ready early?

 

[Miffy]

But . . . what if the room requests you have aren't among the choices on the online check-in? This is why I've never done it. But maybe I'm missing something!

 

[My3SweetSuns]

But . . . what if the room requests you have aren't among the choices on the online check-in? This is why I've never done it. But maybe I'm missing something!

I always call in room requests. Most of the time what we want isn’t an option on online check-in, but we love getting that text that our room is ready with the number, so we always do it. They usually accommodate our requests.

 

[siskaren]

But . . . what if the room requests you have aren't among the choices on the online check-in? This is why I've never done it. But maybe I'm missing something!

Then don't select anything.

 

[Miffy]

I always call in room requests. Most of the time what we want isn’t an option on online check-in, but we love getting that text that our room is ready with the number, so we always do it. They usually accommodate our requests.

My3: If I understand you correctly--you call and you do online check-in. Yes? And even though the online check-in may not show the requests from your call, you've still often gotten your called-in requests?

Before anyone says anything, I totally completely 150% understand that a request is just a request and does not have to be honored. But I've noticed that even though I always call with my requests, sometimes when I check in at the front desk, the room they've assigned us meets none of the requests, yet when I ask if they can possibly meet the first, most important, one, they're able to find a room that works out and sometimes a room that meets more than one of the original requests.

I guess I'm concerned that if I do online check-in, I could get assigned a room that meets none of my requests and I'd end up going to the room, seeing it wasn't what I'd requested, and then going to the front desk anyway to see if they could do any better. Even though I know that they're not obligated to honor my requests. DH and I enjoy being at the resort, and the room is a big deal to us. We're not park commandos and, btw, we don't request anything ridiculous or ask for upgrades.

 

[My3SweetSuns]

My3: If I understand you correctly--you call and you do online check-in. Yes? And even though the online check-in may not show the requests from your call, you've still often gotten your called-in requests?

Before anyone says anything, I totally completely 150% understand that a request is just a request and does not have to be honored. But I've noticed that even though I always call with my requests, sometimes when I check in at the front desk, the room they've assigned us meets none of the requests, yet when I ask if they can possibly meet the first, most important, one, they're able to find a room that works out and sometimes a room that meets more than one of the original requests.

I guess I'm concerned that if I do online check-in, I could get assigned a room that meets none of my requests and I'd end up going to the room, seeing it wasn't what I'd requested, and then going to the front desk anyway to see if they could do any better. Even though I know that they're not obligated to honor my requests. DH and I enjoy being at the resort, and the room is a big deal to us. We're not park commandos and, btw, we don't request anything ridiculous or ask for upgrades.

Yes, I do online check in & even usually request my room early and still generally get what I want. But I don’t request room numbers, I make general requests & even if they’re not specifically what I request, the person assigning rooms understands what I’m looking for and I usually get something close to what I wanted.

 

[Dug720]

My3: If I understand you correctly--you call and you do online check-in. Yes? And even though the online check-in may not show the requests from your call, you've still often gotten your called-in requests?

Before anyone says anything, I totally completely 150% understand that a request is just a request and does not have to be honored. But I've noticed that even though I always call with my requests, sometimes when I check in at the front desk, the room they've assigned us meets none of the requests, yet when I ask if they can possibly meet the first, most important, one, they're able to find a room that works out and sometimes a room that meets more than one of the original requests.

I guess I'm concerned that if I do online check-in, I could get assigned a room that meets none of my requests and I'd end up going to the room, seeing it wasn't what I'd requested, and then going to the front desk anyway to see if they could do any better. Even though I know that they're not obligated to honor my requests. DH and I enjoy being at the resort, and the room is a big deal to us. We're not park commandos and, btw, we don't request anything ridiculous or ask for upgrades.

You are correct that there is no way to guarantee a request. There is also no guarantee that online check-in will allow you to bypass the front desk - and no requirement for you to NOT go to the front desk even if you get a text. You can ALWAYS go to the front desk to see where your room is.

If you have multiple requests, it's best to SAY what your priority order is. That way the assigners know what is most important.

For example, my touring plans fax request is set up and says:
"I would like to request a room
1st priority - in the Surf's Up section
2nd priority - top floor
3rd priority - King bed, but NOT an accessible room as I want those to be available for anyone who needs it"

That way the assigner knows to look FIRST for a room in the Surf's Up section, then to look for a room in the Surf's Up section on the top floor, and then a room in the Surf's Up section on the top floor with a King bed. And hopefully at least the most important - Surf's Up - will be met since they know that is my priority.

If I just said "I'd like a room in Surf's Up on the top floor and with a King bed" even though it's written in the same order, it isn't clear which my first choice is, so if there's not something that meets all 3, the assigner has no clue what is most important and may give me the least important or none.

Even if you call it in (rather than using the touring plans service - I am pretty sure you have to be a member for that), you can say "My first priority request is..."

But again, like you said, it is ONLY a request and the possibility exists that there is nothing that meets the request. But being as general as possible and stating a priority order, you increase your odds of getting at least something close to what you requested.

 

[eventamy]

So, just to clarify (first time staying onsite), since I did the online check in, once I arrive in Orlando and receive my room number via text, I can completely skip going to the front desk and just go straight to my room? Without ever having to go to the main building? Just use my magic band. Correct?

 

[Miffy]

Yes, I do online check in & even usually request my room early and still generally get what I want. But I don’t request room numbers, I make general requests & even if they’re not specifically what I request, the person assigning rooms understands what I’m looking for and I usually get something close to what I wanted.

My3: Thank you so much. Great information and so helpful.

You can ALWAYS go to the front desk to see where your room is.

Dug720: Thanks so much for all the info. I pretty much knew about the order of the requests, and I'm specific about their order of importance when I speak to WDW on the phone. But--duh!--it never occurred to me that I could go to the front desk anyway before I went to the room! Excellent! Maybe I will do online check-in this time.

And of course I know that nothing is guaranteed and that a request is just that, but I will say that the front desk people at all the WDW resorts where I've stayed have been very accommodating and will try to find something, assuming the place isn't sold out.

 

[Dug720]

My3: Thank you so much. Great information and so helpful.



Dug720: Thanks so much for all the info. I pretty much knew about the order of the requests, and I'm specific about their order of importance when I speak to WDW on the phone. But--duh!--it never occurred to me that I could go to the front desk anyway before I went to the room! Excellent! Maybe I will do online check-in this time.

And of course I know that nothing is guaranteed and that a request is just that, but I will say that the front desk people at all the WDW resorts where I've stayed have been very accommodating and will try to find something, assuming the place isn't sold out.

Yeah...reading on here people seem to think that they cannot go to the front desk if they get a room number and text in advance. No one is (or at least no one should) going to say "You got a text with your room number. Why are you here?" if you go to the desk. I've never been lucky enough to get a text, so I always go anyway. It's just a nice way for me to start my vacation. (Plus for this trip especially since I'm at Sports, DME will be dropping me off right at the lobby area, so I might as well. LOL.

I do try to print out a map of the resort so if I either get a text or it shows up in my MDE app I can look and see the area where my room is. Definitely came in handy one marathon weekend when they "upgraded" me to a Pirate room. No text, but the number showed up on the app. I knew that with run/walking a marathon, the last thing I needed was all that extra around the bed to run into, so I went to the front desk to see if I could be "downgraded" to what I'd booked and leave a Pirate room for a family that would love it. They ended up moving me into a King room, which was still technically an upgrade from my booked "standard view".

My funniest "request not met" story was marathon weekend 2015. I was going to be getting in late and did not want to have to deal with the internal shuttle at CBR, so I requested Barbados (moment of silence for my favorite village, which is no more) knowing it was an easy walk from the Customs House. One of the least requested areas at least anecdotally because "it's so far". Most people would request Jamaica 45 or Aruba 51. My request was clearly stated "Any building in Barbados". Of course the text didn't work. I get there, go to the front desk, and discover I was put in Jamaica 45. It was late and I didn't feel like dealing with changing it, so I just took the room. But it did make me laugh that I requested probably the LEAST requested section and got put in probably the MOST requested BUILDING. I also felt bad for not wanting it - especially because I knew there were probably people on here fussing that they'd requested it but been put in Barbados. HAHA!

 

[Hopefully]

Is there a fee if you would like your room to be ready early?

Asking for a room to be ready early is just a REQUEST. No fee. It may or may not be able to be granted. You can not pay for it.
It depends on the Resort, the season, the day of the week, how occupied the resort was the night before etc
in our experience it can not be met the majority of the time. Your room may actually not be ready until way after normal checkin time. It is basically the Luck of the Draw.

 

[My3SweetSuns]

So, just to clarify (first time staying onsite), since I did the online check in, once I arrive in Orlando and receive my room number via text, I can completely skip going to the front desk and just go straight to my room? Without ever having to go to the main building? Just use my magic band. Correct?

Correct. If they need something from you, they’ll leave a message on your room phone for you to stop at the front desk.

 

[Dug720]

Asking for a room to be ready early is just a REQUEST. No fee. It may or may not be able to be granted. You can not pay for it.
It depends on the Resort, the season, the day of the week, how occupied the resort was the night before etc
in our experience it can not be met the majority of the time. Your room may actually not be ready until way after normal checkin time. It is basically the Luck of the Draw.

Also, doing online check-in, there is a box to check if early arrival is more important than any request. If that is checked, while it won't guarantee that a room will be ready early, it would override any other requests placed on the room.

 

[Tinkerbell2017]

I just finished my online check-in. I was quite surprised because I'm 90 days out. I did pay my balance early. Is this why I was able to do this or is this new?

 

[AngiTN]

I just finished my online check-in. I was quite surprised because I'm 90 days out. I did pay my balance early. Is this why I was able to do this or is this new?

Neither. They changed it from 60 days quite some time ago

 

[Tinkerbell2017]

Neither. They changed it from 60 days quite some time ago

Thank you! I was surprised.