Online Check In, 2 Questions

[Nazran]

Question 1 - I did online check in back in 2014 but at that time I still had to go to the POR front desk and they had an online check in line. Fast forward to now... When you do Online Check In do you still need to visit the front desk area?

Question 2 - I have a Poly Standard booked. I assume if I go through the online check in that a room is assigned on check in day automatically? Reason I ask is I want to see if I can pay for upgrade from a Poly Standard to a Lagoon or Themepark view. If I want to do this should I skip the online check in?

 

[AngiTN]

#1. Maybe. Maybe not. Even completing online check in doesn't always mean you can skip going to the front desk. Sometimes you still have to go by. Sometimes you don't. You have no way of knowing in advance if you will get your room via text or not. And even if you do get it, you can still go by the front desk if you wish

#2. Your room is assigned prior to arrival no matter what. Doesn't matter if you do online check in or not. It's about 5 days before arrival. So it doesn't make any difference on if you skip online check in or if you don't. You can ask to pay to upgrade. Worth warning you, they can only charge you rack rate at the counter, no promos will apply. So keep that in mind.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Question 1 - I did online check in back in 2014 but at that time I still had to go to the POR front desk and they had an online check in line. Fast forward to now... When you do Online Check In do you still need to visit the front desk area?

Question 2 - I have a Poly Standard booked. I assume if I go through the online check in that a room is assigned on check in day automatically? Reason I ask is I want to see if I can pay for upgrade from a Poly Standard to a Lagoon or Themepark view. If I want to do this should I skip the online check in?

Yeah, what @AngiTN said. Just wanted to add that Disney resorts aren’t really like other hotels when it comes to “paying for an upgrade” upon arrival. You almost have to approach it with a different type of mentality than a regular hotel, Disney is just different. If you ‘really’ want a certain room/view category, I’d strongly recommend booking it in advance.

 

[bumbershoot]

When you do Online Check In do you still need to visit the front desk area?

Sometimes.

Some people get texts or emails
With their room number and don’t have to visit the front desk. Others don’t get those and do have to visit.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Also should add, a few months ago they added a feature to the MDE app where you room number will show up once your room is ready. The last few trips I’ve been in the “don’t get the text or e-mail” camp but it has shown up in the app. Not that I was endlessly hitting refresh on the app that day looking.....

YMMV with that too, of course.

 

[KenHutch]

I think I drive Disney a little crazy here. I am an IT professional but when I go on vacation I take all 3 of my phones and turn them off. I refuse to even look at them for 2 weeks so don't bother sending me a text.

 

[AngiTN]

I think I drive Disney a little crazy here. I am an IT professional but when I go on vacation I take all 3 of my phones and turn them off. I refuse to even look at them for 2 weeks so don't bother sending me a text.

I'd also guess it goes both ways since Disney wants you to do so much on their app. It's got to drive you a little crazy too

 

[KenHutch]

I'd also guess it goes both ways since Disney wants you to do so much on their app. It's got to drive you a little crazy too

Oh it does I know I am being a bit silly but I have 12 pc's at home, 3 servers and I am required to wear 3 phones. I abandon it all.

 

[AngiTN]

Oh it does I know I am being a bit silly but I have 12 pc's at home, 3 servers and I am required to wear 3 phones. I abandon it all.

No, I can understand your reasoning. Needing to unplug and all that.
But man, I can't imagine trying to do anything at Disney without MDE. No ADR, no FP. Well, you can use a Kiosk I suppose but that limits you to doing it all once you get to the park. That just makes it so much harder on you.

 

[KenHutch]

No, I can understand your reasoning. Needing to unplug and all that.
But man, I can't imagine trying to do anything at Disney without MDE. No ADR, no FP. Well, you can use a Kiosk I suppose but that limits you to doing it all once you get to the park. That just makes it so much harder on you.

I do all that in advance and yes I can remember all of the reservation numbers and the girls just have to live with 3 Fastpasses.

 

[sponica]

I do all that in advance and yes I can remember all of the reservation numbers and the girls just have to live with 3 Fastpasses.

It's why my husband wants the next trip to be on the cruise. He's in sales, and being unable to actually receive calls was the best part of our honeymoon. He HATES that he needs to have the phone on to get last minute dining or anything like that. (on a side note, he's hoping the wi fi is improved so he can just put the phone in airplane mode with wifi on)