Online Check-In and Bypassing the front desk?

[LizzyS]

Ok, so I'm just a little fuzzy on this, so any help would be appreciated. I have done online check-in, given Disney my cell phone number, e mail address, and assigned a PIN to our Magic Bands (which have just been shipped as of this morning!) in MDE.

Will I now receive a text with our room number on our day of arrival and not need to stop by the front desk or is there anything additional I need to do to make this happen? Our flight doesn't get in until approximately 4:20 pm, btw. I'm seeing conflicting info. when I'm trying to search (like stop by the "online check-in" in the lobby upon arrival), so thought I'd ask the experts.

TIA!

 

[Dug720]

You *might* get a text or email that you *may* skip the front desk.

You may not.

There is no rhyme or reason it seems as to who gets them and who doesn’t.

(And if you get one and still want to go to the desk, you are more than welcome to do so. They are not going to say “You got a text so why are you here?” - or if they did I would be asking for a manager so fast their head would spin.)

 

[dansdad]

You *might* get a text or email that you *may* skip the front desk.

You may not.

There is no rhyme or reason it seems as to who gets them and who doesn’t.

(And if you get one and still want to go to the desk, you are more than welcome to do so. They are not going to say “You got a text so why are you here?” - or if they did I would be asking for a manager so fast their head would spin.)

This.

 

[HopperFan]

And if you are really lucky you will get it about 11 pm the night before you are checking out ..... 4-5 days later. But hey, at least I was in the right room all that time.

PP answered your question. We have had it about 50/50 since it started, we are regulars, we have never changed our CC or PIN on the account .......... so it's always just a surprise.

 

[fla4fun]

There can be a lot of reasons why you don’t get the email or text. Once I didn’t get it because the resort computer systems were down and the MB weren’t working. Once I didn’t get it because they had shampooed the carpet in the room and it wasn’t dry yet. I didn’t get it until after I was in bed when I checked in the day after Hurricane Irma. But I have gotten it on most trips since they started the policy.

 

[heidijanesmith]

I did get one that my room was ready for my last trip at the GF, Jan 16-21st. I could not get the resort map to open, so I did not know where my building was. I stopped at the front desk and was given more info.

 

[kcpinwdw]

I feel likes it's been a bit more frequently lately, a year or two ago I'd say I got it under 50% of the time. I always online check in. But my last few resorts stays I have gotten it more often I think, even once while checking in at the desk... the guy was like "oh I see your room isn't quite ready yet... oh yes it is ready now" and then I got the text simultaneously.

 

[LizzyS]

Thank you, everyone, your replies have been very helpful!

 

[gharter]

At BWV and AKL, online checkin has worked very well. Each time, we have gotten a text late morning with our room number. You can have Bell Services hwlp with thee luggage if you like. Otherwise, we just head directly to the room. Have not had any problems in 5 trips in the last 2 years.
Hope yours goes as well.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ive never gotten one.

Ok I got a text last February but that was after we stopped at the front desk early in the morning and my cousin and I charmed the cm (in person I am quite charming lol, and my cousin is equally so).

10ish minutes later while waiting for the bus to the run expo we got the text.

 

[adamreisinger]

One thing to keep in mind even if you don't get the text (for whatever reason), is that your room number should pop up in the My Disney Experience app once your room is ready. This happened to me on my most recent trip. Never got the text, but my room number was in MDE and I skipped the front desk entirely.

 

[tjmw2727]

One thing to keep in mind even if you don't get the text (for whatever reason), is that your room number should pop up in the My Disney Experience app once your room is ready. This happened to me on my most recent trip. Never got the text, but my room number was in MDE and I skipped the front desk entirely.

Not always Our last trip we did get the text and were able to bypass the front desk but never saw the room number in the app. Prior to that we had to stop at the front desk and about 3 hours after we checked in our room number appeared in the app and then we got the text FWIW we arrived well after check in time- probably 6/7pm.

We visit about 4/5 x a year and its about 50/50 for us with online check in, no rhyme or reason and the front desk won't say why when we have to check in personally. I usually ask to see if there is something I could do to better my chances of bypassing the front desk but the answers vary and never really seem to apply. So as much as they advertise the option you may or may not be able to bypass.

 

[AngiTN]

I agree with PP, the percentage of guests that get the room ready text has increased quite a bit over the past year. Still not 100% and nothing you can do to increase your odds. As long as you complete online check in you've done all you can do

 

[Belle'sFan]

Last visit we did online check in at WL for the first time. When we got off the ME bus, there was a cast member with an iPad who greeted us, verified who we were, and told us our room number. We were the only party of 2 getting off, so that must be how they knew who we were. A quick conversation with her in that beautiful lobby and we were off to our room. I was impressed. (but no text)

 

[terri33inne]

11 or 12 trips only had a text one time... it was BCV, and it was on my phone when we landed in Orlando with an early morning flight.

 

[LaBelleVie]

I received a text on our first three trips, but not during our most recent trip in May.