Online check in or check in on arrival???

[Duckiedee]

Which do you prefer? Can you share why? Thanks!

 

[Nadjalu]

We check in when we get there.

Just do because this is the way I prefer. No reason really, just "feels" more like a vacation as checking into a hotel is a "marker" for me that I am on vacation. (silly I know but just the way I feel)

I am usually one of the first off the ME bus and go get in line while DH gets the bags. That way we don't have the whole bus in front of us.
Been blessed, haven't waited more than 15 mins to be waited on.

 

[creativeamanda]

Having done it both ways, it really does not matter to me. Usually I'm there so early, they don't have my package ready, anyway, and there is rarely someone else in line.

 

[walkdmc]

I've done online for our past 2 stays. I had made room requests well ahead of time, with our TA. She noted the requests both times. One time I received the request, one time I didn't. I noticed on the DIS that it's not uncommon for guests checking into their resort to inquire about their room requests "were they met?" If not, they've asked the front desk CM about the next best thing and were given a room that met their new requests. So, the CM switched the rooms, before the guest even saw the scheduled room. During online check-in I'm not sure you'd have that kind of flexibility.

The pros are there is never a line for online check in. There is a CM to hand you your packet and go over basics. The whole process takes about 5 minutes and you're on your way. You'll feel good when you pass a long line of people waiting to register.

For my upcoming trip, I'll check in upon arrival.

 

[trac96]

Having done both I think that on line was great. We used on line last december and we were checked in with in like 3 minutes. We are going in 15 days and I will again be using check in although we won't be getting there till midnight I'm thinking the line won't be to bad either way.

 

[n2mm]

I've done both. One down side for us is, we are traveling with adult kids and when you add the charge priviledge to the online check in, they add it to ALL of the adult cards. So then after checking in we have to get them to change that and add the charging only to our cards and not the other family members. However, in the last 5 times we've done the online checkin, we have gotten into our rooms either right away or a very short wait, so that is important to us. I'll be doing it this week for our 2 bedroom reservation at the BLT.

 

[Jedi_Galvatron]

For me it all depends on the time of year and the time of day I expect to be arriving. For busy seasons (summer, Christmas, Easter) it's WELL worth it to use online check-in, you're literally in and out with little to no wait.

On my trip next week (checking in October 28th) I'll be checking in at the desk. Why? It's not an overly busy time of year, it's a Thursday, and as I'm driving down and will be in Orlando for 4 days before I check-in I know I'll be arriving very early in the AM so there won't be a long line ahead of me. Like others I prefer to use the at desk check-in for a number of reasons. Checking in feels like the start of a vacation, it has it's charms like that, and you certainly do have the opportunity to discuss where your room will be (and if you want to change that) etc with the CM more then you would on an online check in.