Online check-in, or not?

[buzzrelly]

I know this has been asked before, so sorry for the repetition. How do you all feel about online check-in? I have already called MS a while back to put in room requests. I'm staying at BLT for one night, then Poly for five. Would you do online check-in, or wait and check in at the resort?

I've only had two previous DVC stays. The first one at BLT I did online check-in and got the opposite of what I requested. The second time I did not do online check-in and got exactly what I wanted (For both stays, I had called in my requests months ahead of time). I'm not sure if that's just coincidence though. And yes, I realize they are only requests and not guaranteed.

Just wondering if I should do it, or not.

Thanks

 

[CarolMN]

Opinions vary on this.

I personally like online check-in because I can enter my credit card info my self (rather than giving it to a CM at the front desk). I prefer to minimize the number of times my credit card is outside of my control - there have been past reports of CMs "skimming". I consider entering the cc data myself as a bit safer than letting someone else do it (even if they swipe it in front of me).

I always skip the section of the online check-in process that has to do with requests. If anything is checked or typed there, it overrides the requests MS entered. Online check-in has no space to "free-form" and the choices are designed for non-DVC resorts anyway. From reports, getting a request has about the same success rate no matter where it originates - MS or online. I'd rather have MS enter what I want - we've been quite lucky with that so far.

 

[erionm]

I prefer online check in and getting the room ready text so we can skip the front desk. We go to WDW 3 or 4 times a year and I really don't want to physically check in at the front desk and hear the same spiel each and every time.

For the most part, room location for us is a non-issue. However, if staying at SSR, I do prefer Grandstand due to bus order (and our location requests there have always been met).

 

[buzzrelly]

Thank you, both I just did my online check-in and didn't go into the request section.

 

[disneynutz]

We always check in at the front desk, learning the latest and visiting with the CM's is part of the experience. You would be surprised the extra perks and info that you can get by being nice and checking in in person. We aren't in a rush, we left that at home, where are we going to run off to, the crowded parks, not us.

Bill

 

[alldiz]

I have never done online checkin. I am scared to write this but my success rate on room requests is quite high.
I also receive text when room ready from phone I give CM.

For me as Bill said, checking in is part of the experience. I am so happy when I get to that front desk. Room ready?? Oh the anticipation lol. And I domt know why but I want every piece of paper info that they are giving me even tho I probably know it lol
Kerri

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have never done online checkin. I am scared to write this but my success rate on room requests is quite high.
I also receive text when room ready from phone I give CM.

For me as Bill said, checking in is part of the experience. I am so happy when I get to that front desk. Room ready?? Oh the anticipation lol. And I domt know why but I want every piece of paper info that they are giving me even tho I probably know it lol
Kerri

I am glad you enjoy your experiences so much!

 

[islandsnoopy]

I did online check-in for our stay at the Polynesian last week and did receive a text notification when our room was ready. For our stay at Copper Creek, I also did online check-in and never got a text when the room was ready. I went to the front desk around 2 pm, and the room was ready.

In the future, I'll check-in at the front desk. We needed a resort map and activities info, so I had to go to the front desk anyway.

 

[bumbershoot]

We always check in at the front desk, learning the latest and visiting with the CM's is part of the experience. You would be surprised the extra perks and info that you can get by being nice and checking in in person. We aren't in a rush, we left that at home, where are we going to run off to, the crowded parks, not us.

Bill

I would be surprised, as I've never gotten any extra perk or info (other than a big map of the area from one) by being at the desk.


And there's nothing stopping an online checkin person from going to the front desk! Not all of us get a room ready text, anyway.