Online Check In Question...

[whitfamily]

Whats the value of online check in? Do you get your room earlier? Better room preference? How far before you arrive can you check in?

Just curious.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I believe online check-in can happen 10 days out. I have not heard anyone claiming to get better results with requests. I think perhaps in the larger and more bustling resort check-ins that some people claim to save time. Otherwise, some people have claimed it just screwed up a normally typical check-in. We probably need more time and experience with the new system to see any certain advantages to checking in online. JMHO.

 

[Crystal_27]

We did online check-in for our September trip and it was great to show up to the Contemporary, state our names, and receive within a minute our packet containing our room keys and other incidentals. And, for what it's worth, we stated that we planned to arrive at 3:00 p.m., arrived almost exactly at that time, and our room was ready for us.

 

[Cee]

We had the same experience as the above poster. Arrived on Sept. 6 at 1:00 p.m. and our THV was ready. No line, no wait, nuthin'. It's the fastest I've ever been in and out of there. Awesome.

 

[K9pal]

I was not impressed with online check in the last of September for SSR and BCV.
SSR - our room was ready at our stated arrival time of 3pm, but we did not get our request for Congress Park area (first time we have not received our request at SSR). Since the packets and keys are already made, the CM seemed much less inclined to check and see if we could change villas, so we didn't. Also, for some reason we were not set up for express check out, and when we were ready to leave I had to call the front desk, and was told we'd have to come down and check out.

BCV - arrived at 3PM and we had stated our arrival would be 2:30. Villa not ready. Got all the way out to the parking lot and received a call that a different room was ready, so we had to go back and get new key cards. We knew we wouldn't get our request on this one, but took it because we were anxious to get to the parks. Got all the way to the room - it was a handicapped villa. Back to the front desk, where the CM apologized that she was not aware it was handicapped. So, we had to wait until 4:30 for our original room and even then we did not get our requests.

Not sure if I'm willing to do the online check in again. I'll have to watch and see what others say before our next trip.

 

[JSTX]

We have used online check-in now for the last 2 trips. We found the biggest advantage was the fact that when you get there you don't have to stand in the long line and wait to check in. They have a separate checkin line specifically for the online check in.

When we arrived at BLT on the 5th of October, there was a long line waiting to check in. We went over to wait for the online checkin desk. When the people in front of us had problems, the CM made sure we got to go to the next check-in desk that was available.

This last trip at both BLT and AKV our rooms were ready when we arrived.

I don't know about special requests, because we didn't have any on our check in. But the convenience of avoiding the lines definitely makes it worth doing the online check-in.