Online check in test for Disney resorts

[wayneg]

Not seen this info posted:

A test is taking place for arrivals 6/16-6/28 that will allow guests to bypass check-in and go directly to their hotel room. This will include guests at the Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower, Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Pop Century, Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas - Jambo House and Kidani Village.

Full details here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resorts/online-checkin.htm

 

[Elise79]

Shame it won't work for most UK guests as one of the requirements in that they have their MB which have been posted.

I am not sure about if you have MB from a previous trip though?

 

[chmurf]

Shame it won't work for most UK guests as one of the requirements in that they have their MB which have been posted.

I am not sure about if you have MB from a previous trip though?

MBs from previous trips work.
When you already have a MB from a previous stay, you can choose to use your old MB to open doors, charge to the room, access tickets.

As long as your MB is "active" in your MDX profile, then it's as good as the MB you did not receive and you're supposed to pick up at the hotel.

I've several MBs connected to my profile, and they all worked for subsequent bookings.
Actually DW used to change MBs to match her clothes

So the issue might not be with the MBs themselves and the ability to access the room. But a trip to the check in desk might be needed, so that Ultimate tickets are activated (do they even need to be activated ?) as they are only valid after actual check in. (it used to be that way, is it still that way ?)
This remains to be cleared up.

But regarding MBs, any MB from a previous trip can be used for another trip, as long as it's still linked and is active in "magic bands and cards"
a MB only contains its own serial number, so whichever you use, if the serial number is linked to a MDX profile, the system will access the guest's data, including room number and dates of stay, which is all it needs to unlock the hotel room's door.

 

[Elise79]

MBs from previous trips work. When you already have a MB from a previous stay, you can choose to use your old MB to open doors, charge to the room, access tickets. As long as your MB is "active" in your MDX profile, then it's as good as the MB you did not receive and you're supposed to pick up at the hotel. I've several MBs connected to my profile, and they all worked for subsequent bookings. Actually DW used to change MBs to match her clothes So the issue might not be with the MBs themselves and the ability to access the room. But a trip to the check in desk might be needed, so that Ultimate tickets are activated (do they even need to be activated ?) as they are only valid after actual check in. (it used to be that way, is it still that way ?) This remains to be cleared up. But regarding MBs, any MB from a previous trip can be used for another trip, as long as it's still linked and is active in "magic bands and cards" a MB only contains its own serial number, so whichever you use, if the serial number is linked to a MDX profile, the system will access the guest's data, including room number and dates of stay, which is all it needs to unlock the hotel room's door.

I am well aware all MB (and any active RFID cards for that matter) will work to access the current information held in your MDE account. I have 5 active MB and one active RFID AP card currently.

What I was unsure of was whether the new ones that were being posted were setting a "trigger" on the system to allow users to bypass check in or whether there were MBs on the account already they would also work.

TBH won't help us anyway as all our MBs are currently in our Owners Lockers but I will probably bring a set home so if it's working before December we might be able to make use of it

 

[scoobydooby]

I don't think I'd like this actually. I quite like the check in process and it gives you the chance to check you're happy with your room. I'm not alluding to upgrades, but there are many rooms in the same category and some suit me better than others so I like to have the chance to look at what we've got. I've had them swap us twice with no drama in the same room category.

 

[2Tiggies]

I don't think I'd like this actually. I quite like the check in process and it gives you the chance to check you're happy with your room. I'm not alluding to upgrades, but there are many rooms in the same category and some suit me better than others so I like to have the chance to look at what we've got. I've had them swap us twice with no drama in the same room category.

I also like the check in process, but the up side is if this is received well, which I expect it will be, then the lines at check in will be reduced.

 

[Elise79]

I don't think I'd like this actually. I quite like the check in process and it gives you the chance to check you're happy with your room. I'm not alluding to upgrades, but there are many rooms in the same category and some suit me better than others so I like to have the chance to look at what we've got. I've had them swap us twice with no drama in the same room category.

Nothing to stop you going to the check in desk if you want.

I know the resorts we stay at really well so if I got a text or email with a room I wasn't happy with I would just go to the desk on my way in.

In April we did online check in for OKW and when I arrived I was greeted by a CM in lobby and checked in on an iPad so didn't even make it as far the desk!

 

[scoobydooby]

Nothing to stop you going to the check in desk if you want. !

Of course there isn't. But that would defeat the entire point of the system they are testing. It's purpose is to stop you having to do that.

 

[wilma-bride]

I've several MBs connected to my profile, and they all worked for subsequent bookings.

.

Have you been since October then? Because that is presumably when you were first issued with your MBs. Have you actually used those MBs since then and know for a fact that they work?

Shame it won't work for most UK guests as one of the requirements in that they have their MB which have been posted.

I am not sure about if you have MB from a previous trip though?

Tracy, I suppose it will mean that the check-in desks will be relatively empty for us Brits though

 

[Elise79]

Of course there isn't. But that would defeat the entire point of the system they are testing. It's purpose is to stop you having to do that.

Yes but using online check in also optional - you only have to choose this if you want to use it.

I was a long time sceptic of OLCI but last time we had an am arrival so I tried it in hope I would have a room ready on arrival. It worked exactly as it should and we had a great room. I am willing to try this as I can go to the desk when convenient then rather than as I arrive.

 

[chmurf]

Have you been since October then? Because that is presumably when you were first issued with your MBs. Have you actually used those MBs since then and know for a fact that they work?

yes (obviously not for the auto check in test which will only start in 2 days) (oh, and I also live part time in the UK in case you're still interested in knowing )

What I was unsure of was whether the new ones that were being posted were setting a "trigger" on the system to allow users to bypass check in or whether there were MBs on the account already they would also work

Just try to imagine that you have a blue and a red key for your front door at home, and the red would only open the door at night while the blue would always open the door. There would be no point in having a red key.

Now, if a company could come up with such a nonsense (in IT logic), such as putting a "flag" (that's the name for what you call "trigger") on an ID media instead of on the account itself, it's probably Disney IT ... well ... fingers crossed, lol.
but if that was the case, that would mean that MDX is even more badly designed that we already think it is ...

 

[wilma-bride]

yes (obviously not for the auto check in test which will only start in 2 days) (oh, and I also live part time in the UK in case you're still interested in knowing )

My bad It's just that your signature suggests your last trip was October 2013 and you said you hadn't used the DAS since November so...

Although I'm not sure what living part-time in the UK has to do with anything

 

[edinburghlass]

I thought Trigger was a horse

I like going to the front desk and saying hello to old friends so not being able to use this new system won't bother me.

 

[wilma-bride]

I thought Trigger was a horse

Or a character from Only Fools and Horses

 

[chmurf]

My bad It's just that your signature suggests your last trip was October 2013 and you said you hadn't used the DAS since November so...

A couple of one nighters at the end of business trips do not deserve much publicity, nor getting a DAS card when only spending a couple of hours at MK.

Although I'm not sure what living part-time in the UK has to do with anything

You might not be aware of this, but you've been picking on me on quite a few topics in the recent weeks. Including one regarding the purchase of special event tickets where you made a snide one liner saying you didn't know I was now living in the UK. ( = I didn't know that UK ips were auto redirected to the UK site, which was just a matter of configuration anyway)

let's leave it at that and not pollute the topic with personnal matters. I probably should have PMd you but I think unsollicited PMs are a rude thing.

 

[wilma-bride]

A couple of one nighters at the end of business trips do not deserve much publicity, nor getting a DAS card when only spending a couple of hours at MK.




You might not be aware of this, but you've been picking on me on quite a few topics in the recent weeks. Including one regarding the purchase of special event tickets where you made a snide one liner saying you didn't know I was now living in the UK. ( = I didn't know that UK ips were auto redirected to the UK site, which was just a matter of configuration anyway)

let's leave it at that and not pollute the topic with personnal matters. I probably should have PMd you but I think unsollicited PMs are a rude thing.

I don't 'pick on' anybody and I am upset and pretty appalled that you would suggest that. If I recall correctly, my comment to you (and it was not in any way snide) was in response to the fact that you called me out when I informed somebody that UK residents could not buy the special even tickets online. My response to you was merely in defence of my reply to the OP which I believe to be correct, as I had been unable to do that very thing just a few weeks ago. I later learned that UK residents can now purchase tickets online (although they couldn't when I was trying) and returned to that same thread apologise and admit that I was incorrect.

I suggest that if you feel you have been unfairly treated by myself or any other members of the forums that you PM the owners of the board and allow them to make that judgement.

 

[chmurf]

As I said, let's leave it at that.
what we say only comes across as words, no context, tone or body language, and sometimes, context, tone and body language speak louder than words, and they are all we lack on a forum.

peace.

 

[scoobydooby]

I've been thinking about quite why I dislike this so much and I've just realised what it is. The interpersonal is removed. The relationship element is removed. The thing that Disney has always done best (Cast Members been the best 'staff' anywhere, on the whole), is been eroded. I knew there was something, just couldn't quite put my finger on it for a bit there.

 

[wilma-bride]

I've been thinking about quite why I dislike this so much and I've just realised what it is. The interpersonal is removed. The relationship element is removed. The thing that Disney has always done best (Cast Members been the best 'staff' anywhere, on the whole), is been eroded. I knew there was something, just couldn't quite put my finger on it for a bit there.

Now this I do agree with. I think that is what Tracy was trying to say earlier in her reply.

I like checking in at the front desk, I like hearing "Welcome home", I like chatting to the CMs about the UK and how dire our weather is compared to Florida, I like interacting with the people I meet on our trips and those are the reasons why I don't do online check in and why I won't use the new system anyway.

 

[chmurf]

I knew there was something, just couldn't quite put my finger on it for a bit there.

Absolutely.

I am, by nature, a tech geek (work in IT, and all) but I've always thought and felt like disney was more than just a "consumer product".
Of course it costs a lot, and of course the Mouse always wants a bigger piece of cheese from you, and the sooner you get your room, the sooner you start spending.

Not being greeted by a CM upon check in, would just be like not going under those arches on the freeway.

Going straight to the room would feel like pumping gas ... park the car at the pump, insert credit card, pump gas, be on your way.

that's just not what I call doing Disney which is all about atmosphere

Cast Member interaction and Disney service : Isn't that one of the reasons why onsiters pay ridiculous amounts of money to stay onsite ?

I would miss not doing actual check in (I do OLCI but have time to talk about loads of things with the CM. Having done OLCI even leads to more chit-chatting time, as there is often nobody in line so no rush at all on the CM's part to serve the next guest)