Online Check in vs. Front Desk Check in....

[_19disnA]

We always do online check-in so we can avoid waiting in line when we first arrive. Either you get what you requested or you don't and I doubt standing in line at the front desk is going to change that.

 

[123SA]

I do on-line check in, but I go to the check in desk anyway. I usually arrive early on my check in day, well before a room would be ready. I don't have a park ticket for that day, so I can afford to spare the time to go to the check-in desk. The only request we ever have is first floor, a preference not a medical reason. We always request it and ask the Travel agent to request it as well. I have successfully twice been re-assigned to the first floor during check in. Although once we had to agree to a later than normal check-in time.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

We always do online check-in so we can avoid waiting in line when we first arrive. Either you get what you requested or you don't and I doubt standing in line at the front desk is going to change that.

Sadly, it used to.

 

[Robbydj13]

Sadly, it used to.

True....those times have come and gone though...

 

[MarkS2112]

Online is just so quick and easy. We usually have gotten our room text on the way from the airport so we head to room quick and then to park. No wasting time in a long line. Much easier. Not sure what the counter gives you anymore especially if it is not a first visit. Maybe first time I would but not now with magic bands and no room keys.

 

[Robbydj13]

Online is just so quick and easy. We usually have gotten our room text on the way from the airport so we head to room quick and then to park. No wasting time in a long line. Much easier. Not sure what the counter gives you anymore especially if it is not a first visit. Maybe first time I would but not now with magic bands and no room keys.

Online has become ridiculously easy...and its worth it not to wait in those long check-in lines of the past. Some hotels took forever, especially around check-in time.

 

[kylenne]

Heading back to WDW this fall. BUT, the $64,000 question is in regard to check in at the resorts. What does everyone think is the best way to check in ? Is it better to use the convenience and speed of online check in? Or, do you have a chance of getting a better room location and/or some Disney Magic by checking in at the desk with a cast member ? I've done both, but would like to hear your experiences.

I did online check in at GF and was pixie dusted into the main building. Your method has absolutely no bearing on what room you’ll be assigned. Online check in wins by a country mile for convenience and I did it every time even pre covid. Nothing beats getting a room ready text and going straight to your room sometimes even from the airport.

 

[Dug720]

I did online check in at GF and was pixie dusted into the main building. Your method has absolutely no bearing on what room you’ll be assigned. Online check in wins by a country mile for convenience and I did it every time even pre covid. Nothing beats getting a room ready text and going straight to your room sometimes even from the airport.

Yeah, unless you're one who is gonna pimp out your kids like someone admitted to on here, telling them to come running up to dad at the check-in counter and say "Ooh Daddy!!! Are we in this building????" at the GF when they had paid for the lowest category room, hoping the "cute kid hopeful faces" would get them bumped all the way up (yes, someone admitted to doing that on here before), the odds of them saying "Ooh, you checked in in person so we're bumping you to this category" are pretty much nil.

The only time I have gone to the desk after receiving my room text on DME was a marathon weekend when I was staying at CBR. I knew from the room number that they had "upgraded" me to a Pirate room. Normally I'd be fine with it - my bed at home is a double, so that doesn't bug me - but not when I'm up at 2am to get ready, running a marathon, and then recovering after. NOT when you want to deal with extra stuff on the bed frame. So I did stand in line and politely ask if I could be downgraded and another family who would love it be pixie dusted. A call to the assigners or head housekeeper or someone and I was put into a lovely king room on a corner (I think I had actually booked King...not positive).

But other than that? I'm at Disney for the parks. Yes, I'll make a room location request, but I guess I'm the kind of push-over they like - I'm not going to go to the front desk whining that I didn't get my request.

 

[quoo]

Lol. I'm the same. I really don't know why i got to the desk. It just feels like the official start of vacation. But I think you've convinced me to try straight to room especially as we're now arriving later than I like this trip (our flight moved )

 

[beccasmom]

We do online check-in because it is one more thing to check off my “to do” list. I well remember standing in some epic check-in lines and avoiding that is a great motivator. We’ve only had issues twice. At BLT they just never got around to texting us, but a room was ready. At OKW they ran into some type of room inventory issue and we were moved to BLT (after they had inquired where we’d like to move, assuming a room was available). On all other occasions we’ve received a “room ready” text after arriving at MCO (and sometimes before that).

 

[Cheburashka]

It's interesting that the three times at Disney resorts we have been upgraded, it was when we did in person check-in. I don't know if there was any relationship there, but it happened. Once at Yacht Club in 2016 upgraded to water view, once at Beach Club in 2018 upgraded to club level, and once at Grand Floridian 2021 upgraded to Main Building. All of those were in-person check-ins, and we have never received an upgrade via online check-in. I've never requested an upgrade & wasn't even asking for a room change when we got those- they were pure pixie dust.

That said, we have always been able to get rooms changed to something more desirable within our booked category, regardless of how we checked in or when we checked in. Just a few months ago I checked in late evening to Kidani, and disliked the room location, so I called in and they changed it the next day. I had to move the next day but it was worth it (just left my bags packed) due to the better view in the new room for the rest of the trip. There is always hope for a room change if you're not happy with your placement- they want to please you.

 

[maryj11]

We’ve had good luck w/ requests and using online checkin. I think they do their best to match with what’s available day of arrival. We usually don’t prioritize early checkin. Could always hit front desk to discuss if anything’s available that better suits us than the assigned room, but we’ve never needed.

We rent a car so use that in our favor, trying to pick rooms away from common requests like near food/lobby. Then use both WDW and Touring Plans room request systems making sure not to have any conflicting info and give 3 room number examples. We try to keep notes simple like: top floor near river, Building _____ near parking, or 1st FL preferred for ECV. This way between the room numbers and notes they get an idea of what’s important to us.

From our most recent requests:
BC DVC studio requested Room 431 - got it (humongous balcony)
Poly DVC requested room 3928 - got it (Awesome - balcony had castle view right & front view pool, very close to elevator)
^ these were Jan ‘21 during less demand so may have been easier to accommodate us
OKW 1br cash - requested 1st floor Bldg 30 or higher - got it
PO Riverside requested room 8916- got it (better view than the more expensive ‘River View’ next door )
AoA twice - got room next to room requested
PO Riverside Royal Room - got top floor request in different building
Pop/Allstars - sometimes we add 1 night pre-trip. Request ground floor near parking and they have accommodated.
AKL - asked for 5th FL, got 4th right below room we requested. Close enough!

Were all these during less busy times? I never have luck like that! I usually call and add it to our reservation and use touring plans.

 

[maryj11]

We always do online check-in so we can avoid waiting in line when we first arrive. Either you get what you requested or you don't and I doubt standing in line at the front desk is going to change that.

It does help to go to the desk if you do not get your requests . I have had my requests on my reservation plus sent with touring plans and was assigned a room no where near what we wanted. Twice I did this. Once at AKL and the other at POFQ. I went to the desks and asked politely and they moved us both times to an area we had requested. Not exactly what we requested, but close enough.

 

[chasgeese]

It does help to go to the desk if you do not get your requests . I have had my requests on my reservation plus sent with touring plans and was assigned a room no where near what we wanted. Twice I did this. Once at AKL and the other at POFQ. I went to the desks and asked politely and they moved us both times to an area we had requested. Not exactly what we requested, but close enough.

Agree. I don’t think most people who go to the front desk are doing so because they think they will get upgraded, it’s more just to check and see if a room that better matches what they wanted within the category they booked us available. Most Disney hotels are pretty big and there can be a lot of variation within room categories (especially at values and moderates where there aren’t as many room categories).

 

[Moliphino]

I always do online check-in. If you get your room assignment early and don't like it you can always call to see if they can move you, even if you're nowhere near the resort. There's also nothing stopping you from going to the front desk if you've done online check in. I've done that when we arrived just past check in time and I still hadn't gotten my room ready text.

 

[Moliphino]

It does help to go to the desk if you do not get your requests . I have had my requests on my reservation plus sent with touring plans and was assigned a room no where near what we wanted. Twice I did this. Once at AKL and the other at POFQ. I went to the desks and asked politely and they moved us both times to an area we had requested. Not exactly what we requested, but close enough.

You can also call the number in the room ready text to try to get a new room assignment. I've done that successfully a few times when we weren't physically at the resort yet.

 

[maryj11]

You can also call the number in the room ready text to try to get a new room assignment. I've done that successfully a few times when we weren't physically at the resort yet.

Ok thank you. I will do that next time. The past couple of years we have not had much luck with our requests. I always check in online.

 

[Mr Organizer]

Seems like everyone is all over the board on this one. Staying at GF for the first time when we go this fall. Don't have park tickets for the first day and will be arriving around noon. I did make room requests with Disney when I made the reservations....not down to exact room number....but pretty close to that. Like someone mentioned, I remember the days when you could fax the room assigner a few days before check-in. Doing that I almost ALWAYS got the room(s) I requested. Not sure anyone even has a fax machine anymore ! So, since standing in line is not an issue for us (nowhere to go but the pool !) I am leaning toward checking in with the front desk. I know it all depends on the CM you get, but I think it might be worth the chance they are having a good day and spreading pixie dust.....

 

[Moliphino]

Seems like everyone is all over the board on this one. Staying at GF for the first time when we go this fall. Don't have park tickets for the first day and will be arriving around noon. I did make room requests with Disney when I made the reservations....not down to exact room number....but pretty close to that. Like someone mentioned, I remember the days when you could fax the room assigner a few days before check-in. Doing that I almost ALWAYS got the room(s) I requested. Not sure anyone even has a fax machine anymore ! So, since standing in line is not an issue for us (nowhere to go but the pool !) I am leaning toward checking in with the front desk. I know it all depends on the CM you get, but I think it might be worth the chance they are having a good day and spreading pixie dust.....

You can always check in online, but still go to the front desk when you get there if you don't have a room assignment yet or don't like your room assignment. That way if you do get a good room assigned early you can go straight there.

 

[Wandering Oaken]

You can always check in online, but still go to the front desk when you get there if you don't have a room assignment yet or don't like your room assignment. That way if you do get a good room assigned early you can go straight there.

If we don't like our room assignment then we're just stuck with it I guess because we have a first timer going with us and I am going to have a gift basket waiting in the room for her.