Online check in?

[photobob]

Can anyone help me with the pros and cons?

 

[MikeNY]

Hi Bob - all of our experiences with online check-in (3 different trips) have been positive. Here are the pro's/con's as I see them:

Pro:
- No waiting on the check-in line when you reach your resort
- Rooms are often ready for you before noon (on 3 different occasions, our room was ready before 11am)
- Your welcome home package is already prepared with all paperwork and keys
- Actual time at the online check-in desk is less than 5 minutes

Con:
- Your room is preassigned and keys are printed in advance meaning that if you're unhappy with what they've given you, it might be difficult to change at that point. We're prevented this from happening by making our requests known when we make our reservation (i.e. particular section of the resort, high floor vs ground floor, etc)

 

[Uncleromulus]

Just keepinmind that Online checkin does not GUARANTEE that your room will be ready sooner than any other. And we're not too much longer at the front desk than 5 minutes under normal check in conditions. So we've never used it and unless there is a MAJOR pro, we probably won't.

 

[photobob]

*And we're not too much longer at the front desk than 5 minutes under normal check in conditions.*

That may often the case but there are lines sometimes that keep you from getting to the check in counter.

 

[drusba]

On-line check-in does not aid in getting room early. We have done it twice and still did not get room until 4. The fact that some do get it earlier is happenstance, not because of on-line check-in.

 

[DenLo]

Pro

Your credit card will be on file and the CM will not have to scan and verify it so saves time.

Your KTTW cards are already made up. And you should get the complete DVC packet, including perks, map of resort, schedule of activities, the permit for your car (most of this is already together and ready to go).

If the resort has a manned separated Online check in line, you can skip the regular line. The Online check in is usually quicker because the KTTW is printed and your CC is on file.

It really helps to have online check in if you happen to arrive right after a DCL or ME bus arrives or if you happen to be on one of the buses.

BTW, we've used online checkin three times and never have gotten into our room before 2:30 PM.

Con

Your room is already assigned and if you want a different one it will cause a delay.

Sometimes people have multiple requests for a room. E.g. At BLT, a high floor on the north, and the room number is an even number. Often the CM that assigns a room will just look at the first item on the request list. However, you might think the third item is more important, so you what a different room.

Some of the resorts do not have an online check in line or often do not have it manned. So you don't save any time waiting in line.

If you wish to use a Disney Visa Rewards Card or gift card for part of your account expenses you can't use online check in. The resort will automatically charge your account to the CC on file for online check in. I understand you can get it fixed but it takes longer than if you hadn't provided a CC to begin with.

 

[disneynutz]

We have never spent more than a few minutes in line at any DVC resort, so online check in doesn't seem to be a savings.

Bill

 

[MikeNY]

Hi all - everyone makes very valid points here. I didn't mean to imply that it was perfect, only that we've had good experiences with it. I'm sure it doesn't always work out well.

 

[photobob]

Do you think it affects the probability one way or the other of getting a request fulfilled? I was wondering if by doing online check-in you room request may be looked at before those who don't do online thereby increasing the chance of getting your request.

 

[puente0629]

I just had a great experience (must be that Disney magic), I was really worried because I did online check-in this week for our vacation on June 30 and was thinking that we might not get the building we rqsted (which I know is not guaranteed), I called MS and spoke to this wonderful lady who I expressed concern that we really wanted to be in building 43, she ended up calling OKW for me and confirming that my rqsts were met.

 

[disneynutz]

Do you think it affects the probability one way or the other of getting a request fulfilled? I was wondering if by doing online check-in you room request may be looked at before those who don't do online thereby increasing the chance of getting your request.

Some think that it helps, others, say it doesn't matter.

I do know that the room assignment process is different at each resort. Some assigners really try to match requests, others don't seem to care and have told me so.

At BLT on a Monday morning, our packet wasn't ready and we weren't assigned a room. The Front Desk CM told us that the weekend crew never does their job and the Front Desk always has to do it. We didn't get our request because they don't like to shift things around. That's when they also told us that it's their new policy not to allow room changes.

Bill

 

[Greysword]

I wonder if room changes may have been easier at BLT with fewer rooms declared to DVC, since the have the perogative of using a CRO room, which may not have had a high occupancy rate.

The biggest advantage of online check-in that I have noted is the shorter line (when staffed), especially after a larger group has arrived.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

When I used online check in, nobody was working the online check in desk (an no, I didn't use magical express and ME wasn't dropping off when I got there).

It did save time that WHEN a CM came over to check me in, all my paperwork was done, but I still did wait.

 

[puente0629]

Does OKW have an online check-in booth?