Online check-in

[catho72]

Should I do it? Pros? Cons? I want your opinion, please! How much time does it really save?

 

[sandymcclinton]

Saves a lot of time. Many times our room was ready early so when we arrived we were able to go to our room.

 

[Missymouse18]

Do it!!! When we arrived in May we went straight to the "online check in" desk and everything was waiting for us. We were at the desk only long enough for the CM to welcome us, hand us the package, show us a map of where our room was located, and wish us a magical stay. We were there an hour and a half before check in but our rooms were ready!

 

[tanyaandallie]

I cannot imagine not doing on-line check in. Before it was available I remember standing in line forever and the check in process taking forever after a long day of travel. With on-line check in I am literally in and out the door in 5 minutes. Last August dh dropped me off at the front and I was out the door again before he and the kids even got out of the car.

 

[sixkristy6]

I cannot imagine not doing on-line check in. Before it was available I remember standing in line forever and the check in process taking forever after a long day of travel. With on-line check in I am literally in and out the door in 5 minutes. Last August dh dropped me off at the front and I was out the door again before he and the kids even got out of the car.

If they put you on a ground floor (for example), and you would prefer a higher floor, can they make an adjustment there for you (since you did online check in)? I know any requests are just requests and not guaranteed. I was just wondering if they can make a change (if a room is available) if you prefer a different room

 

[Mousemommy1]

We always do online check in. It is faster because they already have your room key and package materials ready when you arrive. I even did it for our trip in 8 days despite the fact that we are staying CL and don't "need to"

I love online check in, it makes the trip seem that much closer!

 

[mmouse50]

What if you don't want your package tickets put on your KTTW - I want them separate because some of us in the package have an AP. If I do online - where do I go to get the tickets taken off the card?

 

[Mousemommy1]

If they put you on a ground floor (for example), and you would prefer a higher floor, can they make an adjustment there for you (since you did online check in)? I know any requests are just requests and not guaranteed. I was just wondering if they can make a change (if a room is available) if you prefer a different room

I would say that if you anticipate holding up the line if the room given to you does not meet your requests, then you should not do on line check in. Really, it's for people with no specific room requests that will take their package and go, which is why that line is shorter.

 

[fla4fun]

I love it! I have done it for every stay but one since they started offering it (wouldn't let me do it for opening day at BLT) and so far - knocking on wood - my room has been ready when I arrived. I just walk up, show ID and get my packet and away I go. Another thing I like is that my cc is already on file, so if there is an unscrupulous CM, they aren't getting to handle my cc - in fact, many times I haven't even been asked to show it.

The only reason I can see for not doing it, is if you have very specific room requests. I usually either have no requests or very general ones (upper floor or near transportation) and I have had mine met with online check in. But although you can change your room assignment once you arrive if it's not what you want even if you have done online check in, that takes the convenience factor completely away from doing it in the first place. It also holds up the online queue unnecessarily. With very specific room requests, you might as well check in at the front desk and choose from the available inventory to see what best meets your needs.

 

[disnut8]

I would say that if you anticipate holding up the line if the room given to you does not meet your requests, then you should not do on line check in. Really, it's for people with no specific room requests that will take their package and go, which is why that line is shorter.

I agree. I do online check in because -

1 - I've stayed at the resort before so I don't need to know every single detail about things

2 - I have no specific requests that I absolutely have to have - if I do have a request (like a king bed) and don't get it, I don't really care

3 - I've been to Disney World many, many times so I already know the park hours, special events, etc.

4 - I already have my annual pass so I don't need any ticket info

To the OP - I didn't do online check in when we were there in June with a Grand Gathering of 10 people in four rooms. The reason I didn't do it is because I did have a very specific room request that I was 99.9999999999% sure would be honored but wanted to be 100% sure. It was a first floor room for my wheelchair bound father and I had even received a phone call from Disney about it. But I still wasn't certain. Anyway, when we arrived for check in, the line was beyond the queue ropes. Took us 1/2 hour to check in. It turned out I had nothing to worry about but I cursed myself for not using the online way and rolling the dice.

 

[jdcthree]

For those that have experienced long lines at check-in when you didn't do it online, what day of the week did you arrive?

 

[sixkristy6]

I would say that if you anticipate holding up the line if the room given to you does not meet your requests, then you should not do on line check in. Really, it's for people with no specific room requests that will take their package and go, which is why that line is shorter.

OK, thanks! I don't want to be that person who holds up the line.

 

[disnut8]

For those that have experienced long lines at check-in when you didn't do it online, what day of the week did you arrive?

Ours was Monday, January 2nd at 11:30 AM. I had wanted to get there much earlier but the other three were slow from moving from our offsite hotel. If we had been there earlier, I don't think the 1/2 hour wait would have happened. 11:00 AM is check out time and there are a lot of people who just head down to the front desk to check out, not realizing they don't need to do that if they have Express Check Out. I knew the timing sucked and pointed that out all during the 1/2 hour wait.