Online check-in

[bill2012]

Four specific questions I hope some of you can help me with:

1) What exactly is online check-in (for WDW resorts)?

2) Does it only apply if you book in certain ways? We booked through AAA, and our package has absolutely no information on online check-in, and our travel agent said nothing about it. I online heard of it through seeing mention of it here.

3) What are the pros and cons of it?

4) Does doing online check-in impact on trip refundability if you have to cancel at the very last minute? We may have an issue with a sick relative that could possibly result in such cancellation, and would not want to lose all of our money because we had already done online check-in.

Thanks!

 

[Cafeen]

Four specific questions I hope some of you can help me with:
1) What exactly is online check-in (for WDW resorts)?

Basically, it's a form you fill out (online) that tells Disney roughly when you expect to show up. It also gives a couple spots for specific requests, but those are pretty limited.

2) Does it only apply if you book in certain ways? We booked through AAA, and our package has absolutely no information on online check-in, and our travel agent said nothing about it. I online heard of it through seeing mention of it here.

I'm pretty sure that so long as you have a Disney reservation number (which most AAA agencies do give out) then you can use online check-in

3) What are the pros and cons of it?

Pros: Your information package should be ready when you arrive. Your room may also be ready, but there's still chances that your room will not be ready. You may have a shorter line to check in at the resort and the check-in process may be streamlined a little. (As a note, if the online check-in line is long and the regular one is short, they can still do everything at the regular part). If you're allowing room-charging, you can put a CC number into the form to tie it ahead of time (they'll still need to see it at the resort though).

Cons: If you're a first time visitor, you may not get all the standard explanations about everything (or, you still might, but there'll be grumbles behind you!)

4) Does doing online check-in impact on trip refundability if you have to cancel at the very last minute? We may have an issue with a sick relative that could possibly result in such cancellation, and would not want to lose all of our money because we had already done online check-in.

Thanks!

Nope. Doesn't affect this stuff one bit.

 

[softballmom3]

...

Four specific questions I hope some of you can help me with:

1) What exactly is online check-in (for WDW resorts)? For us it was basically to skip the long line and everything was printed out. We were able to do this 10 or 7 days in advance I honestly can't remember.

2) Does it only apply if you book in certain ways? We booked through AAA, and our package has absolutely no information on online check-in, and our travel agent said nothing about it. I online heard of it through seeing mention of it here. Did not book through AAA but I spoke to a AAA travel agent the other day about a future booking and she said we could check in online I believe through her.

3) What are the pros and cons of it? Our experience was only pros. Quick, efficient and all my requests were met without me saying anything.

4) Does doing online check-in impact on trip refundability if you have to cancel at the very last minute? We may have an issue with a sick relative that could possibly result in such cancellation, and would not want to lose all of our money because we had already done online check-in. I can't answer this one..sorry


Thanks!

 

[bill2012]

Thanks so much to both posters!

I have just registered online so I will be able to do this.

I still wonder why there is absolutely no mention of this in all our materials/documents. (Perhaps AAA wants to discourage its clients from registering with Disney, for fear that they will get better deals and, consequently, book future trips that way?)

 

[minnie mum]

Thanks so much to both posters!

I have just registered online so I will be able to do this.

I still wonder why there is absolutely no mention of this in all our materials/documents. (Perhaps AAA wants to discourage its clients from registering with Disney, for fear that they will get better deals and, consequently, book future trips that way?)

Don't confuse online check in with making resort reservations. AAA doesn't care if you do online checkin (and yes you can do it yourself). You can't do this more than 10 days in advance, and you are only giving them your arrival information so they can have your documents ready for you. It has nothing whatsoever to do with making a reservation, which is what AAA does for you. Even if you had booked directly with Disney, you would not receive info about online checkin until later.

Online checkin would not impact a cancellation. If you have a vacation package then you will have cancellation charges if you cancel less than 45 days out. If you have a room only reservation, then I believe you have cancellation charges if you cancel less than a week out (it may be 5 days).