Online check-in

[V2000]

Does this mean that you will get a text when your room is ready and you don't need to go to the front desk? What's your experience on this? Also, they ask for a credit card to link to your reservation. Do they hold a certain amount of money on the card? Or what's the deal.

 

[Serenebean]

I think there is a separate option you check off to receive the text so I think you can do online check in an opt to not get the text. We did it in April and got the text while we were on DME and went right to our room no problem. Some people never get the text and have to go to the front desk. I've only done room only and they charge your full room amount upon check in. Im not sure about packages since I think you pay for those in full before you arrive. Then depending on if you are at a value, mod or deluxe they will charge your card once you hit a certain threshold. Its fairly high, so it likely wouldnt be every day.

 

[steg]

Yes, it's meant to bypass the front desk altogether, as long as youve linked your park tickets to your band. That's also a way to add the room requests without calling to add them.

Its worked flawlessly for me 3 times so far. Got the text everytime, once right as we got off the plane.

The credit card is for charging things via the bands, i dont think they charge anything when you link it. Maybe a test charge with an immediate credit upon success. It's the same thing you used to set up on the keys to the world but now that you're bypassing the front desk you can set it up online.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We love bypassing the front desk. Got the text right at 3 pm last year though. Early rooms are hit and miss.

 

[Cee]

I've gotten a text the last two times I've used online check-in. Easy breezy!

 

[dansdad]

Does this mean that you will get a text when your room is ready and you don't need to go to the front desk? What's your experience on this?

If you do Online Check In you MAY be able to Bypass The Front Desk. Some people will still have to stop by the Front Desk. Nobody knows how they decide who gets to Bypass The Front Desk and who doesn't. I think it's the same algorithm they use to decide who gets PIN Codes and who doesn't.

Also, they ask for a credit card to link to your reservation. Do they hold a certain amount of money on the card? Or what's the deal.

They do not put any hold on your Card.

 

[Sue M]

And if you don't live in the US (me) you can't bypass front desk because you have to pick up your MBs.
For the benefit of non US guests- if your room isn't ready and front desk asks for your cell # and tells you they'll text you, you'll be waiting forever. Some how the CMs don't realize Disney doesn't text non US phones. Give them your email. They will send a room ready email, although last year we were in our room 2 hrs when we recieved the email

 

[Mousemommy1]

If you do Online Check In you MAY be able to Bypass The Front Desk. Some people will still have to stop by the Front Desk. Nobody knows how they decide who gets to Bypass The Front Desk and who doesn't. I think it's the same algorithm they use to decide who gets PIN Codes and who doesn't.



They do not put any hold on your Card.

They do not put a hold on your card, BUT, be aware that they WILL charge your card any balance for the room that is due on the morning of the arrival date (for room only). The one time that I wanted to pay upon check in with gift cards, I got there to find out that they had already charged my debit card on file.

So, just be careful with that.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Yes, I used online check in and received a text while on DME. We still went to the front desk to try to change our room assignment (no dice) and get our celebration buttons.

 

[addiln]

We used it last year and got a text while on the ME telling us our room would not be ready. I never got the text saying the room was ready and had to go to the front desk at 4:30 to see what is going on. I think this was just a one off since everyone else I have talked to seemed to have it work with no issues. It could have been they had an issue with the room that was assigned to me and had to fix something or change the room. We will be there in 8 days so hoping it goes smoothly this trip.

 

[dansdad]

We used it last year and got a text while on the ME telling us our room would not be ready. I never got the text saying the room was ready and had to go to the front desk at 4:30 to see what is going on. I think this was just a one off since everyone else I have talked to seemed to have it work with no issues. It could have been they had an issue with the room that was assigned to me and had to fix something or change the room. We will be there in 8 days so hoping it goes smoothly this trip.

No, not just a one off. Some people will not be able to Bypass The Front Desk. Some will be able to, but not everyone.

Just trying to set expectations here so people are not disappointed when they have to stop by the Front Desk.

 

[PeasandCarrots]

In theory you should get a text and go straight to your room & your Magic Band will open your door. We go to WDW 3-4 times a year and it has never worked for us, ever. I still do online check in, but unless there's a long line I now still stop by the front desk and have them check our bands, etc before going to the room.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

They do not put a hold on your card, BUT, be aware that they WILL charge your card any balance for the room that is due on the morning of the arrival date (for room only). The one time that I wanted to pay upon check in with gift cards, I got there to find out that they had already charged my debit card on file.

So, just be careful with that.

Were they able to reverse it for you? We had the same thing happen, and they reversed the charge and let us use the gift cards, although the refund took a couple of days to post.

 

[CaliMountainMan]

Thank you for asking this question. Saved me time!!

 

[KrazeeK120]

I used this feature last year and it worked fine.

 

[TristiK]

We did online check in for our June trip. I received a text while we were on DME that our room was ready, with the room number. We were able to completely bypass the front desk and go right to the room. I did have a credit card linked to our reservation already.

 

[cgh]

We did online check in and I received a text at 11:50 am that my room was ready. Didn't stop anywhere but had to go inquire about a welcome packet, map, etc.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Were they able to reverse it for you? We had the same thing happen, and they reversed the charge and let us use the gift cards, although the refund took a couple of days to post.

They did offer to reverse it but I really just wanted to get to my room, so I let it stay as it was and used my gift cards for food and souvenirs.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

They did offer to reverse it but I really just wanted to get to my room, so I let it stay as it was and used my gift cards for food and souvenirs.

I hear that. Doing the transaction to reverse that for us took an extra 20 minutes at check-in. But I pretty much needed that long to get over the heart attack I had when I realized my checking account was empty. I'm just glad it's possible!

 

[AngiTN]

If you have a PIN saved and a card on file it should send you the room text.
Sometimes, even if you think you have saved a PIN code and a credit card one or the other glitches and doesn't stick with the reservation.
If that happens, you won't get the room text, you'll get something telling you to go to the front desk.
And if there is a change with your reservation you may have to go to the front desk.
We had our room downgraded at CSR last February and we had to go to the front desk. They were supposed to give us the room number and explain what happened but they didn't. I only found out when we walked in our room.