Online check in??

[amyj1024]

Do I HAVE to do online check in (like on the My Disney Experience)? I would kind of rather go to the main desk/check in at the resort when we arrive. What are the benefits of doing it? In the past I know we have gotten balloons or stickers for the kids when we check in, and I was looking forward to that again??

 

[Dug720]

You can do online check in AND still go to the front desk. I don't know where people are getting the idea that you cannot do both. EVEN IF you get a room ready text you can go to the front desk

 

[amyj1024]

Well then what do you do at the desk if you have already checked in online?

 

[AngiTN]

Well then what do you do at the desk if you have already checked in online?

Say hello. Have them confirm everything is properly set up. That type of thing.

Something you gain doing online check in is you can let the resort know about what time you expect to arrive and if you have any preferences about your room location. Your room will be assigned before you arrive no matter if you do online check in or if you don't. If you have preferences, might as well let them know as soon as you can.

And we look as doing it as completing a step to arrival. Means our trip is getting closer.

 

[amyj1024]

Thanks! That helps!

 

[AngiTN]

And in case you hadn't read elsewhere, there is a chance you'll get your room sent via text before you arrive. If you do, you'll know if you like the location or if you should request another. Not everyone gets a room text but many do

 

[disnut8]

I check in online but still have to go to the front desk because of certain things on the My Disney Experience I don't have set up correctly. Like last time - the credit card I had associated with the account had expired and I had no idea. Same card, just needed a different expiration date. So, I get to go to the front desk and the "online check in" queue, talk to a Cast Member BUT, I have already given them my arrival time so all but once, our room was ready even at 11 AM. In my experience (and mine only), the online check in has gotten me a room when I arrived but I still had to do things at the front desk. No big deal at all.

 

[fla4fun]

No, you don't HAVE to do online check in. It is optional and you can go to the front desk for check in. It doesn't prevent you from booking ADR's or FP+ if you wait. However, I prefer it because it allows me to put my credit card number in without anyone else handling the card. Obviously, if Disney's computer system gets hacked, I'm still vulnerable, but I don't have to worry that someone will steal it at the front desk (either CM or other tourists).

Sometimes, even if I do online check in, I still have to go by the front desk. For example, I stayed at YC during Food and Wine last fall, and they were giving out parking permits. I got mine at the guard shack going in, but my sister was arriving separately so I went to the front desk to get one for her. Or the quick weekend trip to BWI where I got a lobby level room right over the main entrance, so I went to the front desk before even going in the room to see if it was possible to be moved to a quieter location. It was, and they did. Or the stay at AoA where I got the room number email, but when I arrived my MB wouldn't open the door. The front desk took care of that too. I have been able to bypass the front desk many times without incident

 

[MrPTato]

Our Magic Bands didn't work one time so I do both. I like the front desk, especially when a new resort so I get a map as to where our room is.

 

[GenGen22]

I'm not familiar with online check in but I also think the front desk can show you where your room is located and tell you about hotel activities etc.