Online Hotel Check-in?

[SteveInOmaha]

On the Disney website, there's an option on my reservation to check in online. Does that mean we do not need to stop at the Front Desk?

We haven't been in 5 years. Is there info that we would miss if we don't check in at the Front Desk? Thanks!

 

[sponica]

You shouldn't need to stop by the front desk, but for a litany of reasons some people do not get the room text notification.

Personally I like talking to people, and getting a map of the resort, especially if it's a sprawled out resort and/or late at night.

ETA: I do both, online check in AND stop by the front desk

 

[evlaina]

I always check in online so I can do a room request, have a card on file, and get to our room early if possible. But I still also always go to the front desk because I like to talk to a human to make sure everything is good, see if there are any upgraded rooms available (hey it's worth asking, right!), get a map, get celebration buttons, etc. The only time we skipped it was in October this year when we stayed at POP. We arrived on a Saturday mid-morning and the line was INSANE and our room wasn't ready, so we just dropped off our bags with luggage services.

 

[mn51]

We always do online check in too but never seem to get a text that our room is ready so we always go to the desk. Most times, our room is ready. If you are not staying deluxe, you might miss out on the opportunity of talking to them about passing up housekeeping for the gift certificate (not really a certificate but a email that you can use as a gift card). It's $10 a night but not for your first night.

 

[eliseisawkward]

We always do online check in too but never seem to get a text that our room is ready so we always go to the desk. Most times, our room is ready. If you are not staying deluxe, you might miss out on the opportunity of talking to them about passing up housekeeping for the gift certificate (not really a certificate but a email that you can use as a gift card). It's $10 a night but not for your first night.

You can now get the giftcard for passing up on housekeeping if you do online check in through the app. You just check a box saying you'd like to opt out.

 

[loves to dive]

As you can tell, it's hit or miss as to whether you will get the text before you get there that your room is ready. It won't hurt to do on line check in even if you want to go by the front desk. I always do it. We drive down and usually get there between 2 and 3 so our room is rarely ready. We stop by the front desk just to let them know we are there and sometimes they find a room that's ready. This works for us since we don't request any special location or view. Even if the room isn't ready, they usually know which one it is and can tell us what area to park our car in and we will give them our bags to hold if we are in a deluxe. We don't bother if it's a value or moderate since you can usually park pretty close to your room area. We then just head on to the park and if we are ready to come back when we get the text we do, if not we just keep on keeping on.

 

[SteveInOmaha]

You can now get the giftcard for passing up on housekeeping if you do online check in through the app. You just check a box saying you'd like to opt out.

What does "opt out of housekeeping" mean? They don't clean the room at all for the entire stay?
When do you get the gift card, and how can it be used?

 

[Hopefully]

What does "opt out of housekeeping" mean? They don't clean the room at all for the entire stay?
When do you get the gift card, and how can it be used?

Yes. It is your whole stay or not at all.
you can call for new towels if needed.

 

[KayaWildfire]

What does "opt out of housekeeping" mean? They don't clean the room at all for the entire stay?
When do you get the gift card, and how can it be used?

You get your gift card emailed pretty much right away. It can be used on anything at Disney-food, merchandise, etc.

 

[a1tinkfans]

On the Disney website, there's an option on my reservation to check in online. Does that mean we do not need to stop at the Front Desk?

We haven't been in 5 years. Is there info that we would miss if we don't check in at the Front Desk? Thanks!

Just returned from a split stay. Did online check in for both. Neither one worked properly. POR sent 2 texts saying room not quite ready and we had to get in a long line. To only be told that we’d need to get back in line Again, if the text room number didn’t come while we were at a park.
It never came, so back to guest services again
Same poor service at AKL. Completed online check in. Got a text that check in was complete. Told that room was not quite ready. Got multiple of those texts. Went to guest services when we arrived. Told all okay... told room location and await text. Arrived back at resort in early evening. Never got room number. Back on line.. got room.
I asked at Both resorts, each said system doesn’t always work. Disney Disappointments!

 

[Lynne M]

It’s important to note that completing the online check-in gives the resort the ability to send you a room ready text if they choose. It’s not a guarantee that you will get a text. As far as I know, Disney has never stated that doing online check-in will always result in a text being sent when your room is ready.

Some people have reported being able to see their room number in the MDE app when the room is ready, even if they didn’t receive a text.

 

[Orionreplay]

On 11/11 we arrived late at MCO and missed a bus to Art of Animation, we had to wait 45 minutes before boarding the next one. And then the next 40 or so minutes to the hotel. Needless to say, we were cranky and starving. The last thing I wanted to do was stand in the check-in line.

I remembered the Disney Experience app check-in and tried it right on the Magical Express bus. I rolled the dice and hoped for the best having never checked in online before. I never got a text from Disney, but I did keep checking my Disney Experience as we rode. About 10 minutes before arrival at the resort, I had my building number and room number attached to my Disney Experience app.

It seemed too good to be true. Upon arrival, we figured we'd try it and went straight to the designated room. With Magic Bands on, the door opened and we were there. So in my case, while riding the bus to the resort, it all worked as advertised.

 

[Alicatt]

Can someone please tell me whete the room shows up on the app?

 

[Orionreplay]

Can someone please tell me whete the room shows up on the app?

On my Samsung phone, the Disney app opens to the main page. On the lower right are three bars or lines. When I pick that, it takes me to my account.

Once there I see Tickets and Passes, Photos, My Plans, and Resort Hotel, among others. Now not on vacation, selecting "Resort Hotel" tries to link to a room confirmation, but before when actively on our trip, it took me straight to the Art of Animation hotel page. There you will see choices of Dining Plan, Room number, and other assorted options related to the hotel itself. You could even order hotel food (Landscape of Flavors) to be ready when you walked in.

It is a handy page when staying on resort.

 

[OKWFan88]

I must be missing where on the app you can decline housekeeping (staying at POP)? I check in Dec 15th. Is it still too far out, is that why I can't see it?

Also, I check out on the Dec 20th but check back in on the same day Dec 20th to have final check out on Dec 22nd. Will they let me stay in the same room and still count those days as part of the declined housekeeping so I can get the additional two days gift card?

 

[eliseisawkward]

I must be missing where on the app you can decline housekeeping (staying at POP)? I check in Dec 15th. Is it still too far out, is that why I can't see it?

Also, I check out on the Dec 20th but check back in on the same day Dec 20th to have final check out on Dec 22nd. Will they let me stay in the same room and still count those days as part of the declined housekeeping so I can get the additional two days gift card?

You can decline the housekeeping once you start the online check in process. Or at the front desk when you arrive if you don’t do the online check in.

 

[LovintheLodge]

I haven’t been to WDW in two years but I did online checkin then and there were options like ‘high floor’, ‘near transportation’, etc. I just completed my checkin for BWI for my December stay and there were no options. Am I too late since I arrive on Dec 2?

 

[sponica]

I haven’t been to WDW in two years but I did online checkin then and there were options like ‘high floor’, ‘near transportation’, etc. I just completed my checkin for BWI for my December stay and there were no options. Am I too late since I arrive on Dec 2?

Those options are sometimes there and sometimes not. If you have any specific requests it's best to call it in. I think you can still call it in today, the assigners start assigning about 3 to 5 days out, I think.

 

[LovintheLodge]

Those options are sometimes there and sometimes not. If you have any specific requests it's best to call it in. I think you can still call it in today, the assigners start assigning about 3 to 5 days out, I think.

Thank you!