Pros and Cons of Online Check-in?

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I used online check in in December and WILL NOT be using it for our April stay. My experience with it was horrible, especially with not getting the room which was paid for. The management staff was not helpful when I returned to have my room changed and that resulted in a very tense time at the check in desk, and resulted in an angry email to Disney CS and 2 phone calls from them to me discussing the many issues at POP. I have stayed onsite over 50 times and this was the worst experience of all. Never expected that to happen at Disney, but if standing in line to check in will alleviate even the tiniest of issues I'm definitely going to do that instead of doing online check in.

 

[gwynne]

I used online check in in December and WILL NOT be using it for our April stay. My experience with it was horrible, especially with not getting the room which was paid for. The management staff was not helpful when I returned to have my room changed and that resulted in a very tense time at the check in desk, and resulted in an angry email to Disney CS and 2 phone calls from them to me discussing the many issues at POP. I have stayed onsite over 50 times and this was the worst experience of all. Never expected that to happen at Disney, but if standing in line to check in will alleviate even the tiniest of issues I'm definitely going to do that instead of doing online check in.

That must have been annoying.
I don't seen any real benefit of using online, unless it's someone who totally doesn't care where their room is. If all they want is a room and a key, it may be quicker. In actuality, I usually see folks waiting at the online check in counter. All it takes is a glitch with the person before you, and you're waiting.
For me-I'd rather just check in at the full service counter. It really isn't slower (from my observations) but I do think I get better service, most especially I am not rushed through.
I did online my last visit, and I won't ever again. Learned my lesson.

 

[dminnie]

I paid extra to get a preferred location, and I would hate to think that I would not get that type of room if I did online check-in. Since this is our first time at WDW, I probably wouldn't even know if I was not in a preferred room! I would hate to think that I paid for the upgrade, but did not receive it! - See more at: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3070060#sthash.4qpODRKc.dpuf

I don't think on-line or in person would make a difference for room assignment.

As far as paying for a preferred room and not knowing if you got it or not...I would do some research before you go. Most resorts have a building or two that are close to the food court that are the "preferred" rooms. I'd definitely find out which buildings are preferred and make sure that is where they put you. The room itself is the same room as all the others...the "preferred" is just a preferred location for people that don't want to walk very far for their meals.

 

[jaccceee]

I haven't read this thread so I'm not sure if this has been said but when i did online check, we were offered a $200 for signing up for Disney Visa Rewards credit Card. A definate PRO! Costs $49 a year and had to spend $500 but if you cancel within 60 days you get the annual fee back.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

The room itself is the same room as all the others...the "preferred" is just a preferred location for people that don't want to walk very far for their meals.

Actually my reason for asking for a Preferred Room location was "not because I didn't want to walk very far for my meals". In fact that really sounds insulting......... I actually chose to have a preferred location because in December I had finally received an all clear after a year of Chemo and had not gotten all my strength back & all I wanted to do the entire year I was on chemo was to "celebrate" at Disney. When I didn't get the Preferred Pool Room view that I had requested when I booked & again reminded when I did online check in I was extremely unhappy. Then the "crap" that I went through at the online check in to get an appropriate room was extremely unpleasant. This was at POP & no there were not any lines for either check in area.

Now I'll just take my time & have patience standing in line to check in so that I should at least get the Preferred location that I have booked & paid for at POR in April.

There are many, many reasons that people request & pay for Preferred Rooms so please don't jump to conclusions. JMHO!!

 

[dminnie]

In no way did I mean that as an insult. I'm sorry if it sounded that way. I probably should have said people that don't want or can't walk very far for their meals.

 

[dminnie]

The reason I even mentioned WHY people get a preferred room was because I got the impression that the person writing about them didn't know what a preferred room was even though they had paid for one. I was just trying to help that person out with what they had paid extra for. Again, I was typing fast and should have said "want or can't walk very far."

And, congrats on your recovery!

 

[okienick]

Has anyone gotten an upgrade while also using the online check-in? I'm wondering if after reading this thread if I should still be hoping for that. My husband and I are celebrating a belated honeymoon at the Beach Club Villas, and I was hoping for a small miracle of a free upgrade. I know, I should probably just have paid for it if I wanted a certain kind of room, but I've heard of people getting free upgrades on occasion. And this is Disney. If we are celebrating something special, maybe it could happen?? I'm thinking if I am wishing for this minor miracle I should maybe not use the online check-in??

 

[dansdad]

Has anyone gotten an upgrade while also using the online check-in? I'm wondering if after reading this thread if I should still be hoping for that. My husband and I are celebrating a belated honeymoon at the Beach Club Villas, and I was hoping for a small miracle of a free upgrade. I know, I should probably just have paid for it if I wanted a certain kind of room, but I've heard of people getting free upgrades on occasion. And this is Disney. If we are celebrating something special, maybe it could happen?? I'm thinking if I am wishing fork this minor miracle I should maybe not use the online check-in??

Whether you do online check-in or not has zero affect on getting upgraded or not.

 

[minnie mum]

I think I'm done with online check in. Just spent a very frustrating half hour trying to do it. Tonight it absolutely REQUIRED a credit card number. And very annoyingly, it wouldn't allow me to add any requests. none. nada. zip. zilch. No pop up boxes, drop down selections or multiple choice options.
Of course the address was wrong- even though I've edited the information a dozen times in the last couple of months.

And then when I hit submit I got a "timed out" message.

Forget it. We'll be getting there early in the morning anyway. I'll just stand and wait in the regular line.

 

[jasonsk287]

I think I'm done with online check in. Just spent a very frustrating half hour trying to do it. Tonight it absolutely REQUIRED a credit card number. And very annoyingly, it wouldn't allow me to add any requests. none. nada. zip. zilch. No pop up boxes, drop down selections or multiple choice options.
Of course the address was wrong- even though I've edited the information a dozen times in the last couple of months.

And then when I hit submit I got a "timed out" message.

Forget it. We'll be getting there early in the morning anyway. I'll just stand and wait in the regular line.

I know how you feel, it wouldn't let me put requests in either when I did it. I ended up doing it anyway and then calling Disney to give them my section request. You could try that, best of luck!!

 

[minnie mum]

I know how you feel, it wouldn't let me put requests in either when I did it. I ended up doing it anyway and then calling Disney to give them my section request. You could try that, best of luck!!

Thanks- I'd already made a couple of requests when we booked the reservation, but wanted to add another. No big deal really. Just that the whole process annoyed the snot out of me last night.

 

[okienick]

What if you decide you want to pay for an upgrade if it is a good deal? If I check in online, will our wait be about the same as it would be regardless once I'm with the CM? How much of a hassle is it if you've checked in online and decide to change rooms or the room has to be changed for whatever reason? I guess the main thing I'm asking is if I still have the option to pay for an upgrade if one is available once I get to the online check-in desk. Can they change it at that point?

 

[maxiesmom]

What if you decide you want to pay for an upgrade if it is a good deal? If I check in online, will our wait be about the same as it would be regardless once I'm with the CM? How much of a hassle is it if you've checked in online and decide to change rooms or the room has to be changed for whatever reason? I guess the main thing I'm asking is if I still have the option to pay for an upgrade if one is available once I get to the online check-in desk. Can they change it at that point?

They can change your room even if you do on line check in. But it kind of defeats the purpose of doing OLCI, which is to grab your room package and go. If you want to change your room they will have to cancel the room keys they have ready for you and then issue new ones. You won't save any time, and may in fact spend longer in line that you would have in the regular check in line.

 

[dancin Disney style]

What if you decide you want to pay for an upgrade if it is a good deal? If I check in online, will our wait be about the same as it would be regardless once I'm with the CM? How much of a hassle is it if you've checked in online and decide to change rooms or the room has to be changed for whatever reason? I guess the main thing I'm asking is if I still have the option to pay for an upgrade if one is available once I get to the online check-in desk. Can they change it at that point?

Yes,it's a BIG hassle to change rooms after you have done online checkin. I've had a bad experience twice....
First time, the package was not ready and the CM had to print everything. When I enquired about my request she didn't know anything about it. then showed me the room I was assigned which was the 100% opposite of my request. She then had to make a call to see if what I requested was available, which it was. Then she had to get a manager to make the change.
Second time, the package was ready but again I was assigned the total opposite to my request. Same process to make the change...call a manager.

Both times it took over 20 minutes and this forced everyone behind me in the line to wait. There is only 1 CM that works the online counter VS. 4-6 at the regular counter. BTW, I've never waited more than about 10 minutes to complete checkin at the regular counter, including waiting in the line.

As far as making an upgrade, I'm sure it would be a similar process. So you would be much better off using the regular counter.

In future we will never use the online checkin. When we visit WDW we usually stay for between 10-14 days. So getting the requested room location is somewhat important to us. We usually only request a certain building and I don't think that is asking for much.

 

[okienick]

Thanks all. I figured the regular line was prob our best option. Can you do FP+, assuming it is offered, without checking in online?

 

[Sarah_Rose]

We did online check in last month and got the absolute OPPOSITE of our requests. However, we did check in at 10 am and our room was ready, so I don't know if OCI helped with that. We were traveling with a 2 year old and a baby, so having a room ready when we arrived was more important to us than our requests.