Q's About Online Check-in!

[sunny_stace]

Hello!

My family and I are heading to CBR in October! None of us have ever used the online check-in process and none of us are quite sure if we will be able to use it! I'm wondering if you lovely Dis-ers may have some insight to help us out?

We have 2 separate reservations which are already linked in our MDE accounts and we have already put in requests for adjoining/connecting or at least close rooms while on the phone making the reservations. Here are my questions:

1. I am a Canadian! Meaning that WDW will not mail my party's magic bands out to me in advance and they are to be picked up at check-in. Am I even eligible to use online check-in? My other family whose reservation we are linked to are American and already have their magic bands. If I'm not eligible to use it, should my American family skip online check-in with their reservation too? If they use it and I don't, will it unlink us somehow? Are we less likely to have our requests granted?

2. We had to upgrade to water-view rooms to get a discounted rate but would still like to put in specific building requests if we can. Anyone had any luck with this on top of all the other requests? (I know, we are such divas! )

3. Can you cancel the advance check-in you if you try it and don't get the results you were hoping for? (i.e. our rooms are on opposite ends of the resort) Would you call the resort directly or guest relations or the central reservation number? And do you still call the resort ahead of time to ensure your requests have been noted?

Really, we will be happy with whatever we end up with! We are just super excited and anything we can do in advance of our trip is just adding to the fun! If we can't use on-line check in, it really is no big deal! However, I would like to try it and see what its all about! Since we are a good-sized party with a few small children and will be arriving mid-morning after driving overnight, we are hoping to keep things as easy as possible!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I really appreciate any info you guys may have!

 

[HopperFan]

Hello!

My family and I are heading to CBR in October! None of us have ever used the online check-in process and none of us are quite sure if we will be able to use it! I'm wondering if you lovely Dis-ers may have some insight to help us out?

We have 2 separate reservations which are already linked in our MDE accounts and we have already put in requests for adjoining/connecting or at least close rooms while on the phone making the reservations. Here are my questions:

1. I am a Canadian! Meaning that WDW will not mail my party's magic bands out to me in advance and they are to be picked up at check-in. Am I even eligible to use online check-in? My other family whose reservation we are linked to are American and already have their magic bands. If I'm not eligible to use it, should my American family skip online check-in with their reservation too? If they use it and I don't, will it unlink us somehow? Are we less likely to have our requests granted?

2. We had to upgrade to water-view rooms to get a discounted rate but would still like to put in specific building requests if we can. Anyone had any luck with this on top of all the other requests? (I know, we are such divas! )

3. Can you cancel the advance check-in you if you try it and don't get the results you were hoping for? (i.e. our rooms are on opposite ends of the resort) Would you call the resort directly or guest relations or the central reservation number? And do you still call the resort ahead of time to ensure your requests have been noted?

Really, we will be happy with whatever we end up with! We are just super excited and anything we can do in advance of our trip is just adding to the fun! If we can't use on-line check in, it really is no big deal! However, I would like to try it and see what its all about! Since we are a good-sized party with a few small children and will be arriving mid-morning after driving overnight, we are hoping to keep things as easy as possible!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I really appreciate any info you guys may have!

My point of view is that there isn't as much an advantage for online check in because:
- You still have to go to check in at the front desk to get your MagicBands.
- Since you all are concerned about room location to each other putting in online requests may derail that.
- Since you all are concerned about room location I would suggest in person check in so if you are not happy and want to see if there are other options.
- Online check in does not offer building choices, only village choices.
- Doing online check in will not tell you anything about results. You will not find out your rooms until the day of check in and closer to your time of arrival.
- Since you already put in verbal request for proximity to each other, I'd probably call back and just add a village to that.
- You might want to also tell them your arrival time (you do this with online too). I arrive early often and many times at check in desk they will say "Do you want your room now that does not match your requests or do you want to wait until later today for a room that matches your requests?" So you need to be prepared you might have to give on something to get another.



http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f306/bmozmumy/Caribbean-Beach-Online-Check-in-Form-from-**************.net_.jpg

 

[sunny_stace]

Thank you @HopperFan! Thank you so much for your input and the screenshot! Very helpful indeed!

We have no issue with a room not being ready immediately and didn't expect it with a morning arrival. We have no concrete plans on our day of arrival besides dinner and we are driving so besides napping if possible, we don't need a room ASAP! We would rather wait for something that will work best! Thanks again!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Your rooms will be assigned about five days prior to arrival whether you do online check in or not. The nice thing about online check in is that it makes the actual check in process go faster because they have your credit card info and they know your arrival time. They can have the information packet ready for you. You don't have to make room requests when doing online check in. You can skip the room request section of the online check in form so that your verbal requests don't get overridden by the online requests - although I've been told that the room assigners see both the online requests and the verbal requests.

But in your case you can skip online check in if you are uncomfortable with it. Your check in will be jut like it always was before they introduced the online version.