I know that in the past when I've just checked in at the desk I've never put a credit card down. They ask if I want to charge and I've always told them no and haven't had to show our credit card. I know it won't let me do online without it though.
Yes and no, online check in does not guarantee that you will always get your room assignment prior to physically checking in, it will either A-text/email you that your room is ready prior to arrival and then you head there as planned and open the room with your MB OR B-you can bypass the line inside the lobby and wait in the online check in line which is usually shorter than traditional check in. I have never had to do B but know a few ppl on here that have had to do that b/c rooms weren't ready upon arrival. So while I think in most cases, A is what typically happens, I learned that it's not guaranteed. A handful of posters were very disappointed about that. And yes, you can get your button in the lobby.
Yes, you'll receive a text with you room number. It'll also provide you a link (and you can also look on your MDE) to help you navigate your resort if need be. It's helpful. As for the button, you can either get it at the front desk or get it in a theme park.
I will also add that Option B occurred when the resorts were more crowded than usual. I wish I knew the nuances of how the alert messages/emails are sent but we have received our emails around noon on check in day but these were not very crowded times. Wish they had a standard protocol of when messages would be sent based on a 3pm check in time.
Yes, please ignore my response. Sorry
Agree, that's what I mentioned, you don't always get the alert, the only guarantee with online check in is that you will get to stand in the online check in line inside the lobby which should be shorter than the traditional check in line
