Question on using the Online check-in process within 10-days of arrival.

[Samaya]

Hi and apologies if this question has been asked lately.

If you use Disney's online check-in service when you're within 10-days of arrival and you are not happy with the room you've been allocated when picking up your folder and keys, is it an easy process to have the room changed if others are available?

Has anyone experienced not being allocated a room where you've requested, i.e., near to elevator, top floor, certain views..... and if so, was the process to change easy?

Up to now we've always checked in at guest services and have usually had a choice of rooms, so would be grateful of any feedback, positive or negative with the online check-in service, many thanks.

 

[n2mm]

We were at the BWV 3 weeks ago and I did a request via MS because the online checkin doesn't (or didn't back then) really address any request. Nope didn't get any of my request when checking in. My folder was ready, but my room was not. I checked in around 9:00AM, got my text that my room was ready around 3-4:00PM. I requested far away from the elevator, but my room was right around the corner from the elevator. Went to the room and didn't touch a thing (which they will ask you if you try to change rooms). Went to the front desk and asked about another room far away from the lobby and elevator and told nope...that's it. There were no other rooms available to move to. The CM called the scheduling person and had them check, but nothing. This was January 23-28, which we all know, January is one of the slower times of the year. I've only asked to change rooms upon my initial inspection of my room a few times and I've never been able to get something different. I make requests via MS for every trip. Generally very simple request like a higher floor or far from the lobby (in the case of BWV), but I seldom get any of my request. Last August I stayed at BLT and while I know standard rooms are generally floors 1 & 2, but on the other side of the building go to the 5th floor. My only request was a higher floor. I got ground level. And during that same trip I stayed at OKW and booked HH location -- yep I actually had the location booked, but I didn't get it. They put be in the section across from HH and tried to tell me that was HH (which I knew it wasn't). Make your request via member services and if you get them great.

 

[drusba]

Over many years our requests have been met about half the time. And that has been the same before and after on-line check-in. If not met, you can request a move, but they can charge you $75 for doing so if another room is available, and front desk may or may not make that charge.

 

[Sandisw]

IMO, if you are going to ask to switch rooms if your requests are not granted, then I would skip online check in.

The real purpose in that is to be able to get your things and go as well as to allow the resort to get things ready for guests.

We have done online check in most of the time since it started and have to say we have been lucky in getting requests more often than not--however, if I get to the resort and we don't have the request, we are fine with that so for us, checking in online and having things ready works.

Good luck!

 

[disneynutz]

The goal for online check in from Disney's point of view is that you don't make changes. Your best chance for request success is to make sure that MS coded your request correctly.

In December the room assigned to us wasn't even close to our request. The Front Desk showed me the info passed on to them by MS which was incorrect. Recently as part of a service improvement process Disney determined that the incorrect request code wasn't a software issue, it was issue where the MS CM selected the wrong request code.

Bill

 

[amypetecar]

I checked in online a few weeks ago at BLT, and was very concerned about my room request. The short answer is that online check in does not help nor hurt your chances of getting your room request. In addition, it is just as easy to switch your room at the desk after doing online check in, as it is if you do not utilize online check in

Your best best for a change is right there at the desk. Become familiar with either the room numbers, or at least the map of the resort to know if your room assignment will meet your needs before proceding to the room.

 

[Samaya]

Thank you to all who responded, we decided in the end to not check in on line for our Vero Beach stay.

We arrived at the Front Desk about 10.50 am and was greeted by Barbara who was extremely helpful, although the room wasn't ready she did indicate it was one of the 2-room numbers we had requested.

And yes we would have had the same room had we checked in on line and arrived at the same time.

We've made a request for a few different room numbers at the Beach Club for our arrival next week and might try out the online check in, fingers crossed we get one of those rooms.

The Vero vacation has been so relaxing, weather since Sunday has been really good. Thanks once again, kind regards Samaya.

 

[gmi3804]

I agree that availability of alternate rooms has nothing to do with checking in online or not. I also immediately request a different room at the desk before schlepping to the room if I'm not happy with the location. To be fair, Management does try its best to honor requests, I've found.

 

[Samaya]

We've made a request for a few different room numbers at the Beach Club for our arrival next week and might try out the online check in, fingers crossed we get one of those rooms.

We decided to check in on line for our Beach Club stay, we had requested earlier through Member Services 5th floor, pool view and 3-different room numbers.

Well, after a 2-hour drive from Vero Beach we arrived at the Beach Club at 1.00pm and was greeted with the news that although the computer system was down our room was ready, great we thought.

Unfortunately, it was 2nd floor with a view of the woods, we're told that the system would be down for another 2-hours so if we wanted we could wait until then to see if there was any other room available.

We decided to wait and at 3.30 when the system was back up and running another room was found on the 5th floor with a pool view and guess what, was actually one of the 3-room numbers we had originally requested.

It does seem that on this occasion the on line check-in never took account of our request.

We were so glad we waited, having that room helped in making it a wonderful vacation. (Shame Stormalong Bay was undergoing a refurbishment)

Thanks to all who contributed, Samaya