Report on On-line Check-In Service

[schewy]

Just returned from a trip at Kidani Village from Sept. 25-Oct 1. I wanted to let everyone know about my on-line check in experience.
I have used the on-line check-in service since they began offering it and have had good and bad issues with it.
I have checked in on-line and everything went as it should have upon arrival after I went to the special line for those that used the on-line service( Nov 2009). I have also checked in on-line and upon arrival found that no such record of my on-line check in could be found and had to go through the entire process again even though I had my printed confirmation with me. This ooccured in May 2010.
Well, this time I experienced check in like never before. I completed the on-line check in. Printed the confrimation and drove to Kidani Village. At the security gate I presented my identification to the guard and he handed me my parking pass. He then called the lobby and gave them a number that had been written on the parking pass.
I pulled into the short term parking lot at Kidani Village and upon exiting my vehicle a cast member met me out front of the resort and presented me with my room keys and welcome home package. I did not have to do anything else. I went to the park and recieved a text message when the room was ready. I did not do anything except store my luggage. It was the best check in experience. Kudos to DVC and Kidani Village cast members. I will definately use the service again.

 

[Cyndibear]

Wow!!! Almost like a check-in drive thru!!

Cyndi

 

[Doug7856]

Excellent. I hope this becomes the standard!

 

[famcruisefun]

That's tremendous. We check in at BWV next week and I haven't decided whether I'm going to use online check in or not. We haven't used it in the past. Does anyone know if OP's experience was just a fluke, or just something they're doing at Kidani, or is it occurring at all DVC properties?
Thanks!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

That's tremendous. We check in at BWV next week and I haven't decided whether I'm going to use online check in or not. We haven't used it in the past. Does anyone know if OP's experience was just a fluke, or just something they're doing at Kidani, or is it occurring at all DVC properties?
Thanks!

I'm curious too... checking in at Kidani next month and if this is the norm then I will definitely do online check in! My last 2 DVC visits I did not opt to do online check in. I was worried about not getting my room requests.

 

[eporter66]

That's great, we will be using it in a few weeks at Kidani. We have found the cast members at AKV's to be excellent, above and beyond. And that is saying a lot, as we have had mostly positive experiences with the Disney Resort CM's.

 

[Muhlenberg]

We stayed at Kidani in Sept. '09, and did online check-in. While we weren't met in the parking lot, we WERE approached as we were walking across the lobby. I was impressed.

I did online check-in for our recent stay at SSR, and for who knows what reason, they had to redo quite a few things. It took as long as if I had NOT done online check-in. I'm not complaining, though, the extra 5 or 10 minutes is nothing in the grand scheme of things...I was just happy to be there.

By the same token, I did NOT do online check-in for a stay at BLT. I timed it...8 minutes total to check in. I was also impressed, as I was expecting longer. There was also no one in line.

All three times our room was ready.

 

[dianeschlicht]

WOW! Now THAT'S as it should be! At OKW, I've always thought it was no easier to do online check in than regular check in.

 

[Ms. WDW]

Well wish me luck; I just "checked in" for this Sunday. I realize with this process any specific "request" that may be on the reservation may or may not be honored, but I will still get my "Guaranteed Boardwalk View" room since that's what I reserved; right??? Now I'm wondering if I should have done this on-line thing.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Did on line checkin for both AKV and BCV for this past trip. Everything went smoothly, and it was much faster service, especially at BCV. There I was second in the on line check in line, but the "extra" person behind the desk looked at me, said, "Did you do on line check in?" I had, she asked my name, went for the folder, told me that my room was ready! I was finished even before the people in front of me were. They seemed to have a problem not related to the check in. It was before noon, and we were happily in our room!

Bobbi

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

We are staying at kidani in 6 weeks and will definitely use online check in. That would be great service!

 

[Ms. WDW]

The only concern I have is with the "view' request. I have a Boardwalk View 1BR Reserved. I've heard that there have been problems with people getting rooms NOT in that Boardwalk View category and that's what I want to avoid.

 

[DopeyDave]

OMG!! I finally had the opportunity to use the Online Check-In Service for the first time. Do people really like this? I thought it stunk!

First, entering the Credit Card Information looks more like a sales ad for Disney Visa than a request for information. It took me awhile to figure out where to enter the information... I took the 'Add a Credit Card' button to mean the same as the 'Apply Now' button!! Then, even after the information is added, it appears as a mere footnote to the Visa ad!!

Secondly, verifying Guests in Your Party... verify what? The only thing you can verify is whether you're a member of the travel party or not!! Guests names were spelled wrong, and I had to call MS to have them corrected! When I completed the Check-In process (after having MS correct the mispelled names), the confimation says you can return later to change any information except names of guests! Why?

In hindsight, would I not only have wanted to add/modify guests to the reservation, but I may also have wanted to indicate which ones had charging privileges to the Credit Card I supplied!

If I were in Disney's IT department, I'd be embarassed to have released that application. I certainly hope it's going to be improved with the upcoming upgrades!

Sorry for ranting, but I feel slightly better now.

 

[Doug7856]

OMG!! I finally had the opportunity to use the Online Check-In Service for the first time. Do people really like this? I thought it stunk!

First, entering the Credit Card Information looks more like a sales ad for Disney Visa than a request for information. It took me awhile to figure out where to enter the information... I took the 'Add a Credit Card' button to mean the same as the 'Apply Now' button!! Then, even after the information is added, it appears as a mere footnote to the Visa ad!!

Secondly, verifying Guests in Your Party... verify what? The only thing you can verify is whether you're a member of the travel party or not!! Guests names were spelled wrong, and I had to call MS to have them corrected! When I completed the Check-In process (after having MS correct the mispelled names), the confimation says you can return later to change any information except names of guests! Why?

In hindsight, would I not only have wanted to add/modify guests to the reservation, but I may also have wanted to indicate which ones had charging privileges to the Credit Card I supplied!

If I were in Disney's IT department, I'd be embarassed to have released that application. I certainly hope it's going to be improved with the upcoming upgrades!

Sorry for ranting, but I feel slightly better now.

Later this month Disney is beginning the roll out of an improved and integrated reservation system. My hope is that a number of these issues are addressed (but I doubt the Disney Visa concern will be).

 

[DutchsMommy]

I just completed the online check in for our upcoming SSR stay. Question for those who have used it recently - I did not see anywhere to put a location request? There was a drop down to select ground floor or something like that but no freeform text if I wanted to put 'Grandstand' or something like that - did I just miss it??

 

[Ms. WDW]

I just completed the online check in for our upcoming SSR stay. Question for those who have used it recently - I did not see anywhere to put a location request? There was a drop down to select ground floor or something like that but no freeform text if I wanted to put 'Grandstand' or something like that - did I just miss it??

That request must be made through MS and be noted on the hard copy of your reservation.