Should we do online check-in?

[Shrill]

We are Canadian so we have to stop at the desk for our magic bands (no going directly to our room), and our most important room request (Magnolia bend mansions at POR) can't be put into the online request. I'm a bit concerned that doing the online check-in will actually override our existing requests that were added when we booked (including the mansions request).

Is there any benefit to our doing online check-in? We are arriving on a Friday morning at the end of August and are going pretty much straight to Epcot after eating some lunch. Seeing our room ahead of going out would be great, but not a deal-breaker.

Thanks!

 

[HopperFan]

If you have to go to the desk anyway for your bands there is no advantage to me.

 

[scrappinginontario]

As a fellow Canadian we also have to go to the desk to retrieve our bands. We haven't been since they implemented the 'avoid check-in, we'll text you your room number' so not sure how much lines have decreased upon check- in. In the past there were 2 sets of lines - one for those checked in and one not. My experience has been that normally the checked in line moves faster but honestly, all the lines seem quick these days.

Is this your first trip since MagicBands were introduced? If not and you have your old bands, you should be able to use those and pick up your new bands when it's a convenient time for you. I've done this for taking Magical Express but not for going to an actual park. Hopefully they would work but others might have more experience with this.

 

[Shrill]

As a fellow Canadian we also have to go to the desk to retrieve our bands. We haven't been since they implemented the 'avoid check-in, we'll text you your room number' so not sure how much lines have decreased upon check- in. In the past there were 2 sets of lines - one for those checked in and one not. My experience has been that normally the checked in line moves faster but honestly, all the lines seem quick these days.

Is this your first trip since MagicBands were introduced? If not and you have your old bands, you should be able to use those and pick up your new bands when it's a convenient time for you. I've done this for taking Magical Express but not for going to an actual park. Hopefully they would work but others might have more experience with this.

We are first timers so no magic bands. I don't actually have much of an issue with going to the front desk. Wouldn't mind the chance to inquire about another room view (we had to take pool view to get free dining but I'm wondering how much more $$ a river view would be if available). I just don't know if I'm being crazy by not doing the online check-in: are we going to be in line for a long time as result?

 

[AngiTN]

I don't do online check in to skip the desk.
I do online check in so they have a schedule of our anticipated arrival time. No idea if it makes a difference or not but I like doing it and don't feel it hurts anything to do it.
I've seen shorter lines in the online check in line vs. the regular check in line but usually it's not significantly different and folks from both sections help if one line is longer than the other anyway

 

[Spliter]

Last three times I checked in online I had to go to the check in desk anyway. No biggie. When I got there only the regular check in line had someone attending it. Online check in people stood in same line as regular people. All three were an early evening check in. Still was very fast since there were only a few of us.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We are first timers so no magic bands. I don't actually have much of an issue with going to the front desk. Wouldn't mind the chance to inquire about another room view (we had to take pool view to get free dining but I'm wondering how much more $$ a river view would be if available). I just don't know if I'm being crazy by not doing the online check-in: are we going to be in line for a long time as result?

What resort are you staying at?

My experience is that the wait at the front desk is minimal. Often they can help you within 5 mins or less unless you're there at a rare time when a large number of people are checking in. Hope you're able to switch to the room type you want. Regardless, you'll have a great time I'm sure!!

 

[Terra Nova guy]

OP, since you are going to POR, I'll just share my check in experience from last October (I am also Canadian). I did use online check-in. We arrived at POR around 10:30am. There were 4 groups in the regular check-in line and one group in the on-line check-in line. I stood in the online check-in line and was quickly greeted by a cast member with an iPad. She told my family to wait at one of the chairs in the lobby while she got our Magicbands. She came back after a few minutes and although our room wasn't ready at that time, they did send us a text later with the number. Some of the groups in the regular check-in line were still waiting after we finished. It may have only saved a few minutes, but since I had checked in online there was no need to go to the desk and enter credit card info, set up PIN number, etc. and we got to sit in comfortable chairs for the short time we did wait, instead of stand in line. I thought online check-in was more convenient. But I don't know how it might affect your room request.