So does online check-in get you your room sooner?

[connorlevismom]

This is the only reason I would use this service. We arrive at 11:30 (and always do) but we have NEVER gotten a room before 4:30. If checking in online would give me a shot at my room being ready sooner - then I would use it. But I see no use getting a faster line just to wait for hours for your room anyway.

So what has the experience been? Have you gotten your room any sooner?


Kristine

 

[kaelarad]

I would say no it would not get you into your room earlier. On line check -in just means you do not have to go to the registration desk to check in. But if there is magic in the air there is always a chance of getting a room early.

 

[Inkmahm]

I moved from AKV to VWL Saturday morning at 7 am (headed to HS for EMH at 8 am) and our studio was READY at 7 am. I"d done online checkin. I was shocked that it was ready. They ask you when you check in what time you plan to get there and what time you plan to leave. Maybe it does make a difference to do online checkin.

 

[wildernessDad]

I did online check in for our very recent stay at OKW and the studio was ready upon check in.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Interesting...I'd like to see more posts about people's experience with online check in terms of room readiness.

In August we'll be spending the first half of our stay at SSR and will then transfer to Kidani. Would be nice for our room to be ready in the morning when we move over.

 

[disneynutz]

Last week at OKW room ready at 4:00. This week moved to SSR, room ready at 4:30. Both reservations I used on-line check in.

 

[PSC]

My best guess is that rooms are available when they are available. My DW and I stayed at BWV a couple of weeks ago and did the on line check in. My brother-in-law and his wife were in another studio room and did not use on line check in. We got to the front desk at the same time. I went to the on line check in line and he went to the regular check in line. I finished up about 3 minutes before he did and we both got our rooms (at about 1:30).

 

[Castillo Mom]

Last week at OKW room ready at 4:00. This week moved to SSR, room ready at 4:30. Both reservations I used on-line check in.

Darn! Oh well, not a huge deal. We can always hang out by the pool or head to the parks after we check in.

 

[DMKEDM]

OUr room was ready w/online check-in (at about noon-12:30) on 3/15 (a one-BR at BCV)...BUT, we had 4 linked reservations (the BCV ressie required clearing 4 W/Ls and changing from our back-up at OKW to BCV)--

We checked to make sure our 5 nights were linked (the CM said they were; our room keys noted a 3/20 check-out)...but we wound up locked out of our villa on day 4 because our reservation had "ended"...BCV cleared it up quickly, although I still have a "points problem" even now...MS says my points are accurate, but the website shows them charging me 55 extra points...they say the whole situation is a result of the changes made to our reservation (4 wait list requests coming through...this was prior to the two waitlists only rule)--

So, now I'm "afraid" to call MS again (they talk to me as if I'm an idiot who caused the whole mess by making changes to my reservation and are very annoyed that I find it disconcerting that they say my points are what they should be but the website shows an add'l 55-point charge)

So I'll never use online check-in again.

I hate the idea of selling my DVC points, but am thinking about doing that, too...it doesn't make economic sense to own points at a place where when it comes time to call I "cower" at the thought of the treatment I'll get and wind up not calling (I've been avoiding making a new vacation plan for the last two days now).

My DS is appalled at how I feel and says I'll get over it. It's only been a few days, and maybe he's right. So I won't make any decisions quickly. But it's a significant problem when my reaction is to not go to Disney as a result of the MS treatment (including a call from Member Satisfaction where once again I was told the problem was entirely due to my actions in making changes to my reservation--altho she did back off and tell me I'd done things "right" when I asked what I should have done instead...she said she hadn't seen that I'd used the wait list)...

Anyway, back to the point: I don't know if online check-in was in any way related to the failure of the link in reservations for the last night...but if it was, waiting for a room upon arrival seems less painful than being locked out of a villa (and for various reasons--including a broken door lock--it took 2 1/2 hours to get back in).

And prior to online check-in, we almost always found our room ready--we pretty much always arrive around noon-12:30...only 3 times total have I had to wait for a villa...we've now taken about 12-15 DVC trips (I've lost count!)...

 

[dis-happy]

Here's the thing with online check-in: they've already assigned you your room. If it's occupied the day you check in there's no guarantee it will be ready early.

I guess if the resort isn't full and they know you are checking in early, they could assign you a room that they know will already be empty (and clean).

Time of year and occupancy would be the biggest factors, not necessarily whether or not it's an on-line check in, IMO.