To online check in or not to online check in?

[Suzabelle]

Is there any advantage to completing online check in prior to arriving? Is it just to bypass the front desk? Any better chances of getting room requests either way? Does time of day matter? We'll be arriving around 6 p.m.

Thanks,

Suzabelle

 

[disneynutz]

Coming that late I would check in online trying to protect my requests.

Bill

 

[CarolynFH]

I agree with Bill. However, I also like online check in because I'd rather input my CC number online on Disney's secure site than give the card to the CM at the front desk. More than once our CC has been used fraudulently within a couple of months after a WDW resort stay. Yes, could be coincidental, but there's been at least one CM arrested in the past for stealing CC numbers.

 

[disneynutz]

I agree with Bill. However, I also like online check in because I'd rather input my CC number online on Disney's secure site than give the card to the CM at the front desk. More than once our CC has been used fraudulently within a couple of months after a WDW resort stay. Yes, could be coincidental, but there's been at least one CM arrested in the past for stealing CC numbers.

Even if we use online check in and enter our credit card number, we are often asked for the card again at the front desk.

Bill

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Hmm, I was thinking of skipping online check-in this time to try to get our room requests. I thought that was a better way so that you could actually be at the front desk and not hurried to a room? I made my requests with MS a long time ago but we will also be arriving around 6-7pm. So you really think online check-in is the way to go? We are headed to BWV and I really do NOT want a bedroom by the elevators--too loud.

 

[disneynutz]

Hmm, I was thinking of skipping online check-in this time to try to get our room requests. I thought that was a better way so that you could actually be at the front desk and not hurried to a room? I made my requests with MS a long time ago but we will also be arriving around 6-7pm. So you really think online check-in is the way to go? We are headed to BWV and I really do NOT want a bedroom by the elevators--too loud.

For later arrivals, yes IMO online check in makes sense. If you check in online, your room is assigned and semi-protected. If you don't check in online your assigned room that may have originally matched your room request may change several times as other guests go to the front desk to get a different room.

Bill

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Okay, sounds good; I will go check in. Also, this is a split stay for us; the second half is at SSR and we will get over there around 10 am. Should we bypass that online check in or should I do that one as well?

 

[disneynutz]

Okay, sounds good; I will go check in. Also, this is a split stay for us; the second half is at SSR and we will get over there around 10 am. Should we bypass that online check in or should I do that one as well?

If you have a specific request and getting your request is important to you, I would forget online check in, go to SSR early and check in face to face with a CM.

Bill

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Thanks!!

 

[LoveMickey]

We did not do online checkin, called DVC instead. Our requests were not forwarded to OKW. They put us in a 3rd floor, no elevator, building, not in the section we wanted. We moved the next day.

 

[Dug720]

Just because you do online check-in does not mean you can't also go to the front desk.

 

[js]

We are landkng in Orlando on December 26 at 8:30 AM. We are staying in THVs and have a request in for by the Boat Dock.

Being that I am landing early ahoukd I just not do online checkin?

Thanks so much!

 

[Dean]

I agree with Bill, I'd just go check in early when I had the opportunity, we always do this when possible and make it a priority when we do the dining plan options. I'd compare the online checkin request options to my personal preferences. If they match up, I'd do online checkin, if not, I likely wouldn't unless arriving later and I'd always do it if arriving later.

 

[js]

We are landkng in Orlando on December 26 at 8:30 AM. We are staying in THVs and have a request in for by the Boat Dock.

Being that I am landing early ahoukd I just not do online checkin?

Thanks so much!

Hi! Can anyone please let me know what they suggest? From reading this thread it looks like I should not do online check in, is that correct?
We will be landing at MCO at 8:30 AM on December 26 and staying at SSR, THVs. My only request was by boat dock.

Thank you all!

 

[DenLo]

We do online check in so we don't have to go to the desk but direct to the room. They match part of our request and probably just as well as when we checked in at the desk regularly.

 

[paults]

I tried to do online checkin but they wanted a CC#. I wouldn't give one and it would not let me checkin. that's bull. I tried this for 3 different trips.

 

[Dean]

I tried to do online checkin but they wanted a CC#. I wouldn't give one and it would not let me checkin. that's bull. I tried this for 3 different trips.

It's been a while since they allowed online checkin without a CC.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm tagging along because I wonder too. I've done on-line check in, didn't get my on-line check in requests, and I still had to go to the front desk. They said they couldn't move me. Is it best to just call MS with your requests? We were checking in to BCV and got a villa right on the road with a tiny balcony, even though my on-line request was for a large balcony, and no view choice available. We would have preferred pool, canal, woods, any view but not right on the road. So what should I have done originally?

 

[LisaS]

I always give my requests to MS when I make the reservation. I never select any of the requests available through online check-in because they often don't make sense for DVC rooms anyway and I don't want to risk that they might overwrite the requests I gave to MS.

I like online check-in. We usually get the text with the room number as we get off the plane in Orlando. I'm familiar enough with most of the resorts to know as soon as I see the room number whether our requests were met or not. If I want to request a different room I can always go to the front desk and ask, otherwise we just roll our bags straight to the room.

 

[js]

Would you all suggest to do or not to do online check in if you were areiving at SSR for a THV on December 26 at approximately 9:30 am.

My only request is by boat dock.

Thank you all.