What's the current thinking about online check in?

[Jennygt]

i remember a while back Pete had said to stay away from online check in. Is that still the case or has it improved?
Thanks!

 

[Ensusieasm]

i remember a while back Pete had said to stay away from online check in. Is that still the case or has it improved?
Thanks!

In January I did online check in and got a text with my room number and a map during my layover between flights to Orlando. When I got off the ME bus I rolled my carryon bag right down the sidewalk to my resort room, just long enough to drop off my suitcase then get on the water taxi to Disney Springs for a lovely evening. I never went to the lobby at any time during my stay. My magic band worked for my park tickets and charging meals. I got the room location requested. It was a very good experience for my first time using online check-in.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I've heard nothing but good things over the past year and have experience that as well. My advice is that if you are new to a resort, stick with the traditional system so you receive a hard copy of a map, official information about the resort, etc. If you have stayed there before, go with online check in and have your room status and number texted to you. It's a great way to save time and head off to do other things. I love it!

 

[Jennygt]

I've heard nothing but good things over the past year and have experience that as well. My advice is that if you are new to a resort, stick with the traditional system so you receive a hard copy of a map, official information about the resort, etc. If you have stayed there before, go with online check in and have your room status and number texted to you. It's a great way to save time and head off to do other things. I love it!

Ok will do! Thanks

 

[JWigs]

We did online checkin last year for BLT and it wasn't as "fast" as I had thought. We still had to go see someone and verify tons of info before we could bag drop so a bit disappointing.

This year we are using online again and arriving Tues morning so I am hoping it'll be better this go around.

 

[disney world dreamer]

i've done online check in 3 times and i have had nothing but good experiences.

the last 2 times i've also done direct to room and again nothing but good experiences.

i love online check in and direct to room!

 

[pjweaver]

I actually asked my wife to ask this same question today. Staying at BWV for the first time so we should do normal check in, not to mention we will arrive early in the morning so it's doubtful any of the DVC rooms will be ready.

I still wonder if doing the online check in makes you more or less likely to get upgraded, but that seems to be a really random thing (though it's happened to us at AKV and WLV when we checked in late).

 

[Princess Jes]

I'm curious, can you only online check in if you have a phone number you can receive a text on? Or can you opt for an email instead?

We don't usually bother getting an international sim when we travel, we just use wifi and deal with it that way.

I actually don't mind checking in, but depending how our day is going on our switch day, I might consider it, unless you need an active phone number?

Actually... I just thought, because I'm an international guest, we can't have our bands shipped to us ahead of time, so I assume that won't work (though, we'll have active bands on our account anyway so maybe not a big deal?)

 

[Ensusieasm]

I'm curious, can you only online check in if you have a phone number you can receive a text on? Or can you opt for an email instead?

We don't usually bother getting an international sim when we travel, we just use wifi and deal with it that way.

I actually don't mind checking in, but depending how our day is going on our switch day, I might consider it, unless you need an active phone number?

Actually... I just thought, because I'm an international guest, we can't have our bands shipped to us ahead of time, so I assume that won't work (though, we'll have active bands on our account anyway so maybe not a big deal?)

You can have the information about your room being ready sent to your email instead.

 

[Princess Jes]

You can have the information about your room being ready sent to your email instead.

Awesome! Thanks for the help!
Thinking of having my second set of bands sent to my first Disney resort so I have them both ready to go.
Or I might ask a friend if I can have them mailed to their place ahead of time.
(Wondering if said friend will read this?)

 

[Ensusieasm]

Awesome! Thanks for the help!
Thinking of having my second set of bands sent to my first Disney resort so I have them both ready to go.
Or I might ask a friend if I can have them mailed to their place ahead of time.
(Wondering if said friend will read this?)

You don't need a second set of bands. If you have an active band you can use it for any Disney resort reservations you have.

 

[Princess Jes]

You don't need a second set of bands. If you have an active band you can use it for any Disney resort reservations you have.

Oh no, I know I don't "need" them, but I want them. Lol.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Oh no, I know I don't "need" them, but I want them. Lol.

 

[Accident]

i remember a while back Pete had said to stay away from online check in. Is that still the case or has it improved?

I do it so my room preference is in the system along with everyone who has no clue about disney that is doing it. It was a little shaking in 2014 but my experience on a couple trips since then is it's great.

 

[samsteele]

Actually... I just thought, because I'm an international guest, we can't have our bands shipped to us ahead of time, so I assume that won't work (though, we'll have active bands on our account anyway so maybe not a big deal?)

I still do the online check-in even though I am an International Guest. I bat 50:50 whether I get my room preferences that I mark online. I still have to go to the Front Desk when I arrive to get my magic band (and luggage tag). I then check out on the resort map with the CM where my room is and if its not in a great area, I then politely ask to be placed elsewhere and usually the CM can do this and meet most of my preferences right there. If you are getting the Dining Plan, definitely check that it has been activated and choose your digit code for your magic band before heading out to your first meal. If you arrive before your room is ready, bell services can take your bag, store it & wheel it up to your room while you head off to a park or Dis Springs.

 

[mrcricket]

I just did online check in for the third time and requested an early checkin. When we landed at MCO at 10:30AM I received a text letting me know our room was ready and the location of the room. When we got to the resort we went straight to our preferred room without stopping by the desk. It was AWESOME.

 

[Jennygt]

Thanks for all the great feedback! Obviously what I was thinking of is very outdated!

 

[Jennasis]

So far, I have not ONCE received a room text and have still had to go to the front desk (every time I have arrived after 4pm). Online check-in seems to be worthless to me so far...which is fine, as I still enjoy human interaction.

 

[Dug720]

I received a text once - but that was before there was this "direct to room" silliness. I would have gone anyway as it was Marathon Weekend and I did not want to deal with the bed frame in my "upgraded" Pirate room.

I plan to do online check-in for my upcoming August stay, but even if I get the room is ready text I plan to go to the front desk because I think it's a nice way to start the vacation - talk with a person, be welcomed, etc.

Everyone wants to complain about the "poor CMs" whose hours are being cut - what do you think more and more people skipping the front desk will do? Have the front desks be skeleton crews with people getting hours cut if not positions eliminated.

 

[nooneshome]

Last November we used online check in but for some reason it didn't show up when we got there. Our online request was for a room close to the front and that was lost. We ended up with a room about as far away from the buses as possible.