Check In Observations/Procedures

[Yellow Shoes]

I am set up to pre-check in for my trip. Any opinions about advantages/disadvantages of pre-checking in vs going to the front desk? I'm a bit old-school, and really enjoy the check-in process with a live CM.

ALSO--we will arrive at the resort (we are in Boulder Ridge Villas) around noon and will need to scoot to the Studios for a 3 pm dining reservation. If our room isn't ready, I know we will be able to leave our stuff at bell services, but then what?

Do I get a text telling me what room we've been assigned?
Will the Magic Band open that room, or do I need to go to the front desk?
Will our luggage be put in the room, or will we need to get it ourselves?

Thanks as always.

 

[larryz]

Do I get a text telling me what room we've been assigned?

They tell you you'll get a text. On our last trip in Sept, however, we didn't get one on either of our two rooms.

 

[ToTBellHop]

They tell you you'll get a text. On our last trip in Sept, however, we didn't get one on either of our two rooms.

We get a text about 50% of the time.

 

[Worldlover71]

The texts are hit and miss unfortunately (not sure why at this point!) Last time I got no text but did get an email when the room was ready. Once you get notification, your Magic Band will open the room. I believe you will need to either go to bell services to get your stuff or contact them from the room and wait for them to bring your things. They will not put the bags in an empty room.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Sometimes the text says to go to the front desk to get your room number.

Advantage of doing online check in - all of your info is in the system, including the credit card that you want on file for charging to your room and they know around when you will be arriving and may greet you curbside with an iPad and walk you to the front desk, doing certain tasks on the iPad as they escort you.

Just because you do online check doesn't prevent you from checking in with a Live CM at the front desk - it just makes some things faster.

 

[LUVofDIS]

They tell you you'll get a text. On our last trip in Sept, however, we didn't get one on either of our two rooms.

We had this happen this last trip, we didn't get a text and to top it off, we were told that bell services would take our bags up once the room was ready. We got back to the room after midnight, the room had been ready but no text and the front desk told us the bags had already been taken up. We go to the room and no bags. So I went down, I know, I should have called, went to bell services and sure enough our bags were there. I just brought them up myself.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Ive found the real advantage comes if you are arriving when its a buzy time of arrivals and you get to avoid waiting in a long check in line.
After doing it both ways, I do prefer checking in with a CM welcoming me and sometimes getting some pins traded right off. The texts as others have mentioned arent always sent. You do have to call bell services to get bags delivered when you are in the room and yes, it can take then quite a while to deliver them depending on the time you call and where your room is located.

 

[ThatMouse]

Always do online check-in and check-in in person. Try not to make requests with the online check-in unless it's really necessary. They will try to fulfill those above all else, including getting the room quicker or perhaps upgrading. I don't think there are any special rooms at Villas there so anything you get should be good.

People reporting they did not get the text tells me the mainframe reservation system has them as not checked in at all. You should get a text "your room is not quite ready yet." If no text at all, it means you're not even checked in.

 

[Minthorne]

People reporting they did not get the text tells me the mainframe reservation system has them as not checked in at all. You should get a text "your room is not quite ready yet." If no text at all, it means you're not even checked in.

this sounds right to me. I always at least get the "your room isn't ready yet" text.

 

[larryz]

this sounds right to me. I always at least get the "your room isn't ready yet" text.

And yet when I went to the desk, the CM pulled up my room number with no further ado...

 

[Think Tink]

I've done both. When I checked in online in May, I received a text while on my way to the airport with my room # and that it was ready. I know that doesn't happen with everyone, but my experience was pleasant. My next trip I'm staying Club Level so I'm not sure but I may have to go to the front desk to get access to the club level if my room isn't ready. I still may try it and see how it goes.

 

[Minthorne]

And yet when I went to the desk, the CM pulled up my room number with no further ado...

I think you can have a room assignment and not have checked in. It appears your online check in wasn't properly saved or flagged in the system. Still the system breaking down...

 

[nickys]

Lots of people don’t get room ready texts, even when they are checked-in online.

Over on Mouseowners, one recent discussion showed around half didn’t get one. Since some go 3/4/5+ times a year, I’m pretty sure they don’t forget to do online check-in. And anyone from over-seas won’t get one, not sure on those from Canada.

 

[LAKid53]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. No, you'll need to give Bell Services the ticket they gave you when you checked your luggage.

Do the online check-in.

 

[LAKid53]

Always do online check-in and check-in in person. Try not to make requests with the online check-in unless it's really necessary. They will try to fulfill those above all else, including getting the room quicker or perhaps upgrading. I don't think there are any special rooms at Villas there so anything you get should be good.

People reporting they did not get the text tells me the mainframe reservation system has them as not checked in at all. You should get a text "your room is not quite ready yet." If no text at all, it means you're not even checked in.

Selections are (a) floor (upper or lower) and near elevator, if I remember correctly.

 

[LAKid53]

I've done both. When I checked in online in May, I received a text while on my way to the airport with my room # and that it was ready. I know that doesn't happen with everyone, but my experience was pleasant. My next trip I'm staying Club Level so I'm not sure but I may have to go to the front desk to get access to the club level if my room isn't ready. I still may try it and see how it goes.

Your magic band should work in the elevator/door without having to go to Front Desk. I didn't have to when we stayed concierge at GF.

 

[LUVofDIS]

My next trip I'm staying Club Level so I'm not sure but I may have to go to the front desk to get access to the club level if my room isn't ready. I still may try it and see how it goes.

We still had to go to the front desk, they wanted to escort us up to explain all the amenities.

 

[larryz]

I think you can have a room assignment and not have checked in. It appears your online check in wasn't properly saved or flagged in the system. Still the system breaking down...

Well, because I use the military discount, I had already physically stopped by the desk to complete the check-in process. Was told we were all set and to wait for the text.

Late afternoon, no text, so I went back to the hotel desk and asked... got the room numbers along with a "sorry about that" and I texted the rest of the fam to let them know. (I suppose I should feel lucky that they didn't upcharge me for the Do-It-Yourself Room Text Experience.)

 

[DisneyJoe]

Your room number does appear in the MDE app eventually too

 

[DisDadWoz]

Do the online check in and then when you have a moment stop by the front desk to confirm they have your cell number to text. Seems like when we stop by to make sure the number is correct we get a text almost a few moments later stating "your room isn't quite ready" and then the eventual one letting you know what room number you have. When we don't stop by we tend not to get a text. You can leave your bags with guest services and they will take care of for you. We normally keep ours in the car anyway and we just bring them up ourselves.