Direct Check In - No front desk required - Test, Thoughts?

[ajrwdwgirl]

We thought about doing the direct to room but I like the check in process? It is the Disney difference.

 

[psukardi]

I do have people bag my groceries and pump my gas. Because it keeps people employed.

I'd rather pump my own gas and bag my own groceries if the savings are passed on to me.

 

[Skibum1970]

While I wouldn't do the remote check-in myself, I think that it would be very helpful when a busload of guests arrive all at once. Some will have already checked in and a much smaller group would go to the front desk. I can definitely see the attraction of being able to go straight to the parks first without a need to check in first. It is simply different perspectives.

 

[Monty]

I'd rather pump my own gas and bag my own groceries if the savings are passed on to me.

At Disney? Savings passed on?

 

[rob0519]

I'd rather pump my own gas and bag my own groceries if the savings are passed on to me.

You can see the difference in full vs self service at the pump, but in the grocery business there is no real direct savings being passed onto the consumer. It's basically lower operation costs for the store. Same concept at Disney. I don't see them lowering the price of your room because you skipped the check-in desk. There is no difference in price if you book your ADRs yourself or call the dining phone line and have WDW do it for you.

 

[psukardi]

At Disney? Savings passed on?

Well that's fine, let me put it this way. IF it saves me time I'll be fine with it. Time or money as long as it saves me in one aspect I'll take it. When I'm on holiday I don't want to wait in queue. When I was at the Belagio a few months back that was the worst part of the trip. Waiting in that lobby to get checked in. Just give me my room key & let me be on my way

 

[pug]

Hate it!

 

[Kuzcotopia]

Well that's fine, let me put it this way. IF it saves me time I'll be fine with it. Time or money as long as it saves me in one aspect I'll take it. When I'm on holiday I don't want to wait in queue. When I was at the Belagio a few months back that was the worst part of the trip. Waiting in that lobby to get checked in. Just give me my room key & let me be on my way

This.

I too would welcome this as an option. I also use te self-check at the grocery, because I'm faster, and there's hardly a line.

I guess I'm just not willing to let someone "shine my shoes" just because it's a job for them.

 

[ABQ]

I do have people bag my groceries and pump my gas. Because it keeps people employed.

Got to be a Canadian thing, or at least not an Albuquerque one, I cannot find a single gas station in my area that is not 100% self service.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Our last check in was soooo bad Id have no problem, though given we dont get our bracelets shipped I take it this is another improvement we are exempt.

 

[psukardi]

This.

I too would welcome this as an option. I also use te self-check at the grocery, because I'm faster, and there's hardly a line.

I guess I'm just not willing to let someone "shine my shoes" just because it's a job for them.

Bingo! I use the self check-out as well, because even if I value my time. Let's put it this way, you're on vacation....do you want to wait 30 minutes to get started while your kids are bouncing off the walls? Or do you want to go right to your room and be on your way. With the Magic Bands they could just send you a text and say - your room # is 12345 and it would scan when u get there

 

[rob0519]

Well that's fine, let me put it this way. IF it saves me time I'll be fine with it. Time or money as long as it saves me in one aspect I'll take it. When I'm on holiday I don't want to wait in queue. When I was at the Belagio a few months back that was the worst part of the trip. Waiting in that lobby to get checked in. Just give me my room key & let me be on my way

I will agree with you about the check in lime at Bell ago and for that matter the MGM Grand. I have no idea why that process takes so long
Well, I do, but that's a different topic
Maybe I've just been lucky with not being stuck in huge check I'm limes at WDW. We usually arrive on a Tues. Or Wed. around 2:30 or 3:00 in the afternoon. Maybe it a timing issue.

 

[rob0519]

This.

I too would welcome this as an option. I also use te self-check at the grocery, because I'm faster, and there's hardly a line.

I guess I'm just not willing to let someone "shine my shoes" just because it's a job for them.

Everyone has their own opinion on this, but if a few minutes of my time helps someone pay their rent or feed their family by bagging my groceries or shining my shoes or other jobs that are going self service, I have no problem with that. I can fully appreciate any parent wanting to get their children to the park 30 minutes faster. It will be interesting to see the results of this test

 

[cw1982]

Everyone has their own opinion on this, but if a few minutes of my time helps someone pay their rent or feed their family by bagging my groceries or shining my shoes or other jobs that are going self service, I have no problem with that. I can fully appreciate any parent wanting to get their children to the park 30 minutes faster. It will be interesting to see the results of this test

My guess, and it is definitely just a guess, is that the CM's who would have been needed to check people in will, at first, be needed to answer questions after people check in lol. I envision people getting the text with their room number and then (in bigger resorts, like the values) having a hard time finding their room. Or they need to stop by the desk because there's an issue with a band not working. Or there's an issue with a request not being met and they want to try and switch rooms. Or... you get the idea. The CM's will probably still be needed, just in other ways.

As they continue to streamline the process and modify things, can this possibly lead to jobs being cut? It's possible. But then again, so many people still prefer to talk to a live person when doing something like checking in to a hotel, it may not make enough of a difference anytime in the foreseeable future for us to notice that change.

 

[flynnibus]

You can see the difference in full vs self service at the pump, but in the grocery business there is no real direct savings being passed onto the consumer. It's basically lower operation costs for the store. Same concept at Disney. I don't see them lowering the price of your room because you skipped the check-in desk. There is no difference in price if you book your ADRs yourself or call the dining phone line and have WDW do it for you.

There is also no value add for me to goto the desk. I goto the desk is there is a request or need... neither of those apply if the hotel simply gives me what I reserved up front.

So instead the system gives people the option to goto the counter if they need it.. and lets those who don't.. go right to their room.

I could care less if they simply gave you the room number when you walked in the door.. that's all I need. Then let me goto the desk if I have an issue with my assignment or need something.

How about a simple greeter to satisfy those who want a human touch? They meet you at the door, scan your tag, you see it on a map, and they ask if you need any assistance, and if not, you go.

Personally I think a majority of people will goto the desk anyway because people try to micro-manage their visit (what building, what room, upgrades, crazy charging setups, etc). I see this as a nice out for those of us who just want to keep it simple and no longer have to stand behind those people trying to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Dwarful]

I do have people bag my groceries and pump my gas. Because it keeps people employed.

I'm not that old and I do those things you mentioned and I even take it a step further....I mail letters, cards, and bills in the mail....with ......STAMPS.....to help keep my neighbors employed. I will continue to expect front desk check - in with a friendly CM whether I am checking in to a resort I've stayed at 10 times or one I have never stayed at before.

In the grand scheme of a vacation where Magic Bands are supposed to maximize your time...I would hope you have an 5 - 15 minutes for check in. Even when we went with a large group - 36 people, in July at Movies checking in around noon we never have waited more than 15 minutes. I've waited longer for waiting for ADRs. Especially if it ensures that front desk CM's don't get positions eliminated or hours cut. Right now no one can say one way or another that hours won't be cut or positions eliminated.

 

[cw1982]

I'm not that old and I do those things you mentioned and I even take it a step further....I mail letters, cards, and bills in the mail....with ......STAMPS.....to help keep my neighbors employed. I will continue to expect front desk check - in with a friendly CM whether I am checking in to a resort I've stayed at 10 times or one I have never stayed at before.

In the grand scheme of a vacation where Magic Bands are supposed to maximize your time...I would hope you have an 5 - 15 minutes for check in. Even when we went with a large group - 36 people, in July at Movies checking in around noon we never have waited more than 15 minutes. I've waited longer for waiting for ADRs. Especially if it ensures that front desk CM's don't get positions eliminated or hours cut. Right now no one can say one way or another that hours won't be cut or positions eliminated.

The 15-minute wait times don't hold up for people who are checking in late at night. In the middle of the day, sure, but I saw numerous nights when the lines to check in at the Pop were several people deep. I waited in that line twice (once to replace DH's anniversary button, and once to fix the credit card issue) and both times I waited 30+ minutes, and people walked up behind me who undoubtedly waited upwards of an hour, given how slow the process was going (for some unknown reason, everyone checking in at midnight had a million questions lol).

Not saying I disagree with you at all, but I don't think enough people will choose the remote check in options to keep Disney from needing approximately the same number of CM's at the front desk, and even if people are checking in remotely, invariably a number of them will end up at the front desk anyway for a variety of reasons. Either way, there are times when the remote check in will definitely come in handy.

 

[Nubs70]

I'm not that old and I do those things you mentioned and I even take it a step further....I mail letters, cards, and bills in the mail....with ......STAMPS.....to help keep my neighbors employed. I will continue to expect front desk check - in with a friendly CM whether I am checking in to a resort I've stayed at 10 times or one I have never stayed at before.

In the grand scheme of a vacation where Magic Bands are supposed to maximize your time...I would hope you have an 5 - 15 minutes for check in. Even when we went with a large group - 36 people, in July at Movies checking in around noon we never have waited more than 15 minutes. I've waited longer for waiting for ADRs. Especially if it ensures that front desk CM's don't get positions eliminated or hours cut. Right now no one can say one way or another that hours won't be cut or positions eliminated.

I certainly hope you still have your newspaper delivered daily and you still use the assistance of an operator to make a long distance phone call

 

[Dwarful]

Well, we almost lost our local paper and St. Louis is down to only one morning paper...when I grew up we had two papers. But yes, I get the local paper and the Post Dispatch delivered to my house and I get the paper delivered to my classroom too. Small price to pay to keep local jobs local.

I live in an area that used to have a lot of industrial jobs. After NAFTA all those jobs disappeared. BP just uses the refineries to run the fuel and oil through, it is no longer a refinery. We lost steel mills, glass factories and the other businesses as well.

My husband doesn't always understand why I use the USPS but what is the cost of a book of stamps to me? The students in my class love to get a post card in the mail over the summer and Christmas break. Most don't get anything in the mail. They think it is a real treat and novelty to get a card or note from Mrs. S.

As far as operators.....lol. I'm not as old as you imagine.

 

[cw1982]

Well, we almost lost our local paper and St. Louis is down to only one morning paper...when I grew up we had two papers. But yes, I get the local paper and the Post Dispatch delivered to my house and I get the paper delivered to my classroom too. Small price to pay to keep local jobs local.

I live in an area that used to have a lot of industrial jobs. After NAFTA all those jobs disappeared. BP just uses the refineries to run the fuel and oil through, it is no longer a refinery. We lost steel mills, glass factories and the other businesses as well.

My husband doesn't always understand why I use the USPS but what is the cost of a book of stamps to me? The students in my class love to get a post card in the mail over the summer and Christmas break. Most don't get anything in the mail. They think it is a real treat and novelty to get a card or note from Mrs. S.

As far as operators.....lol. I'm not as old as you imagine.

How many students do you have? Lol... if I sent each of my students a post card every summer, I'd go broke haha. I teach high school, so I have roughly 180 students each year.