Direct to Room Check-In coming?

[Minthorne]

There's one self-serve kiosk that I absolutely love, that's the car rental kiosks at the airport.

One better - use Dollar Express and go straight the the garage.

For all of this I'm happy to skip the line and save time if I can!

 

[draybook]

One better - use Dollar Express and go straight the the garage.

For all of this I'm happy to skip the line and save time if I can!

The only reason I didn't go with Dollar on this upcoming trip is because Alamo was cheaper and they don't add a deposit on top of the fee.

 

[G00fyDad]

I would not use this, but that is only because I am OCD enough to ask for specific rooms. It is usually granted (or as close as they can get me) so using this would take out my ability to request the room I want. We never care about how close we are to the main building. We just want a first floor room that is as close to a parking lot as possible.

 

[FutureCEO]

Why even bother having employees if everything is going electronic?

 

[Mammymouse]

As a DVCer and close Florida resident within 90 minutes driving distance we book short trips (many one night stays) and go often, instead of "normal" 5-7 day vacations. I think I know the checkin procedure better than many cast members at this point, so direct to room would be totally acceptable for us, in fact I would prefer it. If I was staying with out of state family or guests though I would want to do the front desk checkin for my guests to start out their trip with the entire immersing experience. I see direct to room as a useful tool for alleviating congestion at the front desk at peak checkin times. Currently we do online checkin and still have to wait anyway.

 

[Andrew C]

This isn't a disney phenomenon. It's something that is happening in the hotel industry in general. For instance, Hilton is already allowing guests to select their specific room via their smartphone by looking at a floor plan of the hotel. And over the next few years they are rolling out using your smartphone as your room key for all of their hotels globally. So this is nothing new. This doesn't replace the front desk, just an alternative. Some will like avoiding the front desk, others will not.

 

[andy773]

I'm staying at BLT next week. Below is a copy of the email I got from Disney this week. Not sure how I feel about it. Ask me next week after I've tried it.

Now, for the first time, skip the front desk!

Confirm your check-in information

Reservation# XXXXXXXXXXXX

Hello Andrew,

Congratulations! You've completed your Disney Resort hotel online check-in service.

And now, for the first time, you may be able to skip the front desk when you arrive.

Since your all-in-one MagicBand has been shipped to your home and is also your Disney Resort room key, you may head straight to your room or even the Parks (if you linked Theme Park admission to your MagicBands). It's a quick and easy way to start the magic the moment you arrive!

Just ensure you've completed your online check-in with:
• Your estimated Resort arrival and departure times
• A credit card you want to use for incidentals and other charges
• Your mobile phone number and/or email address
By providing a phone number or email address we can text or email you on the day of your arrival with your room number. Our Bell Services team will be ready to assist you with your luggage upon arrival.

We'll contact you when your room is ready and you can go directly to your room. If your room is not ready when you arrive, simply enjoy the Parks or the Resort and we will let you know as soon as your room is available.


©Disney

 

[jaklgreen]

I like this. After travelling all day, usually with my kids, the last thing we wanted to do is wait in that long check in line. Everyone is hungry and cranky from the travels and we just want to get to our room so we can start our vacation. I see this as a big plus, especially for those who have been to WDW many times like we have. We usually stay at POFQ and know it like the back of our hand so finding our way around the resort is not an issue. Plus there has always been the doorman to greet us when we arrive with a "welcome home". Honestly I don't know why anyone would want to wait in another line at WDW.

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

Isn't this just an option? So, if you like it take advantage...if you don't then check in like always?

 

[yedliW]

I'm curious how this works with bell services as they want to grab your stuff on a cart and give you a tag so you can call from your room. However, I find that the delay and a bigger bottleneck than the front desk. Perhaps the bell services should have a portable device to check the bands that were mailed to you, your name, or other and know exactly where your going to walk you and the bags there. Just a thought to save everyone time.

I imagine a fleet of Bellhops in golf carts at resorts like SSR at the Magic Express bus stop waiting to whisk you off to your room. Wouldn't be quite as apparent at places like AKL or BWL.

There's one self-serve kiosk that I absolutely love, that's the car rental kiosks at the airport.

I love walking past the counter, finding my name on the big board, and getting in my car and driving away.

 

[gsimpson]

Personally I love this. When I get to WDW I just want to drop my stuff off in my room and start my vacation. Having been there 80+ times I really don't need an explanation of the buses and since I can read I don't need to have each extra magic hours event pointed out. I can easily see and agree the "front desk check in experience" is important for people who aren't as familiar and that some people simply enjoy it and I certainly hope they keep that option available forever but for me the front desk experience is just a somewhat annoying speed bump I have to get past to enjoy my vacation.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I think this is similar to the online check in process. I have done both online check in and at the Front Desk. Either way the CM's were happy to answer any questions I had or if I needed anything. I dont think the Front Desk experience will be taken away, but as others have said, if you are comfortable with the check in process, are familiar with the resort etc and just want to get going, this is a great option. Im sure that if someone has a problem it will still be addressed they way it always had been though. I like the option of the choice! Marie

 

[robonakabob]

I'm leaving for my next trip on Friday and just got an email that they would text me my room number and that I can proceed straight there upon arrival!

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hey Rob, can you get us a review of how smoothly this went for you?? I never seem to get my texts from Disney even though I sign up all the time!!! Thanks and have a wonderful trip!! Marie

 

[robonakabob]

Hey Rob, can you get us a review of how smoothly this went for you?? I never seem to get my texts from Disney even though I sign up all the time!!! Thanks and have a wonderful trip!! Marie

Absolutely! I'm hoping it's smooth :] Thanks!

 

[twilight mitsuk]

what's next, teleporting to the room while your sleeping or something?

 

[wannabeBelle]

what's next, teleporting to the room while your sleeping or something?

That would work for me.............. Marie

 

[Biff215]

I'm all for this as most of our check-in experiences are simply a waste of our vacation time. My concern is the Magic Bands. We just got back from 5 nights at AKL and another 2 at POP. We had issues with our bands at both, apparently due to the many sets we have accumulated. Even though we used the set they sent us for this stay, they were not ready to use so it's a good thing we did stop at the front desk. This took about 15-20 minutes to correct.

I wasn't surprised that they didn't work immediately at POP since we had booked it two days before. They had to check us out of AKL and into POP. Still after another 20-30 minutes they admitted they couldn't get mine to work and that we should pick it up later. Fortunately I have an AP card I use for discounts, otherwise I would have had to wait.

Long story short, have they figured this out since two weeks ago? I know I'm not alone, as another couple was dealing with the same thing next to me. I would hate to trek out to my room at some of the larger resorts only to find out I can't access my room. That's not a guarantee by checking in at the desk either, but at least the CM's there have the ability to test the band. I'm hoping this is working well by summer when we have another split stay!

 

[WhatJaneSays]

As someone that’s been to the resorts so many times and adopted the online check-in service the moment they started offering it ... this is the step I’ve been looking forward to the most. It’s no secret that I greatly dislike being forced to talk to anyone; every time I check in I feel like I’m completely wasting this cast person’s time.

I can wake up, email/call/text Disney I’m on the way, I head to the parks, and they email/call/text back my room number. If there is anything I can do to streamline my vacation time I’ll do it. Because I only have so many spoons and I’d rather spend them talking to the kids waiting for the parade.

 

[xdan0920]

Hilton is already allowing guests to select their specific room via their smartphone by looking at a floor plan of the hotel.

This is great. If Disney pushed the tech to this point, I'd be thrilled. Being able to select a specific room is a wonderful bit of guest service. I love being able to select a specific seat at an event or on a plane, and this is a natural progression of that.