Direct to Room Check-In coming?

[G00fyDad]

Personally, I don't like this. But I don't like many things that put people out of work. Maybe we always arrive at an odd time and usually we drive...but I've never waited half an hour to check in. I hope that if they go this route they keep the original options available for those of us that prefer human interaction. I don't do self check out or bag my own groceries - there is no savings for me to do these things so why should I encourage someone elses job loss?

Why would you think it would cause job loss? Disney will never get rid of the front desk CM's. 1) Not every one can use this feature, yet. 2) Not every one will want to use this feature. 3) They still have a lot of first time guests that need the counter CM's and their information.

 

[xdan0920]

Why would you think it would cause job loss? Disney will never get rid of the front desk CM's. 1) Not every one can use this feature, yet. 2) Not every one will want to use this feature. 3) They still have a lot of first time guests that need the counter CM's and their information.

WDW also employs about a trillion people, the total number is constantly fluctuating, if a CM isn't needed at the Front Desk, they might get moved to the gift shop, or whatever. This is going to have a very minimal effect on WDWs employment #s.

For what it's worth, I'm excited to use this bit of tech on my Septemeber trip. I own DVC, and really, I don't need the spiel at check in. The faster I get to my room the faster I can get to my 180 day scheduled meal or 60 day scheduled magical experience.

 

[Brad Bishop]

And I know many people will say, it's optional, and maybe some of us just want to get to our rooms, but to me that's like wanting to skip the stretching room at the Haunted mansion to get on the ride quicker. Plus, I'm expecting that if things like this take off, they will reduce desk staff. It's like how Fastpass is now effectively required at some attractions that didn't need it before they had it, because now the stand-by line is so long.

I like the idea for those of us who go frequently and know the routine. I could see someone who rarely goes or is experiencing their first visit wanting to hit the check-in desk.

I don't think it equates to missing the stretching room for the Haunted Mansion. I think it more equates to missing the ticket booths outside the parks.

I remember, when I was a kid and my parents took us to the Magic Kingdom (no Epcot back then), standing in the ticket lines just to buy tickets/entry into the park. It wasn't a good experience. Buying your tickets ahead of time online or even using the Kiosks outside of the parks is a far better experience. I prefer having an annual pass so I can just skip it all. Still, it's handy to have the ticket booths manned as there are guests who will have questions, need to renew their annual pass, or just need to buy tickets and don't have cash or don't want to use the kiosks.

Regarding the hotel rooms:
- tell me via the Disney App on my phone which room I'm staying in
- have the Magic Band just work on that room.
- let me go straight to that room
... and I'm a happy camper.

It gets me past the online check-in problem which, when I do online check-in, leaves me stuck in the online check-in line because people in front of me are asking a bunch of questions and I really just want to get my key cards and go to my room. The people in front of me aren't doing anything wrong and they were certainly there, first. I just think of "online check-in" as being the speedy way to get to my room and it doesn't seem like it's any quicker than regular check-in.

 

[tk924]

I did not see any mention of parking passes for those that drive into Orlando.
Would that be a selection online and they would send you a parking pass with your MBs or will you still have to go to the front desk to get one?

I'm on the fence about this for now. I guess since we've always had to do front desk check-in, we'll continue to do so.

 

[dreamfinder]

Why would you think it would cause job loss? Disney will never get rid of the front desk CM's. 1) Not every one can use this feature, yet. 2) Not every one will want to use this feature. 3) They still have a lot of first time guests that need the counter CM's and their information.

Job loss can be as small as 1 person, doesn't have to be large scale like the IT hack job they did the other week. If they staffed 10 people at the front desk, and 10% of guests opt for the direct to room option, they only need to staff 9 people. And looking at most of the front desk areas, they have 10-20 check in stations, of which I've never seen more than 4 CMs working at any given time.

 

[yedliW]

Maybe we always arrive at an odd time and usually we drive...but I've never waited half an hour to check in.

When we stayed at AKL Kidani last year, it took about an hour to get checked in. It was very chaotic, because it is a rather small lobby area. You couldn't really tell where lines were, and when we found a line.. it turned out to be the wrong line.. self check-in would have saved a bunch of time and stress to start our vacation.

The ironic thing is, the entire week we were there, there was never a line the rest of the time we were there. (but that probably doesn't help my argument.. )

I for one, am eager to try it out, any time I can skip a line, I take it. I think Hertz Club Gold is one of the coolest things ever..

 

[JaxFLBear]

I did not see any mention of parking passes for those that drive into Orlando.

At most resorts, you get the parking pass at the guard shack.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I would imagine that can be handled at curbside too, if needed. Marie

 

[Pick145]

It will be interesting to see if this is used for club level rooms, where past protocol was to walk the guest from Magical Express to the Concierge in their building.

 

[pax_65]

Isn't that better than standing in line, waiting and waiting for a CM to get you your darn key, going all the way to your room, and then find out that your key doesn't work?

I suppose. Since I've experienced this on each of my last 3 WDW vacations, I'm definitely up for a new experience. On my last trip, after two trips to the front desk, my Magic Band worked everywhere - it just wouldn't open the door to my room. Rather than going back to the front desk for a third time, I seriously considered just sleeping in my car.

 

[SpectroMagician]

Why is everyone freaking out? This is a great idea for seasoned veterans who do not need to waste time waiting to check in. For new people or the ones who do not like technology the desk will still be there. There will be no "call center" as someone mentioned. It is just a quick easy way for people who have been there a lot to get right into the action.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Why is everyone freaking out? This is a great idea for seasoned veterans who do not need to waste time waiting to check in. For new people or the ones who do not like technology the desk will still be there. There will be no "call center" as someone mentioned. It is just a quick easy way for people who have been there a lot to get right into the action.

Absolutely. If this does come to fruition, there's approximately zero percent chance that it's "mandatory."

 

[emcclay]

I'd prefer a face-to-face check-in. Especially if I am staying at a resort that I am not familiar with. Also helps with room requests, checking to make sure your Magic Band actually works, etc.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I'd prefer a face-to-face check-in. Especially if I am staying at a resort that I am not familiar with. Also helps with room requests, checking to make sure your Magic Band actually works, etc.

And I think you will still have that option. Marie

 

[G00fyDad]

And I think you will still have that option. Marie

And you always will.

 

[JWG]

I did not see any mention of parking passes for those that drive into Orlando.
Would that be a selection online and they would send you a parking pass with your MBs or will you still have to go to the front desk to get one?

I'm on the fence about this for now. I guess since we've always had to do front desk check-in, we'll continue to do so.

75% of the time today, the parking pass has been at the Guard's kiosk at the gate of the resort. We've been 3 times in the last 6 months and 2 of the 3 the pass was with the guard and s/he handed it to us when we drove in the first time. That could continue to be the case.

Edit: We are are DVC members and 2 of the stays were on points and 1 was cash at Coronado Springs. We were 1 of 2 at DVC and 1 of 1 on cash at non-DVC resort.

 

[jaklgreen]

I'd prefer a face-to-face check-in. Especially if I am staying at a resort that I am not familiar with. Also helps with room requests, checking to make sure your Magic Band actually works, etc.

There is no guarantee that because you went to the front desk that your magic band will work. My last trip my MB stopped working on my room door and I went down to the front desk and the "fixed" it twice, but it still did not work. So just because they say it works does not mean it really will. I went back and forth 3 times before it was fixed.

 

[tk924]

75% of the time today, the parking pass has been at the Guard's kiosk at the gate of the resort. We've been 3 times in the last 6 months and 2 of the 3 the pass was with the guard and s/he handed it to us when we drove in the first time. That could continue to be the case.

Edit: We are are DVC members and 2 of the stays were on points and 1 was cash at Coronado Springs. We were 1 of 2 at DVC and 1 of 1 on cash at non-DVC resort.

We are "value resort people" and I have never been handed a parking pass at the gate. I drive up, give them our name and they direct me to the check-in parking lot. Maybe that's the difference between staying at the "values" vs "the others" ?

 

[JaxFLBear]

We are "value resort people" and I have never been handed a parking pass at the gate. I drive up, give them our name and they direct me to the check-in parking lot. Maybe that's the difference between staying at the "values" vs "the others" ?

I think overall resort size plays a factor. Saratoga Springs (a Deluxe Villa Resort) does not have them at the guard shack.

 

[WedwayPM]

We are "value resort people" and I have never been handed a parking pass at the gate. I drive up, give them our name and they direct me to the check-in parking lot. Maybe that's the difference between staying at the "values" vs "the others" ?

Not always. My last stay at Pop in 2012, we were given our parking pass at the guard shack upon arrival.