New Check-in test Art Animation

[lt94]

Saw the following in paper on this new check-in for Art-Animation resort . This seems like it will take longer. What do you all think

"When the first phase of Disney's Art of Animation Resort opens in May, Walt Disney World will use it to test new approaches with some of the hotel's fundamental features.

Consider the front desk. Rather than one, very long desk as is typically found in Disney's other hotels, Art of Animation will feature a row of smaller desks almost like a grocery store checkout lane.

The goal, said Kevin Myers, Disney World's vice president of resort operations, is to create a friendlier check-in experience for guests that is "very individual in nature." For instance, clerks will be able to step around their desks and stand beside guests while showing them the hotel's layout.

Similarly, the hotel's massive counter-service dining area will be sectioned off into four separate, themed seating areas. And it will have some new-for-Disney quick-service food concepts, including fresh fruit smoothies, a Mongolian grill and a customized hamburger station.

Those changes, too, are designed to make the food court feel warmer and less like an impersonal mess hall."

 

[Master Yoda]

I doubt the new check in procedure will take any measurable amount of extra time. They are not adding anything significant to the process, but merely changing the configuration of the desk to make things a little more personal and give the CM's a little more freedom.

 

[NoChesterHester]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Looks like I'll have to drop in this September just to check it out.

 

[TubaGeek]

I like the idea. Some hotel chains are doing away with front desks altogether and replacing them with clerks with tablets just chilling at tables. Obviously I don't think this'd work at Disney, just because of how much material you get at check-in, but it's the same kind of effort, I think.

 

[Master Yoda]

I like the idea. Some hotel chains are doing away with front desks altogether and replacing them with clerks with tablets just chilling at tables. Obviously I don't think this'd work at Disney, just because of how much material you get at check-in, but it's the same kind of effort, I think.

This is sort of what they have done. The long check in counter you see at the other resorts has been replaced with multiple standing height desks. There will still be the roped off queue and you will still go to the next available CM, the only difference is the CM will be able to walk around the desk.

 

[StageFrenzy]

Sounds like guest relations setup

 

[Hakunamatata]

I like the idea. Some hotel chains are doing away with front desks altogether and replacing them with clerks with tablets just chilling at tables. Obviously I don't think this'd work at Disney, just because of how much material you get at check-in, but it's the same kind of effort, I think.

Fully expect that in the near future you will have the option of getting all material in digital format.

 

[PirateAngel]

A new hotel has recently opened near my job that does not have a front desk, instead they have reservationists standing in the lobby with tablets. Not too sure I like that idea. I kinda like the idea of a counter whether small or large. Maybe I’m old school

 

[bgraham34]

Fully expect that in the near future you will have the option of getting all material in digital format.

I am not a big fan of fully digital materials especially on a phone. There is nothing better than holding a paper map of magazine in my opinion.

A new hotel has recently opened near my job that does not have a front desk, instead they have reservationists standing in the lobby with tablets. Not too sure I like that idea. I kinda like the idea of a counter whether small or large. Maybe I’m old school

I don't like that idea either. I don't need an in your face experience when checking in.

 

[musketeer]

A new hotel has recently opened near my job that does not have a front desk, instead they have reservationists standing in the lobby with tablets. Not too sure I like that idea. I kinda like the idea of a counter whether small or large. Maybe I’m old school

I COMPLETELY agree. I don't want a close personal relationship with the person working there. I think the desk creates a bit of professionalism. I don't want to be their best friend, I don't want to have to tell them all about my day, etc.

Last summer, I checked into a hotel (not disney related), and the lady there tried to be my best friend.

Her: "How are you?"
Me: "Fine"
Her: "What brings you to Denver?"
Me: (Thinking Uh oh) "ahhh..just a meeting for work."
Her: (Really fake interest) "How'd your meeting go?"

Seriously, I just want to get my key and go to my room, that's all, I don't want to discuss my day or my trip or anything.


Last month, I was in florida renting a car from Enterprise. Talk about annoying. They meet you and walk out to the car with you, asking all about everything that's going on in your life. She asked where I was from, and I said, Michigan, she said, "oh no way!!! I had a customer already from Michigan!!!"

Wow, how incredible, I'm in Florida in Februrary, and Florida is one of the main destinations for people in Michigan, what could possibly be the odds that you'd have more than one person in a day from Florida? CRAZY!!!

Then, returning the car, the idiot there asked me a million questions about how everything was and if there's ANYTHING they could do better. And when he asked how i'd rate their customer service, I knew that if I said anything other than a 10, I'd be stuck sitting there having to explain why, so I said 10, JUST so I could leave.

I could go on and on, and don't even get me started with waiters who kneel down to take your order or even worse, sit next to you...

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I don't like that idea either. I don't need an in your face experience when checking in.

Yeah, never felt the urge to bond or be in any way closer to a hotel reservationist/check-in person. Don't need to stand next to them opposed to opposite. Never had the need for this person to come around the desk to me. The staff always seem to have everything they need to perform their jobs tucked back behind the big desk. Unless its a significant construction cost difference that might somehow be reflected in my room rate (fat chance, I know) then I'm not really seeing what difference any of this makes. Different aesthetics, I guess. :shrug:

 

[Hakunamatata]

I am not a big fan of fully digital materials especially on a phone. There is nothing better than holding a paper map of magazine in my opinion.

That's why you would likely have the option as I indicated in my post....

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I COMPLETELY agree. I don't want a close personal relationship with the person working there. I think the desk creates a bit of professionalism. I don't want to be their best friend, I don't want to have to tell them all about my day, etc.

Last summer, I checked into a hotel (not disney related), and the lady there tried to be my best friend.

Her: "How are you?"
Me: "Fine"
Her: "What brings you to Denver?"
Me: (Thinking Uh oh) "ahhh..just a meeting for work."
Her: (Really fake interest) "How'd your meeting go?"

Seriously, I just want to get my key and go to my room, that's all, I don't want to discuss my day or my trip or anything.


Last month, I was in florida renting a car from Enterprise. Talk about annoying. They meet you and walk out to the car with you, asking all about everything that's going on in your life. She asked where I was from, and I said, Michigan, she said, "oh no way!!! I had a customer already from Michigan!!!"

Wow, how incredible, I'm in Florida in Februrary, and Florida is one of the main destinations for people in Michigan, what could possibly be the odds that you'd have more than one person in a day from Florida? CRAZY!!!

Then, returning the car, the idiot there asked me a million questions about how everything was and if there's ANYTHING they could do better. And when he asked how i'd rate their customer service, I knew that if I said anything other than a 10, I'd be stuck sitting there having to explain why, so I said 10, JUST so I could leave.

I could go on and on, and don't even get me started with waiters who kneel down to take your order or even worse, sit next to you...

You nailed it. This exactly. I've begun making up stories just to entertain myself with these people. Why not? They're none the wiser & completed what's required of them.

 

[bgraham34]

That's why you would likely have the option as I indicated in my post....

I understand that I am just saying I prefer not to do that. There will come a time when you will only have digital and no paper. Not looking forward to that.

 

[Captain Hank]

Sounds like guest relations setup

At least at the Studios, yeah. Not sure how much I like this. In certain circumstances, it's nice to have something a bit more substantial than a podium between the Guest and CM.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Sounds like guest relations setup

It actually sounds exactly like the setup they have at DHS in Guest Relations. The system will be just as efficient as the current check in setup since the line configuration will not change.

A new hotel has recently opened near my job that does not have a front desk, instead they have reservationists standing in the lobby with tablets. Not too sure I like that idea. I kinda like the idea of a counter whether small or large. Maybe I’m old school

Disney will occasionally do this as well. When I stayed at Kidani Village in October, I checked in online before arriving. When I pulled up to the front, my friend and I were greeted at the door (by name) and then we sat on a couch in the lobby with the CM who greeted us. She had our packet for us and went through the usual spiels, but it was just a nice change of pace.

 

[MichWolv]

My preference when checking in would be zero need to talk with a human. Call me cold and/or ahead of my time, but I'd prefer to swipe a credit card at a kiosk, have it spit out my keys, and then be on my way.

If I can't have that, I don't really care whether the desk is solid or in pods, but I'm guessing that there are times when it is helpful to have the CM be able to come to the other side of the desk, so I'll cast a lackluster vote for this being an improvement.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Disney will occasionally do this as well. When I stayed at Kidani Village in October, I checked in online before arriving. When I pulled up to the front, my friend and I were greeted at the door (by name) and then we sat on a couch in the lobby with the CM who greeted us. She had our packet for us and went through the usual spiels, but it was just a nice change of pace.

That sounds a little nicer than standard check-in. Kinda like when staying club level, it's nice to have the quiet sitting at a desk with refreshments while the necessaries are taken care of. Still get the basic spiel & materials but just in a more relaxed, laid-back way. I do think if there was a shift to tablets with handouts ready, sit in a small lounge-type area, and never even see a desk would be a neat change.

 

[ToTBellHop]

My preference when checking in would be zero need to talk with a human. Call me cold and/or ahead of my time, but I'd prefer to swipe a credit card at a kiosk, have it spit out my keys, and then be on my way.

If I can't have that, I don't really care whether the desk is solid or in pods, but I'm guessing that there are times when it is helpful to have the CM be able to come to the other side of the desk, so I'll cast a lackluster vote for this being an improvement.

I would imagine this will be helpful for guests who are not regulars. While we all know all about WDW and know how to navigate a Resort map and understand our park passes and dining plans, newbies or those for which English is a second language could benefit from a CM being next to them to walk them through everything. I assume CMs will use common sense as they always have and if they see one of us coming along, and it's clear we know how things work at WDW, they will continue to go through things quickly and send us on our way. On our vacation in January, check-in lasted 45 seconds--we had done the online check-in and the CM verified that we understood our dining plan, park passes, and could find our room and off we went.

 

[Howdy]

You know, I find it funny that so many people are so heavily against any "unnecessary" interaction with the CMs. Something tells me that most people who would be short with the CM just to get on about their business would probably raise 15 kinds of fuss if the CM acted the same way towards them. It's part of the process, slow your life down for just a minute and allow yourself to be friendly with this stranger. It may take an extra three minutes to complete your check-in but by the time you leave you should feel more at home.

Disney Resorts aren't Days Inns. They are designed with the amenities to make you feel as at home as possible. Slow down, take a deep breath, and appreciate the fact that they are going to these lengths to be hospitable instead of just being in a hurry to check in and run off.