OnLine Check In Pros /Cons

[PoohsGang]

OnLine Check In Pros /Cons, just like it says, has anyone used it we leave in 10 days for a 2 night stay at BLT then 8 at BCV got our Disney helpful hint email today, it seems to be pushing the online checkin. I was wondering if I should use it. I will say I do like personal attention so I'm leaning towards the old check in. Would love to here any experiences.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Online check in makes your experience A LOT FASTER.

- get in line, if any
- give them your name and ID
- after they check it, they give you your packet
- look at the packet while standing there - if you need any personal attention, they will give it to you then and there - but you won't need to wait while they make your room keys, explain room charging, etc etc etc.

I love the online check in, its great for experienced Disney travelers.

If you are a first timer, use the standard check in so you can hear all of the info.

 

[Phonedave]

My one experience with on-line check in.

- Get in the line with one person in front of you.
- Stand there for 15 minutes while the person in front of you asks a 100 questions.
- Keep standing there because there is only one CM for on-line check-in
- Watch the people in the normal 'slow' line breeze through.
- Say 'the heck with this' and get in the normal line.
- Have to wait once I get to a 'normal line' CM because they have to retreive my packet from the on-line check-in area.
- Finally be checked-in and as walking away from the counter realize that the person who was in front of me in the 'fast' on-line check-in line is still standing there jaw jacking with the CM, and now has 4 or 5 people waiting behind her.

Moral: It is not always faster.


-dave

 

[pumba100]

We tried it once and immediately went back to regular check in. In the time it took us to wait (behind only 2 other people) lots of other folks were processed in the regular lines.

As was said earlier, there is usually only one person handling that line. The person we worked with was very, very nice and quite professional. It's just a poorly staffed option for resort guests.

 

[Yanks07]

Used it for the 1st time last week @ Boardwalk and it was very quick for us, less than 5 mins. The check in line was very lite but everything was ready, we had 8 rm keys so that alone saved time.

 

[djpoore94]

We have used it three times and love it! We have never had to wait more than a few minutes, in fact the last time there were two couples and we both walked right up to the counter (there were a few cast members ready to help us, not just one), got our packets and were heading to the room within a couple of minutes.

 

[luvlifeinfl]

We did it with our trip in Nov. 2009. I see no real extra benefit( except they have a checkin packet ready). when we went to the online check in they were at least 6 people in line. So we still waited 10 min in line. The our room was not ready and we waited 3.5 hours for the room, so what is the purpose of entering the anticpated arrival time when you do online checkin.:shrug:

 

[Master Yoda]

We did it with our trip in Nov. 2009. I see no real extra benefit( except they have a checkin packet ready). when we went to the online check in they were at least 6 people in line. So we still waited 10 min in line. The our room was not ready and we waited 3.5 hours for the room, so what is the purpose of entering the anticpated arrival time when you do online checkin.:shrug:

This tells them when to print the package. It is not to have a room ready for you when you arrive before 3:00 PM.

 

[hibbsofep]

Used it 2 weeks ago and it was a breeze. There was nobody in line in front of us, so it took about 2 minutes to check in.That said, lines are a way of life at Disney, just as they are in the grocery store. Timing is a matter of luck. Sometimes you get in the right line sometimes you don't.

 

[tjkraz]

As part of the online check-in process they ask for the time you plan to arrive at the resort. According to CMs I've spoken with, they use the arrival time to try and arrange for you to have a room ready when you get to the resort. This is mirrored by my own experiences.

So, if you will be arriving early and want the greatest odds of having a room ready for you, use the online system.

However, the trade-off is that they do not appear to put as much emphasis on any room requests when you use the online system. Again, the focus is on getting you into a room--ANY room--not necessarily one that matches your ideal accommodation.

So to summarize:

* If you place the highest priority on getting into a room immediately, use online check-in.

* If you place the highest priority on having your room requests (view, location, etc) met, then do NOT use the online check-in. You may have to wait longer to get into a room, but you will typically find that the front desk CMs are more willing to work with you during that personal check-in.

The time savings aspect is very hit-or-miss, IMO. Sometimes the packets are printed and ready to pass out. Other times the materials have not been prepared in advance or (like other posters) you end up behind people who still want to ask a dozen questions. :brick: