Online Check-in Question

[Tinkerbell397]

Has anyone ever done this? Are there any advantages? Husband and I are going for 3 days to celebrate out 30th anniversary year and I requested room 3423 Zebra Trail at the AKL. Is there less of a chance of me getting my request of I check in online? I just called the resort to make sure the request was on my reservation. Thanks :ROFLOL:

 

[disneygirl1]

I did online check in in Sept. Does speed up the check in process as there is a separate line for guest who did the online check in. I don't think it really makes a difference if you do online check in as far as your room request goes. It is noted on your ressie, so they are aware of your request. I was lucky enough to have my request granted doing online check in. If you get there and you are not happy with your room assignment I wouldn't think it would be an issue to change.

 

[lilclerk]

I would think that requesting a specific room is pretty iffy... It would depend mostly on if someone is already staying in that room. You're more likely to get something you requested if you note a category of rooms (near the lobby, for example.)

 

[MissingDisney]

I've been told by a previous CM, do not do online check in if you have a room or location request. It's not that you won't get it or they don't look at your request but the rooms are assigned by a computer program and once assigned, very difficult to change as there isn't shuffling like when you are checked in at the front. It's all up to the computer and the actual ressie is handled differently in terms of catorgorizing rooms. I will say the people in front of us at our last trip had done O/L check-in and wanted a different room assignment. The CM said he would see what he could do, looked at their packed and said "oh you did on line check in. I can't change that, there are no other rooms available to switch to". Not saying it's set in stone, just seemed to follow what I've heard. Hope you get what you're hoping for.

 

[timeman]

I've been told by a previous CM, do not do online check in if you have a room or location request. It's not that you won't get it or they don't look at your request but the rooms are assigned by a computer program and once assigned, very difficult to change as there isn't shuffling like when you are checked in at the front. It's all up to the computer and the actual ressie is handled differently in terms of catorgorizing rooms. I will say the people in front of us at our last trip had done O/L check-in and wanted a different room assignment. The CM said he would see what he could do, looked at their packed and said "oh you did on line check in. I can't change that, there are no other rooms available to switch to". Not saying it's set in stone, just seemed to follow what I've heard. Hope you get what you're hoping for.

That isn't what I experienced last year when I did online check in. I had called and requested a room in the 80s section of Pop century and when I got there they had put me in a room in the 60s section. The CM noticed that I had requested a room in the 80s section and she checked to see if there was a room available in that section and was able to move me to a room in that section with no problem.

 

[brent2124]

That isn't what I experienced last year when I did online check in. I had called and requested a room in the 80s section of Pop century and when I got there they had put me in a room in the 60s section. The CM noticed that I had requested a room in the 80s section and she checked to see if there was a room available in that section and was able to move me to a room in that section with no problem.

But if you were there on a Tuesday in Septemberit would be easy to change. The week of Christmas or Easter no such luck. It they are low enough on capacity it is easier to move people around.

 

[kerrie]

when i didn online check in I have always had my request met. I guess it is luck anyway.

 

[Master Yoda]

Online check in only has the potential to decrease your check in time. That is it. That is all it was intended for. It will not increase or decrease the chances of your request being honored nor will it lock you out of having a non-honored request being corrected if it is available.

 

[Lynne M]

3423 Zebra Trail at the AKL. Is there less of a chance of me getting my request of I check in online?

The fact that you requested a specific room makes your chances very, very slim. You'd have to be very lucky to have the person in that room checking out on the day you arrive, and if that room isn't available, the room assigner has no idea why you wanted it. They'll put you in any open room. Online check-in isn't going to make a difference one way or another.

Think about the reasons you selected that particular room. Let's say, it's because you want to be on a higher floor, close to the bus stop, and you want to see zebras. Just request "upper floor, Zebra Trail, close to buses".

 

[LSU_Tigger]

Online check in only has the potential to decrease your check in time. That is it. That is all it was intended for. It will not increase or decrease the chances of your request being honored nor will it lock you out of having a non-honored request being corrected if it is available.

I have used the online check in twice and never had any problems. All request made. The best thing is, with two kids I don't have to wait...Awesome!

 

[Master Yoda]

I have used the online check in twice and never had any problems. All request made. The best thing is, with two kids I don't have to wait...Awesome!

And that is what it is for. When we arrive we are always up against the clock and being able to be in and out in a few minutes is a god send as it always seems that we make it to the resort about 5 minutes after a full DME bus drops off.

 

[ZuzuPetals]

I did online check-in in October, asking for a room close to the transportation, at Pop Century. I got the very first building in the 50s, in my opinion it was pretty close.

When we checked in at Coronado Springs last month, we did not do online check-in. And we had a room waaaaayyy in the back. But we also arrived late at night (about 9 pm) and I arrived early at Pop Century (I think like 1 pm) Also, two very different resorts, not sure if that made a difference. But I've never had experience requesting a specific room either. My advice would be to request a section rather than specific room. Because as someone else mentioned, if someone is already in that room and won't be checking out the same day you arrive...you might be out of luck. Hope something works out for you!

 

[lumpydj]

We did online check-in this time and we had a room location request - not a specific room, but we wanted to be on a specific savannah, on the 2nd or 3rd floor, and close to the lobby. We got a great spot! It worked out great for us since we were getting to the resort by noon (and we said that on the online check in), so our room was ready when we got there. I was told later on that if you do online check in, to call the resort the day before you check in to give them your request again. I was told that the CM's get a print out of all the online check in requests the day before, then start assigning rooms, so if you call to make sure they have your request, you have a better chance getting what you want. I haven't done it enough times to know if it was just luck this time, or if this is the norm, but I think we'll try it again when we go in Dec.

 

[pixiesteno]

We did on-line check-in for our last two trips and boy did it take time off of the check-in process. They had our packet all ready for us and just printed the parking pass for the truck. We checked in by 10:30 am on a Sunday at All Star Music and our suite was in the building closest to the main building and everything was completely set for our stay. We were able to park and be in our room within minutes. We're very familiar with the resort and transportation system on property so there really isn't a need for us to be tying up time at check-in. Love on-line check-in!