Online check-in question

[captainkidd]

Once you check in online 10 days prior, is that when your room is assigned? We're staying at the Polynesian with a theme park view room. I had requested at the time of the reservation for an upper floor room in Tahiti. The only other option for Theme Park View would be Tuvalu, which we don't want because of the smaller room size and proximity to the Luau. Should I call the Polynesian and confirm that our request is noted?

 

[djpoore94]

We did online check in for our trip to SSR in May. We had requested a first floor near transportation and when we got to the resort about 11:00 they said that the room was not ready, but they were checking in the computer while we were standing there and they called to check for ready rooms that had not made their way back in to the system yet. They said that there were rooms they could put us in but that there was a better room that what would be available later so we opted to wait for that.

So I assume that rooms are not assigned until the day of arrival. You may want to double check that the request is noted, but they did have our request when we got to the check in counter; in fact the girl even knew which room she waned to put us in. It turned out to be a great room!!

 

[CaptainShortty]

At the earliest, your rooms are assigned the day before you arrive but most online check-in rooms are assigned a few hours before you arrive at the hotel based on the time you put you would arrive when you did your online check-in. That being said a CM can always change your room when you arrive whether it has bee assigned or not for any reason.

 

[mickeysshoes]

I have always heard the they are assigned on the morning of check in. All on-line check in does is get some of the paper work done and printed ahead of time..credit card info in the system (if you are using one for room charges) and all the info they give you in a nice neat folder ready to go so you dont have go wait for the to do while you stand there.

 

[ectomaster]

I can confirm, that's how it happens. 99% of the time, On-line Check In's are done the day of arrival and depending upon occupancy, the room may or may not be ready upon arrival.

 

[JIMINYCR]

So how much of a time saver is it? I was under the impression that it was getting your room assignment into the system then. From what you are describing it doesn't sound like it does much for you.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

So how much of a time saver is it? I was under the impression that it was getting your room assignment into the system then. From what you are describing it doesn't sound like it does much for you.

It saves them the time of having to swipe the credit card, make up the room keys, and put together that little folder.

 

[mbisenius]

So how much of a time saver is it? I was under the impression that it was getting your room assignment into the system then. From what you are describing it doesn't sound like it does much for you.

We've only done online check-in once, but it seemed to speed up the time it took at the check-in desk. We didn't have to wait more than about 5 minutes to talk to someone and took less than that to get all of our information - actually took the CM longer to write my name on my birthday pin than to give us our folder.

 

[NikiMouse]

The only time it has saved us was in the wait line to check in. Some of the resorts have a separate line for online check in guest and that line is usually not long and moves quickly.

With that said, it must make things faster for the CMs.

Niki

 

[Master Yoda]

So how much of a time saver is it? I was under the impression that it was getting your room assignment into the system then. From what you are describing it doesn't sound like it does much for you.

The only time it will save you is the time it takes when checking in. That is all it is really designed to do. If you arrive and the lobby is empty then it will not save you much. However, if you arrive right after DME just dropped off a full load (as has happened to me) it can save you quite a bit. It also increases the chance of your room being ready before 3. It will not guarantee it but from my experience it is a big help. Prior to online check in I could count the number of times our room has been ready at check in on one hand. Since online check in we are batting about 900.

 

[Poofiesdream]

On line check- in is the best! The rooms are assigned that morning. If you don't like that one just tell them and if there is another one like you want available they will just change you to it. No hassel, no problem.

 

[Gregger]

Used it the past two yrs and it's great....If your room isn't ready they will ask for your cell # and call you when it's ready as they did for me last yr....

 

[JIMINYCR]

The only time it will save you is the time it takes when checking in. That is all it is really designed to do. If you arrive and the lobby is empty then it will not save you much. However, if you arrive right after DME just dropped off a full load (as has happened to me) it can save you quite a bit. It also increases the chance of your room being ready before 3. It will not guarantee it but from my experience it is a big help. Prior to online check in I could count the number of times our room has been ready at check in on one hand. Since online check in we are batting about 900.

Thank you and thanks for others for the information. Guess it will be worth my trying it out for my upcoming trip in July

 

[Master Yoda]

Thank you and thanks for others for the information. Guess it will be worth my trying it out for my upcoming trip in July

Yes and no. Online check in is really only for experienced WDW travelers. If you can be handed your package and have no questions whatsoever then you will be fine. If you do not know what a key to the world card is, where your tickets are, how to use the dining plan, etc then go with regular check in.

 

[WDWLOYAL1971]

I personally like the online check in process.

 

[notnothin]

Can one utilize online check-in for DVC as well?

 

[wendysmom]

Yup, we've done it many times. The real timesaver is if they have a special online, well, line as has been stated earlier in the thread!:wave: