Direct-to-room

[nalajms]

I did that already, I have been a owner for a long time but with this new process I wanted to make sure I was ok to check in online, not add any requestes, and it would not delete my requests already on the system

For our upcoming OKW stay, I had requested (via MS) for ground floor and a few other stuff. When I checked in online, I took at look a the options and "Ground Floor" or "Lower Floor" was shaded. My other requests did not show, but I'm guessing it's there in the notes because they were not part of the options for online.

With this system, I would think you're more likely to get your requests since someone checking in "earlier" than you can't be assigned to your room if they've already texted your room number to you. Of course I'd still knock before entering the room for the first time.

 

[ThistleMae]

I wonder whether checking in online at the 144 day mark, gives you a better chance of getting the room you want? Do you have to pay in full at that point...to do check-in that early I mean?

 

[Splashboat]

We just did a split stay. We didn't get our room number text to us for either resort. At both resorts we received a text saying we had to go to the front desk upon arrival. At both resorts we were told our magic bands were not activated. At both resorts the CMs couldn't figure out why they wouldn't open the doors because all the magic bands were all linked to MDE.

All our bands had to be activated at both resorts to get in the rooms and at the second resort we (for some reason unknown to me) had to go back to the desk and do it again - so it was 3 times total. Not sure if it is connected but we had trouble in the parks several times and needed to have our pictures taken because our bands wouldn't work sporadically. (We have APs and they worked okay last time we used them)

Our rooms were ready at both resorts around 2:00

 

[nalajms]

All our bands had to be activated at both resorts to get in the rooms and at the second resort we (for some reason unknown to me) had to go back to the desk and do it again - so it was 3 times total. Not sure if it is connected but we had trouble in the parks several times and needed to have our pictures taken because our bands wouldn't work sporadically. (We have APs and they worked okay last time we used them)

Which resorts? I'll bet they blamed it on you having too many MBs. That's always the excuse they give us when MBs don't work as they should.

Any why do they take a picture of you at the parks if your band doesn't work?

 

[Splashboat]

BLT/Jambo.
At the parks we were told if your band repeatedly doesn't work they take your picture instead of using the finger scan. They said to tell the CM at the scanner, you get pulled over to the side, that person calls over another CM and they look up your picture.
Unfortunately that didn't help because every CM made us try the finger scan first, when it didn't work they went to the picture route and then every CM said they could fix it by resetting the finger scan. Problem is it never ended up working consistently. So we basically kept going through the process of having it reset for nothing.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I wonder whether checking in online at the 144 day mark, gives you a better chance of getting the room you want? Do you have to pay in full at that point...to do check-in that early I mean?

I never heard of a 144 day mark. What is that?
As DVC owners, we already are paid in full. What does your question mean?

 

[ThistleMae]

I wonder whether checking in online at the 144 day mark, gives you a better chance of getting the room you want? Do you have to pay in full at that point...to do check-in that early I mean?

I never heard of a 144 day mark. What is that?
As DVC owners, we already are paid in full. What does your question mean?

Sorry this question seems to be confusing. On MDE, it says 144 days to online check-in. I don't know why it says this, it just does. So, I'm assuming I can check in on-line at 144 days. I'm not paid in full yet, that's why I was asking the question. Can anyone clarify, shed light on this process for on-line check in?

 

[supersnoop]

I wonder whether checking in online at the 144 day mark, gives you a better chance of getting the room you want? Do you have to pay in full at that point...to do check-in that early I mean?

Sorry this question seems to be confusing. On MDE, it says 144 days to online check-in. I don't know why it says this, it just does. So, I'm assuming I can check in on-line at 144 days. I'm not paid in full yet, that's why I was asking the question. Can anyone clarify, shed light on this process for on-line check in?

No, it means today is 144 days from when you can check in. It will say 143 days tomorrow.

 

[ThistleMae]

No, it means today is 144 days from when you can check in. It will say 143 days tomorrow.

Lol....thank you! I had no idea! Now I do.

 

[CarolMN]

I did that already, I have been a owner for a long time but with this new process I wanted to make sure I was ok to check in online, not add any requestes, and it would not delete my requests already on the system

If you select a request during the online process it erases the requests that MS put in.

I always skip the request portion of online check in and my MS-added requests make it to the room assigner. Sometimes I get them, sometimes I don't. Just like checking in at the front desk.

 

[keishashadow]

I have an upcoming stay @ AKV but the last night has a different reservation number since I used a different contract's points.

Considering doing the online check-in but questioning whether I should skip it entirely, book it for the first reservation or both.

I was told I needed to stop at the front desk the morning our second reservation begins to 'request' that we stay in the same room. Was told there was no way to link the two reservations.

I would like to try for one of the few elusive value studio savannah-view rooms, which I have communicated to MS. I am correct in that I shouldn't make any requests on the online check-in form in that case?

Additionally, would prefer to head to the park our first day and not head until AK until early evening. Our APs won't be activated (don't have current discount card). Does anybody know if we can show an AP voucher at parking gate to avoid the fee?

 

[gmi3804]

I was told I needed to stop at the front desk the morning our second reservation begins to 'request' that we stay in the same room. Was told there was no way to link the two reservations.

Since when is a CM a source of accurate and timely information?!

They can absolutely be linked, and the room will be blocked for you for both stays. You may have to stop by the front desk or call* to have them update your MBs on the day of your second reservation.

*Be prepared to be on hold while the "front desk agent" (actually an operator at a call center) transfers you to someone at the hotel that can actually make this happen. You might save time by telling the first call center CM who answers just to transfer you from the outset, but they like to put up barriers and make you recite your name, rank and serial number, or something like them.

 

[nalajms]

I was told I needed to stop at the front desk the morning our second reservation begins to 'request' that we stay in the same room. Was told there was no way to link the two reservations.

You can link the reservations if they are identical - room size, category, view, occupants, DDP, etc. If the room is the same, but other items are different, MS can note on the reservation to try to keep you in the same room. We had linked reservations but still had to go down to the front desk to check out and check in. Did not have to reset our MB.

As for parking, it should be free because you're a resort guest. Now that they are doing away with parking paper pass, it should be a quick scan on your MB and off to the parking lot.

 

[Splashboat]

You can link the reservations if they are identical - room size, category, view, occupants, DDP, etc. If the room is the same, but other items are different, MS can note on the reservation to try to keep you in the same room. We had linked reservations but still had to go down to the front desk to check out and check in.

The second part of our split stay was using 2 different contracts for two nights. I was told everything you wrote above except we did not have to go down to the lobby and check in and out. We were told when we first checked in that we could stay in the same room both nights so we didn't have to do anything with regards to checking in and out again. No problems with that.

 

[supersnoop]

The second part of our split stay was using 2 different contracts for two nights. I was told everything you wrote above except we did not have to go down to the lobby and check in and out. We were told when we first checked in that we could stay in the same room both nights so we didn't have to do anything with regards to checking in and out again. No problems with that.

Interesting. Last June I did have to check out and back in, once at the front desk, but another time they did it over the phone.

 

[jdkdorn]

I just verified that they do fall off if you online check in. I online checked in on Monday for our BCV vacation so my sister can enter the room before us and I had two request on the reservation since inception, pool view and higher floor. I called just now to verify my request were still active and the pool view had fallen off. I did not check anything on the online check-in but they pre-checked high floor and it could not be unchecked. So if anything you requested is on their form it will cancel everyting but that request from your requests. They added pool view back to my requests, so you can still have the simplicity and ease of online check in you just need to call or email to verify your requests

 

[keishashadow]

Since when is a CM a source of accurate and timely information?!

They can absolutely be linked, and the room will be blocked for you for both stays. You may have to stop by the front desk or call* to have them update your MBs on the day of your second reservation.

*Be prepared to be on hold while the "front desk agent" (actually an operator at a call center) transfers you to someone at the hotel that can actually make this happen. You might save time by telling the first call center CM who answers just to transfer you from the outset, but they like to put up barriers and make you recite your name, rank and serial number, or something like them.

lol I tend to wish upon a star

appears another phone call to MS is in order

You can link the reservations if they are identical - room size, category, view, occupants, DDP, etc. If the room is the same, but other items are different, MS can note on the reservation to try to keep you in the same room. We had linked reservations but still had to go down to the front desk to check out and check in. Did not have to reset our MB.

As for parking, it should be free because you're a resort guest. Now that they are doing away with parking paper pass, it should be a quick scan on your MB and off to the parking lot.

everything is the same except for the membership numbers.

I've never used MB for parking at the parks, had flashed the card, never thought of it, thanks.

 

[DISNEYSC]

Just got back from a visit to Disney World to run Everest Challenge and tried the direct to room again (our second time). For both our visits it worked incredibly well and made it so easy to park, get to the room, and then the park in time to make our first fast pass (there's no way we would have made them with the old system). I'm sure that it won't work perfectly every time but so far this new system is 2 for 2 with us.

 

[nalajms]

That's great to hear. Maybe some day I'll get there.

We just got back from OKW. Got a text around 2pm saying "room's not ready but here's some additional info about the resort". Then at 4pm another text/email "Please see front desk about your room assignment". Of course the excuse they gave us is "you have too many MB". They had to figure out which MB we had, then "re-program" them to open the room. Only the reprogrammed MB could open the room door. Including old KTTW cards, we have about 20 per person. I'm seriously considering just starting a new MDE account.

 

[DISNEYSC]

That's great to hear. Maybe some day I'll get there.

We just got back from OKW. Got a text around 2pm saying "room's not ready but here's some additional info about the resort". Then at 4pm another text/email "Please see front desk about your room assignment". Of course the excuse they gave us is "you have too many MB". They had to figure out which MB we had, then "re-program" them to open the room. Only the reprogrammed MB could open the room door. Including old KTTW cards, we have about 20 per person. I'm seriously considering just starting a new MDE account.

Maybe I'll end up hating it when we get to where your you are... we only have about 6 MB right now per person.