Is it just me or is there no benefit to the texting benefit on the online check in?

[troyseyfert]

Hey everyone...

So, I know Disney started the whole "we will text you when your room is ready and let us arrive at your room immediately" benefit (like that title I used for the benefit? )

So, I called up My Disney Experience and spoke with a CM there and I asked, "Why isn't online check in allowing me to create a pin number? Is there something else I need to do"

The cast member said, "You will have to go up to the front desk to activate and set your pin. There's no other way to do it."

Which made me think: So what is the benefit of going immediately to my room and bypassing check in if I have to go to the front desk anyways? And, if I get a room number texted to me that I don't like, I have to go to the front desk anyways to request a different room anyways.

Am I missing something here with this "benefit"?

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I think it's overrated as a benefit. Probably because it's never actually worked for us.

I just went into MDE and discovered what the problem was on our last trip...a deactivated credit card that was closed due to theft is still showing in MDE. I have updated that number no less than 3 times on our last three trips. I hate MDE.

ETA: In one section of MDE (under "Your Payment Methods") our correct number shows up. But in the online checkin section, there is the old/expired card number. This system is so stupid.

 

[patster734]

We used it earlier this year in March when we stayed at POR and I liked it. I still stopped by the front desk to pick up a map of the resort which only took a couple of minutes. Because we were on DME, we were dropped off near the front desk anyway.

I suppose the greatest benefit would be for people who drove, and could go directly to the parking lot closest to their room when they arrive. And anyone who had to check in at the front desk should have shorter lines.

 

[loves to dive]

I drive down so I'm never sure what time I'm getting in, I always do on line check in but go to the front desk to let them know I'm there and to check my MB and reset my pin (I forget the number from trip to trip). I do like the text you get after you check in if your room isn't ready. That way you can go do whatever you want to do, you know your room number when it's ready and if you've already dealt with the MB, you can be pretty sure it's going to work.

 

[maples189]

It's nice if you've stayed at that specific resort before and you are driving down. No more standing in long check in lines you get to go park and head straight to the room and open with the band. I will say though, our last trip in May, we stayed at Pop for the first time and got the text, however I still stopped at the front desk to get a map and have her show us where we were going since Pop you cannot park right behind all the buildings. For our trip in 2 weeks I will probably do the same as we are trying Caribbean Beach Resort for the first time and don't know where we are going

 

[troyseyfert]

I drive down so I'm never sure what time I'm getting in, I always do on line check in but go to the front desk to let them know I'm there and to check my MB and reset my pin (I forget the number from trip to trip). I do like the text you get after you check in if your room isn't ready. That way you can go do whatever you want to do, you know your room number when it's ready and if you've already dealt with the MB, you can be pretty sure it's going to work.

So, I spoke with the MDE people and asked them, "If I went last year and remembered my pin from last year, could I just use the same pin from the previous trip if I just leave everything alone." He said no....you have to go to the front desk to activate the charging privileges and the dining plan capabilities. Was he wrong in saying this? According to your quote, you said you forgot the number from trip to trip, which insinuates that the pin number did carry over.

If it does carry over, then I do find the benefit in doing the text to get your room number ahead of time option. Anyone else have advice in this area?

 

[wdwrich]

So, I called up My Disney Experience and spoke with a CM there and I asked, "Why isn't online check in allowing me to create a pin number? Is there something else I need to do"

The cast member said, "You will have to go up to the front desk to activate and set your pin. There's no other way to do it."

Not true. There are plenty of folks who reported setting up their pin during on line check in and never once had to visit the front desk during their visit. Another example of a phone/chat CM giving out incorrect information.

 

[troyseyfert]

Not true. There are plenty of folks who reported setting up their pin during on line check in and never once had to visit the front desk during their visit. Another example of a phone/chat CM giving out incorrect information.

Should have given you more background. The online check in would not allow me to set up the PIN. It said, "Already assigned"....I called the MDE people and asked if it had to do with the fact we were there last October and we just use the same PIN from before. He said that wasn't the reason and I would have to go up to the front desk to activate a pin. Is this not true either?

 

[wdwrich]

Should have given you more background. The online check in would not allow me to set up the PIN. It said, "Already assigned"....I called the MDE people and asked if it had to do with the fact we were there last October and we just use the same PIN from before. He said that wasn't the reason and I would have to go up to the front desk to activate a pin. Is this not true either?

Maybe. There are some instances where a visit to the front desk is required (need to show AP, military ID, etc.). Not sure about your specific issue though.

 

[maples189]

I was able to use the same pin the last 2 times we went and didn't have to re-enter on MDE.

 

[JimmyBean42]

We like it because if we drive, we get there early so we can checkout the resort and if we fly, we get there early as well. So if we are at pool, Downtown Disney or just walking around - we like to get the text that says we are in XXXX room and it is now ready. Sure beats the old system of having to go back to the front desk every hour going "Is a room ready now / can we get into a room yet?"

 

[Lillian Gracey]

To change your PIN, go to the payment methods page and at the bottom there should be a button to reset your PIN. I hope this help!

 

[knkmom]

We used this in May, stayed at WL and never went to the front desk. I set our pin on MDE and didn't have any issues.

 

[troyseyfert]

Maybe. There are some instances where a visit to the front desk is required (need to show AP, military ID, etc.). Not sure about your specific issue though.

It says beside my name, "Your PIN is set." On my spouses, it says, "Has a PIN"....so, if I went last year, did MDE, am using the same credit as before, should I assume that I have the same pin as before then?

 

[troyseyfert]

We used this in May, stayed at WL and never went to the front desk. I set our pin on MDE and didn't have any issues.

I understand that brand new people to MDE can set up their pin. We are people that went last year and now they're not allowing us to do anything because "our pin is set"...I thought that meant we could use our pin from last year, but when I spoke to someone from MDE, they made it seem that was not the case.

 

[troyseyfert]

To change your PIN, go to the payment methods page and at the bottom there should be a button to reset your PIN. I hope this help!

I tried to find what you are looking for and I can't...do I have to update my card to find out what you're referring to? I don't see the screen you're referring to.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

I tried to find what you are looking for and I can't...do I have to update my card to find out what you're referring to? I don't see the screen you're referring to.

Under the MDE drop down menu there's a "Payment Methods" link. Click on that and it'll show your payment method and at the bottom of the page has the reset PIN option. I'm on my phone so I unfortunately can't create any pictures to visually show you how to get to that page.

 

[wdwrich]

Under the MDE drop down menu there's a "Payment Methods" link. Click on that and it'll show your payment method and at the bottom of the page has the reset PIN option. I'm on my phone so I unfortunately can't create any pictures to visually show you how to get to that page.

On a computer, you first select "My profile" from the MDE drop-down menu. Then you see the option for "payment methods".

 

[Lillian Gracey]

On a computer, you first select "My profile" from the MDE drop-down menu. Then you see the option for "payment methods".

My apologies. Yes that is correct. It's the same on mobile, but I was just getting into my car when I posted my reply.

 

[Accident]

You can set pin and cc on mde, they are both located under my profile, payment methods. I had some trips it did nothing, but then suddenly this trip I got the magic email that I can skip checkin