Check in at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • On Nov 11, 2025
    Sarah from PA Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hello! I am putting room requests into my reservation (floor, building, etc). I read that I should NOT complete the online check-in and should go to the lobby instead as this could erase the room requests that I previously added? Is this true?

    Welcome to planDisney, Sarah, so happy you’ve dropped in. Unlike the Tower of Terror, there will be no actual dropping during our conversation. Just guidance on how to have a smooth check-in.

    I am more than happy to share my check-in experience with you. There have been times when I’ve checked in using the mobile app and in person. Both experiences have consisted of Disney doing their very best to meet my requests. At the end of the day, it comes down to availability.

    Depending on your arrival time, I am all for checking in on the My Disney Experience app. That way, you can walk straight to your room upon arrival. If you have time to spare, you can wait until you arrive. I usually recommend checking in on the app and, if your top request isn’t met, stopping by the front desk before heading to your room. That way, you can check to see if any of your requests have the availability to be met. 

    Over the summer, we booked a preferred room at Pop Century Resort. My number one request was a ground-floor room. I did check in on the app before arriving and saw that we received an upper-level room. So before heading to our room, I stopped at the front desk, in hopes of my request being met. Thankfully, we were able to have our request met, and the Cast Member made those room changes for us. Other times, all my requests have been made with mobile check-in, and we walk straight to the room. It really just depends.

    The magic behind it all is unknown, but sometimes with the wave of a wand from the front desk Cast Members, your requests can be met, and availability, of course. Sarah, I hope this helps guide your decision. I always recommend mobile check-in and stopping by the front desk if needed. That way, I can hop into the magic as soon as I walk through the front doors of my resort.

    Have a magical visit, and if there’s anything else we can help with, please be sure to visit us again.


    See ya real soon,

    Shantel
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Meet the Panelist: Shantel, Alabama

Hi ya Pals! I'm Shantel, an Army wife and mom of two. I grew up going to the parks, and now we're sharing that tradition with our kids. When I am not visiting the Walt Disney World Resort, I'm at home researching and planning for our next trip. One of my favorite things to do is search for new snacks to try, especially if they are Mickey shaped. I'm definitely living the dream my heart wished for! I cannot wait to answer your questions and help make your vacation even more magical! 
Learn More About Shantel

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