How To Use Hotel Mobile Check-In at a Universal Orlando Resort
We love Universal’s on-site hotels’ and we always use mobile check-in to get inside our rooms (and the parks!) faster. In this article, we will show you how to mobile check-in to your hotel, what to have ready when you are checking in, and how to receive your room keys at the hotel.
What Is Hotel Mobile Check-In?
Hotel mobile check-in grants guests the ability to perform several check-in tasks before leaving for their visit. Guests are able to confirm their reservation, add guests to the room, authorize a credit card, and approve their stay. Mobile Check-In is available for all Universal Orlando hotels. Checking in early reduces your overall wait at check-in.
What Do I Need To Do To Use Mobile Check-In?
Have an active email attached to the reservation and the hotel will email about checking in approximately 24 before your check-in time. You will also need a valid credit card to pay the entire room cost.
Walk Me Through The Process
Check your email 24 hours before check-in time at your hotel (usually around 4:00 pm, as you can see I received it around 4:24 pm). Scroll to the bottom of the email and click the check-in link. Your reservation will be pulled up, here it is a five-night stay with a UOAP rate of $109 per night. Great room rate, right?
Note: I placed black bars over my personal information.
The next page (upper right, lower left) confirms your full name, email address, phone number, zip code, and your estimated time of arrival (I suggest setting this to an hour after your flight lands). This page also allows you to add guests to the reservation so they will have their own room keys. Tap “Next Step”.
The next page asks if you wish to participate in Chat Your Service, a free text messaging service with the front desk for guest service functions. We have used the Chat Your Service feature to check restaurant hours, view menu options, and ask for more toiletries for our room. If you select the Yes radio button then Universal will text you to the mobile number listed. We believe the service is fantastic but if you wish not to participate then select “No”. Do not worry, you can opt into the service once you arrive at the hotel if you change your mind.
The last page is for payment information and Terms & Conditions. On the payment page review the totals and tap Authorize Card to add a credit card. Universal accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diner’s Club International, NOVUS, and Japanese Credit Bureau (JCB) cards for room deposits and hotel charges. Once payment is attached read the terms and conditions, sign in the box, and agree to the two policies (Terms of Service for fees, the privacy of your information).
Press Done and the system will process your reservation. If your mobile check-in was successful you will see the confirmation page below and receive an email.
When you arrive at the hotel look for the signs for “Checked-In Already” at the hotel front desk. After queueing you will receive your room keys, hotel information, and assistance with any other parts of the check-in process.
Why Should I Use Mobile Check-In?
We have seen reports of hour-long check-in queues during busy times of the year, with mobile check-in you will skip those queues. We love Mobile Check-In and believe it is a must for anyone traveling to the Universal hotels.
Have you used Mobile Check-In at Universal Orlando? Leave your experiences in the comments below!
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What if you’re going to Universal on the first day and staying at Cabana Bay? I was told I could take advantage of early admission but if room isn’t available till 4 how does it work?
Hi Lee! They’ll provide a you a room key unlinked to a room at check-in which you can use to access EPA. Hope that helps!
Thank you for sharing this I appreciate this a lot
If someone 21+ books the room and just me and my friend (both under 21) are the only ones staying at the hotel can the 21+ person do mobile check in, authorize our stay and we just pick up our keys?
Will this work if you’ve made your reservation with a service outside of universal?
Yes it’ll work as long as Loews has your email and phone number on the reservation. Watch for the communication 24 hours before check-in.
Before I read your article I talked to the front desk at Cabana to ask them how to do online check-in. They told me it’s only for guests who’ve booked directly through Loew’s, and I didn’t (used Costco Travel). I think it’s worth a try to call back. Do you think I was given wrong information?
Very informative article! If we want to request a room that is on the lower floors, are we able to make that request at the hotel after mobile check in? Or would it be better to just check in when we get to the hotel?
You can request it during mobile check in. Use the Special Requests field and then confirm when you pick up your keys.
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thanks, regards.
If you use mobile check-in, how do you get your Express passes, if you are staying at one of the hotels that offers free express passes?
Express is tied to the room key, you’ll pick those up at the desk when you follow the Mobile Check In signs.
Is there a way to connect your hotel reservation confirmation # to the Universal Studios mobile app?
Ummm,
I’ve had mobile check in at Cabana Bay move way slower than the regular line. They had 1 worker compared to 4 for regular and one clueless guest can take up to 15 minutes. I had to go up and ask the manager to help out. It worked for a bit, then they went back to one worker. Still a crap shoot.
I really enjoy reading your thoughtful and unique article. Thanks for sharing. Keep it up.
Thank you, this information is helpful. Does this process work at all of the Universal hotels, including the Premier ones (Portofino, Hard Rock, Royal Pacific) or just the Prime Value hotels?
Yup all hotels.