[sydmacsmom]

We will be arriving at WDW around 11:30am, however, we will not be able to check into our hotel until 3pm. I know that we can go ahead and check in early, but we will not be able to get into our room until that afternoon. Is there any advantage to doing this? We were just planning on going to Downtown Disney or maybe the Boardwalk on this first day. We are usually really tired from the early morning flight so we are definitely planning to make it an early night and then hit the parks bright and early the next morning.

[bumble]

Sometimes the room is ready if you check in early. On our last few trips, almost every time they let us in early. I think also you have a better chance of getting whatever room requests if your early.

[MissDisney]

Also, you can charge stuff back to your room if you get that key card! And not to mention that if you have a package, you can use your room key to get into the parks! Also, you can have items shipped back to your hotel room frre of charge (like souvenirs, etc.) if you have the key already!

[bumble]

Oh... and if your early, you will most likely skip the sometimes long lines during reg check in times.

[Soundgod]

Always check in as soon as you arrive, no matter the hour. In most cases, your room key is your park pass, and under the current Dream Maker plans, your Wish/meal key. As posted, you also can charge back to your room, creating a single unified bill for your trip, and package delivery to your room the next day(if you're not concierrge level, you'll have to pick your packages up at the hotel's main shop). In theory, all you need to carry at WDW is your room key, the key to your room safe, and your driver's license. You can leave all your bags with the bell stand, and if you have stuff that needs to be out of the sun in the car, then you need to do this!

[bali]

Yep -- always check in early when you can. In fact, I always take the earliest flight I can to Orlando, so that I can not only negotiate my room requests with my check-in CM (or even get an upgrade!!), but also so that I can give my stuff to bell services and head out the parks for the whole day. When you get back to your hotel, just have bell services bring your luggage to your room :)

[disneyguy]

I would check-in ASAP to your resort. A lot of times they will have a room ready by noon that they can give you. Even if they don't you can check-in, leave your bags with baggage services, and then pick up your keys later.

[Dana]

You need a place to put the luggage anyway right? You should always go to your resort first and check-in. It's a 50/50 chance the room will be ready and you can drop your stuff regardless if the room is ready or not and get your keys/passes. I have only had to wait once and that was in 2000 while staying at the ASmovies. I arrived at 830am and it was easter sunday, so I expected the wait. I get in early this time too and am really hoping for a room right away. My DBF will be driving down with his DS to meet me at AKL and is driving through the night. I can see him having a small hissy if he can't take a nap..lol

[mickaholic4077]

Always,like everyone has said,check in early. The ironic thing is the one time I stayed deluxe,when you would think it would be ready,the room wasn't. Every single time I checked in early at PC and at All-Stars,a room was always ready.

[karliebug]

Ditto what everyone else said, always check in when you arrive. They will put your luggage in your room for you if it is not ready yet and you can simply call a number later to find out your room number. You will get your key cards when you check in and you are ready to hit the parks or shop.

[sydmacsmom]

Hey everyone, thanks for the help. I will definitely head straight to the resort when we arrive. I am crossing my fingers. In the past we have always arrived at the resorts around 6pm and even then it was a bit hectic, maybe early will be the way to go from now on.

Thanks again, everyone!

[MissDisney]

And nobody wants to leave the parks early to go check in to a resort!!!

[jo-jo]

I would add one thought to checking in early. Listen as the CM is checking you in. Last time we had asked for a king bed, first floor, quiet location. We were given a first floor, parking lot, double beds, (with some damage in the room). I remember the CM saying " oh that room is not ready, that room needs to be clean, etc" If I had known the outcome (we didn't know what we had till we found the room), I would had said"we are willing to wait". By the way, when I called my daughter about the room, she then called Disney and we were switched to a second floor, courtyard, king bed.

[tinkerbell]

We always check in early and often there is a room ready!! and when I say we check in early .. I mean around 7 am even as early as 6 am :) we get checked in and hit the parks !

[tinkerbell]

We always check in early ..as early as 6 or 7 am. if the room isnt ready no problem ..we hit the parks.