Arriving at midnight before check in?

[beardedbil]

I was curious if any one else has done this, and what exactly to do? I have OKW from aug 26th-31st. However plane fare is soooo expensive for some reason flying out early on the 26th. However i did find a flight that arrives in orlando on the 25th at 11:40pm. By the time we got on magic express (does it operate that late?) and got to OKW it would probably be around 1am. Any ideas what to do from 1am until we can check in?? Can we sit in the lobby and relax until we can check in? Has anyone had this issue before and if so what did you do, thanks so much in advance!
Bill

 

[wtpclc]

You can hang out in the lobby and they could let you check in early (but I'd be surprised if it was before 11 am adn it coudl be after 4 pm or later). I would just get a room at a value for that time, though. Then again, I'm not a late nighter anymore. JMO.

 

[tjkraz]

You really need to find a room for that night. You're arriving around 1am and don't have a guarantee of a room until 4pm. From what I've heard, Disney resorts don't even start checking people in for the day until sometime between 6-7am.

I'm not even sure if they will let you use DME. Your plane arrives on the 25th but you don't have a Disney resort reservation until the 26th. I know the flight is close to the 26th, but as far as Disney is concerned, you currently aren't scheduled to stay at one of their resorts until the NIGHT of the 26th.

I'd suggest a Value resort for the one night. That will ensure you have access to DME. Disney will move your luggage for you if necessary and you can check-in at OKW first thing in the morning.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Or add a night at OKW for the night of the 25th. Your room would be available as soon as you arrive and check in.

 

[magicmommy]

We have arrived twice after midnight and just reserved a studio for the night before checking into a two bedroom. And yes, if you have a room reservation ME will operate until the last guest has landed.

 

[CarolA]

I would priceline a room at the airport. Crash.... get up the next AM take the hotel shuttle back to the airport and ME to OKW. Done this often...

 

[Wigit12]

I would priceline a room at the airport. Crash.... get up the next AM take the hotel shuttle back to the airport and ME to OKW. Done this often...

I've thought about doing this too--Do you pick up your luggage and take it to the hotel with you? I just hate missing out on DME handling all the luggage for the first day. We love not dragging it all around with us.

 

[csmommy]

We have the same issue. We will be arriving in Orlando tonight at 11:30 so I used Starwood points & book a free night at the Sheraton.

Disney here we come!

 

[CarolA]

I've thought about doing this too--Do you pick up your luggage and take it to the hotel with you? I just hate missing out on DME handling all the luggage for the first day. We love not dragging it all around with us.

Yes, you do have to deal with your luggage. For me that's not a big issue as I generally travel carryon. (I have the Owner's Locker guys storing all the Disney Junke now so it's even easier!)

 

[beardedbil]

Thanks so much for all your help and advice. I may just book the 25th at OKW too, but then being a disney person i feel like im right back in the same boat cause i wont want to fly in late that night and miss the whole day, ill want to fly early lol. But thanks!

 

[Mtnman44]

what is more expensive? the extra hotel night or changing your flights to an early one?

 

[beardedbil]

Good Point! Ill have to look, but the expensive early flight might be actually cheaper in the end instead of 24 points just to stay one saturday night, when we will be getting in so late anyways.

 

[twotoohappy]

Instead of using 24pts. Why not book Pop or All Stars?
Then you still get ME, and they'll transfer your luggage, and you can check into OKW in the morning and then head off to the parks until your room is ready.

Now, I'm ready to get flamed... but if you're flying by yourself, then I'd gamble it and head to OKW with the ressie you have. Magical Express I'm sure would pick you up because you will be checking into ME after Midnight and technically would be the 26th. You may have to crash on the couch, but hey it would save you 24 points. I'd do it if I was staying at BCV or BWV only because Jellyrolls closes at 2am and Peekaboos at the Swan/Dolphin is open 24hrs. We never get back to our room until 4am anyways on the "adult" trips. I definately would NOT do this with kids!
Either way....Have fun!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Now, I'm ready to get flamed... but if you're flying by yourself, then I'd gamble it and head to OKW with the ressie you have. Magical Express I'm sure would pick you up because you will be checking into ME after Midnight and technically would be the 26th. You may have to crash on the couch, but hey it would save you 24 points. I'd do it if I was staying at BCV or BWV only because Jellyrolls closes at 2am and Peekaboos at the Swan/Dolphin is open 24hrs. We never get back to our room until 4am anyways on the "adult" trips. I definately would NOT do this with kids!
Either way....Have fun!

But at 4AM you have a bed and a room to crash in. These folks won't have either until possibly AFTER 4PM. That's just crazy.

 

[twotoohappy]

But at 4AM you have a bed and a room to crash in. These folks won't have either until possibly AFTER 4PM. That's just crazy.

I never said I was sane I'd get a room if I had the available points or money, but if there was no room at the inn.... then I'd wing it, if I was alone. But... my judgement could be clouded after we slept on the airport floor last March. I could wing almost anything myself after that, but never with a family.

 

[graenert]

Depending on your airline carrier, some allow you to travel stand-by earlier the same day as your reservation with out charging extra. We have done that a couple of times, the cheaper flight was late in the day which is the one we booked, I checked the internet the evening before and if the flight looked as though there were seats available I headed for the airport in the morning. Then we were lucky enough to get on that earlier flight. Of course if the flight was full we would have needed to wait till we could get on a flight or wait till our reservation flight time.

So check with you airline about that possiblitily. as well as the cost to book earlier.

 

[beachblanket]

I would priceline a room at the airport. Crash.... get up the next AM take the hotel shuttle back to the airport and ME to OKW. Done this often...

Ditto - we're doing this using the Marriott MCO next February: fly in on a Friday afternoon, shuttle to Marriott and get to bed early, up early the next morning, shuttle back to airport and use ME to get to Boardwalk by 7:30-ish. We'll then check in (knowing that in all likelihood our villa won't be ready), but no big deal, we'll head straight out to Epcot to be there at rope drop, and will be ready to get into our villa when it becomes available that afternoon.

 

[PBB]

On our first visit to OKW after purchasing our package in the 1999 we drove all night with the plan of getting a hotel in Ocala. I got a 2nd wind and drove to Orlando. We arrived at OKW at 2:00 am. I drove to the front desk and asked how much it would cost for the night on a cash basis. The desk clerk allowed us to check in early since it was the same day and charged a cleaning fee of $ 35.. I would doubt they would do it today. IMO, Disney isnt focused on hospitality as it used to be and the hotel staff isnt allowed to make such decisions anymore

Good Luck !

 

[JLS]

I can't believe that anyone would consider spending the night in the lobby at the OKW to be OK as a way to save money. If your room will not be ready until the next day, you need to get a room somewhere!

What if someone asked this question: "We wanted to leave on an evening flight the day we check out, but due to cost of flights we can't leave until a 7:00 a.m. fight the morning after we check out. We don't want to use any extra DVC points or spend additional money on a hotel room, so is it OK if we just store our bags and sleep on the couches or floor of the OKW lobby? Then ME can pick us up at 5:00 a.m."

Would anyone think that is OK? I see it as analagous. Kids or not, I don't think bedding down in the hotel lobby rather than getting a room is appropriate. Imagine if many people did this every night!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I can't believe that anyone would consider spending the night in the lobby at the OKW to be OK as a way to save money. If your room will not be ready until the next day, you need to get a room somewhere!

What if someone asked this question: "We wanted to leave on an evening flight the day we check out, but due to cost of flights we can't leave until a 7:00 a.m. fight the morning after we check out. We don't want to use any extra DVC points or spend additional money on a hotel room, so is it OK if we just store our bags and sleep on the couches or floor of the OKW lobby? Then ME can pick us up at 5:00 a.m."

Would anyone think that is OK? I see it as analagous. Kids or not, I don't think bedding down in the hotel lobby rather than getting a room is appropriate. Imagine if many people did this every night!

I'm with you on this one, Jenn.