How early can we get our room at AOA?

[ilanakan]

We'll be arriving at aoa on a tuesday morning (10:00 am approx.) mid september. On the disney site they say check in time to the room is 15:00. How early can we actually get into the suite? Is it possible to get the key as early as 10:00 am?

 

[DoughR]

It depends on availability. It's certainly possible for you to get your room early if it's available. If not they can take your luggage and call/text your when you're room is ready.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Given that check-in time is after (starts at, not is at) 15:00, guests shouldn't expect to get room access earlier. Time is needed to clean rooms between guests, and as PP stated, being willing to take what's available increases one's chance of there being a room ready.

It's possible to get the Key to the World, or whatever will give you access to the room, when you check in - but it won't be activated for room ingress until the room is ready, and that may be 15:00, or 16:30, or 10:00...

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I have always found that doing Online check in has had my room done when I got there (about 10/11am)

BUT...it really depends on the turnover and if they were booked up the night before.

 

[snowweisz]

Yes, check in isn't until 3 and as others have said you're not to "expect" to have your room ready until then.

However, the possibility is always there. And doing online check in will greatly increase it for you. They have time to evaluate your request and because Disney will do their best to accommodate you, there is a very big chance that they'd know your room way earlier than if you waited to check in at the desk. That translates into the chance that they also had more time to get your room ready for you.

Do online check in and then arrive there with low expectations. You might be pleasantly surprised!

 

[schmeve]

When I checked in on May 11th my room was ready at 9:15am! I was completely shocked and excited

 

[nkereina]

As PPs have said, it solely depends on availability and room occupancy from the night before. If the hotel was sold out or near max occupancy the night before, you can expect your room to be ready closer to 3pm to give housekeeping time to turn rooms over. However, if its a slower time of year and you have no requests, you may be able to get in sooner.

Once in April, I was able to get into my room around 9:30. In September, I couldn't get in until about 2pm. If you have no requests and are willing to take what's first available, it will increase your chances. Online check-in will help with this as they try to assign you rooms that will be ready when you arrive, but these rooms may not adhere to your requests.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Oh.. I forgot..at Online checkin there is a box at the bottom of the screen that says something to the effect of "overriding all request for early room arrival"..check that if you don't care where your room is located. I have very specific request for my trip next month, so I left it unchecked and will wait for my room to be ready.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes, check in isn't until 3 and as others have said you're not to "expect" to have your room ready until then.

Technically check in starts at 3:00. Which means you may not get your room until after that. Not everybody will get their room right at 3 pm either.

 

[disnut8]

We'll be arriving at aoa on a tuesday morning (10:00 am approx.) mid september. On the disney site they say check in time to the room is 15:00. How early can we actually get into the suite? Is it possible to get the key as early as 10:00 am?

You will get your room key when you check in, even at 10:00 AM. If you have the dining plan or have your park tickets on your room key, you are good to go for the day. You are officially a guest of your resort.

However, having access to your actual room varies. That all depends on your room assignment. If your assigned room isn't ready, you can ask for an available room. But, you might not get your requests.

Personally, I don't care where I'm located as it's just my husband and me and we've always had our room available around 11:30 AM. I just take what they give me and go on with life.

 

[dpswift]

We were shocked when we arrived at AoA at 9;30 am the Saturday before Presidents day and they had a room available.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have had very good luck getting into rooms early!! I'm running about 75% of the time. It all depends on the day and time of year. Do online checkin and they will be able to plan accordingly since they'll know about when you are arriving.

 

[eeudj]

I can assume the advantages of checking in online; however, what are disadvantages? Does anyone recommend check-in upon arrival?

 

[princessallegra]

We do online check in since it became available and have had our room ready every time, by 9:30 am. It's not guaranteed but for us it has worked every time.

 

[Missytara]

I can assume the advantages of checking in online; however, what are disadvantages? Does anyone recommend check-in upon arrival?

The advantage to online check-in is they will give you the first available room.

The disadvantage to online check-in is they will give you the first available room and it might not fit your requests, if you had one or more. If you ask for another room, then they have to print your cards all over again.

I arrive on a very busy check-out day at POR and don't mind waiting for my room that mets my request(s). I have never waited past 1:30 pm and that is the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

 

[maxiesmom]

I can assume the advantages of checking in online; however, what are disadvantages? Does anyone recommend check-in upon arrival?

If I have special requests I check in at the resort. On line check in gives you the room that is available at that time, meeting your requests is not the priority.

 

[eeudj]

Thanks!

 

[labman5239]

We were there last week LM and did online check-in. Had requested connecting rooms and got that request. We checked in about 2 pm and rooms were ready.