Disney resort check in questions

[sherry_car]

We are a group of 5, arriving at the AKV Jambo in 2 groups, and we've gotten a little concerned about how to work the logistics of it.

The 1st group (self, DH, DS4) will arrive by Magical Express in the early afternoon. We want to check in, drop off carryon bags, then go to MK. We don't plan to return to the room until after dinner, and maybe not until after Wishes (if my son is so excited we don't think he'll fall asleep until late).

The 2nd group (my parents) will arrive by car in the late afternoon. They want to check in, drop off their bags and maybe freshen up, then relax at the resort. They are also considering eating dinner at one of the monorail resorts or at the Wilderness Lodge, then picking us up there after we leave MK.

When leaving, we would like to have my parents take us to the airport, rather than use the Magical Express, but probably will not be able to fit both sets of luggage in the trunk.

Questions:
1) What time is check in? Check out?

2) Can luggage be stored somewhere by AKV after check in if our room is not ready? What about after checkout, while they took us to the airport?

3) Can the 2nd group get their keys at the desk if we check in 1st?

4) Can they have access to our luggage? (i.e. they would need our carset if they pick us up at a resort.)

5) Are there any other pitfalls to this scenario that I am forgetting?

Thanks for all of your help! I have been getting such good help to all of my questions!

Sherry

[Jestocost]

1) The "official" check-in time at AKV and all DVC properties is 4:00 p.m., so there's no guarantee that a room will be available before that and my understanding is that DVC rooms are less likely to be available early. If you mean the actual AKL resort, not the DVC part, check-in time is 3:00 p.m. Check-out time is 11:00 a.m.

2) Bags can be stored before your room is ready and after check out.

3) Not sure

4) I doubt they will be able to get your luggage unless you leave the claim checks for them with the front desk.

You didn't ask specifically, but you note concerns about getting your luggage back to MCO. If you are flying on an airline that participates in the Resort Airline Check-in service (at AKL that's most of the big ones, with the exception of Southwest), you can do your airline check in and check your bags with RAC. You can do that as early as 12 hours before your scheduled flight time, but check in must be completed no later than three hours before your flight. The RAC desk is open from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. If you use RAC, you won't have to deal with your checked bags and only will have to take the carry ons to the airport with you. It's perfectly fine to use RAC and not use the DME bus service back to the airport.

[MareSINY]

1. What time is check in? Check out?

Check in is usually 3pm, but you can check in earlier, you just might not have a room ready before that time. Check out time is 11am.

2) Can luggage be stored somewhere by AKV after check in if our room is not ready? What about after checkout, while they took us to the airport?

I've never stayed AKV, but I know resorts do have bell services where luggage can be stored before and after check out.

3) Can the 2nd group get their keys at the desk if we check in 1st?

What I would do is collect everyone's keys when you check in. Ask for an envelope and leave the other keys in an envelope with the front desk for the second group. Have the second group go to the front desk and ask if they have any letters for them and retrieve their keys that way.

4) Can they have access to our luggage? (i.e. they would need our carset if they pick us up at a resort.)

No, not without the bag check. If you want you can leave the bag check ticket with the tickets in their envelope. This way they'll be able to get your things from bell services.

5) Are there any other pitfalls to this scenario that I am forgetting?

No pitfalls I can think of! Have a good trip!!

[Jestocost]

Originally Posted by MareSINY

1. What time is check in? Check out?

Check in is usually 3pm, but you can check in earlier, you just might not have a room ready before that time. Check out time is 11am.

Note, however, that DVC check-in time is 4:00 p.m.

[sherry_car]

Thanks for all the great info! That's exactly what I needed. We will probably just leave our carryons with bell services and leave the bag check with a message for my parents at the desk. Let them check in for us, then we can get the keys from then when we return to the resort. Does anyone know if they can check in if my husband is primary on the reservation? I think they can, but I don't know for sure.

Originally Posted by Jestocost

You didn't ask specifically, but you note concerns about getting your luggage back to MCO. If you are flying on an airline that participates in the Resort Airline Check-in service (at AKL that's most of the big ones, with the exception of Southwest), you can do your airline check in and check your bags with RAC. You can do that as early as 12 hours before your scheduled flight time, but check in must be completed no later than three hours before your flight. The RAC desk is open from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. If you use RAC, you won't have to deal with your checked bags and only will have to take the carry ons to the airport with you. It's perfectly fine to use RAC and not use the DME bus service back to the airport.

I didn't realize that was possible. It's good to know, but it doesn't help us - we are flying Southwest. Is RAC what handles the luggage for DME? Does that mean we will have to get our own luggage even if we are using DME?

Thanks!