Late check in or different hotel?

[Karpkg]

Check in scenarios: which is better?

On our last trip we drove down and did an overnighter in Valdosta, GA getting there about 10 pm. We were out by 8 am, got to CBR by 12 pm, grabbed our tickets and were into DHS at 1pm.

We're booked for our next trip at CSR for 7 nights w/tickets. For that trip I was thinking of driving straight through, checking into a value resort for 1 night to be able to speed up the process of getting our tickets and be at a park at rope drop. We would transfer to our main resort the next day for the rest of the stay. But check in would probably be after midnight.

How late do people check in? would it be possible doing the check in for the next day resort also at that time? Could I pick up the tickets that night or would I have to wait till the next day and go to the other resort to check in there to get the tickets?

My other scenario would be to drive 2 hrs more than our previous trip and hit Gainesville, checking in at 12 am. It's very hard to get the kids up earlier so I'm supposing check out time would be 8 but get into the resort by 10 a.m. and miss rope drop.

Or, stick with our first plan and do an overnighter at Valdosta again.

Which would you do?

[princessmom29]

Checking inot the value will not allow you to get your tickets if you book it as a room only. YOur package would have to be attached to that reservation to get them there. You will still have to pack up and go check into CSR to get them. I would do an overnight somewhere.

[snykymom]

Of course, you could drive through, stay outside the parks for the first night, go to CSR at 7 AM to check in and get your tickets, and still be at whichever park by rope drop. Your room won't be ready, but you can get your tickets!