Any luck getting into room early?

[Callsdodisney]

We land tomorrow morning at 9:30 and are taking DME to PO Riverside, getting there around 11:30 (I assume?). Anyone have an luck actually having a room ready this early? I’m not counting on it, but my husband really wants to have a chance to rest. I am trying to set his (and my) expectations correctly!

 

[dansdad]

We land tomorrow morning at 9:30 and are taking DME to PO Riverside, getting there around 11:30 (I assume?). Anyone have an luck actually having a room ready this early? I’m not counting on it, but my husband really wants to have a chance to rest. I am trying to set his (and my) expectations correctly!

We usually arrive at our resort around 10:30AM and our room has been ready about 40% of the time.

 

[SharonZ]

I have a few times, and I think it's because I never make any room requests.

 

[kniquy]

Getting a room early is just luck of the draw. When you check in they will have you assigned to a room. Your room could possibly not be cleaned yet because other guest just checked out at 11am. You could ask if they have something else. They may not offer it because it is the room assigned to you. Sometimes they can move guests around in the same room category. It can't hurt to ask.

 

[skyblue17]

We had almost the exact arrival times when we stayed at POFQ last fall and our room was ready for us! It was fantastic too, we were able to go in, freshen up, grab some quick lunch at the food court and then head to DHS for the rest of the day. We even ran into our bags on the way to our room after lunch, so were able to grab them from the bellhop and arrange a few things before leaving.

 

[gillep]

We take red eye flights and land very early, we have pretty good luck getting a room by 1pm. I put in a request for first available, do online check in, and then if my room isn’t ready when we arrive I go to the front desk and let them know we are there and will take any first available room in our category. Sometimes they can move our room to one that is available right away, and other times they can’t but at least they know we are there!

 

[Disneylvr1971]

In Dec, our room was ready by the time we got there (11AM) In Sept we drove and got in early (10AM). Room wasn't ready, but I politely asked if there was anything available (we were so tired) and they were able to accommodate us.

 

[Pmlocke]

At this time of the year you should be lucky enough to snag a room. If not, ask if there are any rooms currently available. Your requested perks such as preferred room, king bed, etc. may be what is holding you up. I travel every February (47 days to go) and we always get our room when we arrive, which is usually around noon. Good luck.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

If not just crash in River Roost.

 

[vinotinto]

We've had our room ready early a number of times. When you do online check in, you can specify the time of arrival and you can also indicate if you prefer to have your room earlier or your requests. If you don't have requests and request an "early" room, they will prioritize that.

 

[AngiTN]

Yep, quite often actually. Not 100% by any means but more than 50

 

[AngiTN]

We've had our room ready early a number of times. When you do online check in, you can specify the time of arrival and you can also indicate if you prefer to have your room earlier or your requests. If you don't have requests and request an "early" room, they will prioritize that.

Just to clarify, for those that can't find the option, this is only working hit and miss. Right now, I have stays at BWI, FQ, YC and only YC and FQ show any options. BWI is still blank
You must make some sort of a request, to also check the box, Ready Early...
If your resort is still one without room request options you won't be able to check the box. And if you have options but don't check any boxes, the choice for ready early won't appear.
Ever since the request area has been malfunctioning I've noticed that they default to "ready early if possible" as a request. I have also found that I get my text, with either a note that the room isn't ready or the room number, at the time I provide as our arrival time, or the time ME shows as our flight arrival time.

ETA - examples from our stay last week.
Entered an arrival of 8:30 on 12/29, got text that room wasn't ready at 8:38. Got room at 12:13
Entered an arrival of 8:30 on 12/31, got text at 8:38. Got room at 9:49
Entered an arrival of 9:30 on 1/1, got text at 9:41. Got room at 1:34

 

[AngiTN]

We take red eye flights and land very early, we have pretty good luck getting a room by 1pm. I put in a request for first available, do online check in, and then if my room isn’t ready when we arrive I go to the front desk and let them know we are there and will take any first available room in our category. Sometimes they can move our room to one that is available right away, and other times they can’t but at least they know we are there!

And, when we checked in at WL last weekend, the CM told me that since they knew I had arrived she would send a note to housekeeping and they would move our room up in the cleaning order. Now, I can't verify that this really happens or not. In all my arrivals when my room wasn't ready, this is the first CM to tell me that they do that. I did get a ready notice text within the next hour. Coincidence? No idea.

 

[SL6827]

I got my room at POFQ once at like 8:30 in the morning. I told them I would take any room that was available when I checked in and they gave me a river view one.

 

[SnickerzKC]

We usually get to whatever resort we're staying at really early to get the lay of land and then hit up the parks when they open. Typically, we wouldn't get a room ready text until noonish. In October, arrived at 7:00 at the WL and our room was ready right then.

 

[KMarston]

We pulled up at CSR at 7:00 one morning just to check in and park and our room was ready! Luck of the draw I'd guess!

 

[Moliphino]

Yes. More often than not we've gotten a room ready text right around the time I said we'd be arriving during online check in. Even when I didn't prioritize early check in (that was actually annoying because they ignored my requests in favor of early check in when I did not want them to do so).

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It likely won't take you 2 hours to arrive to your resort.

Most of the time that I have arrived in the morning my room has been ready.

Disney knows your expected arrival time since you're using DME so they will try to have your room ready.

 

[maxiesmom]

You need to hope for the best prepare for the worst. What will you do if your room is not ready?

 

[Callsdodisney]

You need to hope for the best prepare for the worst. What will you do if your room is not ready?

Grab some food, use the bathroom in the lobby, and sleep in a lounger by the pool? (ha!)

We are going to MK later in the day- but our early flight requires a 3:45AM wake up, so kicking our feet up on a bed would be ideal. But I am definitely not counting on being able to do that!