Arriving at night. Stay at resort?

[gamecock]

In October we will be staying at POR royal guest room river view with FD, and will be arriving in Orlando on Friday night about 9:00, but our package begins on Saturday. I have a few questions about day of arrival.

1. Should we stay offsite Friday night and arrive early at POR, or should we just add a night to our stay?

2. If we add the extra night do we also get another day FD?

3. Are we less likely to get our room requests by checking in at night?

Thank you in advance.

 

[smitch425]

In October we will be staying at POR royal guest room river view with FD, and will be arriving in Orlando on Friday night about 9:00, but our package begins on Saturday. I have a few questions about day of arrival.

1. Should we stay offsite Friday night and arrive early at POR, or should we just add a night to our stay?

2. If we add the extra night do we also get another day FD?

3. Are we less likely to get our room requests by checking in at night?

Thank you in advance.

If there is availability for your resort and room type under the FD deal then they can simply add it to your current reservation and you will not have to check out and back in. They assign rooms a few days prior to checkin, so your request chances should not be affected.

 

[mickeynut1]

If it were me, I'd stay at the same resort that first night. As the pp said, if there is availability at POR in a royal river view room under FD and that extra night is included in the FD promo, you can add it to your current reservation. If it's not available under FD and/or the date is not included in the promo, you could always make a room only reservation for that night (same room category) and have the 2 reservations linked. You would have to check out and check back in the next day for your package, but you could put a request on the ressie that you would like to keep the same room, and then also mention at check in that you have a continuing reservation and would like to avoid changing rooms if possible. Keeping the same room is not a guarantee, but Disney will do everything they can to accommodate you. As far as your requests.....we have checked in all different times of day/night and in our experience, it has never effected our requests. Good luck.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

Just remember, if you stay off site, you won't be able to use Magical Express if you are flying (unless you stay at an airport hotel with a shuttle, then take it back the next morning to catch ME. But, you waste a lot of time doing that when you could be in a park.) Cost-wise, you will probably do best by just staying onsite if you are flying in, especially if you can add a day that falls under the Free Dining. (If it does, then yes, you'd get an extra day of dining credits and not have to change rooms or have it affect your request.)

 

[DizDaD7]

This usually what we end up doing...

Our last 2 trips were during Jersey weeks. What we did was check-in on the last day of the promo for FD. Even though it was 10:40 & 11:15 PM we still had those credits for those meals that day ( basically banked ) This helped us get to do the Backyard BBQ without having to sacrifice another days meals..Also the next year we banked it for Le Cellier.

I would just try n do that if possible...Also as another poster stated about the M.E. coming from MCO.This may or me not be a factor in your decision as well, if not staying on property that 1st night. Good Luck.

 

[loganjared]

I would stay at the resort. You will get another day of FD because it is based on nights stayed. We used to stay just outside of Disney to save money the first night since we got in around midnight. It was such a pain to unload the car, reload the next morning, drive down the road a little further and then unload again. A few years ago we started going straight into the resort and it is soooo worth the extra money! We wondered why we hadn't done it that way all along.
We have always gotten our room requests as well, and that is considering that we check in around midnight.

 

[Singinglizzie]

FYI there is a Hyatt hotel right at the airport that you could stay at, then just reserve the ME for early pick up the next day. I've never actually done this, since the Hyatt usually is as expensive as staying directly one of the Disney hotels, but it might make sense for you. Anyhow, just another option.

 

[rentayenta]

We also arrive the night before our *official* stay begins. We opted to stay the night at AoA for two reasons even though we're staying THV/AKV for the following 10 nights. I chose AoA because I'm dying to see it, even if it's only for a late night food court dinner, quick swim, and early morning stroll. The other reason is because I did not want to spend the points at THV for such a late arrival. Weekends are $$$ points wise.

If the POR has room I'd book there, if not, maybe choose someplace on site that you're interested in. I wouldn't stay off site.

 

[rcraw45425]

We also arrive the night before our *official* stay begins. We opted to stay the night at AoA for two reasons even though we're staying THV/AKV for the following 10 nights. I chose AoA because I'm dying to see it, even if it's only for a late night food court dinner, quick swim, and early morning stroll. The other reason is because I did not want to spend the points at THV for such a late arrival. Weekends are $$$ points wise.

If the POR has room I'd book there, if not, maybe choose someplace on site that you're interested in. I wouldn't stay off site.

We're doing the same thing. I reserved a room in LM at AOA for the night before our Contemporary stay. Now I'm excited to see AOA!

 

[cmdg]

FYI there is a Hyatt hotel right at the airport that you could stay at, then just reserve the ME for early pick up the next day. I've never actually done this, since the Hyatt usually is as expensive as staying directly one of the Disney hotels, but it might make sense for you. Anyhow, just another option.

This is what we're going to do -- it's quite a bit less than our WL room for the night and we never have to leave the airport before getting on the ME the next morning.

 

[lylone]

Actually the moderate and value resorts are usually cheaper nights stay than the hotel located in the MCO airport.
And coming in later in the day means you can start fresh in the morning to the parks. No, checking in, having them hold your bags, and not getting access to your room until 3p.

 

[gamecock]

Thank you everyone for your help. I just wanted to let everyone know we added the extra night at POR, and the FD was added for the extra night. As another bonus DW and I both got that day of work, So we can leave earlier and take our time driving down. Although I doubt DW and girls will let me stop at World Golf Hall of Fame.

 

[smitch425]

Thank you everyone for your help. I just wanted to let everyone know we added the extra night at POR, and the FD was added for the extra night. As another bonus DW and I both got that day of work, So we can leave earlier and take our time driving down. Although I doubt DW and girls will let me stop at World Golf Hall of Fame.

Glad you got it all worked out. Have a great trip!

 

[Scott MC]

Our reservation at BC begins one week from Sunday cheer2, and we are actually flying in the day before. It was much cheaper. We lucked out and got a great rate at the Hyatt at MCO...it's the hotel that's actually IN the terminal. I hate to say it....but we're just as excited to be staying there as we are at BC and BWI! We land around 6ish, and we're planning to grab our luggage, check into the Hyatt, take a quick swim on the rooftop pool, grab a leisurely dinner right in the hotel and get a great night's sleep. Then we'll check out by 7 or 7:30 in the morning, and hop ME to BC! For us...that leisurely night before the madness (good madness) starts is very important.

 

[CanadianPaco]

Our reservation at BC begins one week from Sunday cheer2, and we are actually flying in the day before. It was much cheaper. We lucked out and got a great rate at the Hyatt at MCO...it's the hotel that's actually IN the terminal. I hate to say it....but we're just as excited to be staying there as we are at BC and BWI! We land around 6ish, and we're planning to grab our luggage, check into the Hyatt, take a quick swim on the rooftop pool, grab a leisurely dinner right in the hotel and get a great night's sleep. Then we'll check out by 7 or 7:30 in the morning, and hop ME to BC! For us...that leisurely night before the madness (good madness) starts is very important.

Awesome! This sounds like a great plan!! Fun too!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

Thank you everyone for your help. I just wanted to let everyone know we added the extra night at POR, and the FD was added for the extra night. As another bonus DW and I both got that day of work, So we can leave earlier and take our time driving down. Although I doubt DW and girls will let me stop at World Golf Hall of Fame.

Glad everything worked out....have a great trip .

 

[ejrj]

We're in the same position except that FD doesn't start until our actual check in day, so I'm having a hard time justifying the cost to stay at POR for that first driving night.