Arriving before check in time

[ctimes3]

Hello!
Brand new here and planning our first trip to WDW this July. We'll be arriving early morning (driving up) before we can check into the resort. Can we head straight in to the park at that time? Or do we need to go somewhere to activate the bands? There is SO much information in these boards that a simple search was a little overwhelming. So forgive me if this is asked all the time.

 

[siskaren]

You can check in as soon as you arrive (well, as long as it's not earlier than 6:30, because that's when their computers switch over to the current day). If your room isn't ready, you can leave your luggage with Bell Services.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Or you can just leave your luggage in your car at the resort and hop a bus to the theme park of your choice.

 

[SPAM]

We drove in really early on our check in day at Pop in October. We checked into desk only because I wanted to verify PIN number. We had time to check in (room wasn't ready), check bags with luggage services, eat breakfast and hop on bus to make MK ropedrop. Could have left luggage in car but I have a hatchback and didn't want to risk it plus we had some groceries.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Have a great visit! Happy Planning!

 

[Princess Minnie321]

We did online checkin. On our the bus ride to Disney at around 9:30 am, I got a text saying my room was not ready yet. I went to the front desk when we got to the resort and she said we were all set. We left our bags with the bell hop and went to MK. I was worried when we were in line to get into MK if our magic bands would work, but they did! By 11:30 am I had another text with my room number. When we were done at MK, we went to bell services, he took my room number and said he would bring the bags to our room. We went straight to our room. It was very easy! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Princess Minnie321]

Oh and rereading your thread, I see you are driving. You can go straight to the park! We only went to the resort first because we took the DME bus from the airport so we had to leave our luggage with bell services.

 

[Tuptup]

On online check-in, you can also select an option that you're arriving early and you want a room available above any of your requested options. The earliest I've gotten in was 7:00am, and our room at POR was ready then! And we've arrived at various points between then at 11:30pm, and our rooms were always ready.

But, you can go straight to the parks too if your room isn't ready. Either bell services can hold your bags (we've had them held before leaving), or if you don't have many, you can leave them in your trunk while you go to the park.

MagicBands are already activated, so no need to stop by the hotel to get them set up If you have any trouble with them, Guest Relations desks are always nearby the park entrances, and they can help you out. Hope that helps!

 

[siskaren]

Or you can just leave your luggage in your car at the resort and hop a bus to the theme park of your choice.

I wouldn't want to do that in July - things like deodorant or makeup could melt.

 

[trekker93]

Our flight from Providence usually gets in around 930 at MCO and we get our car at Alamo then drive to POP. We usually get to POP by 1030 , they sometimes have a room ready then. If not then we head to ME, and wait for the text to tell us the room number.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I would personally go to the resort and check in and drop off your luggage. You don't want to leave your luggage in your car in July if your don't want anything to melt. I live in Texas, so I know the car be a stifling place in the summer.

 

[disnut8]

I would personally go to the resort and check in and drop off your luggage. You don't want to leave your luggage in your car in July if your don't want anything to melt. I live in Texas, so I know the car be a stifling place in the summer.

Agree with this. Go to the resort, and get checked in. Even if you do on line check in, note your approximate check in time and once there, go and get things done. Hand off your baggage to the services and if your room is not ready, go to a park. If it is ready, unpack and then go to the park of your choice. There really is no reason not to go to the resort first.

 

[WhispyPixie]

We plan on arriving early in the day as we are flying the first flight of the day. We will check in, give our luggage to Bell Services and head to the park!

 

[1911]

both times we went,we arrived at around 6 am and had rooms ready for us.The second trip our request for a certain area wasn't met though.I'm not sure if was due to our arrival time or not.