arriving late

[ranokid]

My plane arrives at 6:24 p.m. At what time you think i will be at my room?

When you check in this late they give you the left overs? Should I request building etc. in advance? will they put me in my requested room arriving this late?

Im going to ASMo and Im leaning toward 101 dalmatians or Toy Story. I thing I really be if they put me in Love Bug. Any info on those two topics will be appreaciated, Thank you

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I can't speak for the value resorts, but:

2 years ago we got in very late to CSR. Around 8:30 pm on a Sat. I figured we were doomed. I had faxed our room preferences, and recieved exactly what we asked for.

Looking at my notes from that trip, it looks like I called the day before we left, and they gave me the room #. I don't think they do this anymore though. Last month when we checked into CBR, they wouldn't give out the room # until the room was ready for us.

We have usually been to our resort within 1 1/2 hours after landing. We take a towncar, with a grocery stop. It might be longer if you are renting a car.

Good luck. Have a great trip.

 

[justhat]

We arrived at AKL around 6-7pm on 12/27/02 and we got 2 great rooms. We also went to ASMo the year before and checked-in around 11pm and got a great room in Toy Story, overlooking Andy's Room. The ASMo trip, however, was I think 12/17/01, so before the Christmas rush and 3 months after 9/11, so the resort was nowhere near crowded. In 3/01 we checked into CSR pretty late, around 7 or 8pm, and we got a good room, not far from the main building, and that was during spring break time. We just got back from another trip to AKL and checked in around midnight on 10/15 and we got the worst rooms ever. Absolutely nothing we wanted besides non-smoking. So based upon my experiences, getting good rooms 3 out of 4 times, you should be okay.

 

[CarolA]

My feeling is that a lot of us set ourselves up for disappointment. We build up the room location and then when perfection is NOT acheived our vacation gets off to a bad start (and there have been instances where I have read people say their entire vacation was ruined since they were in the wrong buidling GET A GRIP!)


Also, while there is the whole late check in theory at times it really does not matter. if the resort is full and only a few rooms checked out on your check in day, you get what opened up. (They won't make someone move to give you your requests)

I have verified that all Disney resort hotels are at Walt Disney WOrld and that is the important part.

 

[ducklite]

Have to agree with Carol. Unless you get stuck with one of the very, very few really bad rooms at WDW, your room will probably not ruin your vacation.

That said, back to the original question. I agree if you are taking a car service with a grocery stop it will probably be about 1 1/2 hours. Depending on rental car lines it could be about the same or longer if you are renting a car. Frankly thta puts you in at 8:00, which is not late. I've checked in much later and still gotten great rooms.

I've really only had two bad rooms in all my trips. One was at the AS Sports, all the way in the back in the hoops building--it was a non-smoking room which reaked of smoke, had stains on the carpet, a frayed bedspread, and was just not clean. We arrived before noon for that one. We also got a bad room at the BC--no balcony, just a window looking at a wall. We got in at 2:00am for that one.

So bad rooms happen regardless of the check-in time. With the BC room if we were staying for more than one night I would have made them move me, and if they didn't have another room I would have switched resorts.

Some of the best rooms I've ever had I've gotten when checking in late

Anne

 

[BrianD]

Well, last week we arrived at ASM about 10:30PM and got a room in Love Bug. We had not made any room requests, but the funny thing was that when I was checking in the CM asked me if Love Bug section was OK, as if there was something wrong with that section. I thought the room and the location was fine, the walk to the food court was very short, nothing compared to the pilgremage we had to make from our room at CBR.

Anyway, if you have very specific room requests the best thing to do is arrive early, and if you can't, set your expections right so that you'll be happy no matter where you are.

Another option, if it's available, would be to spend the extra $10 a night and book a preferred location room (I think it's the Fantasia section or something like that). That is why they created the Preferred Location Room, for folks that want a guarantee that they'll get a good location.

 

[SB in KY]

Rooms are assigned the night (actually after midnight) before arrival...if you have faxed in your request and such a room is available then it is assigned to you...so at least in theory the time you arrive should not make any difference. However Disney has a policy that specific rooms will not be held for parties not yet arrived...so for example if someone checks in at 4PM and was assigned a room in Toy Story and they say "Oh, but we REALLY wanted 101 Dalmatians, don't you have anything there?" the CM may reassign them to any available room in 101 Dalmatians...and hypothetically it could be yours if you aren't there yet.
That said...the chances that they would take an already assigned room aren't huge unless it is a really busy week when all/almost all rooms are taken (they would use the unassigned rooms in 101 Dalmatians before bumping someone from an assigned room). Also 8PM isn't really late for checkin. If it was Xmas week you might be in trouble... I doubt if it would be much of a problem in June.

 

[Efastpitch]

we will be getting into WL after 11pm. This has never been a problem getting a nice room. Don't expect any problems this time. If were not happy, we'll just request a different room.

 

[dznyntnh]

Originally posted by CarolA
My feeling is that a lot of us set ourselves up for disappointment. We build up the room location and then when perfection is NOT acheived our vacation gets off to a bad start (and there have been instances where I have read people say their entire vacation was ruined since they were in the wrong buidling GET A GRIP!)


Also, while there is the whole late check in theory at times it really does not matter. if the resort is full and only a few rooms checked out on your check in day, you get what opened up. (They won't make someone move to give you your requests)

I have verified that all Disney resort hotels are at Walt Disney WOrld and that is the important part.

I have to agree wholeheartedly.

I think people make too many requests and focus to much on getting the 'perfect' room. I don't know that there is such a thing.

When I read about people making these specific requests or asking what room number (?) they should ask for, all I can think of is how we'll be reading a scathing review of that hotel, when they don't get that room.

It's all a matter of perspective and knowing what's important.

When I made my trip last month, my only request was for a non-smoking room (woods view). When I arrived to check in, I asked for a Kings sized bed, if available (I asked, didn't demand).

I got my room, but it was on the first floor. I usually hate being on the first floor, but instead of complaining, I decided I would check out the room. It was in a great location, close to the pool, snack bar and the patio area was rather secluded so I wasn't on 'display'. I loved it.

 

[MamaKate]

Originally posted by ranokid
My plane arrives at 6:24 p.m. At what time you think i will be at my room?

When you check in this late they give you the left overs? Should I request building etc. in advance? will they put me in my requested room arriving this late?

Im going to ASMo and Im leaning toward 101 dalmatians or Toy Story. I thing I really be if they put me in Love Bug. Any info on those two topics will be appreaciated, Thank you

This exact thing happened to me last Dec. I requested Dalmations or Toy Story building. We arrived at ASMo @ 7:30pm & received a room in Love Bug. I'm a single mom w/2 small kids and I needed a room close to the food court & all the facilities, so I asked if there was anything else, but to no avail. I even offered to pay the extra $10/night for Fantasia, but there was no openings. I almost broke down in tears, because I was so tired from our long flight and all I could think of was how hard it was going to be lugging my kids from the bus stop each night. I think the guy saw my anxiety and offered to change my room the next day while I was at the parks.

Well, it all worked out. We stayed one night in the Love Bug room and the next day they moved my luggage to a room in Toy Story. It was a lot better. Close walk to bus stop, pool, and food court.

So if you don't get a room you want, they will try to accommodate you as best as possible.

,
Katie

 

[robinb]

The worst room I ever received was at Beach Club Villas when I checked in at 11:00 pm. That same trip I checked into AKL at 9-10 am on July 4th and was upgraded from a Standard View to Savanah View.

I am now a little "spooked" about checking in late and my plane arrives at 5:30 pm for my December trip. I am thinking about staying off-site that first night via Priceline or maybe at Pop Century and then checking into AKL bright and early.

 

[Sammie]

As others mentioned, basically regardless of what time you check in, you can get as you put it, left overs. They can only give you what is vacant that day.

You could check in on a day of very low occupancy where the time of check in really has no bearing at all. You could also check in at 8am to a packed resort and have to take what is available. It really is most of the time just pure luck.

Relax and enjoy what Disney Magic offers you. I would put my requests on my reservations in advance and not worry about it.

 

[robinb]

IMO, there are better "left overs" and worst "left overs". If you check in early and are willing to wait for a room you have more options. Especially since I understand that Disney no longer pre-assigns rooms and they are now assigned first-come-first-served.

 

[shellybaxter]

Hi,

We just returned from WDW yesterday. Had a horrible flight in and ended up being 5 hours late, which put us a check in around 10:00PM. I had faxed in a request with just one "must have" request four days prior (to have a non-smoking room - allergic) and a few "it would be nice" requests. We had paid for a King Bed and wanted a quiet room. We were not concerned with being near the food court or the main bus stop.

When I discovered we were going to be so late I called the resort (port orleans riverside) and let them know we would be a late check in and asked them please to keep a non-smoking room for us. The CM was great, said we were already assigned a non-smoking room and had received all of our requests. She put a note on our reservation and said not to worry everything would be fine.

She was right. We had what we considered a wonderful room. We were in the mansion rooms facing the river. A quiet pool was just around the corner, the bridge to old man island was just steps away and a bus stop was kiddy corner to the front of our building - about a 3 minute walk. I don't think I would have hand picked a nicer room.

Don't worry about getting in late - you can still get a great room.

Shelly

 

[DisneyChick02]

Room assignment is now varied in many cases. Certain things- like special needs (such as guests needing handicap rooms, rooms that have to be specially cleaned due to life-threatening allergies) LARGE room blocks (we're talking 4-9 rooms), sold out nights, etc. are usually blocked about 3 days out. HOWEVER, there have been so many complaints from guests about not having a room ready a check-in because of trying to have rooms assigned to meet preferences that many of the hotels are now going on a "first come, first served" basis. What is happening now? Guests complaining that they aren't getting their requests met. It's a no win situation!!

My advice to all- if there is anything you definetely need, ask for it, bearing in mind that it is a request. I'm a stickler for my non-smoking room- that's a non-negotiable for me, even if that means room changing after one night or changing hotels completely. Beyond that, its great to see if the cast can make some magic for you. The more lengthy and specific your requests become, the bigger and bigger chance you will be disappointed. The hotels are coming back to being sold out a ton nowadays (hooray for us stockholders!), and that means that is very difficult to get all requests met and keep every guest happy.

 

[patsal]

I have arrived as lat (or early as) 1am and have never had a bad room. The location has always been very nice and the staff very atentive--so long as you mention that you will be arriving late on your reservation--it has always been as if they were expecting me when I show up! The really great part is that the resort is all asleep so there are no lines! LOL

 

[Simba's Mom]

I had a strange experience with room assignments when I checked in to ASSports last year, about 10:00 at night. Although I'd requested an upper floor room, they'd assigned me a first floor room. As a woman traveling alone, I REALLY wanted an upper floor, so asked nicely, "Isn't there anything at all on an upper floor?" She looked again, found something on a top floor, then commented, very surprised, "And this room even has a nicer view-I wonder why they didn't assign this to you in the first place!" Both rooms were in the same building, Tennis, but it was strange-so if you are unhappy with your assignment, double-check-but please, be nice!