Booking a night before we arrive so we can check in early morning???

[JustineMarie]

We currently have a grand villa booked for Nov 2 at Saratoga Springs. We are driving from NJ. Our plan is to leave immediately after my daughters soccer game around 1pm. Usually takes about 15-16 hours depending on how many times we stop. This will have us getting to WDW around 4-5am. Is it possible for me to book a room for November 1st even though we aren't arriving until the morning of the 2nd, just so we have a room available when we arrive. Since we are driving through the night it would be great to be able to sleep a few hours and then head to the parks.

Im not so much worried about it being a waste of points bc I have borrowed points that will need to be used or we will loose them. Also, if a room isn't available on points I have no problem paying for one as long as it's on Disney property, since my kids (16 and 13) will probably want to head out to the parks before my DH and me. I would rather them be able to use disney transportation.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Msmithmd]

Yes.

 

[js]

I believe you can and think its a great idea.

I have a coworker who likes to book late flights and books her DVC for an extra night but really leaves the resort about 7 or 8ish and the room goes empty that night.

 

[Firepath]

We are doing the exact same thing the end of September as our overnight flight arrives just before 6am. We just did on-line check in and for the check-in time one of the options was "after midnight." I'm also going to call a week or so before we leave to make sure it is noted that we will be arriving the next morning. I don't think they would give our room away but the rules they have you read and agree to state that your reservation could be cancelled if you don't let MS or the front desk know of a delay or late arrival.

 

[skier_pete]

Yeah, I would call the night before as you are traveling to let them know you are coming in late. I've never had this experience with Disney, but we flew back from Australia and were arriving at 8 AM in Los Angeles having been awake for about 20 hours. We booked a room at the LAX Marriott for the night BEFORE we arrived so we would have a room in the morning. We were told by our TA that this hotel does this all the hotel does this all the time. However, when we showed up that morning, they told us our reservation was canceled because we didn't show up. We were able to get a room anyways, though they tried to tell us that we didn't need the room for the night before they would have accommodated us. Of course they also wouldn't refund the money. Whatever, we ended up getting what we wanted, but it was annoying. Which is why I would call ahead if you can.

 

[DvcDoc]

We have done that when we flew the red eye from Colorado. It got in around 5 AM, so we booked the night before and let MS know we would be arriving in the wee hours. It always worked well for us.

 

[JustineMarie]

Thanks everyone! I ended up booking it! I also called and told ms to make a note that we wouldn't be arriving until early morning.

 

[DenLo]

Thanks everyone! I ended up booking it! I also called and told ms to make a note that we wouldn't be arriving until early morning.

Great idea, otherwise you might be considered a no show.

From the Rules and Regulations -

6. Late Arrivals and No-Shows. If Club Members or their Guests fail to check in on their arrival day, they must notify Member Services or the destination DVC Resort's front desk of their revised arrival time. Club Members do not receive an extension of their reservation or a partial refund of Home Resort Vacation Points due to late arrivals or check ins or failure to cancel prior to the arrival date. If their party does not check in and fails to notify Member Services or the DVC Resort of their revised plans, Club Members will lose all of the Home Resort Vacation Points used to make that reservation and are not entitled to any refund.