By what time do you think you get better room choices?

[MrsJ Henry]

Ok I hope I can word this right.
I know you usually can get more of a room choice if you get to your resort early.
At what point do you think is NOT early anymore? Would you say 2 is still early?

 

[fla4fun]

It really depends on how busy the resort is. Getting there at 5am isn't going to help you if no one is checking out of the room type you want and there aren't any already vacant. The earlier you arrive and check in, the more possibilities there will be. The earliest I've ever been able to check in is around 5:30-6am (you have to wait until they change over from one day to the next, and it happens around that time). Once the changeover has occurred, the system knows which rooms are currently empty and which rooms are checking out that day. That will be the total pool of rooms available to people checking in. As people check in, the pool gets smaller.

If it's a slower time of year, I would say anywhere up to about 2pm you should have a pretty good choice of rooms. If the hotel is sold out, you have very little choice no matter what time you check in. Bottom line is, the earlier you CAN check in, the better your chances of getting what you want, but the busier the hotel, the less those chances are.

 

[disneyag]

Honestly, I am not sure that it matters. We have checked in at 8am and at 11pm. The time we checked in at 11pm we were upgraded from a standard view at AKL to Deluxe Savannah view. We have received good rooms at all different times of the day.

 

[Lisann]

I agree with disneyag. It's just the luck of whatever rooms are cleaned and ready for the incoming guests. Sometimes the rooms are not cleaned until very late. As they say..."six of one, half a dozen of another".

 

[Disneyof3]

I agree to with the above posts. We have checked in at 10am,12am,4pm and luckily we have got our requests all times. I also think it depends on what specific and how much requests your asking for. Us we only request building and top floor and that is it. I've heard people on the disboard ask for some outragious stuff and I think the CM's don't really like that. Also it depends on the CM you get. Some are having a good day and will try to bend backwards for you while others won't budge a inch. Best of luck and try to keep your requests to a minimal.

 

[TammiMcMan]

At what point do you think is NOT early anymore? Would you say 2 is still early?

I'd have to say that anytime after noon, would be considered "not" early anymore. By that time, those guests checking out for the day would have done so already and CM's would know what's in inventory. Your room may have been pre-assigned, but if you were hoping for a certain bed configuration or building, there is a greater chance that they can relocate you, if you arrive earlier in the day. It also means that you will probably have to wait for your room to be ready, but I know in our case, we always try to arrive early, check-in and head straight to the parks.

 

[klmall]

Been wondering the same thing myself! We have checked in very early during spring break and gotten bad rooms at the AKL, checked in late evening one time and gotten the best room ever at the CR tower and checked in by 10:30 am most trips and gotten decent rooms. It must be simple, random luck along with your specific needs such as bunk bed or trundle requests. We're staying CR Atrium Club with less than 50% chance of MK view and I'm sure it will be just luck whether we get bay or MK view!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I definetely like to check in before 2. Preferably after the cms have had lunch and have done their check outs for the day. The worst room we got was 11 pm. By that time I was too exhausted to say anything. The best room was like 11 am. The room wasnt ready but I didnt like what was offered and told them I was willing to wait and we had our choice of 4 rooms. I always make a room request on the reservation as well and always smile and speak nicely to the cm.

 

[MaryD73]

I checked in around 6 pm and none of my requests were honored. I thought that since I was after noon I was out of luck. I told them we would happily move rooms later on in the trip to get our requests if none were avaialble. But the CMs (took 2 to figure it all out) handled it all and I got everything I was looking for right then. It took a little patience and offering to be flexible.

Overall the CMs will do everything they can to help you out. The rooms I got at 6pm after a snafu exceeded my expectations.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Good points by luvmarypoppins and MaryD, just because you've been assigned a room, doesn't mean you have to automatically accept it. If it has a bad view or is in a poor location, you can ask for a re-assignment. That's when they'll take a look at the existing inventory and try to find you something else. By arriving early (before noon) and offering to wait until 3 or 4pm, increases your odds of being moved to a room that's more acceptable. If you do arrive late and they can't help you out, you can always offer to move the next day.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Thanks everyone!!!! great info