Can I get book a hotel room without arriving until early the next day

[Jenn504]

I would like to book a flight that has an 5am arrival time into Orlando. Since there would be four of us flying this flight would save me more than the cost of a hotel night at Pop century. Pop is also where we will be staying for the week. We will be flying from Alaska, so there is a 4 hour time change so it would only be 1am our time at a 5am. I was thinking of adding a night to our Pop reservation to ensure that we would have a room to crash in when we arrived before we heading out.
Can I book a room and do online check-in before we even depart? I should get a text when we are traveling with a room number and I should be able to go straight to the room the next morning?

 

[Dave006]

Can I book a room and do online check-in before we even depart? I should get a text when we are traveling with a room number and I should be able to go straight to the room the next morning?

Yes you can start your online check-in beginning at the 60 day mark. You may get a text message with your room number but you also may have to stop at the Front Desk and look for a sign reading “Online Check-In Service”.

There are some key factors in bypassing the front desk; Credit Card on file, you already have magic bands, have a US phone number listed on your MDE profile, and finally some random Disney magic (Pixie dust). It also helps to use Magic Express, that way Disney is notified of your airport arrival and you may get a Text while on the ME bus.

Dave

 

[a1tinkfans]

Ur arrival at mco is 5am, likely arrive at ur resort by 630 am.. but ck in for rooms is about 3pm.. u can do online but no guarantee they will have a room for you regardless of when I arrive.
I arrived at POR at 8am, no room ready till after 4pm.. I was already at the parks and called as I never even got the text.
Perhaps I misunderstood ur post? Point is, no guarantee on a ready room.
Best of luck, safe travels and Enjoy!

 

[Bostonbeans99]

I think what the OP means is that they will add a day before (with the 3pm check in time) but actually get to the hotel the next day at 5am but have a place to sleep.

So i.e. pay for Monday 3pm check in at POP but show up at 5am Tuesday....sleep and then head out to park.

 

[Bostonbeans99]

I would definitely call the resort to let them know your plans. I would tweak it though by saying you will be arriving after midnight so your room is definitely there.

 

[AngiTN]

Yep, I did this exact thing last August.
Now that they do the online check in, and you pay in full prior to arriving at the resort, it works out fine.
Anyway, we were due to land at 8:00 AM (departing at 5:30 AM) and I wanted to be certain we had a place to go as soon as we got to the resort. We wanted to do the Halloween party that night and wanted to take no chance that we didn't get a room until 3:00. So I booked a room for the night before. I gave them the latest flight I could find, I think it landed at 4:00 AM and told them when I called to change our reservation that we were arriving after midnight.
Wouldn't you know I got notice of our room number about noon the day before we left. Didn't even put we wanted a room ready early or anything.
But there were no issues with us not arriving until 9:00 or so the next morning and we did enjoy a lovely nap and were well rested for the party that night.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes you can do this.

When we did it I did online checkin choosing the approx time I figured I’d be there with the drop down menu. Because we were arriving shortly after midnight (at the airport) I don’t think I called to have them note it on my reservation, but if I were arriving much later than I did I likely would.
We arrived and our room had been waiting for us. It was lovely to have it.

My husband does this (at non Disney hotel) for work travel all the time, since his company expects him to be ready immediately. Pretty common in the hotel industry.

 

[DurangoJim]

I would like to book a flight that has an 5am arrival time into Orlando. Since there would be four of us flying this flight would save me more than the cost of a hotel night at Pop century. Pop is also where we will be staying for the week. We will be flying from Alaska, so there is a 4 hour time change so it would only be 1am our time at a 5am. I was thinking of adding a night to our Pop reservation to ensure that we would have a room to crash in when we arrived before we heading out.
Can I book a room and do online check-in before we even depart? I should get a text when we are traveling with a room number and I should be able to go straight to the room the next morning?

If I'm not mistaken I think you're asking if you can book a room for the day before you arrive but do the online check in so that you'll have a room available from the moment you arrive? Let's say you're arriving on the 5th, you'd book the room on the 4th and do online check in but not actually enter your room until the 5th. I don't see why you can't do that except if you're using magical express they may not allow you to take a bus from the airport to the hotel on the 5th. I'm not sure.

 

[AngiTN]

If I'm not mistaken I think you're asking if you can book a room for the day before you arrive but do the online check in so that you'll have a room available from the moment you arrive? Let's say you're arriving on the 5th, you'd book the room on the 4th and do online check in but not actually enter your room until the 5th. I don't see why you can't do that except if you're using magical express they may not allow you to take a bus from the airport to the hotel on the 5th. I'm not sure.

They will. It's not uncommon for a member of a reservation to arrive on a day different from the rest of the group (Dad has to work longer and comes later than Mom and the kids). Dad can still take ME in that instance.
This would be no different, other than instead of just being Dad, it's everyone.
Or
A plane can be late and you arrive late for reasons outside your control.
Lots of things can happen for you to make it a day late.

 

[bumbershoot]

Anyone with an onsite reservation is entitled to a trip from and a trip to the airport (in either order) at any point from the day you check in through the day you check out.

 

[coast2coastmickey]

I would not depend on the app 100%. I would call and have them note your late arrival now. Then, I would call after check in time (so 4pm Florida time) reminding them that you are paying for the night, but won't arrive until the next day, and that you're paying for the room for that night.

Doing those steps will ensure that they don't think you're a no-show and give your room away. I've done this at a few other hotel chains in the past with no problems.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I gave them the latest flight I could find

Now you know you can search for flights from Alaska for a later arrival

 

[AngiTN]

Now you know you can search for flights from Alaska for a later arrival

That is actually what I searched for. I just wasn't very good at it

 

[Jenn504]

Thanks everyone for reassurance. I will be sure to have them note it on the reservation. I know it seems weird but I never think of just calling the hotel. So if I get the text saying I have to stop by the front desk, instead of the room ready text. I will just call. This flight has two layovers so there will be time.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks everyone for reassurance. I will be sure to have them note it on the reservation. I know it seems weird but I never think of just calling the hotel. So if I get the text saying I have to stop by the front desk, instead of the room ready text. I will just call. This flight has two layovers so there will be time.

Well there’s no way to call the actual Disney hotel, anyway. They don’t have phone numbers to reach them. It’s just about calling Disney and having them note the reservation.