Check in at midnight?

[Searching4Neverland]

Hi, my CM friend and I are thinking of going to WDW at the end of the month during my college fall break, and we'd have to leave at 12 noon here (Louisiana) so we'd probably make it there around 11, 12 midnight. I've only ever checked into a resort in the afternoon...would we even be allowed to check in at that crazy time? Thanks!

 

[3"Mouse"keteers]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the earliest you can check in is around 6 or 7 whenever their computers change over to the new day. We usually get there around that time too and just stay at an offsite cheap hotel and then go over early in the morning and check in before the parks open.

 

[Sandi]

We have checked in really late several times. Provided you have a reservation for that night, there is no problem. I know a lot of people think it's a waste of money to check into a WDW resort past a particular time -- just to sleep -- but I think the hassle of staying somewhere else for the first night and then checking into your "real" resort the next day is not worth it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) You can check-in 24/7.
2) For the date of your ressie, you cannot check-in before 6:00am.
3) But, for the date of the ressie, you can check-in until 6:00am the next morn.

EXAMPLE:
. . . ressie for night of July 4th
. . . you can check-in at 6:00am on July 4th until 6:00am July 5th
. . . you cannot check-in at 12:01am July 3rd

 

[Sandi]

1) You can check-in 24/7.
2) For the date of your ressie, you cannot check-in before 6:00am.
3) But, for the date of the ressie, you can check-in until 6:00am the next morn.

EXAMPLE:
. . . ressie for night of July 4th
. . . you can check-in at 6:00am on July 4th until 6:00am July 5th
. . . you cannot check-in at 12:01am July 3rd

You can't check-in at 12:01 a.m. on July 4th, either.

 

[3"Mouse"keteers]

Sorry, I misread. I thought the OP meant they wanted to check in at midnight for the next day. Yes, you can get there as late as you want on your actual check-in day. We usually call and let them know that we will be checking in late, but you don't have to.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

I have checked in really late on a few occasions; always due to travel delays from the airlines(sometimes weather). CMs have always been very understanding and quick! It shouldn't be a problem as long as you arrive on the evening of your reservation. Have fun!

 

[Rainkiss]

On a related note... Hubby and I will be arriving at 11:30 PM using Magical Express. Any idea when we can expect them to get the luggage to our room? Are they really going to sneak in while we're (presumably) out cold in our snug little beds (probably scaring the heck out of me, and likely getting the crap scared out of THEM by my husband)?

 

[wdwluver]

I believe the new rule is that if you arrive to MCO after 10 pm, you are responsible for your own bags.

 

[Rainkiss]

Well, THAT would have been nice to know. They failed to mention it when I reserved. (On the phone, the cast member scheduled my flight.) I hope they'd at least include that tidbit of information in the stuff they mail to me.

 

[Pills]

I believe the new rule is that if you arrive to MCO after 10 pm, you are responsible for your own bags.

Not necessarily true. What they told us (because we figured to be checking in around 1:00 AM... we actually checked in around 4:00 AM) was that they don't deliver bags to rooms between 10 PM and 7 AM.

I'm not sure when the bags are actually delivered to the hotels; I read somewhere else that someone actually called down at 7 AM to get their bags delivered, and that they were already at the hotel. This may indicate that they actually pick them up all night; again, though, I don't know.

In retrospect, we made the mistake of not using ME for the bags. We picked them up ourselves, and then had to walk to the exact opposite end of the airport to get the ME. Meanwhile, we had packed a change of clothes in our carryon luggage, and weren't up until past 9 AM the next day. We don't plan on going down that late at night again. This time, we hadn't bought our plane tickets until less than a month in advance, and it was much cheaper to go on that flight ($240 cheaper flight, $300 more for the hotel plus meal plan for the extra night. $60 was well worth it). We're already planning the next trip in October 2010, so we'll have our pick of flights.

My advice is to try to pack a change of clothes, toiletries and whatever else you'll need to carry around the park in your carry on bags, and let the ME pick up your bags that were under the plane.

EDIT: Reading the subsequent posts, I guess it's a good thing that we got our bags!

 

[wdwluver]

I would contact Magical Express so you can get a definite answer "from the horse's mouth"

One their website it says: Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motor coach.

Here's their phone number. (407) 939-6244

 

[Rainkiss]

Starting March 30, 2009, Luggage service will no longer be available for arrivals to Orlando International Airport after 10 PM. You will need to take your luggage to the Welcome Center for Disney's Magical Express. You and the luggage will be transported on the bus.

IMPORTANT: Guests must be 16 or older to travel unaccompanied on Disney's Magical Express

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/magical-express.htm

However, the Magical Express website (even the FAQ) doesn't mention this...

Y'all may have just saved me some MAJOR issues...

 

[redrosesix]

Yes, you can get there as late as you want on your actual check-in day. We usually call and let them know that we will be checking in late, but you don't have to.

ITA! We arrived just after midnight on our last trip. And we always think it's worth it to check into our resort, no matter how late -- staying 1 night in a cheap hotel IMO isn't worth it. It's better to be in your resort and ready to tour or take it easy the next morning.

We also had arranged a delivery from Garden Grocer, since we knew the restaurants would be closed at that time.

I believe the new rule is that if you arrive to MCO after 10 pm, you are responsible for your own bags.

I think you're right. In Feb., when they were starting to make this change, we were told we had to pick up our own luggage if we arrived after 11 pm. The time was later changed to 10 pm. I don't remember them announcing any subsequent changes to the policy.

 

[Rainkiss]

Okay, calling.

Called 407-363-0029, spoke to a cast member, and they do NOT pick up your luggage after 10:00 PM, they found that people didn't want them coming into their rooms at 2am to deliver luggage.

I DID mention that it would have been good to know, and she apologized, saying that "maybe the time of my flight didn't come up." I pointed out that they'd booked the flight. Hopefully they'll be more aware in the future.