Check in, check out, check in

[dbennett3899]

Long time Disney goer but this is a first for us… We booked our package w/ free dining for Friday Nov 9th which is when the pin starts. The flights are much cheaper on Thursday afternoon vs. Friday morning, so much so that we’ll be saving money by booking a separate “package” for the one night stay the night before the real package starts. How difficult (if at all) is it to check in on Thursday night for the one night, checkout the following morning and then check back in for the actual package w/ FD? I hope I spelt it out enough for people to understand what we’re doing.

Any advice is welcome from one Dis nut to another!

 

[maxiesmom]

We did that very thing during our last trip, and it wasn't difficult at all. The only question mark is if you will be able to remain in the same room or not. We were lucky enough to keep the same rooms for the whole trip, but from what I hear it is not a given thing. So try not to unpack too much that first night!

 

[klineyqueen]

Not tough at all. They tell you they can't guarantee you will be in the same room, but I have done this many times and have always been put into the same room. IF they have to move you, they will move your luggage while you are off enjoying the parks!!! Not a big deal at all.

 

[gwynne]

Long time Disney goer but this is a first for us… We booked our package w/ free dining for Friday Nov 9th which is when the pin starts. The flights are much cheaper on Thursday afternoon vs. Friday morning, so much so that we’ll be saving money by booking a separate “package” for the one night stay the night before the real package starts. How difficult (if at all) is it to check in on Thursday night for the one night, checkout the following morning and then check back in for the actual package w/ FD? I hope I spelt it out enough for people to understand what we’re doing.

Any advice is welcome from one Dis nut to another!

Are you at the same hotel, same kind of room? Assuming that, it's so easy.
Call Disney reservations (you could do this now) and let them know. Give them your one night ressie #, and then ask them to link it to your 2nd (follow-on) rest of stay reservation.

When you check in, make sure to mention you have a follow-on reservation for the next day. Ask them if you're set to stay in the same room. They will probably be able to tell you then, and my experience is they really prefer not to move you if that's possible.

Assuming you're in the same room, next morning go to checkin. They will give you new keys for the rest of your stay. All set!

 

[dbennett3899]

You guys are all awesome! Thanks for the tidbits and keep em coming!

Caaaaan't wait!

 

[DisneyLady56]

I did something similar about 8 years ago. Was on a special package deal for five nights, but wanted to stay an extra night, so I booked a room only reservation also for one night. I was told that I might need to switch rooms in the morning when the special package deal took effect. I went down to the front desk in the morning to check out and check back in. I asked if I could stay in the same room. They said sure....but we had you in an upgraded room for the next five nights. Needless to say, we packed up and moved to a beautiful room overlooking the pool and lake at WL. Our one-night stay room was on first floor and all we could see was trees. So you might want to check where they might be moving you.

 

[goofy4tink]

I actually like to stay at a completely different resort for that one night!!! For instance, I have a stay planned for SSR in Dec. My friend called me and said that she was going to book AoA for the night prior to her checkin at BWV since she wasn't sure her waitlist was going to come through and did I want to stay over at AoA with her for that first night!! Heck yeah. I moved my SSR stay up...so rather than leaving on Wed, I leave on Thurs. I get an extra day at the end this way.
You may get the same room if you book at the same resort. But, you may not. I figure that I can stay at a value for a lot less..then have Disney move my bags the next day when I head to my 'regular' resort. It's pretty easy to do.

 

[dbennett3899]

Ok, another quick question. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but wanted to run it by you guys. If I'm to split my package into two, Package "A" would be one night stay, and package "B" would be the actual FD package how would this work out with Magical Express? The way I understand it is that Package "A" would have Magical express to get to the resort only and Package "B" would have magical express to get to back to the airport only. Is this accurate? Should I expect two magical express booklets?

Thanks again in advance!

 

[DebbieB]

You probably want to do room only for the first night, otherwise you would have to buy 2 sets of tickets, which will be more expensive.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Ok, another quick question. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but wanted to run it by you guys. If I'm to split my package into two, Package "A" would be one night stay, and package "B" would be the actual FD package how would this work out with Magical Express? The way I understand it is that Package "A" would have Magical express to get to the resort only and Package "B" would have magical express to get to back to the airport only. Is this accurate? Should I expect two magical express booklets?

Thanks again in advance!

We do mostly split stays and get two ME booklets. Usually the first is filled in with the arriving flight and blank for return and the reverse for the other booklet with the return flight. You can always make sure you verify the return ME reservation when you check in at the ME desk when arriving at the airport.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ok, another quick question. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but wanted to run it by you guys. If I'm to split my package into two, Package "A" would be one night stay, and package "B" would be the actual FD package how would this work out with Magical Express? The way I understand it is that Package "A" would have Magical express to get to the resort only and Package "B" would have magical express to get to back to the airport only. Is this accurate? Should I expect two magical express booklets?

Thanks again in advance!

I have generally received two DME packets..one for my arrival resort, and one for my departure resort. Haven't had an issue yet.

 

[tinkbyday]

I have 3 separate reservations for our upcoming Thanksgiving week trip. I had a pin that, if I wanted to use it, I had to book a room only for the first night - used AAA discount for the next 3 nights and then the pin again for the last two nights.

The CM said as long as we were at the same resort and staying in the same room category, we would most likely not have to actually move, but we would have to go down to the front desk and do the check-in/check-out/check-in thing.

ME is set up for us on our arrival reservation and our departure reservation.

Hopefully, everything will work seamlessly!