check in time AKL DVC are we crazy?

[disneywithbaby]

we are checking in 11/11. our flight gets in at 10:00am, magic express to the hotel and drop off bags at bell hop. Plan is to head right to MK for QS lunch and our first FP is at 2:00, do all 3 FP and leave the park by 4:30 to go to AKL to check in and see room. freshen up then head back to MK for 7:25 CP reservation. MK closes at 2am and we are going to try and stay as long as possible and make the next day a late start. (ages range from 5-60). I know with non DVC check in you can just get a text from your phone when the room is ready and never have to go to the front desk, but we did this at AOA once and stayed till park close, got to the room at there was some type of chemical leak and at 1am they were moving us to a new room with all our luggage for the night, it was a mess, but if we had checked out the room before staying at the park all night it would have been fixed easier/faster than moving two tired littles in the middle of the night.

advice?? any chance our rooms will be ready before we even hit the park?

 

[wdw4rfam]

We checked into kidani at 9:45 a few weeks ago. They told us our room wasn't ready yet but if we wanted to give up our requests we could have a room right then so we did. We were unpacked and at HS by noon. Just depends. We always arrive before noon and always got a room right away- but most of the time we have to give up our requests to get an early room. I know it's never a guarantee and don't make plans based on it being ready though.

 

[AngiTN]

There's a chance. I know they say DVC rooms are rarely ready before 4:00 but in our 3 DVC stays, for 2 of them we've gotten in our room text early. Noon one time, 2:00 the other.

 

[disneywithbaby]

thanks! never stayed at AKL or DVC before. I'm giving us 30 min of travel time back to the MK park but telling the rest of the crew dinner is at 7 not 7:25 so we are on time lol. just hoping getting to AKL at 5:00 that the rooms will be all set and correct....

 

[steg]

We had the exact same experience as @wdw4rfam same time, same house.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

All of our recent stays, our room has been ready when re arrive. All before noon.

And we didn't have to give up our requests. We just got the text announcing our room number.

And yes, DVC.

Some people have to check out early to catch a flight. That leaves the room open for those of us that are arriving.

 

[jo-jo]

I'm a bit concerned of your turnaround time. On paper it looks great, but it might almost an hour to get to AKL ( I think the bus ride is about 20 mins) , so that's 5:15 or so. You'd need to leave by 6 :15 or so to get back. Remember it's not just busing but entry and bag check time too. I don't know how many are in your party, but perhaps this might be a good time to spent $20 on a minnie van to get back to MK and not worry about missing dinner.

With our DVC stays with ME, I still sometimes need to call for our luggage to be brought up. So you might get your room, but your luggage might not be there waiting.

Most of the time we have gotten our room by early afternoon, but there have been a few that it were around 5.

 

[CarolynFH]

....Most of the time we have gotten our room by early afternoon, but there have been a few that it were around 5.

And there are more than one report on these boards of DVC rooms not being available until 7:00 or later. I think we waited until 6:30 at least once. So while your room will probably be ready when you need it, be sure to have a Plan B just in case.

 

[bumbershoot]

PlDo online checkin. In my experience this year it will take DME into account for when you're arriving. When you get there and are leaving bags with Bell Services it can't hurt to stop by the front desk, if you haven't gotten a text or email. Do the checkin process at the desk.

I got to bay lake in feb around nine after a night flight. Did that, and around half hour later got a room ready text. We were stunned!

I think you're underestimating travel times. In our experience akl/v has the worst buses and we have always had to wait ages for a relevant bus to show up.

 

[rpcvpanama]

Yes, depending on the size of the room you are getting it may or may not be ready at 4pm. You are also coming off of a very busy DVC week. Everything the week before your arrival is booked. I wouldn't count on your room being ready by 4pm. If it is great, but may not be. I would just do on-line check in then you will know if your room is ready before you head back to the resort.

 

[Best Aunt]

I'm exhausted just reading your plans. I would never try to go from AKV to MK twice in one day, let alone on arrival day. How early will you have to leave your house to get to the airport? I'm also skeptical about doing three fastpasses between 2:00 and 4:30. Getting to the fastpass touchpoint is not the same as getting on the ride. Then you have to get from one ride to another. And how much time are you planning from exit of ride # 3 to walking through the park to the bus stop, and waiting for a bus to arrive?

I'm a pessimist, and i'm sure the Dis optimists will chime in to say i'm wrong. I just think you will be pushing everybody way past the point of fun.

 

[Happiest.Haunt_999]

Last trip we arrived at Kidani around 10am. We "checked-in" and our room wasn't ready so we dropped our bags in bell services and off we went to the park. A few hours later we got our text saying the room was ready. The trip before that we arrived around noon at SSR and our room was ready so we went straight there. Then headed to DS for the day.

 

[kmb584]

There's always a chance! We're not terribly lucky with our room at BLT being ready when we arrive (usually around 10:30 am), but in June I got a text message while on DME that ours was ready. It was so nice being able to get into the room and settled before going to the parks. Normally we freshen up and change in the bathroom in the lobby before ditching our carry-on luggage with bell services.

 

[crazylady]

Too much travel in too little time for me. I'd plan to hang out at the pool/resort for a few hours and head to the park for dinner. Maybe leave time for a couple of FPs before dinner. And then I'd hope for an early check in.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I am betting your three AK FP include marching across the park twice, as well.

 

[Mich123]

I'm following because I have a related question--do you need to stop at the desk to activate your magic bands for park entry and DDP? If not, could you take a bus to the Contemporary instead (assuming you have minimal carryons or carryons that could be ditched in a locker) and head to the park from there?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You have to take ME to your resort.

 

[Mich123]

Thanks @_auroraborealis_ !