Checking in a day (or two) early...are they nuts??????

[loriandmatt]

We will be leaving Saturday(the 15th) early AM (1 AM) and driving to WDW. We don't have ressies until Monday the 17th. (two rooms at the ASMu) Our original plans were to break the trip up into two days and arrive at WDW on the AM of the 17th.

Well as the excitement of the trip grows some of the other members of our group (5 adults and 3 kids 10,7 & &) are thinking we could/should drive straight thru (a 16 hour haul!!!!) and arrive in WDW in the early evening of the 15th. They want to try to check in early at the resort, or see if we can get a decent priced room at another resort for two nights until our regular ressies come up on the 17th.

I keep trying to tell them we are talking about Disney in the middle of June here, and they are going to be booked solid!!! If they do happen to have a room there certainly won't be two (we need two because of the size of our group) and if they do have two it will more than likely be at a very pricy (for us) delux resort.

What opinions do you guys have? Do we have a shot in heck to get rooms at a decent rate on site? (decent for us is under $100)

After a 16 hour drive with my mother-in-law i don't want to be running around central florida looking for hotel rooms that will suit the entire party!

- lori (i have learned my lession - from now on we only Disney with the three of us...
me DH and DS )

 

[jel0511]

If you're really interested in getting to WDW two day s early, I'd recommend calling 1-407-wdw-disney. That way you'd find out if rooms were available, and then you could try to chance it, or just make a separate reservation for your additional nights. There might even be some availibility at ASMu, which you could lock in now.

 

[msr709]

The Courtyard Marriott at DTD is giving a real cheap rate of $20. (or something like that) and their website is offering a Come & Play for $44 a night, they are decent hotels and the Courtyard is considered an official WDW hotel! Its very close to DTD so you can use their shuttle or use the bus at DTD. Also try the DreamRes from these boards, they are very helpful. I think for the price you want to pay it would have to be one of the DTD hotels or another off-site hotel, there are plenty surrounding the area. Good luck!

 

[CamColt]

I would check availability before going. Then if there is something open, Id book it and go! We drove straight through, 24 hours, with our 2 kids and my mother. We plan to do it again(DM is flying with my neices though). 16 hours would be no problem, especially with all the excitement. Good Luck!

 

[jmkst58]

yep....we drive straight thru from Pittsburgh and have NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER......call down and book a place for the extra 2 nights and GO FOR IT!!! Have fun!

By the way.....Sierra Suites is a WONDERFUL off site to stay in.....

They have a fridge, dishwasher (housekeeping runs the dishwasher for you), microwave, stovetop, sink, kitchen table, couch that folds out to sleep 2 people, plus 2 double beds. VERY CLEAN AND VERY NICE. It was $99/night regularly. I found a deal on travelocity (or orbitz) for $65/night.

 

[siouxi31]

Very funny--I had a similar experience with my mother-in-law last summer (July 2001). We were going to be spending a week on the gulf coast looking for a new home for the in-laws. If there was time left afterwards we were going to WDW. Well, success in Venice now on to WDW. She said,"Let's just visit a few hotels and see what price we can get." I knew this was nuts but I let her have it her way. We went to my favorite first, BC. After speaking to the manager there, they were willing to give me a room for 169.00. I thought this was an excellent price but was too steep for her. We drove to Wyndham and the line was out the door so we left and went to Hilton. While she was in the Hilton I called CRO to see what availabilty was-there wasn't much. By the way, the walk in rate at the Hilton was 79.00 (which was good). It was a nice hotel. I say go with above post and reserve the room at Courtyard Marriott for $20. (Enjoy Downtown Disney).

 

[renessa]

The courtyard $20 rate doesn't start till August. Just thought I'd let you know. Check out www.mousesavers.com for more info. Ren

 

[Mom2Tig]

Camcolt--how was the drive?? that's what we are planning on doing next June too--I thought it was less than 24 hrs tho--that sounds like a long time,lol! But we have 3 or 4 drivers which will help--how often did you stop?

 

[Kitten516]

Mom2tig,

We did quite a few family trips up to my grandparents house in Ohio. It was a 24 hour drive if my mom stayed awake. We had 4 drivers. The driver and the person riding shotgun had to stay awake, while the people in back could snooze or read, whatever they liked. with 4 people it worked out well, and we only really had to stop for gas and to rotate drivers. It depends on how well the driver is doing, and the person riding shotgun helps decide that. We stoped at 3-4 rest areas, and a few times for gas. The first time my stepbrother was 17, and I was 16 on a new drivers liscense. But it worked well. My main problem one trip was I had the leg with construction for 4 hours, and just could not help driving for the rest of the trip. I was too dizzy from all the cones. 24 hours is not too bad of a drive, but when you get to wdw you will want 1 day to do nothing, but hang by the pool or do some of Dtd. I don't know if a park day right off the bat would be good.

 

[CamColt]

Mom2Tig, it actually ended up being a little under 24 hours each way. We stopped periodicaly for 5-10 minutes(gas, bathroom breaks, coffee for DH, etc...). We also stopped for 1 meal each way (BK, McD's), so that stop took about 30 minutes. DH did most of the driving, but I took over for a while for him to catch a quick doze.
Going down we left home at 3:00pm on Saturday and arrived at ASMO a little before 3:00 on Sunday. Once we got there we were so pumped, that we were just living off adrenaline. We planned to go to the pool , but it rained on us so we washed up and went to the Boardwalk for dinner. We had a great time, then got a good nights sleep, and were ready to hit Epcot Monday morning. On the way home we left WDW at 10:00am on Saturday and arrived home right before 10:00 Sunday morning. We were more tired and not so excited that day, but we got to bed early that night and by the next day we were back to normal.

I had always said there was no way Id drive down there, but we were scheduled to fly out of Logan on 9/24 last year. Desperate times call for desperate measures,so we bit the bullet and did it. Im glad we did because I learned that its not so bad and I can do it again...and we are going to in August!
Good luck!

 

[susy]

Okay, I'll play devils' advocate. I say"Why rush?" . When you get there you will be wiped out. I would just enjoy the trip down and relax those two days (break up the driving, stop to eat in some sit-down restaurants) and take advantage of the motel pools in the evening. I always try to stay Best Western on the road, but Comfort Inn is also decent.

 

[Mom2Tig]

that's great to know other people do it You'll have to tell me how it goes in Aug! It isn't a rush issue for us,but money/budget wise...I am recently a single mom-not planned...so really I should cancel till things get better. But I refuse to make the kids suffer-they are already so excited-so we will drive straight down and back,do 3 days in parks and 2 to do other things--to them it will be heaven who knows,its not for a yr-things may be looking up by then! one thing-if you stop 1/2 way-do you need to have ressies before hand,or will you find a place w/ no problems?

 

[nops]

We always drive down in 2 days. We stay one night on the road in Georgia, and then arrive in Orlando the night before our ressies. We stay somewhere nearby , with a pool, and relax and plan our first day at WDW. We usually visit Downtown the night before just to feel the magic. Then we check in early at our resort and start the vacation.
Enjoy and have a great time!!

 

[ZPT1022]

My suggestion would be that if you are going to try to drive down without a reservation made for the first night of travel, at least get the AAA guidebook for the Southern states so when you start getting tired you can make a more well informed decision about where to stay. We have driven down both ways, with a planned stop and without. The advantage of planning ahead is that if it is turning out to be a long day, at least you have a point to focus on and tell the kids, okay only ___ more miles to go until we stop. The disadvantage of planning ahead is that if you get going really good and are making good time, well the farther you dirve the first day, that means less driving on Day 2. But I would definitely get the AAA guidebook (if you dont belong ask a friend who does to get it for you), we have never had bad luck in a AAA approved hotel. Whichever way you go, good luck to you and have a nice trip!

 

[msr709]

About the Marriott, there is the option of the "Come out and Play" deal they are offering now, for $44/per night. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[kylara]

Lori,

I am guessing that by the 15th you mean this month. Things at WDW seemed to be quite full so I would definately try and call to get reservations. But if you stay offsite, you shouldn't have too much of a problem getting something. You might want to check out expedia to see what rates and availability there is (other some other reservation sites).

Tig...if you stop on your way down, I agree with ZPT, get the AAA books for the mid atlantic and southern states. I drive up to MA each year for the X-mas holiday and hardly ever make a reservation....I just stop when I am tired and those books have helped me more than once. Plus most hotels will still give you the AAA discount even as a walk-in. But I have also done the drive straight thru...it can be done but it is easier when sharing the drive.

Good luck to both of you and safe travels.

 

[NancyK]

Hi,
Where can I find info on the Come Out & Play rate at Courtyard?
Thanks,
Nancy

 

[Robinrs]

You can find the "Come out and Play" rate at www.marriott.com

Note the $49 rate is a "starts at" rate. Most of them are much more.