(Deluxe/Club level) What if we showed up at about 3am?

[Seabean]

This may seem like an odd question, but it almost happened to us a few years back.

We always stay at a Deluxe Resort, club level. We often fly in the early morning, then arrive at the resort (via DME) about 8-9am and go right up to the lounge for breakfast after check-in. Then we stay busy until our room is ready in the afternoon.

A few years back we flew in the night before with the intention of staying at a hotel near the airport. The flight was super delayed. When we arrived at the hotel they said they didn't have any rooms and we wouldn't be charged. But I persisted and we got a room.

But what if I had called a taxi (does DME run at that hour?) and we all went right to the deluxe resort in the middle of the night. Would they let us check in? Would they hold our baggage? What could we possibly do to kill about 4 hours at that time until breakfast at 7am? Just asking.

 

[Polydweller]

No they can’t check you in until their systems turn over until the next business day at 6:00am. We hoteliers sell night stays not days. So our ‘day’ runs from 5 or 6 am (hotel dependent time) until 4:59 or 5:59 the next calendar day. So, if you haven’t booked a room for the hotel’s ‘day’ that includes you 3:00am arrival time you can’t get checked in until the first hotel ‘day’ of you stay starting at 6:00am in Disney’s case.

 

[Jocelynaus]

.

 

[elaine amj]

This may seem like an odd question, but it almost happened to us a few years back.

We always stay at a Deluxe Resort, club level. We often fly in the early morning, then arrive at the resort (via DME) about 8-9am and go right up to the lounge for breakfast after check-in. Then we stay busy until our room is ready in the afternoon.

A few years back we flew in the night before with the intention of staying at a hotel near the airport. The flight was super delayed. When we arrived at the hotel they said they didn't have any rooms and we wouldn't be charged. But I persisted and we got a room.

But what if I had called a taxi (does DME run at that hour?) and we all went right to the deluxe resort in the middle of the night. Would they let us check in? Would they hold our baggage? What could we possibly do to kill about 4 hours at that time until breakfast at 7am? Just asking.

DME runs in the middle of the night. I would likely have dropped my bag off at luggage services and crashed in a lounger by the pool/beach or somewhere comfy in the lobby until I could check in at 6am Pretty tiring not to have an actual bed at that time of the night though.

Of course, if this was September, you would be at the perfect time to join the SWGE lineup!

 

[Seabean]

DME really runs at that time?

So we could have just shown up unannounced at the DME counter (though we would have had reservations for an 8am or so bus) ..and then they could at least store the bags while we go about and do whatever stuff around disney in the early morning hours?

 

[pangyal]

DME really runs at that time?

So we could have just shown up unannounced at the DME counter (though we would have had reservations for an 8am or so bus) ..and then they could at least store the bags while we go about and do whatever stuff around disney in the early morning hours?

DME runs, but not the luggage service. That’s offline between I believe 10pm and 5am.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

DME really runs at that time?

So we could have just shown up unannounced at the DME counter (though we would have had reservations for an 8am or so bus) ..and then they could at least store the bags while we go about and do whatever stuff around disney in the early morning hours?

All WDW resort guests are eligible to ride DME as long as they are riding on their check-in day or any day within their reservation booking (in the instance of guests from parties arriving and departing on different dates). You don't even have to call in your flight info to ride. Yes, you could have just shown up at the counter, given them your resort reservation number and they would have put you on a bus. If you happen to be arriving during DME luggage handling times, you don't even need yellow tags. You simply give the DME counter CM your baggage claim checks and they'll get your luggage for you.

 

[Hopefully]

DME really runs at that time?

So we could have just shown up unannounced at the DME counter (though we would have had reservations for an 8am or so bus) ..and then they could at least store the bags while we go about and do whatever stuff around disney in the early morning hours?

Yes. DME runs at that hour. But in your example you couldn’t have taken it as you were not (yet) a Disney Resort guest

 

[kaytieeldr]

You don't even have to call in your flight info to ride.

But you should, as the OP (or somebody in this thread) reserve in advance. No penalty for not taking the inbound ride.

 

[brockash]

Yes. DME runs at that hour. But in your example you couldn’t have taken it as you were not (yet) a Disney Resort guest

It sounds like they 100% could have yaken it. It's (DME) based on arrival day, so if you put that you arrive by plane on Monday and you arrive at 3am Monday; you can take DME at 3am. - In this case the OP had reserved a hotel the first night at the hotel and had reserved the DME for the following day, but due to the delay they actually did arrive the following day, so they could've taken it.

My family has done many red eyes getting in at 4 or 5am and have consistently ridden DME before 6am of arrival day.

 

[Seabean]

Thanks brockash, that's good info.

I mean, think about it: why would Disney run the DME at those wee hours if they wouldn't allow people to show up at their hotel prior to 6am?

The only scenario I can think of is someone having a rez for the day before and they run into crazy delays where they don't even show up until after midnight on the next calendar day. How often would that happen really?

So in theory, one could show up at the DME at 12:01 am on the calendar day of their rez and the DME would take them to their hotel?

And what happens when they get there? Would the hotel at least hold their baggage (assuming they have it with them, not yellow tagged) while they kill time (like at Disney Springs?) for the rest of the night?

 

[RookieLady]

I drove once and planned to spend the night in Georgia. Kids fell asleep and I drove through arriving at 12:30. I called ahead about an hour out reserving a room to stay one night at all star sports. I think it was worth rack rate to be at Disney and in a bed even though I moved later.

 

[trishadono]

You can take the ME any time after midnight on your arrival day/reservation.

They can store luggage at resort.

Room still may not be ready until 3pm. Could be earlier but it all depends on who is leaving that day and when.

Which resort? The only thing I can think of that MAY be open is the qs at GF. Gaspies somethimes is 24 hours.

 

[Lynne M]

So in theory, one could show up at the DME at 12:01 am on the calendar day of their rez and the DME would take them to their hotel?

And what happens when they get there? Would the hotel at least hold their baggage (assuming they have it with them, not yellow tagged) while they kill time (like at Disney Springs?) for the rest of the night?

Bell Services will hold your luggage. But about the only thing you can do to kill time is sit in the lobby, maybe grab a snack at Gasparilla Grill, or wander around the resort. I don't believe the gift shops are open at 3 AM. The boats and monorails aren't running. The buses aren't running. Disney Springs isn't open. WDW really isn't an open-all-night kind of place.

And even when the computers roll over at 6 AM and you can check in, you still may be waiting till late afternoon to get into your room. But at least you can go to the theme parks when they open.

 

[DLgal]

Thanks brockash, that's good info.

I mean, think about it: why would Disney run the DME at those wee hours if they wouldn't allow people to show up at their hotel prior to 6am?

The only scenario I can think of is someone having a rez for the day before and they run into crazy delays where they don't even show up until after midnight on the next calendar day. How often would that happen really??

So, funny you say that, but it happened to 2 out of 3 in my group 2 weeks ago!

My flight was supposed to arrive at 7:10pm. My connecting flight was delayed 4 hours and we landed at MCO at 11:15pm. My friend arrived at MCO at 11:45 after a 2 hour delay. I arrived at the Contemporary at 12:15am, my friend around 1:30am. Luckily we had a room since our check in day had been the day before.

Judging by the number of people lined up and boarding buses after midnight, it happens pretty often.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks brockash, that's good info.

I mean, think about it: why would Disney run the DME at those wee hours if they wouldn't allow people to show up at their hotel prior to 6am?

The only scenario I can think of is someone having a rez for the day before and they run into crazy delays where they don't even show up until after midnight on the next calendar day. How often would that happen really?

DME is a 24 hours a day service
And it's that hour because people arrive from around the world at all hours of the day.
It's midnight to you but if you've arrived from oh, Australia, guess what, it's not midnight to you
And people do book their rooms and arrive at all hours too.
I've arrived at 1:00 AM and had the room since 3:00 PM check in the day before.
Heck, once I booked the night before when we weren't arriving till 7:00 AM because I wanted to know for certain I had a room at arrival, not take a chance.
So they run DME 24 hours a day because Disney is a 24 hour a day destination. And it happens all the dang time

 

[DLgal]

DME is a 24 hours a day service
And it's that hour because people arrive from around the world at all hours of the day.
It's midnight to you but if you've arrived from oh, Australia, guess what, it's not midnight to you
And people do book their rooms and arrive at all hours too.
I've arrived at 1:00 AM and had the room since 3:00 PM check in the day before.
Heck, once I booked the night before when we weren't arriving till 7:00 AM because I wanted to know for certain I had a room at arrival, not take a chance.
So they run DME 24 hours a day because Disney is a 24 hour a day destination. And it happens all the dang time

You know, I never even thought to book a room for the day before so it would be ready in the morning. We can take red eyes from CA, and we never do because the idea of not having a place to crash immediately upon arrival was always an eliminating factor. I'll have to keep this in mind for the future.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We should roll into CSR around 3am next month (scheduled to land at 1:30am). We have a room booked and a note in the system that we will be arriving very late. We will take DME (with our luggage) and I suspect we won’t be alone...

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

You know, I never even thought to book a room for the day before so it would be ready in the morning. We can take red eyes from CA, and we never do because the idea of not having a place to crash immediately upon arrival was always an eliminating factor. I'll have to keep this in mind for the future.

@DLgal - I regularly book hotels for the night before if I am arriving internationally in the early morning (and sometimes even when traveling in the US). It is not uncommon to travel to Zurich and be arriving at either 7 or 8 am and I simply reach out to our corporate travel department and let them know to send an email onto the hotel that I am going to be a "late arrival". This way when I arrive in Zurich at 8am I can simply go to the hotel, check in, put my suitcases up and shower, etc and then go on to attend meetings. I've been doing this for YEARS. It works out very well and gives me peace of mind! I've never done this for Disney -- YET, but I wouldn't discount it if the opportunity arose!

 

[AngiTN]

You know, I never even thought to book a room for the day before so it would be ready in the morning. We can take red eyes from CA, and we never do because the idea of not having a place to crash immediately upon arrival was always an eliminating factor. I'll have to keep this in mind for the future.

It's not a cheap method so I only have done it once when our plans for arrival day really necessitated that we HAD to have a nap. I figured with the way my luck ran it would be the one time we got a room late rather than early so I paid for the room. I did inform them that we'd be arriving late, even went so far as to find a flight that arrived at like 5 AM. Naturally, I got a room ready text about noon the day before we left! Go figure.