DLH early check in & Magic Mornings

[Anater]

I need some help in coordinating this! We recently reserved two nights at DLH in December for my son's birthday trip . We can really only swing two days in the parks (hubby enjoys Disney, but in moderation), and one of the days will be on our son's birthday, a Wednesday. Our reservations are Tues and Weds night. We'll be staying with family in Los Angeles so I thought the best way to use our MM might be to drive from LA to DLH early morning Tuesday and check in so that we can get our key before lining up for MM. Is this too ambitious? Going from prior calendars, I think the parks will probably open at 9 AM so MM will be at 8, which means we'll have to line up by 7:30 or so. It just seems like such a hassle, especially with a six year old. Our other option is to check in Tuesday afternoon, enjoy DTD and the DLH grounds then go to the parks Wed and MM Thursday. But, then we won't have anywhere to rest during the day, which sort of takes away the reason for staying in a hotel in the first place. Main questions are:

1) How long does check in usually take, especially early morning - do many others do the same thing for MM?
2) What time are the rooms usually ready for actual check in? I keep reading that GC frequently runs as late at 4 - is it the same at DLH?
3) How do we access the front lobby? Can we park in a loading area while checking in? Do we then have to drive the car to a lot, then hoof it to the main entrance? How far is that?

I don't want our day to start off so stressed that we're wound up even before entering the parks. I was in such a warrior mode during our son's 1st trip in 2004 that I didn't even stop to see his expression as we entered Main Street. I was so determined to "walk with purpose" to FL. I want to savor this trip a little more this time. Hmmmm, maybe I've just answered my own questions Thoughts anyone?

 

[Vala]

We checked in at around 7.30 AM last year, and the whole procedure took about 5 minutes - half of that time was spent on trying to locate my WDTC package that they had misplaced.

Our room was actually ready at that time, but I am not sure if that's a regular occuring at DLH. It was our first time staying there.

There's parking spaces reserved for check in directly across the road from the main entrance. We parked in the parking structure on top of the tower where Goofy's Kitchen is located. That's really not much more far than walking from your room to the main entrance.

 

[gatorfreud]

You can check in early and make it to MM - we did it when we checked into GCH from an offsite hotel - but that was only a 10 minute walk away.

I don't think you'd have much luck getting there that early from somewhere else - who knows about the traffic, you'd have to get up so early, might not even make it. Sounds stressful to me.

Do you have 2 day tickets I'm guessing?

I would check in whenever and then do the MM on Thursday. You will be going so early that you will have everything done by lunch time, so you can rest by doing easy activities, or just leave when you are done. Were you planning to stay for fireworks at all - or are they even offered then?

I would probably upgrade to 3 day tickets and then you can spread it out a bit - do a few things Tuesday, some wednesday with a nice rest/pool break, then hit MM on Thursday and go until you drop.

Kim

 

[bumbershoot]

We didn't drive from LA, but we woke up at sick-and-wrong in the morning to get out of the Hilton and over to Paradise Pier Hotel to check in around 6am. Not sure if MM started at 7 and we were late-ish or if it started at 8 and we were early, but it worked out well!

And that was when we were chosen for the Big Kahuna family of the day, and upgraded to a suite, so that was a nice little rewards.

If driving from LA is like driving from San Diego...you're going to want to leave very very early, or after 9. You don't want to do it in between or you'll be stuck. I personally would choose very early.

You likely won't get your room assignment, but you'll get your keycards (with your names on them), you can leave your luggage with the Bell services people, and then you'll get a number to call with a PIN, so you can find out your room assignment after a certain hour.

DS was only 4 when we woke him up to check in to PPH, and while he was a bit whiney, I was more so, and it all went fine.

 

[Anater]

I think we've solved it! I think we'll stay one night at Hojos at the Entertainment rate, then do what Bumbershoot did (your sick and wrong comment made me ) and check into the DLH early morning before heading to MM. Why didn't I think of that? We're born and raised in Southern CA and used to the traffic. We've made early trips to DL before from LA, but that was leaving at 6:30, and we've always been stressed by the time we arrive. I think I'd rather spend the $60 and have some piece of mind. THANKS!

 

[bumbershoot]

You know you're just working yourself into 4 day tickets, don't you? Get to hojo Monday, go to the parks...wake up Tuesday and get to DLH, MM, second day at the park...wake up on Wednesday, go to the parks, get yourselves ready to go that night, wake up and put stuff wth Bell Services, MM on Thursday, have fun in the parks, retrieve your stuff, and go home...

Oh wait, that's ME I'm talking about...

 

[Anater]

Bumbershoot - Don't you know it I may have to convince hubby that snowballing can be a good thing. If Momma aint happy, no ones happy. lol

Thanks for the feedback guys - looks like it is definitely do-able.