Do they usually let you check in early??

[tmonferdini]

We are going to be staying at POR in June. We are driving and plan to be in Orlando sometime in the morning and was just wondering what the chances are of being able to check-in early, maybe around 12:00 or 1:00?

How does this work? Do we call ahead to the hotel & ask? When?

We are planning to get to Wal-Mart & pick up a few things for snacks & breakfast & head to DTD for BBB. Want to know when to make an ADR for that, also.

Also, I read somewhere that the boat from POR to DTD runs once an hour until 4:00, then every 15 minutes, or something like that. Does it run ON the hour? Can anyone help with any of this? Thanks so much!

 

[Allison]

You can always check in early but there is no guarantee your room will be available. If not, they will give you a number to call to check on the status.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

There's no way of guessing the odds of whether your room will be ready or not. We have checked in early every time we have gone to WDW. Sometimes our room has been ready, but if its not we have gone ahead and checked in to get our park tickets, left our bags in baggage claim (given a receipt for our checked bags) and taken our tickets and our valuables (cash/credit cards, cameras, etc.) to enjoy some time in one of the parks. When you check in, if your room is not ready you will be given a card with a telephone number to call. I've used my cell phone to call from the park to find out our room number; if you don't have a cell phone or cannot get a signal, you can call from Guest Services inside the park. When we return to the resort we have either gone straight to our room (yes, our key cards worked every time) and called baggage claim to have our checked bags delivered, or gone to baggage claim in person to claim them ourselves.

My kids are grown (and besides, I have sons), so I can't advise you about BBB.

Here is the sign for the boats at POFQ. It explains the schedule.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

The hotel will let you check in early but there is a chance your room won't be available. So far the only hotel we couldn't check into early (around 11am) was the Polynesian.

For BBB, you can make reservations up to 180 days from the date you desire. However, the BBB is VERY much in demand so for your trip I suggest making that ADR ASAP.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We checked in early both times we've been to WDW. Both times in the morning. One time we had to wait 10 minutes. But we always go off-season and I'm sure that helps.

 

[noahdove]

Oh, I do hope that we will be able to get our room when we go next August when we first arrive..we didn't the last time, but maybe with extra pixie dust we will be able to

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have always checked in early. The earliest was about 6:30AM. Our room was available less than half the time.

Disneyland Grand Californian is the only place where we couldn't check in before 3PM. But, then, there are a lot of difference between DL and WDW.

 

[Bugsmom73]

We have checked in at 11AM, Noon, and 3:30PM Our room was ready at noon and at 3.

 

[tmonferdini]

Thanks so much, Tink's Pixieduster! This is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Also the boats at POR don't have a scheduled arrival or departure times. They are like the busses. The signs say they run every so often but you may be lucky and have one arrive at any time or may have to wait longer or even for more than one boat if there is a long line. The boats have a limited capacity but they usually don't fill up until later in the afternoon and evening. That is why they run more often then.