Does anyone ever check in earlier than 4pm?

[dtsaos]

We will be spliting our stay, the first half at ASM and then we'll be checking into BWV and were wondering if anyone has had any luck checking in early to BWV? Just want to be able to unpack, do laundry etc as early in the day as possible. Any tips appreciated!
Thanks

 

[carol1231]

We've checked into BWV a few times around 8am and our room was ready, other times we haven't been able to get in until 4pm. Our most recent stay in June, our 2bdrm was ready at 2pm, but my Dsis's studio was ready immediately at 7am.

So, there is always a chance.

 

[dtsaos]

Wow 8am is really early. I guess it will be worth it for us to ask.
Thanks

 

[dianeschlicht]

You can ask, but official check in time is 4:00, so don't count on getting in early. We usually pre-check in as soon as we arrive. We have gotten into our villa once or twice right away, but usually, we have to wait and keep calling to see if it's ready.

 

[dgaston]

We were astonished too when we checked into a BWV studio on a Sunday, and they had one ready at 8:30 am! We weren't even prepared to bring up the stuff, thinking we'd wait until 4 pm, but what a nice surprise.

 

[JimC]

We almost always arrive and check-in between 10:00 am and noon. Sometimes the room is ready and sometimes we just head out for some fun.

 

[eporter66]

Our first stay at SSR we checked in around 12:30, granted the place had just opened. We also sent my parents down in November of last year - they also got in well before the 4:00 check in time.

It is worth trying - but I dont know that I would count on having a room before 4:00

 

[DVC California]

If the House isn't full and a room is available, the front desk will propbably accomodate you. However, if you made any "special" requests, you will have to decide whether you rather check-in early or wait for your "Boardwalk" view, top floor room.

We often check-in early and as long as we're not picky, we usually get into a room right away....I'd say, 75% of the time.

HTH, Steve

 

[rocketriter]

We try to check in before noon at BCV. It rarely gets us into the room early, but we do usually have our requests met.

 

[Granny]

The key theme here is to not "expect" your room to be ready before 4:00. There is no problem checking in during the morning, but you shouldn't plan your day with getting into the room before 4:00 as part of it.

And actually, 4:00 is not guaranteed either. Our last trip to OKW this summer our room wasn't available until 5:30.

Just don't want you to set up expectations of an early room availability. We've gotten rooms early at BWV (1:00) and sometimes later. Good luck!

 

[dtsaos]

Well, we will have our van with us (along with DS 5, DD 3 and DD 8 months) so we'll probably drive over after we check out of ASM and try. If we can't check in right away, we'll just take a walk or boat ride over to Epcot. Love that about Boardwalk!

 

[dianeschlicht]

You can check in whenever you arrive, you just might not get your room assignment right away. THey will give you a card with a number to call. When your room is ready, you just need to go up to the room. They will give you the key cards when you first arrive and activate them when they have your room ready.

 

[patsal]

I always check in with a plan to hit the parks right after, many times the room is ready and sometimes we choose to drop our stuff and sometimes we stick to plan. I have to admit that now I do a quick check of the room though, because that early if there is a problem I can usually be moved easily--sure I may have to wait, but there would be no non-smoking room smoked in issue!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We have checked in and recived a room by 10:00 A.M. during the busiest time of the year and have done the same during a slow time and were not in our room until after 4:00 P.M. So you never know.

As you've been told. Feel free to check in but don't expect the room unitl 4:00 P.M. Anything earlier is a bonus.

HBC

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

If you're room isn't ready, you could still do some laundry using the facilities assigned to the studios. You could throw in a few loads and go to the pool or do some grocery shopping, etc.

 

[Danthesand]

Another reason to check in early is to raise the likelihood of getting a villa that comes as close as possible to meeting your requests.

Yes, the "room ready' policy seems to vary by property and whatever check-in CM you deal with. However, in many cases you can still "negotiate," e.g. politely ask which villas becoming available that day in your category come closest to meeting your requests, and then -- if the "best" one isn't yet available -- letting the CM know you're willing to wait as long as necessary for that specific villa.

Again, given the variation in how room assignments are being done by resort, you can't always do this sort of "cherry picking," but it doesn't hurt to show up 7-8am-ish and try.

 

[grumpy-duck]

We have been to BWV and BCV a total of seven times and our room has been ready when we checked in on every occassion - clearly lucky. The latest we have tried to check in was about 2:00 and the earliest was 9:00. We usually arrive around 10:00-11:00. We also typically request a non-smoking, close to the elevator, top floor, non-handicapped room. Other than one trip where we had a long walk to the elevator (we actually were at the very end of the hall - the longest walk possible) we have always received our requests. I keep knocking on wood for our luck!

 

[dtsaos]

thanks for all the tips!