Does arrival time matter? (at the Poly)

[juliebee]

I'm getting ready to book a March trip to the Poly and in researching the flights I've found that I basically can't get into Orlando until 5pm (on a Friday) since I'm flying from the West Coast. Or I have the less desirable option of flying all night long and getting into Orlando around 7am. So, my question is does arrival time matter in getting my preferred longhouse? Is there anything I should be thinking about in choosing an arrival time?

I know it's a bit early to be booking the flights, but choosing the arrival time might change our arrival date by a day. Also, we are going to use Magical Express, and wondered how long it takes to get to the Poly from the airport?

Thanks for any help!

 

[disneyag]

Magical Express will take about an hour from the time you land at MCO. I don't think time of check in makes much of a difference. We've checked in at 8am, 1pm, and 5pm and always gotten what we wanted.

 

[mitchwebb]

We checked in at 9pm (west coast also) and got we had requested.

 

[Ratpack]

Hard question to really answer. Best answer I can give is that the earlier you check in, the better chance you have at getting what you want, but doesn't guarantee you will get it, nor does checking in late guarantee you won't get it. It really is more a matter of how many people have the same request. A lot of people do not put requests on their ressies and just make requests when they arrive. When they do, for instance request a certain longhouse, and the room is available, they will most likely get it thus knocking you out of it since you haven't checked in. It just really boils down to how crowded the resort is. Your trip is in March so it could play into Spring Break which is a very crowded time.

 

[kaysmommie]

It really doesn't matter as long as you have your request on your reservation and even the nthere is no guarantee. We have been at Poly twice for a week. The first time we checked in after 3 PM and got our dream room/view exactly what I requested. This last October we checked in at 10 AM and we didn't get either of our requested buildings but it turned out alright in the end.

 

[juliebee]

Thanks everyone! I'll be sure to do the request in advance then and not wait to 'spring' it on the desk clerks at check in. I'm not all that twisted up on a certain longhouse anyway, looks like most would be a dream to stay in!

 

[mickeynut1]

We arrived at the Poly on a Thursday night in September around 12:30 a.m. (I guess technically it was Friday ) and got what we requested (2 out of 3). We requested Samoa, first floor, volcano pool side and we got Samoa, first floor, facing the quiet pool....which was just as great, IMO .

 

[frdeb1999]

We have arrived at different times and have always managed to get what we requested. If we arrive on the early side we have them keep our luggage and start enjoying our vacation!