Driving to Disney - hotel check in policy

[JJIRmom]

We're driving down from mid-Michigan next week and our plan is to drive through the night. We plan to leave around 10 PM and drive until noon the next day. That should leave us in or around Atlanta (with all our many breaks in between) Would we be able to check into any hotel in the Atlanta area around noon or do all hotels require the 3 PM check in time? We don't want to reserve anything in advance because were not sure exactly where we will end up calling it quits for that day. Any help appreciated

 

[Alesia]

It's very rare for any hotel to not let you check in early.

 

[loves to dive]

Given there are so many hotels around Atlanta you shouldn't have a problem. Now checking in and actually getting into a room are a different matter, but I still don't think you will be totally out of luck. You may have to check with more than one. There is a Braves game both Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th but that would only effect the hotels within walking or Marta distance to Turner Field. We live about 45 min. from Atlanta and often just decide on the spur of the moment to go grab a hotel for the night and have found staying on the perimeter pretty easy. There are many little bedroom communities around Atlanta as well.

 

[JJIRmom]

Thank you. I kept telling my husband that we are going to have to sit around and wait for the 3:00 check in time but Im glad to be proven wrong. The last thing I would want to do is to wait for a couple hours after an 11+ hour drive.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Thank you. I kept telling my husband that we are going to have to sit around and wait for the 3:00 check in time but Im glad to be proven wrong. The last thing I would want to do is to wait for a couple hours after an 11+ hour drive.

You can check in anytime, you just might not get your room until the official check in time. You may be waiting to get into a room for hours if you check in mid-morning or you could get lucky. No one can say for sure.

 

[bumbershoot]

There are some hotels out there in the world that do not allow you to do the checkin process until their checkin time. DH has encountered two while traveling the world for work since 2009. It's possible you could find one in Atlanta, but it's not a for sure thing.

 

[JJIRmom]

That's what I'm hoping will not happen. Hubby and I will be exhausted and will want to lay down in our room right away and let the kids play. Won't really be able to relax in waiting room with the kiddos running wild.

 

[Alesia]

Once you're about an hour out, start calling hotels and see if they can get you into a room when you get there. If not, call another one. There's no need to keep driving from one hotel to another.

 

[JJIRmom]

Does anyone know if such an app exists to find hotels nearby that includes prices? You know like that "gas buddy" app that finds nearby gas stations & their prices. That would make my life so much easier than just driving around looking for different hotels

 

[Alesia]

Google is your friend: https://www.google.com/webhp?source...&es_th=1&ie=UTF-8#q=hotel finding app&es_th=1

 

[GreatLakes]

Does anyone know if such an app exists to find hotels nearby that includes prices? You know like that "gas buddy" app that finds nearby gas stations & their prices. That would make my life so much easier than just driving around looking for different hotels

Kayak is the website I use but they also have an app. Yelp and Google Maps also can be used to find hotels and rates.

I've stopped just south of Atlanta a couple times while driving down to FL, there are quite a few options. I recommend stopping after you pass through the city so you are going against rush hour traffic when you leave the next morning.

 

[JJIRmom]

Thank you all for the help!!! And I'm all for avoiding rush hour traffic in Atlanta that terrifies me to drive thru that lol