Earliest Check In Question...

[The Sorrentino's]

We're moving to another state in about two months and I had to forfeit my air reservations and now I'm waiting on another possible good rate.

My question is: how early can we check into BCV if we should get an early flight out (with the old flights we were do to arrive at MCO at 1pm). Our check in date is 10/29/05. Or is it wise to arrive after 4pm. I will like to get into the room and get everyone situated so we can go out and play.

Thanks,

Cadence

 

[CaipiraBob]

I don't know about BCV, but in a standard resort you can check in anytime, but you can't expect a room until after 3:00PM. Our next trip we plan on checking in at 8:00AM, drop off our luggage and hit the parks. When we return we'll use a backpack with essenatials to change the kids and hit the pool until our room is ready. No reason to lose an entire day.

 

[goofy4tink]

Not too mnay people have ever been able to get into the villas early. Check-in is at 4 and they mean it!!! We usually arrive around noonish and check-in but have to stow our bags with bell services and then go amuse ourselves for the afternoon. You could pack a smaller bag with stuff you will need for the afternoon. Maybe a bathing suit for the pool. Just don't make our mistake. We have traveled mostly during the NE colder weather. so when we get to BWV we are dressed in long sleeve shirts, heavy jeans, sneakers/socks. In Nov we had to rummage through our luggage in order to get some more seasonal clothes to wear since it was so warm!!!

 

[The Sorrentino's]

I'm going to choose a flight that gets us to MCO around 4pm or 5pm. I'll just have to re-arrange our first night to dinner at Beaches and Cream and to enjoy some of the festivities around the Beach Club.

Cadence

 

[golfgal]

On my confirmation sheet there is a line about check-in time being 3:00 but then it states that if you arrive earlier, you can "pre-register" at the front desk to start taking advantage of your package features (in our case tickets and meals). We are staying at AKL, but with any hotel, they realise that people don't always just come at check-in time (what a nightmare that would be at Disney, LOL).

 

[AJKMOM]

The resorts are 3:00pm check-in. The DVC has 4:00pm check-in. You should just get the best deal first and work around it. If you don't get to MCO until 4pm, it could be 5:30-6:00 before you arrive at BCV, depending on rush hour traffic and how long it takes for your luggage to reach the carosel.


As mentioned, if you arrive early, you can go in, check-in, give them your luggage, and head out to the Boardwalk whenever you arrive. A bonus to this is there will be less chance of a long line at check-in after 4:00. When we arrived at 2pm, there was no one in line. Saw one at 5:00.

 

[goodferry]

One trip we arrived at the CBR around 11 am fully prepared to leave our bags and head out to Downtown Disney only to find that our room was ready. Last trip we arrived at the Poly concierge around 10 am with the same intentions and our room was ready again. I think it helps if you have what time your flight is arriving noted on your reservation! Of course the situation may be different at the Villas, but we always like to get there as early as possible on our first day!

 

[goodferry]

Another thing to consider, we have four kids and one of the reasons we like to get there as early as possible the first day is it cuts down on the number of times they get to ask "How much longer until we get to Disney"

 

[Gymbomom]

I would opt for as early a flight as you could get. Just by chance you had a delay or cancelled flight, it is much nicer to start at the first of the day rescheduling, than gen pushed till the next day.
Also, you can check in as early as you want, your bags might not be ready, but you could store them, check out the resort, or go ahead to the parks!

 

[The Sorrentino's]

I spoke to Mark and he said that if we can leave our luggage with guest services then we should just get there early. Why waste a night (he's right). He's thinking that maybe we can start our day at Epcot since it takes two days to do or just hit the pool (I heard SAB is the best at Disney). I guess that our pool gear (suits, goggles, caps and water shoes) are going in our carry ons.

Cadence

 

[goofy4tink]

That's our plan also!! Our bathing suits will be in our carry-on bags. We learned that one the hard way. Go to the pool, kick back for a bit, grab a bite to eat. Then you can get into your room, unpack if you want and then head out to a park all nice and refreshed.

 

[cdntourguide]

I arrived at CSR at 5:30am on April 20, went to the desk to check in and get my room key with charging privilages so I could make the morning EMH.
To my surprise, and to the surprise wonderful CM at the front desk, my room was available and I given it. That made my day as I have been traveling from the West coast since 9am the day before.

 

[billsfan]

Having the room ready early could go both ways. In 2000 we arrived at POFQ at around 7:00 AM after driving all night and we were able to check right in and go to our room. In 2003 we arrives at the AKL at noon and our room wasn't available. We decided just to hang out at the lodge until 3:00 PM and go to our room then. At 3:00 PM we went back to check-in and they informed us that our room still wasn't ready. We had to wait until 5:00 PM to get ito our room.

One just never knows

 

[The Sorrentino's]

I'm just going to make sure that everyone has their swim gear in their carry ons just in case we'll have to wait. Mark doesn't mind sleeping out on pool chair and as long as I get some sun I'll be OK too . Thank you all.

Cadence

 

[goofy4tink]

Just so that everyone is on the same page here, I believe Cadence is checking into BCVs. Since it is a DVC property, the units are seldom ready before the official check-in time of 4:00. I have always been able to get into my room at every other resort on Disney property earlier than the posted check-in time of 3. But at the Villas, it almost never happens. In fact, I've always had to wait a bit past the 4:00 time.

 

[The Sorrentino's]

My tickets say we'll be arriving at MCO at 6:30pm and I'm going to give us an hour to get to WDW just in case we get lost in the rental. We won't be waiting passed 7:30pm right?

 

[debbiedoo]

You should have no problem. We checked in last Wednesday at 11 am and was told that our room would be ready in about 1 to 2 hours. It was ready--but were enjoying Epcot. We went to our room about 5 -- they print your keys out and they give you a number to call. Yes you can use the pool until they get your room ready and the pool was AWESOME!!!