earliest you have checked in.

[Geoff_M]

CRO is only half right. There's no early "check-in" but you can "pre-check-in" early. We pulled up to the Poly just before 8 AM on January 1, 2003. We went through the check-in process, got our resort IDs, etc., left our luggage in the car and set off for EMH at MK. All we had to do was call the resort from the park in the afternoon and they'd give us our room number and automatically activate the resort IDs for that room.

Here's one other important thing to consider about wanting a room early... it may hinder the desireability of your room location. CMs tend to give guests the best available room within a category at check-in. If you want a room in the AM, you'd be limited to the "left over" rooms from the day before. That's a good way to get a dumpster view room or a room that's a long walk from everything. This isn't to say you'll get a "bad" room for sure, it just increases the odds. That's why we opted to wait for a room at the Poly. We asked the CM when the best time to call back for a room was for the best chance of a good view was and we went with his advice for around 3 PM.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by Geoff_M
That's why we opted to wait for a room at the Poly. We asked the CM when the best time to call back for a room was for the best chance of a good view was and we went with his advice for around 3 PM.

Actually, your room is assigned when you check in, they just can't give you the actual room number until its ready. So it doesn't matter what time you call, it will be the same room. Only in extremely rare situations (typically maintenance reasons) will they change the room that was assigned when you pre-registered.

True enough though, checking in very early (before 10am) does limit the selection of rooms available, depending on how busy the resort was the night prior. So it's important to figure out whether you'd like to get a room that meets all your requests, but is not available just yet... or to take whatever room is available right now.

 

[Geoff_M]

Actually, your room is assigned when you check in, they just can't give you the actual room number until its ready.

Interesting... The CM didn't disabuse me of that notion and must have just been "playing along" when I asked.

 

[LuvTigger]

Originally posted by mickeymousefan
I called CRO this morning to request early check in and they said there is no such thing, but come as early as you want and they will store your luggage.

I would call back and ask another CM. I can't believe that they will not even note a request for early check-in, as it is simply a request.

 

[surf2di4]

mickeymousefan

this year they took the decorations down the night of jan 5. in downtown disney, epcot had them the whole time i was there.

there are no crowds to speak of, and if you stay after the first weekend of the new year you even miss the locals that are still coming before the kids go back to school. its a great time for adults.
very few kids even at the pop century. stayed from jan 2- jan 9.

i loved the pop century the weather was great it got down into the low 60's only 1 day

last yr i stayed at the port orleans riverside and the weather was just as nice only 1 day of rain (new years eve and i was at the party at P.I. and it POURED AND RAINED. but the rest of the week was great.

the yr before i stayed at the D.I. since torn down for saratoga springs. it was cold and it snowed in atlanta that yr. and the golf course's had frost til like9:00 a.m.

and in 88 i stayed at the contempary, nice but would not do it again

so if your not going to be living in your room i would suggest the pop century and request the 60's.]

sincerly
karl

hope this helps

 

[colleen costello]

We usually arrive late in Florida and spend a night onsite somewhere inexpensive. The next day we check into our DVC room. At Old Key West I typically arrive before 8am and they always have a room ready. It's great... Even last Thanksgiving when the place was full, they checked me in around 7:30 and the room was waiting. They are magical folks there!

 

[BobNed]

I've checked in as early as 9:30 at POR and the room was ready - including the specific building we requested. I've also had them not ready. Last year in December we checked in to OKW at 10:00 and we had to wait until after 4:00 p.m. to get into our room.

 

[SpeechGuy]

Just wondering if a person checks in earlier in the day, around 9 or 10 AM and has a couple of rooms in mind that he/she would like to have. Can the check-in cm be able to tell if those rooms will be available (through check outs) later in the day, and will they hold that room for you for when it does become available? Thanks!

 

[ChuckGA]

Dec2001 GF: 7am check-in room was not ready.
May2003 YC CL: 7am check-in, a room was ready but it did not have the daybed so we had to wait.
June2003 Poly CL: 7am check-in, had made reservations for two adjoing rooms and they were ready.

Notice how we always get there for 7am to enjoy EMH or at least an early start. We drive down the night before from Atlanta and stay off-site at a lower cost hotel.

Chuck

 

[Charleston Zurg]

We have checked in at the Dolphin at 9:30, and at ASMu at 11:00. We checked in at POR at 10:00, however we could not get into the room until 2:00.

 

[disneyatl]

Earliest we've ever checked in was 12pm and the room was ready.

 

[candykisses]

We usually arrive at 10:30 and all but once we were able to get into our rooms.

 

[Hollymom1229]

Checked into AKL at 10:30 and room was not ready, had to wait until after 3 PM. This was September '02.

 

[kadaten]

6:30 am
AKL
second week of December 2003
all 9 rooms ready, 4 connecting pairs, 7 of 9 side-by-side (other 2 just down the hall in the smoking area), and UPGRADED to Deluxe pool view from standard