Early Arrival = Long Day with Young Children...

[kristenrice]

In the past, we have always taken flights that arrive in Orlando in the mid to late afternoon. We rarely had to get up before 8am (our usual, non-vacation wake up time) so the trip was never too much for the kids to handle.

In October, we were only able to get a non-stop flight that departs at 6:50am and lands at 9:30am. We are arriving on a Sunday and using DME so I think we will get to AKV by 11am. I am not delusional and I know that our 2BR will probably not be available much before 3pm, if even that early. I'm wondering what would be a good plan for the "wait" time. The "actual" kids will be ages 2-11...but I have to add in the husbands (mine and my brother-in-law) who will be less excited than the kids when they get dragged out of bed at 4am to go to the airport. By the time we arrive at the resort, we will have been up for 7 hours with another 4-5 hour wait for a room. The younger kids (2 and 6) will certainly be completely exhausted and overstimulated. My girls (9 and 11) should be fine, but DH will be a train wreck.

We will have park tickets available and I am wondering what our best plan should be. Should we hit a park? If so, which one is best for a late arrival? We will have umbrella strollers (non-reclining) for the two younger ones so they would at least be off their feet. What about the pool? We are staying at Kidani and I love the pool area there, but with the afternoon festivities, it isn't exactly conducive to a nap. My sister was thinking DtD, but I don't know if there are any "quiet" places there to rest and chill. We should be eligible for pool-hopping...should we try a different resort or will they all have pool parties going on in the afternoon? I have only stayed at Kidani one time and it was only for 3 days so I didn't get to do a lot of exploring. Is there anywhere that is out of the way where we can let the younger ones lay down and nap? I know that there are several couches in the lobby at Jambo, but I have to believe that Disney doesn't want kids (or child-like husbands) napping in the lobby.

For those who arrive before noon and travel with the easily-exhausted, what do you do? Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

We run into this problem every trip, and so far we have been lucky and our room has always been ready. Some things I have considered doing : getting a long relaxing lunch reservation to kill some time, a movie at downtown Disney, and hanging out by the pool.

We've also driven around aimlessly while my son napped in the car on our way to the hotel.

 

[rlovew]

If you want a quiet pool you could go to one of the quiet ones at OKW- I know the one at South Point is normally quiet when I am there at least there aren't any Disney thrown parties there(you would have to take 2 buses to get there and back however).

I have seen lots of people lounging in the Jambo lobby waiting for rooms.

The movies might be good although you have to decide if you want to pay for a comfortable place for at least half of you to sleep instead of watching the movie. You could also go to DTD and relax on the water taxis some- I find the very relaxing myself- you could always take a boat to one of the resorts and back to lengthen your ride.

If you are not picky about your room you can always ask for a room that is ready when you check in- chances are one or two might be available but they might not be ones that meet your requests. If you check-in online you can tell them when you are planning to arrive and I think that you prefer a ready room over other requests.

 

[DebbieB]

In the past, we have always taken flights that arrive in Orlando in the mid to late afternoon. We rarely had to get up before 8am (our usual, non-vacation wake up time) so the trip was never too much for the kids to handle.

In October, we were only able to get a non-stop flight that departs at 6:50am and lands at 9:30am. We are arriving on a Sunday and using DME so I think we will get to AKV by 11am. I am not delusional and I know that our 2BR will probably not be available much before 3pm, if even that early. I'm wondering what would be a good plan for the "wait" time. The "actual" kids will be ages 2-11...but I have to add in the husbands (mine and my brother-in-law) who will be less excited than the kids when they get dragged out of bed at 4am to go to the airport. By the time we arrive at the resort, we will have been up for 7 hours with another 4-5 hour wait for a room. The younger kids (2 and 6) will certainly be completely exhausted and overstimulated. My girls (9 and 11) should be fine, but DH will be a train wreck.

We will have park tickets available and I am wondering what our best plan should be. Should we hit a park? If so, which one is best for a late arrival? We will have umbrella strollers (non-reclining) for the two younger ones so they would at least be off their feet. What about the pool? We are staying at Kidani and I love the pool area there, but with the afternoon festivities, it isn't exactly conducive to a nap. My sister was thinking DtD, but I don't know if there are any "quiet" places there to rest and chill. We should be eligible for pool-hopping...should we try a different resort or will they all have pool parties going on in the afternoon? I have only stayed at Kidani one time and it was only for 3 days so I didn't get to do a lot of exploring. Is there anywhere that is out of the way where we can let the younger ones lay down and nap? I know that there are several couches in the lobby at Jambo, but I have to believe that Disney doesn't want kids (or child-like husbands) napping in the lobby.

For those who arrive before noon and travel with the easily-exhausted, what do you do? Thanks for any and all advice.

Hate to tell you that check-in at DVC is 4:00pm. But you may get lucky and have it ready earlier.

If you are looking for a quiet place at Kidani, there's an observation room right off the lobby that I think has seating. I don't think Disney is against napping in the lobby, I've seen it.

 

[daisygirl902]

We love to go spend a couple of hours at a waterpark on arrival day. It's a bit more relaxed as they start to empty out a bit in the afternoon, and not to "line-intensive". The alternative is to pack our swim stuff in the carry-ons and just hang ot at the resort pool until the room is ready.

 

[Sammie]

All main pools will have afternoon activities. To me going to a park would be more tiring than waiting at the resort. Definitely get something to eat.

As to the husbands, I would tell them not to act like kids.

 

[mouse]

DebbieB is correct. There is a quiet area with comfy seating off to the right of the lobby at Kidani. I think it is called the library. There is also an outdoor area just off of the library with rocking chairs. We have rarely seen anyone in there. We sometimes relax there while waiting for our Sanaa seating.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

We have been fortunate to get into our room early at Kidani. They have a library on the right side of the lobby overlooking the savannah. There is even a balcony area off it that is shaded and has nice rocking chairs. It is very peaceful there. I can essily see myself napping there. Community hall is located next to the library. It won't be quiet but it is a great place to hangout. They have great activities for kids to do. Crayons are available plus $1 crafts to make.

If the room is not ready then we hit a park for lunch and walk around a bit until the room is ready. This is our first trip in 9 years without a stroler.

Good luck and enjoy the trip. Check out the balcony off the library. You'll forget all about the parks!!! Lol

 

[wendow]

I hope you get lucky too and get your room sooner! We also typically take a flight leaving about 7-8am. And we live an hour from the airport and coming from Colorado so it ends up being a very long day.

We've stayed at BLT twice now. First time, in 2012, we got our room after 5pm!! even though we had arrived there at 11am for check-in. And we had 4 tired dc in tow, the youngest being 17 mos. In 2013, we arrived at 2:30pm and got a room pretty much right at 4pm. So, earlier check-in has not happened for us.

 

[bookwormde]

I have talked with the CMs at the front desks and while it certainly not a formal policy, they do try to get families with young children rooms ASAP.

Certainly no Guarantee but if you do on line check in for 10:30am it will help.

As said there are some good quiet places at Kidani.

 

[wrighter]

We almost always have this type of schedule on arrival day. The first few trips we really toyed with "what to do?!" But now we know: We just chill.

You won't ever know how long it will actually take to get to the resort, or if your room will be ready. What has come to be our tradition is to just relax and enjoy the resorts and all that they have to offer. Usually I'm not even done checking in and the kids (and DH, too!) are in the bathing suits getting sunscreened up. Out to the pool they go to stretch their legs. If our room isn't ready, I join them. DH and I enjoy a drink and/or lunch. It really makes us feel like vacation has arrived! If our room is ready, I go to the room and unpack for everyone, including all the groceries that we have waiting for us at Bell Services. (I know some people will wonder why on earth I take the time to do this - but it makes me feel better that we're all ready for the week!)

There are always pool games at the pools, and a plethora of other activities that CMs run around the property. We usually stop in and check out the hospitality house, etc. Really we just relax and explore. An early dinner and early bed (we're usually tired anyway!) means we can get a good start the next day.

Don't feel like you have to be "out and about" the entire trip. Stop and smell the roses!

 

[sophia315]

We have been lucky the last two visits to arrive at 11 and he room be ready (studio both times).

I would have two plans

1. able to check into room plan - eat - rest - then "play"

2. Not able to check in plans:
1st I would - eat at the hotel at that time 11am after plane travel everyone will be hungry and probably cranky - we were!

Then I would do one of the following options:

hang at hotel pool and swim and relax until room is ready - rest - night activity (explore hotel, dinner somewhere fun, DTD for a walk or a short night trip to a park depending on how late you want to stay out and if you have tickets)

Or

Get to a park - check crowd trackers for projected least crowded - we have gone to HS arrival day in the past with a lot of luck and then head back to resort when room is ready and just chill for the night

In my opinion DTD with your group may not work unless you are going to do an activity like Disney Quest or Bowling. I think the kids will be too antsy to go shopping.

No matter what you will be in Disney and everyone will be pumped.

 

[LILJAN59]

We were in Kissimmee off site and booked 2 nites in a studio at BLT. It was 3/30/13. We drover over to BLT, CHECKEN IN AT 7:15 am, walked to MK. at aboutv12:00 noon I got the voice mail from Tinkerbell that our room was ready. It was not a full kitchen, I think they take more time to get ready, but you might just ask at check in for the first available, if it was empty the nite before you may luck out, but don't be fussy about the location.
Otherwise, I would find a spot in the shade at KIDANI Pool, drags a couple of lounge chairs over there, and the little ones may conk out even with the activities, or Rock them to sleep on the porch!

 

[Anal Annie]

We almost always arrive early with the o'dark thirty type of flights. We just store our luggage with Bell Services and head to a park or maybe if it's nearly lunchtime grab some lunch first. When we get the text that the room is ready we head back to the resort at some point to collect our groceries & luggage and "move in".

 

[thepops]

The other option could be to get a "day room" at the Hyatt at the airport. That would give you a place to crash for a few hours, get naps in and then take DME over to the resort.

 

[cseca]

We had almost the same experience but we weren't so lucky with our room.
After several "checking" (even after giving my ph # to be texted), our room wasn't ready until after 5pm (text never came btw).
We ended up lounging at the fireplace area in Jambo house after lunch at Sanaa. DH and I were watching whatever TV show was playing on there.
Thankfully the lounge was empty and not being used for any activity then.
Our kids were still really small then, so they actually slept in the stroller and then when one of them woke up we just walked around the lobby area.
It wasn't the best situation but we did what we had to do.

Good luck!

 

[Mokat76]

The day room at the Hyatt is a great idea!!!

Failing that and if you don't mind buses, the quiet pool at Saratoga Springs' Congress Park is a hidden gem for relaxing. Take a bus to DTD then to SSR. Get off at the CP stop and go straight back toward the lake. I've never seen that pool over used and there are some nice shaded areas. It's usually very quiet.

No comment about the husbands. ;(