Early Arrival Question

[Oh My Mickey]

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this or if it is even allowed… can I book a DVC room for the night before I arrive so that my room will be ready when I arrive there the next morning. Our flights are at 5 am so we will be arriving well before the 4 pm check in time, so I was thinking of making my “check in” the day before. Thoughts?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If you have the points, you certainly could do this. I'd have MS mark it on your reservation that you'll be a very "late" arrival - but you should certainly have a room. If you do online check-in, you should be able to go right to the room. It seems like a lot of points to do it - but you'd have peace of mind you have a room upon arrival.....

 

[michelelyn1974]

You sure could, but why? Are you wanting to sleep for a bit? If just wanting to store luggage you can do at hotel. I would say by the time you arrive, if flight is on time, and get to hotel you're probably looking at 9 am. I would leave luggage with desk at hotel and head to breakfast or the parks.

 

[nw6675]

Do online check in and there isn't a need to let anyone know ahead of time. Just show up when you show up. It happens all the time.

I don't blame you for doing it at that arrival time!

 

[hertamaniac]

We hit about 50% for early check-in for a DVC villa over the past couple of years. Be sure to go the resort desk (or the CM with a touchpad) and ask for the first available room in your category. Even if it's not available, you'll have a decent shot getting checked-in well before 4 PM.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You can do this. I would call before arrival and put a note on the reservation you are not arriving until early the next morning out of extreme caution but so far we have not seen reports of Disney selling rooms out from under people because they didn’t arrive on check-in day.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Actually we've done it, but not intentionally. Last year we were due to check in at Disney on a Thursday. However, thanks to Southwest, we ended up in a city part way there, and didn't arrive until Friday around 10:30 am. We called the resort and, in our frustration, we didn't give an explanation, but said we'd arrive Friday morning. She was very nice, and everything worked out great!

 

[RichVIII]

I have read several discussions of varying ages.

We are considering this for two reasons. We are coming back from a cruise (booked last minute in under 60 days) and now we only have two nights on property (cruise is taking part of our original booking. So we want to get in our room ASAP.

We, like many, have had mixed results in early check-in over the last 10 years. Does it feel wasteful to use points for a night we aren’t staying, you bet. Does killing the day with no room till maybe 4pm+, not the worst. Are the points borrowed for this year and this trip shortly before our use year starts, yes.

Drop the room night and maybe “sell” the points via transfer (25ish) and gamble? Or blow the points? Also, many say put a note on the reservation (easy via chat). Some say call, I find various “front desk” numbers for BLT.

I know…a “what would you do thread” looking for confirmation. Ha ha ha

Thoughts?

 

[CarolynFH]

I have read several discussions of varying ages.

We are considering this for two reasons. We are coming back from a cruise (booked last minute in under 60 days) and now we only have two nights on property (cruise is taking part of our original booking. So we want to get in our room ASAP.

We, like many, have had mixed results in early check-in over the last 10 years. Does it feel wasteful to use points for a night we aren’t staying, you bet. Does killing the day with no room till maybe 4pm+, not the worst. Are the points borrowed for this year and this trip shortly before our use year starts, yes.

Drop the room night and maybe “sell” the points via transfer (25ish) and gamble? Or blow the points? Also, many say put a note on the reservation (easy via chat). Some say call, I find various “front desk” numbers for BLT.

I know…a “what would you do thread” looking for confirmation. Ha ha ha

Thoughts?

Given all the factors you cite, I'd spend the points so that I could get into my room ASAP that morning. No dropping luggage with Bell Services and having to retrieve it later - instead, straight to the room and unpack, or at least drop the luggage there and head to the parks or to whatever you were planning that day.

You don't really have to notify the resort (they won't mark you as a no-show until after the 2nd night) but if you want to, you can chat or call. I would definitely do online checkin so that I'd know my room number before arriving at the resort.

And as you probably suspected, the "front desk" numbers go to the central call center, not to the actual BLT front desk.