Early Check-in or go directly to theme parks

[sukiwish]

I hope this isn't a duplicate....?
We will be driving to Disney and getting there most likely around 9:00am. Should we (can we) head right for the parks or Check our luggage (We are staying at the Polynisian). (we already have our passes). Is there an advantage of checking our bags/checking-in early? (i.e. better selection of rooms...) If we do just end up going to the park, Is there a better time to check-in then others, where we have a chance to get a room with a nicer view, etc.... We were thinking that one of us would leave the park around 3:00pm to check us in to the hotel. Is that necessary? If not, we will just stay at the park until close and check-in when we get back to the hotel.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are driving, you will need your parking pass to get you into the Theme Park parking lots for free. Also, you might be lucky and have a room ready when you check in so you can move right in. You can get your room key, they will give you a number to call to check on the status of your room and move in as soon as it is ready. We always check in first, then hit the parks.

 

[eeyore45]

I have no idea! I would think that is a purely personal choice! We stayed at the Poly as well, and checked in early, my plan was to drop off my luggage then hit the MK, and return whenever. DH was exhausted, and the Poly had a room ready at 8am - so we changed plans!! DD wanted to hit the pool, dh wanted a nap, I just wanted a vacation, and we found all that at the poly!!

Maybe call the Polynesian at 407-824-2000 to find out?

 

[BraveMom3]

I would definitely check in first. If you're using Disney transportation to go to a park, you're car will be parked at your resort, and you're luggage will already be unloaded. I'm not positive that it makes a difference in what room you get assigned to you but figure it can't hurt. Another point is that when you get back from the park you will probably be tired and it will be much nicer to call the desk/check at the desk and get your room number, go straight to your room and relax while you wait for your luggage to be delivered.

 

[dreams4disney]

I would check in first. Even if there is not a room ready yet you would have one after returning from the parks and not have to wait and do all the check in stuff after a day at the parks.

 

[Ilovestitch]

When I stayed at the Polynesian this past Dec., we checked in around 9:30 am. The CM pretty much gave us our choice of longhouse. Certain longhouses were already availiable, I wanted Fiji and he said that wouldn't be ready til check in time around 3. So, CM gave us our key cards and said to call back around 3. We got breakfast at Kona and then went to DTD. On the bus back to Poly, my bf called with his cell phone and they gave him the room number and we went straight to the room. It worked out great!

I think the earlier you check in, the better selection of rooms. I wouldn't wait til late at night unless I didn't have a choice. -Steph

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I would check in first for the same reasons as above. It worked great for us and we got right into our room at 8:30 am last time!!!! We also got upgraded.

 

[DVC Jen]

We always arrive somewhere between 7 and 8 am and just check our luggage.. check into the resort (get the lil card to call back for our room number) and then head off to the parks.

It is so nice to not have to worry about standing in a line later in the day after being in a crowded park for hours. We simply call the number on the card, find out our room number and head to our room to call bell services for our luggage.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I agree with checking in early and going over your request with the CM...the early bird is more likely to receive the request because there are more rooms available for the CM to select from.

The check-in lines are smaller earlier in the day.

 

[the kabuki]

Don't know what day you're arriving, but won't you need your room key to take advantage of the extra late night hours? If anyone knows the answer to this, I would like to know also, as we are arriving in the morning and plan to do MK in the evening.

 

[cslittle999]

Don't know what day you're arriving, but won't you need your room key to take advantage of the extra late night hours? If anyone knows the answer to this, I would like to know also, as we are arriving in the morning and plan to do MK in the evening.

Yes you need your room key for EMH's.

I would want to check-in first anyways. That way you can charge to your room key, have packages shipped to the resort, use Disney transportation,... All the perks of staying on site.

 

[arazamataz]

We always check in first. I like to get it out of the way,then hit the park.
Most of the time the room is ready .

 

[thelittlemermaid]

On our trip in Aug we stayed at ASMo and arrived around 9-9:30 a.m. and checked in. But to get into the parks we had to check in to get our passes. Low and behold they had a room ready for us. YEA!!!! And since we were staying an extra day, the CM made sure it was a room that we could stay in the whole time, that way we wouldn't have to move for one night.

 

[eeyore0062]

If you are planning on going to an Extra Magic Hour that morning, the only way you will be allowed in is to have already checked into your resort and received the room key. Actually, very early in the morning (around 7 am) there are usually no lines, and you will be and out of there in about 10 minutes. We did this at the Poly in in October, already had tics, got the room keys and number to check to see if the room was available, left the luggage in the trunk, hopped on the monorail and were there in time for the beginning of EMH!

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Wait a minute for those of use going after May 5, won't we beable to check in at the airport under then new Disney Magical Express Service, or do we still have to check in at the resort.

 

[cmonroe]

We drove to Disney this past August. We arrived in WDW around 9:30. We checked in and they already had rooms ready for us. It was a very busy time as well. So based on that, I would check in and not worry about the bags, etc.