Early check in question

[htegler]

We will be coming from Portland Oregon and we are playing with the idea of taking a red eye which would have us arrive in Orlando around 6:30am. So how early is too early to drop off our bags/check in? We are planing to stay at the Port Orleans Riverside although it might be the French Quarter. Since this is our first visit we thought it would be nice to use Disney transportation to go around and get the lay of the land so to speak, before heading out to any of the parks. Would the resort need to check us in before we can use the buses/monorails?

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

You can check in, store your bags, and get your park passes as soon as you arrive. If your flight is on time you should be at Port Orleans by about 8:00. WDW transportation will be running by then.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

When are you thinking of going? Do you have your reservations yet? you can check in and get your tickets and ID at 7 am. you would get your room assigned later in the day. If you are going soon and don't have reservations be sure you get them as most are sold out.
are you taking ME to get to the resort? if so you need to reserve that as well.
I don't recommend taking transportation to get the lay of the land as you put it, That would waste an incredible amount of time and not really tell you much. you would have to take busses and change busses and back track on busses etc. Just decide where you want to go and go. Technically you do have to be checked in or have your tickets to ride the transportation system though I have never been asked for it.

 

[sbakersub]

Earlier this month, we took the red-eye from PDX, arrived at MCO actually a little early (5:30 am), got our bags, our rental car, and were at All Star Music by a little after 7:00 am. I thought we'd just check in, get our park passes and store our luggage until later that day, but they had a room assigned and ready for us that early!

Even if that doesn't happen for you, you can still check your luggage, get the park passes, and take a bus to a park. I think other posters have said the resorts computer system resets for the day at 7:00 am, so checking in anytime after that is do-able.

Have fun

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi:

By just using the Disney transaportation you will get the lay of the land... Don't waste time just doing that... just head to the parks and have fun.

Have a Great Trip,

Mark

 

[frdeb1999]

I would deffinately take advantage of it and check in everything and then go off and have some fun! We do this every year when we arrive. If our room isn't ready when we get there it always is when we return in the afternoon and your luggage is there waiting for you! Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Bear-N-Babe]

I emailed Disney about this because we wanted to get checked in as early as possible, and then go to one of the parks. Disney Customer Service us that we could "Pre-checkin" at 8am, store our luggage, get our park tickets, enjoy the parks, and check back after 3pm to get access to our room and get our luggage brought to the room. But, I got the impression that 8am was the 'pat answer'. But since someone in this thread mentioned 7am, we may plan to get there between 7 and 7:30 and see if we can expedite the process, and get the park that much sooner.

Someone asked "Would the resort need to check us in before we can use the buses/monorails?" --- I would have to say yes, because to use the WDW transportation, you will need your WDW ID pass, and you don't get that until you check in.

 

[flowerfairy]

This past January we drove down on a Friday right after the kids got out of school. From where we live its about a 10 to 11 hour trip so we got to the resort around 5am. Our room had already been assigned and we were allowed to check in the the room and even had time to rest for a couple of hours before the park opened. Now granted, this was a "less than busy" time of year, but the resort was fairly full of guests. DISNEY MAGIC!

For our trip this year, we aren't taking a chance that we will be so lucky and went ahead and reserved the night before so we a guaranteed a room.

Have a great time!!

 

[safetymom]

You don't need your ID to use Disney transportation. The only time I have been asked is Christmas day trying to use the monorail at Epcot.

If arriving early you can check in, they will give you your room key and a phone number to check if the room is ready. When it is ready you don't even need to stop at the front desk but you can go right to your room.