Early Check-in

[Elliemay2]

HI!

I have completed my early check-in. How many of you do this and do any of you research the best rooms and call with requests?

Also, we have an early FP that day. Do we have to go to the resort first? We are staying at the Yacht Club and will be going to MK that day. Should we drive to MK and be there at RD or should we go to the resort first and take Disney transportation. Do we leave our luggage at the resort if we don't have a room yet?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[bc7ate9]

I do early check in. I don't do a crazy amount of research - I don't care what room I'm in or what floor I'm on. I generally request a specific section (e.g. Alligator Bayou at POR, Jamaica at CBR, etc).

If you have park tickets for the day, you can go straight to the park. You should do whatever works best with your plans.

You can leave your luggage at the resort - they all have places to do that.

 

[Elliemay2]

If you are staying at a resort, is parking free. If so, and I go straight to the park, how will they know we are staying a resort since we didn't go to the resort first?

 

[rpcvpanama]

You use to have to pay the parking fee for that day and then get it refunded if you hadn't already checked into your hotel. I haven't driven recently so I don't know if that has changed.

 

[JennyDrake]

I do go to the resort first and I leave my luggage if the room isn't ready.

By all reports, CALLING for special requests accomplishes nothing.

I'm also a "general" request kind of person--top floor, not near elevator or pool. But I'm happy *wherever*!

 

[loves to dive]

You can park at the resort you are staying at for free. When you pull up to the gate the guard will ask your name and look you up, they know you have reservations so he will let you in. If you do on line check in, you can just go drop your luggage off with bell services or leave it in your car and hop a bus right over to MK. You can check in as soon as you get there, your room might not be ready but they will know you are there. I do on line check in but I don't ever put any preferences for room, I always put early check in above all else. I drive down from Ga. and usually get there anywhere from 1 to 3 so I say around noon for check in. I was at YC last week, spent my first night at ASSp since I knew I wasn't going to be in the room that long that first day. Drove over to YC around 7:30 am, had done on line check in but did it so late (maybe 2 days before I got there) that I got the message I had to go to the on line check in desk. I just left my bags in my car, went to the front desk and checked in (room was assigned but not ready) and went to the bus stop for MK. I got there around 8:45. Spent the day at MK, got a text from YC around 3:30 that I needed to check with the front desk about my room. Went back around 5, they were having issues with my MB and someone had to escort me to my room and let me in while they fiddled with it at the front desk then brought it up to me. Didn't take longer than 5 min. I then went down and grabbed my bags. Easy as pie.

 

[hiroMYhero]

If you are staying at a resort, is parking free. If so, and I go straight to the park, how will they know we are staying a resort since we didn't go to the resort first?

They'll just scan your MagicBand at the parking toll booths. Select the earliest arrival time when completing online checkin and everything will be activated within your account. You'll be able to charge purchases to your room account by using your MagicBand.

 

[Hootch]

I like early check-in. It reduces what you have to do when you first get to the resort.

We received our room number notification an hour or so out from WDW this Spring. Our only request was for a room in a certain building. The assigned room was not in that building. I called and spoke with a CM and five minutes later we received our new room number in the building we wanted. I know I wasn't guaranteed my request and it wouldn't have impacted our vacation too much, but it was nice to have a positive response.

 

[Elliemay2]

They'll just scan your MagicBand at the parking toll booths.

Okay. So does that mean they will know we have free parking, or is the free parking only at the resort? Thanks again!

 

[hiroMYhero]

You won't be charged for parking at the parks. The CMs will see that you are an onsite guest and you'll be waved in.