Early check-in

[King Dominic]

On our first day, we were planning on hitting Epcot but can’t get our room until 4. Can we go to the resort, check in and leave our luggage and then just go straight to our room when we’re done in the park?

 

[AngiTN]

Maybe.
You can go to the resort, check in if you didn't do it online and leave your luggage.
You may get a text with your room number so you can go straight to the room when you return. Or you may not. If you don't, you'll still have to return to the desk to get your room number.
In addition, if you ask, you can get a room early. It's not a given that your room won't be ready till 4:00. Let them know you want a room early, if you do, and they try to accommodate.

 

[King Dominic]

Thanks for the info. We generally try to get there the night before but it just didn’t work out this time.

I mainly just wanted to be assured that we can leave our luggage. It’s fine if we have to go to the desk to get a room assignment.

 

[rwdavis2]

Do online check in. There's no reason not to. Leave the luggage at bell services. You don't even have to stop at the desk. If you get the room ready text then just go to bell services to pick up your luggage or have them deliver it.

 

[Moliphino]

Do online check in. There's no reason not to. Leave the luggage at bell services. You don't even have to stop at the desk. If you get the room ready text then just go to bell services to pick up your luggage or have them deliver it.

This. In online check in you can enter when you expect to arrive at the resort. They do seem to pay attention to this and try to give early arrivals rooms first. On my last trip I got a room ready text at 9:15am when I said I was arriving in the morning.

 

[AngiTN]

This. In online check in you can enter when you expect to arrive at the resort. They do seem to pay attention to this and try to give early arrivals rooms first. On my last trip I got a room ready text at 9:15am when I said I was arriving in the morning.

Yep. Now that you can't indicate you prefer early checking online (only by calling) they automatically try to place everyone in rooms based on their posted arrival times. Or the time picked up by ME. They send either the text with your room number or the text with a note that your room isn't quite ready yet. They had to have set up something to trigger it based on the arrival time. We aren't 100% on getting the text but dang near it, and because I do a lot of split stays it's been a lot of texts, enough to know it's no coincidence.

 

[King Dominic]

I've already done the online check in and entered 9AM for our arrival time so, hopefully, we'll be fine. Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[AngiTN]

I've already done the online check in and entered 9AM for our arrival time so, hopefully, we'll be fine. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Don't let not getting a text by then stop you from inquiring about a room if you'd like to get settled before heading to the park. They may be able to find you a room. Never hurts to ask

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

If I have made a special request for room location due to physical limitations, but not a "handicapped" room, should I IN person check in or can I do an online and be assured I'll get what I requested? I used a TA and out flight arrival is 10:30 am

 

[AngiTN]

If I have made a special request for room location due to physical limitations, but not a "handicapped" room, should I IN person check in or can I do an online and be assured I'll get what I requested? I used a TA and out flight arrival is 10:30 am

To be clear, you can never be assured you'll get your request. That's the nature of a request.
But how you check in has no bearing on room assignments.
They assign rooms several days prior to arrival no matter what. That's when they try to meet any requests, key word being try.
However, once you arrive, if you don't like the room location, you can always ask for something else.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

To be clear, you can never be assured you'll get your request. That's the nature of a request.
But how you check in has no bearing on room assignments.
They assign rooms several days prior to arrival no matter what. That's when they try to meet any requests, key word being try.
However, once you arrive, if you don't like the room location, you can always ask for something else.

Yes, I understand the "no guarantee thing". I figure when you request months in advance there s/b a very good chance though and not being there in person just gives me cause for concern. It would give me probably 2 more hours in the MK if I do online.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes, I understand the "no guarantee thing". I figure when you request months in advance there s/b a very good chance though and not being there in person just gives me cause for concern. It would give me probably 2 more hours in the MK if I do online.

Since they assign rooms 5 or so days before you arrive you can't be there in person no matter what. Your room is going to be assigned well before you go to MK
It would be assigned even if you don't do online check-in.
Remember too, doing online check-in doesn't mean you can't go by the desk. The only difference doing online check-in will do is it will give them an opportunity to send you a text with your room number. Some do online check-in and still don't get their room number. But if you don't do online check-in, you will have to go to the desk to get your room number for certain.

 

[crazyash83]

isnt the text messaging system only for US numbers?

 

[marchingstar]

isnt the text messaging system only for US numbers?

yep, unfortunately this is true. We're Canadian and don't get texts. If you're international, and in this situation (checking in before room is ready), you can still leave your luggage with bell services. We've gone to the park or used hotel amenities and just checked in with the desk when we were ready for our room.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've done online check in and never received a text. I still had to go to the front desk. Both times my room was ready but I never received the text.

Next trip we land at 8:30 am. I did online check in and my requests are noted as "first available room." (These requests were phoned in by my TA and by the DVC owner I rented from--split stay) When we arrive I am going to leave my bags with bell services. If I haven't received a text by the time we arrive at the resort I'm going to go to the desk after dropping off our bags. If I receive a text I'm going to go straight to MK after dropping off our bags.

 

[Dug720]

I've done online check in and never received a text. I still had to go to the front desk. Both times my room was ready but I never received the text.

Next trip we land at 8:30 am. I did online check in and my requests are noted as "first available room." (These requests were phoned in by my TA and by the DVC owner I rented from--split stay) When we arrive I am going to leave my bags with bell services. If I haven't received a text by the time we arrive at the resort I'm going to go to the desk after dropping off our bags. If I receive a text I'm going to go straight to MK after dropping off our bags.

I would check with the desk before checking your bags if you have not received a text. If your room is in fact ready, you could just take them up straight away rather than going back to bell services to get them back.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would check with the desk before checking your bags if you have not received a text. If your room is in fact ready, you could just take them up straight away rather than going back to bell services to get them back.

Very true! It'll just be our carry ons but thank you! I guess I'm just not expecting our room to be ready but I'll be happy if they are!