Experiences with early checkin?

[pditullio]

We are staying at BLT Sunday-Friday 8/23-8/28. However, we got a really great deal on a Saturday night flight, and just pricelined a cheap place on Buena Vista Drive for Sat night instead of spending the pts to add Sat.

My question is this:
Is it worth it to try to check in at BLT on Sunday morning, or should we not even bother? Sunday will not be our MK park day, so I don't want to schlep all the way up there if it's not likely we'll get in until afternoon. Will they tell us over the phone whether a room is ready? Our plan was to just kick around DTD, get some shopping and lunch in, etc. But if there's a chance we could get in early, it may turn into a day at the pool instead.

I am realizing now that we have never asked to check in more than an hour or two early, so I've never encountered this before.

 

[vicki_c]

We normally check-in early (like 7-8 AM) and we have never gotten into our room then. DVC rooms seem to be less likely to be ready early in the day, due to the higher occupancy rates.

We have had our rooms be ready before regular check-in time at all the DVC resorts we've stayed at, but never THAT early. More often somewhere between 1-3.

 

[pditullio]

We normally check-in early (like 7-8 AM) and we have never gotten into our room then. DVC rooms seem to be less likely to be ready early in the day, due to the higher occupancy rates.

We have had our rooms be ready before regular check-in time at all the DVC resorts we've stayed at, but never THAT early. More often somewhere between 1-3.

Does anyone know whether they will tell me over the phone if a room is ready, before I officially check in?

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

Once we were going to drop our bags and go, we checked in at VWL around 10AM. The CM handed us the keys, I was shocked. Also did not get into AK until 6PM once, so you never know until you try.

 

[Donna M]

You should be able to check in but your room probably won't be ready. You can use the facilities and there should be a place for you to change into swimsuits near the pool. I'm pretty sure they will hold your luggage too.

I don't think they can tell you about room availability until you check in but it is worth a try.

Give Member Services a call. They'll know the answers for sure.

Have fun!

 

[dismedvc]

On our last trip, they had a service that would send a text message to your cell phone when your room was ready, so you did not have to keep calling. However, we had to check in and be told our room was not yet ready in order to get that text message option. (They even gave us our room keys, but did not tell us our room number. We got the room number as part of the text message)

That was at BWV December 2008. I assume they will offer the same text message notification service at BLT. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU CAN CALL AND HAVE THAT TEXT MESSAGE NOTIFICATION SET UP. If you try that, let us know if it is possible.

FYI: we tried to check in at 1:00 pm, but our room was not ready until 4:00 pm,, but we were obviously in a very busy time of year.

 

[pditullio]

On our last trip, they had a service that would send a text message to your cell phone when your room was ready, so you did not have to keep calling. However, we had to check in and be told our room was not yet ready in order to get that text message option. (They even gave us our room keys, but did not tell us our room number. We got the room number as part of the text message)

That was at BWV December 2008. I assume they will offer the same text message notification service at BLT. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU CAN CALL AND HAVE THAT TEXT MESSAGE NOTIFICATION SET UP. If you try that, let us know if it is possible.

Update...

Just called MS and we do indeed need to physically check in (or physically pick up our packet if we do online check in) in order to get the text/email notification service.

She did say that we could call the resort in the morning and ask a CM what their opinion was about availability, and that the CM might tell us "looks good" or "don't bother" but either way, the CM would be instructed to tell us that they could not guarantee anything until we were standing at the desk.

We'll just take a ride up there and check in and sign up for the messaging, etc., then go back down and do our thing in the DTD area until we get the word. We have a car, so no worries.

 

[bookwormde]

Sunday morning is the best chance of getting a room first thing, I have gotten a room right of way most of the time. I think this is because DVC typically has lower occupancy rates during the weekend, of course I do not visit during very busy times and you are visiting the newest resort. Other days are it has been variable but 2:30 is the latest I have ever gotten a room when checking in at 7AM, maybe I am just lucky.

bookwormde

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

I was at SSR this june and made the "Grandstands" section request. When I arrived at about 10am, they had a room reserved in the Grandstands for me, but it wasn't ready yet. I asked if they had anything available now and he looked and he had a couple rooms, one with a view of Downtown Disney.

I think as long as you are flexible with location, then you can probably check in fairly early. Just ask "do you have a room somewhere else available now?"

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We did a split stay in February, 2008. I call the AKV early on Sunday a.m. to ask if our room was ready since we had a sick kid. She couldn't tell me.

So, we sent our luggage with bell services and hopped a bus to AK, then another bus to AKV (DH had the car at his convention). We arrived at AKV at 11:00 a.m., and were given our keys immediately for a room that was ready. I didn't have any requests on the reservation, so we were good to go. It was nice to be able to get into the room, however the luggage hadn't made it. I don't remember if the rest of the kids had their suits on or not, but I know we did end up at the pool for part of the afternoon.

I guess the most difinitive answer is MAYBE.

 

[florep1]

We just came home from a 2 week stay at WDW. We stayed at the Dolphin for 2 days although originally booked at BCV for 7days, long story, but anyway, on our checkout day at Dolphin, I walked to BCV and checked in at 7am, got out resort keys and paid for DDP, and brought breakfast to family while they slept in, and picked up our parking pass. Our room wasn't ready but I was told we'd get a text message as soon as it was ready so after checkout at Dolphin, we went to SAB. Before noon, I decide to call the hotel just to see if our room was ready yet, and it was even though we never got a text or a call.

Week 2, checkout day for BCV, we ate at Cape May, then drove to Kidani around 11, checked in, and room was immediately available although it was in BFE. We switched rooms on day 4 so I went to the front desk to checkin before checkout time (7ish) and was advised that room is not ready but HK knew we were moving rooms so our room is first on their list as soon as it is vacated by previous occupants. We left our room at 1030, walked to Mara for lunch (we were closer to Jambo house than Kidani lobby), and even before we got there, got a text saying our room was ready (11ish). So during our 2 week stay with 3 checkins, we had room availability prior to noon. Great for DVC but I wouldn't always count on it.

 

[BCV2002]

We always get there super early and it always varies. We've gotten rooms at 6:30 am, we've had to wait until 4 pm. My advice: check in early anyway, and if it's not ready, either go to the park or go swimming.

Everytime we go and the room isn't ready, we just grab some breakfast and then go to the pool. It works out fine.

 

[dblr]

We got to SSR the Sat. after Christmas last year(drove from De.) and got there @ 9:30 in the morning and got right into our unit, we were shocked but got a quick nap and off we went.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think there is a better chance of Sat than Sun since many people check out on Friday to save the points. We've checked in early in the morning a few times (I left the family sleeping at the other resort) and once a room was available; another time we didn't get the room until nearly 6PM.

 

[DebbieB]

Week 2, checkout day for BCV, we ate at Cape May, then drove to Kidani around 11, checked in, and room was immediately available although it was in BFE.

Wracking my brain - what is BFE?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Wracking my brain - what is BFE?

Bum * Egypt?? Way out in the far off regions???