For Disney Veterans

[GAM]

We are arriving at MCO about 11 pm on a Friday night in July. I am thinking the best thing to do is to get a room at or near the airport for Friday night and then Sat am have breakfast and pickup the rental car then go check in to our Disney hotel (CSR). Am I right in thinking I would have a better choice of not only rental cars (National-EA) but also have a better chance of a getting a nicer room if I waited until Saturday to check in? I'm afraid if I tried to get everything late on a Friday night I would be dealing with all the left overs nobody else wanted. What do you think?

 

[InstImpres]

No point in paying big $$ (and having no choices.) I have done priceline at the airport for the same type of thing. Really cheap (I think I paid $29 2 years ago for a 4 star) and some have airport trans so you can decide on the car at night or in the am if that makes a difference as to number of days.

Good luck
Sandy

 

[MELSMICE]

We do just the opposite of what you are suggesting when we arrive late & have never had a problem with a car or a room.

In fact, last Nov. we arrived at the YC late & got a 1st floor/corner room with a water view. The next day we had "front row" seats to a beautiful wedding that was taking place in the YC Wedding Pavillion.

We like to get to our room so we can get up the next day & get started with our vacation - even if it is just swimming. We figure no sense in wasting time checking in & out of different hotels. JMO!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I had considered that for one trip. But we did not have a rental car, which was a large impact.
The airport hotels were not cheap. (If you decide to do this, I too would go through hotwire or hotels.com or something.)
For us, I decided just to arrive direct to a WDW resort and be able to get up and enjoy the morning at a park.
Otherwise half a day is shot getting up, around, arriving at the WDW, etc.
Just seemed more trouble that it was worth.

 

[frannn]

It was too late to do anything, so I think we grabbed a snack and hung out in the room. We got an early start the next AM, but it was a real killer to be actually in Disney World and not be able to do anything. I probably wouldn't do this again, nor would I do the first flight out in the AM. Even getting to WDW early, you are still tired from traveling and the excitement. I was considering staying off property for the first night, but we always stay at the value resorts, and try to get a discount, so the difference in cost compared to having to switch hotels is negligable.