How early can we check in?

[darbry]

We are driving to our first visit home to BLT since buying last year. What are some of the earliest times that you were able to check in? I see it's 4pm but if we drive straight through we may arrive there before noon. Thanks!

 

[TheIncredibles!]

You can check in as soon as you get there. Last time we did this our room was not ready, we checked our luggage with bell services, got our check in packet and our room keys but we were not told our room #. They gave us a card with a # on it that we could call to see when our room was ready. When it was they told us the # and when we were ready to head back to the resort we just went straight there Our bags were not there since we had not done ME so we can to call for ours, but my in-laws bags were in their part of the room.

 

[darbry]

Thanks...my DH will be up driving all night and am hoping that we'll get into a room so he can sleep and the kids can swim.
On another note...I told myself...we are DVC members now...no need to shove everything in and schedule myself. I guess I'm just destined to have some sort of schedule. We are only doing limited dining this time though since we'll have our own kitchen. Ahhhh...this is gonna be the life. I almost feel like I'm living in the lifestyles of the rich and famous!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You can check in at 7AM, but there isn't any guarantee that your villa will be available before 4PM. And there is always a chance it will be ready way after 4PM. Once I checked in about 7:30AM and a villa was ready. Another time we checked in at 7AM and our villa wasn't ready until almost 6PM.

You can always head to the pool and your husband can find a lounge chair to take a nap if your villa isn't ready.

 

[Dean]

Actually you can check in as soon as they run the report from the night before, as early as around 4:30 am but realistically more in the 6 am range. Just tell them you'll take any room that's ready and tell them why. Sacrifice all other requests that are not medical.

 

[crisi]

And make backup plans - for instance, nap in a pool chair.

We have had lousy luck with requests, but have only had to wait once for a room, and then only until 3:00. But other people have very poor luck getting their room quickly.

 

[maiyasmom]

We drive down from NJ every year and we check in to our DVC resort as soon as we get there which is usually 10 am. Out of 9 trips so far only once did we have to wait for our room. Even then we waited only 1 hour. Even went down during Thanksgiving one year and our villa was ready when we arrived. By the way, DVC rocks! You're going to love it and BLT is amazing! Enjoy!

 

[Best Aunt]

You can check in as soon as you get there. Last time we did this our room was not ready, we checked our luggage with bell services, got our check in packet and our room keys but we were not told our room #.

This happened on my last 2 trips. When I checked in, they asked if I wanted a call or a text when my room was ready. In 2010 I asked for a call but it never came. I went to the front desk at 4:45 (to turn in a cell phone someone had left on a chair in the lobby) and asked if my room was ready. They said yes and gave me the room number.

In 2011 I asked for a text. They texted me the room number when the room was ready.

 

[Dean]

This happened on my last 2 trips. When I checked in, they asked if I wanted a call or a text when my room was ready. In 2010 I asked for a call but it never came. I went to the front desk at 4:45 (to turn in a cell phone someone had left on a chair in the lobby) and asked if my room was ready. They said yes and gave me the room number.

In 2011 I asked for a text. They texted me the room number when the room was ready.

We had 9 units this past Sept, some arriving Fri, some Sat and some Sunday, some BCV & some BWV. Asked for phone call on all but the one that was ready when we checked in on Fri and got a phone call on all. None were after 4, I think most were between 2 & 3:30.

 

[darbry]

It looks like we may not have to wait too long and good ideas about catching naps on the lounge chair...I think he'll be tired enough to do that!! I am sooo excited! Just made Wishes reservations too. I can't wait to see Tink!!

 

[crisi]

It looks like we may not have to wait too long and good ideas about catching naps on the lounge chair...I think he'll be tired enough to do that!! I am sooo excited! Just made Wishes reservations too. I can't wait to see Tink!!

I hope you get into your room on time, but a backup plan to 'rest' in a lounge chair helps keep "we can't get to our room" from being a tragedy to an inconvenience.

 

[Dean]

It looks like we may not have to wait too long and good ideas about catching naps on the lounge chair...I think he'll be tired enough to do that!! I am sooo excited! Just made Wishes reservations too. I can't wait to see Tink!!

You could always start your reservation the night before and thus guarantee availability when you arrive.

 

[CHD New York]

The earliest I ever checked into a dvc resort was 2 years ago during the second week in december. I arrived at bay lake tower the months after there grand opening at 7:30, an my palns was to just go to the magic kingdom till 4 pm checkin however was very very suprise to learn that my room was ready at 8am that morning however my bags didn't arrive till around 3 or 4 evening and I signed up for the xmas tree sharing which they could not find but still had a great time having my room ready by 8am

 

[AirGoofy]

It looks like we may not have to wait too long and good ideas about catching naps on the lounge chair...I think he'll be tired enough to do that!! I am sooo excited! Just made Wishes reservations too. I can't wait to see Tink!!

We've checked in at 6AM before (room not ready) because I was too excited and left from home earlier than planned. We drive as well. Children sleep through the night. The pools have showers, so we pack clothes and hygeine products in a bag, enjoy a swim, shower, and change for lunch at DTD. We did text message last trip and our room was ready before 4. After lunch, we come back to our resort, move bags into the room, and go from there. We enjoy that peace from DVC as well. We go commando at theme parks a few days, and enjoy our Deluxe Villa resort on other days.

 

[com_op_2000]

DW and I check in most of the time between 9 and 9:30. The room is ready about 3 out of 5 times. The latest we have gotten the room was at 17:00, but when I complained; they stated that that day all the Disney resorts were having a lot of turn-over checking out/in and had to bring in extra staff from other resorts to finish up all the rooms.

 

[saturndb]

I would do the online check in and list what time you expect to show up and that might help with.

 

[K9pal]

We were at BLT earlier in May, did the online check in and indicated 1pm as our arrival time. Our 1br was ready when we arrived at 1:15, although we did not receive our room requests.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

By the sound of it I have been very fortunate with early check in. We generally arrive between 11am - 1pm and to date, only 3 times has our villa not been ready upon arrival, twice at the Boardwalk (they never called, we finally checked back & both times it was ready) and then once at Jamo AKV but it was ready at 4:30. It's really nice to get right in and settled!

Good Luck!

 

[MrShiny]

Especially when switching resorts, I've often checked in to the second resort as early as 6:30AM. Sometimes I've had to wait until 4, but often the room is ready. Your chances are best if you beat the first Magical Express of the day.

 

[marie1981]

Especially when switching resorts, I've often checked in to the second resort as early as 6:30AM. Sometimes I've had to wait until 4, but often the room is ready. Your chances are best if you beat the first Magical Express of the day.

Did that last march. I was at the BC and the day I was switching to BWV, I took a walk, early in the morning, check in at BWV, came back at BC and, when I called from BC to BWV, at 10:00am, my room was ready !!!

One advice: pack your bathing suit in the luggage you bring yourself. Even if you get your room early, the luggage does not arrive until 3 PM !