How early do we need to be at hotel?

[CarolynFH]

We have one night booked at RPH for purpose of enjoying EE and FOTL both days. If we want to be at the EE park entrance by 8:00 on check-in day, what time should we arrive at RPH to check in, make our FOTL passes, and travel from RPH to the EE park entrance? I know the earliest we can check in is 6:00 but hoping to maximize our sleeping time the night before!

TIA!

 

[macraven]

We have one night booked at RPH for purpose of enjoying EE and FOTL both days. If we want to be at the EE park entrance by 8:00 on check-in day, what time should we arrive at RPH to check in, make our FOTL passes, and travel from RPH to the EE park entrance? I know the earliest we can check in is 6:00 but hoping to maximize our sleeping time the night before!

TIA!

since you have one night only at the hotel, make the best of it and get two days of EE.
check in early, make the ep card, stow your belongings with valet and get to the park.

pick up a cup of coffee, danish at orchid court lounge in the lobby and call it breakfast.

they open at 6:00 am everyday and is on the opposite side of the check in counter.


when you are notified your room is ready, you can take a mid day break and return to the hotel to relax for an hour.
have your luggage sent to your room and get organized.

return to the park for more fun until they close.



sleep is highly over rated when you have a one night stay ......

 

[CarolynFH]

Yes, thanks, but do we need to be there by 6:00? If we arrive at 7:00 will that give us enough time to check in, make the EP passes and get to the park by 8:00?

 

[macraven]

Yes, thanks, but do we need to be there by 6:00? If we arrive at 7:00 will that give us enough time to check in, make the EP passes and get to the park by 8:00?

that could work also depending on what day you check in.
check in will only take about 5 minutes and making the ep card takes less than a minute.
if your room is not ready, you will still get a hotel key card and informed of your room number later.

you will get a call or text to tell you your room number.

my experiences have been that when i check in at the beginning of the work week, no line wait issues.
if i come in on friday/saturday, i have peeps ahead of me checking in if i am there before 8:00.

if you are going in a low season, 7:00 check in would be a snap.

 

[sharona]

We arrived at 715 to HRH on our first day and we made it to the gate at US before they started letting people in. We were about 20 people back at the turnstlyles. It would take an additional 10 minutes, I would estimate, if going to IOA. Also, we didn't bother taking our luggage out of the car and checking it with bell services, we just self parked and walked up to reception. We just had one small roller each. Not sure if you'll have a car or arriving via some other mode...

Wanted to add that this was a Sunday if I've got my dates right.

 

[CarolynFH]

Good to know, thank you both. It will be a Tuesday morning and we'll have four excited adults eager to visit Harry Potter!

 

[macraven]

you'll be fine with a tuesday check in.
doubt there will be lines at the check in counter.

 

[Bluer101]

It's better to allow some wiggle room in your time. It would stink if you get there and miss EE because of a 1/2 mistake. Once you get to RPR early, get your keys, express pass printed, possibly store luggage if room is not ready, then sit and relax in the Orchid lounge and have a nice breakfast before heading out.

There has been plenty times especially during the week, slow times, or even luck of the draw that our room is ready that early. So that could possibly throw a wrench in your plan unless you just store the luggage. But for me I would rather go to the room when ready that early to not have one other thing on my plate for the day.

 

[macraven]

my room is rarely ready when i check in.

i give valet my luggage, etc to hold for me.
they will bring it to my room when i return and call for it.

i also use the safe for my electonics and purse.
i do not put them in my luggage when they store it for me.

you ask at the front desk to use the safe and it's a 5 minute procedure.
you are buzzed into that room at the end of the counter and the TM will come to the other glassed side to do the set up.

you list what you are having held in a large compartment drawer in the safe and given a key
the TM does all the work and you can watch the TM place your valuables in the safe, then lock it, giving you the only key to open it.

when i am set up in my room, i go to the lobby counter and request to empty the safe drawer.
short procedure to obtain my stuff.

i only carry the basics when i go to the parks.
once my room is ready, i return when i'm ready.
no need for me to rush back as all my belongings are safe.

 

[sharona]

my room is rarely ready when i check in.

i give valet my luggage, etc to hold for me.
they will bring it to my room when i return and call for it.

i also use the safe for my electonics and purse.
i do not put them in my luggage when they store it for me.

you ask at the front desk to use the safe and it's a 5 minute procedure.
you are buzzed into that room at the end of the counter and the TM will come to the other glassed side to do the set up.

you list what you are having held in a large compartment drawer in the safe and given a key
the TM does all the work and you can watch the TM place your valuables in the safe, then lock it, giving you the only key to open it.

when i am set up in my room, i go to the lobby counter and request to empty the safe drawer.
short procedure to obtain my stuff.

i only carry the basics when i go to the parks.
once my room is ready, i return when i'm ready.
no need for me to rush back as all my belongings are safe.

That's really useful info about the safe, thanks for sharing it. As I said earlier, we usually leave our bags in the car until later. We take most of our valuables with us (camera, phones, money, cc's) but it's good to know we have options...