If Your Resort is Not Ready When You Arrive, What Do You Do?

[devotedchristian]

I know most check in policies start check-in at 4pm.

On my itinerary...for Arrival Day...I have plans for if the "Resort is Ready" and if the "Resort is Not Ready"...seems like a bit much but when you only have 4 days in Disney, you have to make the precious time count.

If you get there early morning (10am) or early afternoon(1pm) what do you do?

And what time do you start making your way to check in at your resort?

Additional Info: Family of 4, Me, DH, SD(17) and DS(6).

 

[littlbugmom]

We haven't arrived early like that and our arrival day is always a resort day for us. If we needed to fill some time before getting out room, we'd hit the gameroom and the playground.


How about going to a park and then returning for dinner? As I said, we like arrival day to be a resort day but a lot of people go right to a park.

 

[clanmcculloch]

You can still check in right away. It's always the very first thing we do when we get of DME. This gets you your KTTW and if you purchased tickets then you'll also have use of them right away using your KTTW and if you purchased one of the dining plans then you'll use of that right away using your KTTW. You'll leave your phone number with the CM who checks you in and you'll get either a phone call or text (you tell the CM which you'd prefer) with your room number when it becomes available. If your room isn't ready then you can easily check your carryon bags will bell services. at this point, you can easily just head straight to a park.

Make sure your carryon contains anything you might want to bring to a park with you. Don't forget the sunscreen because you certainly don't want to start your trip with a sunburns. I particularly like suncreen wipes for flying since they're not subject the 3-1-1 rule because of how little lotion is contained in each wipe.

 

[devotedchristian]

Sorry, I forgot to add, we are staying offsite, not a Disney Resort

 

[AmandaLee]

whenever we've checked in to resorts and they haven't been ready, they usually allow us to use the pool and facilities and leave our luggage in a secure area. When we went to Maui, they had a guest suite that had some shower facilities, couches and TVs for you relax untill the room was ready or if you were departing that day and wanted to use the pool after you checked out. They also let us room charge items to an account that had to be settled before we got into our room. I usually plan on our arrival day as a resort day...I usually don't have a whole lot of energy after all that travel. We usually get take-out, order in or eat at the resort's resturant and relax! Pool, some unpacking, and investigation of the ammenities, as we usually are too busy the rest of the time to check them out.

 

[robinb]

Check into your hotel and leave your luggage with their bell services and then head into the park of your choice. If you're staying in condo or house that doesn't have bell services then just lock your stuff in the trunk and go to the park. I probably wouldn't return to the hotel until I was ready for a break or dinner. Depending on the place you might even wait until the park closes to get your room assignment.

 

[littlbugmom]

We will be staying off site from now on....no worries, you can still explore the resort, play on the playground, hit the gameroom, even go swimming. If you pack a separate pool bag.


You can still go to a park, if you're up to it.


Do you have a full kitchen? If we arrived at 10am, I'd send DH to the grocery store for our week's worth of groceries while the kids and I explored the resort and played. (he always does that anyway while we explore)


If we arrived around 1pm, we'd probably have lunch and then do the same thing.

 

[mousebymarriage]

Our room has not been ready many times and we just take it in stride. We pack swimsuits, sunscreen and beach towels in a carryon. We check in as soon as we get there. First we have a little lunch, then maybe shop a little or just check out the hotel (property etc.), then we swim for a while. There are always restrroms or a changing room by the pool area so it's easy to change into swimsuits. If the weather is too cool or rainy that's a great time to let the kids hit the game room.

 

[meg8017]

we've had to wait for our room to be ready a few times. We usually head to the food court and grab something to eat. Then if it's still not ready, walk around the resort, maybe swing by the pool for a bit. We are never organized enough to just head to the parks!

 

[momof1princess]

we usually arrive at wdw early in the morning after driving all night. we will eat breakfast at the food court, then take off to do some outlet shopping and explore orlando a little. make a stop at wal-mart for whatever we forgot at home, and usually by then, our room is ready. last year, our room was ready before lunch. i got an alert on my phone it was ready, so we went back and got our stuff in the room, ate lunch and hung out at the pool a while.

 

[Karalynn]

Hi there! We've done the lunch then pool route as well. I just packed our suites in one of the kids backpacks that they carried on the plane. The hotel had towels and we used the changing/restrooms by the resort pool.

Having said that, we did go for 8 days. IF I only had a four day trip planned, I would probably check in, drop off my luggage if possible, then hit a park! If you are renting and absolutely cannot get in until a specific time, then make up a 'park bag' ahead of time, when you get there grab it and go baby!!!!

 

[TamaraQT]

I stay off-site and I usually arrive early also. Check-in time is 3 or 4 pm for almost anywhere. So because I am usually there before 12pm I use it to my advantage. Most resorts tell you that your rooms are assigned on the day of check-in so I hold them to that. What I do is walk around the area and see which buildings/units I would like to be placed in. Then before 12pm I go to the front desk to check in. Since the room isnt "ready" I find out what unit they planned to give me. If its a building/unit I like I give them my cell # and they call me when its ready. But, if I would rather be in a different building/unit, now is the time to make that change and I use the early arrival to take advantage of getting my choice. I have never been denied a room/view preference yet. But I do believe early arrival is KEY to getting what you want.

So what do I do in the meantime? We always have a rental car with luggage in the trunk so my kids change into their swimsuits and hit the pool at the resort. DH hits Walmart and I usually chill out with a cocktail by the pool while we wait for them to call us to tell us our room is ready. The latest I ever waited to check in was at 2pm but never had to wait until 4pm. And I always get the room/unit i want by arriving early. I think arriving early is the way to go. In fact, we usually get to Florida the day/night before checking into our resort and spend one night in a hotel/motel. But it does guarantee a quick and easy resort check-in. Surprisingly, it costs less than $100 for an overnight stay and an extra rental car day. There will be plenty for you to do by arriving early and I am sure you will not regret the extra hours. ENJOY!!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

We are never early since we drive down. We drive most of the way friday and finish up on sat the day we check into our room. BUT we usually stop at a beach before we head to WDW.

 

[savannahcat]

If you're staying in a house or condo, you may be able to request early check-in. If the house was not reserved the night before your arrival, most owners are willing to allow early arrival. Check the availability calendar before you call.

When I've known the property is unoccupied the night before, I've never been denied this request.

 

[arielmomma]

We hit the parks!