Labour Day check in and plans

[chimo2u]

Good Day! I am booked to come to DL with my hubby, it'll be our first trip to DL in 30 years since we began dating in 1990! (been multiple times to WDW, but never got back to DL yet until now). We are arriving at John Wayne airport on Sunday Sept 1, and will spend a night at a cheaper hotel before moving over to the Grand Californian for our 5 nights (Sept 2-7) My plan was to get to Disney before 11 to check in so we can have a chance at getting a decent room hopefully (staying Premium view, club level)....it'll be labour day, so not even sure I should chance the parks that day or if we should just relax and get situated....but we have the 5 day ticket (park hopper/maxpass) so I guess we could venture into the masses. I also considered perhaps doing a VIP tour at Universal on Monday getting picked up directly from our Orange County hotel early in the AM....my only concern with this plan is that would leave us checking in late on Monday (probably after 6 pm i'm thinking before Lyft would get us back to DL....) What would you suggest we do?? Keep with the low key check in on Monday at the Grand, Pool time and maybe venture out for some park time once settled (I understand it may be 3 pm before we get a room) OR/ plan Monday to be our Universal day and take our chances with a late check in??? If we do the early check in at the GRand on Monday, we may leave Universal for Friday as a Last Day activity if we are bored after 4 days at DL...however I kind of want the 5th day to help us offset some of the busy-ness I am sure to be happening at DL due to SWGE. Thoughts??

 

[avalon451]

How exciting- you guys are going to have a fantastic time!

I think if you have a 5 day hopper I would use it on Monday, regardless, and maybe even get over to the GCH as early as you can that morning. As you said, you have a better chance of getting a decent room (do ask if there is a free upgrade available, you might get some pixie dust! We did last time we stayed there!). You can check in as early as 6 a.m. and still get Early Entry privileges, which could get you into California Adventure an hour early that morning-- well worth it. Historically they open at 8 on Labor Day, so that would mean a 7 a.m. early entry hour for you. They will store your luggage and let you know when your room is ready. Meanwhile, you could take advantage of the much less crowded early hours, and probably get lots of great rides and touring in. Then you can leave when you get tired and head back to DTD or the hotel for some lunch or pool time in the afternoon, about when it's getting too crowded and hot in the parks. They may even have your room ready early.

That's just one idea. The Universal day might be a good idea, too. Maybe you could check in first at the Grand, stow your luggage, and then head out for Universal from there?

 

[chimo2u]

How exciting- you guys are going to have a fantastic time!

I think if you have a 5 day hopper I would use it on Monday, regardless, and maybe even get over to the GCH as early as you can that morning. As you said, you have a better chance of getting a decent room (do ask if there is a free upgrade available, you might get some pixie dust! We did last time we stayed there!). You can check in as early as 6 a.m. and still get Early Entry privileges, which could get you into California Adventure an hour early that morning-- well worth it. Historically they open at 8 on Labor Day, so that would mean a 7 a.m. early entry hour for you. They will store your luggage and let you know when your room is ready. Meanwhile, you could take advantage of the much less crowded early hours, and probably get lots of great rides and touring in. Then you can leave when you get tired and head back to DTD or the hotel for some lunch or pool time in the afternoon, about when it's getting too crowded and hot in the parks. They may even have your room ready early.

That's just one idea. The Universal day might be a good idea, too. Maybe you could check in first at the Grand, stow your luggage, and then head out for Universal from there?

Hi!! Thank you so much for your kind reply. Unfortunately we are already paying for a premium view club level room, so there’s no where to go with the upgrade, we’re paying for the top room already unless they’ll put us in a suite, lolol I like your idea of a relaxing check in experience. I was considering doing universal on the Monday, but I wanna do the VIP experience, so we need a day where we can begin as early as possible to maximize that experience.
I may consider Universal for our last day in California.... looking forward to our trip!