Late arrival question.....

[sweet maxine]

What is the going sentiment about checking in late in the evening? Is it better to stay offsite somewhere, then check in early as possible the next day? I'm thinking of anything after 8 pm, as that is about sunset for the next month or so.

 

[North of Mouse]

What is the going sentiment about checking in late in the evening? Is it better to stay offsite somewhere, then check in early as possible the next day? I'm thinking of anything after 8 pm, as that is about sunset for the next month or so.

Yes, much better, as you are paying for an expensive site and not getting a full day for it!!

 

[sweet maxine]

Yes, much better, as you are paying for an expensive site and not getting a full day for it!!

I wasn't sure, but it does make the best sense. I'll need to modify my reservation a bit. Thanks for your help!

 

[Shanti]

What is the going sentiment about checking in late in the evening? Is it better to stay offsite somewhere, then check in early as possible the next day? I'm thinking of anything after 8 pm, as that is about sunset for the next month or so.

Are you tent camping? If so, I'd recommend only arriving in daytime. I really dislike having to pitch a tent in the dark.

 

[2goofycampers]

I am a "the sooner we get there the better" person. We set up the "have to" stuff and finish setting up in the morning.

 

[sweet maxine]

Yes, I'll be tent camping. And I agree, pitching a tent in the dark is no fun.

 

[sweet maxine]

I am a "the sooner we get there the better" person. We set up the "have to" stuff and finish setting up in the morning.

Well, there's that, too. I think my dread fear is having a not-so-good campsite due to the late arrival. No way around that one, I know.

 

[peg110]

I am mixed with both of those sentiments. The Sooner we get there the better, but I don't want to pay the full rate to try and set up in the dark.

I am not setting up a tent, but a travel trailer. We brought our older one in on our first trip at night and it was a challenge to say the least. Since then we pretty much plan our trip so that we get into the area (typically within an hour of the fort) and then pull over for the night somewhere (boondock). I know boondocking is totally different when "Tenting" though. Anyway, we then get up early, drive the next day and check-in typically by 8 AM.

We get a (mostly) full day to setup and enjoy the Fort and WDW. We can usually get a site well before noon too (but we aren't too picky.)

 

[sweet maxine]

I am mixed with both of those sentiments. The Sooner we get there the better, but I don't want to pay the full rate to try and set up in the dark.

I am not setting up a tent, but a travel trailer. We brought our older one in on our first trip at night and it was a challenge to say the least. Since then we pretty much plan our trip so that we get into the area (typically within an hour of the fort) and then pull over for the night somewhere (boondock). I know boondocking is totally different when "Tenting" though. Anyway, we then get up early, drive the next day and check-in typically by 8 AM.

We get a (mostly) full day to setup and enjoy the Fort and WDW. We can usually get a site well before noon too (but we aren't too picky.)

I was thinking that if I waited until the following day to check in, I could at least get an idea of where I am in the loop, and how close I am to important things---like the comfort station. In the dark, all of that would be a bit difficult to figure out, so maybe I should give more thought to trying for the next morning. I'm not a picky person at all, but I forgot to request a loop, so I'm sure that I'll be placed in the back of 2000 if I show up late in the evening, KWIM? Maybe trying the next morning would give me a better chance at something a little closer in, but who knows? It's my fault for not requesting a loop anyway.

 

[sweet maxine]

Well, I think I may be too close to check-in to modify the reservation, and it appears from reading around online that there is a fee to modify a reservation by dropping a day. Also, the Disney Reservation system is down right now, so I can't do much about anything.

I don't know if it is allowed, but I considered that if I check in during the evening, and the next day I look around and see an empty space, is it possible to ask at the front desk to switch for that space? I guess that would also be contingent upon whether it had already been assigned to another camper. Anyway, thought I would ask here.

 

[peg110]

I don't know if it is allowed, but I considered that if I check in during the evening, and the next day I look around and see an empty space, is it possible to ask at the front desk to switch for that space? I guess that would also be contingent upon whether it had already been assigned to another camper. Anyway, thought I would ask here.

I would think this would be dependent upon many factors. The crowd, assignments, availability of staff to clean another site, the attitude/knowledge of the CM you talk to at the time, etc....

Certainly if there is an issue with the site you are currently on, then the request would be appropriate (and they will generally try to honor it and/or fix the issue with the site.) Of course there is no guarantee that you would get the "Vacant" site you are asking about.

On the other hand, it certainly doesn't hurt to ask. Many of the CM's do try to make your trip magical, and if they can assign you that site, they may very well do just that.

As a final thought to help achieve your goal, ALWAYS treat the CM's as kind and nice as you would want them to treat you. It certainly will help your cause. Taking it a step further, you should do that even if you are NOT trying to curry favor from them (or ANYONE for that matter) just because it's the right thing to do.

Hope you have an awesome trip.

 

[sweet maxine]

As a final thought to help achieve your goal, ALWAYS treat the CM's as kind and nice as you would want them to treat you. It certainly will help your cause. Taking it a step further, you should do that even if you are NOT trying to curry favor from them (or ANYONE for that matter) just because it's the right thing to do.

I'm not sure if this is directed at me. Not sure whether it is meant for general purposes or what.

As a Southern woman, I kind of pride myself on treating others kindly. I am very mannerly, and try my best to always follow the golden rule---that is part of who I am as a southerner. I have been taught that since birth, and still, even at my advancing age, address others with a "ma'am" and "sir". I also do my best not to ask for things that I shouldn't, and I don't try to ask for special privileges. I did wonder if there was a possibility that if I had a not-so-desirable site, I might inquire about moving---(not-so-desirable meaning to include things like far away from comfort station or in the very back of the loop, far away from the road) I hadn't planned on renting a golf cart to get around, so I thought if possible, and if there were other sites unoccupied which might be closer to the road/comfort station, I might ask at the front desk about their availability.

That is all I meant to ask for, not trying to curry favor from them.

 

[peg110]

I'm not sure if this is directed at me. Not sure whether it is meant for general purposes or what.

As a Southern woman, I kind of pride myself on treating others kindly. I am very mannerly, and try my best to always follow the golden rule---that is part of who I am as a southerner. I have been taught that since birth, and still, even at my advancing age, address others with a "ma'am" and "sir". I also do my best not to ask for things that I shouldn't, and I don't try to ask for special privileges. I did wonder if there was a possibility that if I had a not-so-desirable site, I might inquire about moving---(not-so-desirable meaning to include things like far away from comfort station or in the very back of the loop, far away from the road) I hadn't planned on renting a golf cart to get around, so I thought if possible, and if there were other sites unoccupied which might be closer to the road/comfort station, I might ask at the front desk about their availability.

That is all I meant to ask for, not trying to curry favor from them.

Sweet Maxine, Please know that I was not trying to say that you were looking for some special favor. Even if the site you are on, you just don't care for (for whatever reason) I think the request is valid. My whole point, I guess, was to answer your request that it IS okay to request a new site and is frequently done. Sometimes the reasons are very legitimate such as "my camper doesn't fit" and sometimes the reasons are less then "critical" such as "I want to be closer to X so I don't have to walk...." Both are valid reasons and the CM's will try to honor when possible. To me the "Being Polite" is not looking to Curry Favor, it's just being descent. Since the CMs usually have some freedom to do certain things (like re-assign sites), I would think if you came in "Demanding" things (not saying you would, and obviously this is not the "Polite" way) that a CM might be "Less Inclined" to go out of their way for your "Request" (demand).

I try to live by the "Golden Rule" too. Sometimes it doesn't come off so well, but I guess we all make mistakes. Hope you have an awesome trip.