OKW check-in time question

[reddog]

Hi!

We are going to be staying at AKL for two days before our time at OKW begins. We were thinking of sending one of us over just to check in at OKW first thing in the morning while the rest of us clear out of AKL and head to AK, then have the check-in person meet us at AK. It seems better than at 3:00 in the afternoon (this will be the day after Easter!)

Three questions -
1) I realize the room at OKW will not be ready, but can we at least go through the check-in procedure around 7:30 AM? Do they give you a key and tell you you can't go in until 3:00?

2) I'm also making an assumption that we will have a better chance of getting our room requests if we are there earlier. Any experiences out there that verifies my assumption?

3) Anyone know the driving time between AK and OKW? It's our first visit between the two resorts.

Thanks in advance. We're chomping at the bit to go!

 

[PamOKW]

Yes, someone can go over and start the check-in process early in the day. Make sure it is someone who is named on the reservation. If the room isn't ready (probably won't be), they will give you your cards and a phone number to call periodically to check if the room is ready. They usually won't tell you what the room number will be. FYI -- Check-in is 4:00, not 3:00 at DVC resorts so it may be 4:00 before the room is ready.

The advantage of early check-in for room selection is debatable. One plus might be that if you don't like the room they may still have rooms that have not been checked into yet that they can switch out for you. It's hard to determine if there really is an advantage beyond the convenience of getting it out of the way and avoiding check-in lines.

I would estimate the drive time between the resorts at about 20 minutes (maybe less).