Question about check-in timing and room availability

[MrToadsGirl79]

I have read that if you arrive to your resort before your official check-in window, your resort will call or text you to let you know when your room is available.

My question is: what are some of your experiences with how long it took for your room to become available when you've checked in early?

Here's my specific situation. I have two preschoolers, both of whom still need their daily nap or they turn into gremlins. We'll be driving in on check-in day from only two hours away, so our original thought was to put off making the drive until naptime, let them sleep in the car, and then check in close to the official check in time (3:00 ish). But I've been rethinking that, because checking in at 3 on a Saturday in August probably means long lines, right? And it also seems like a waste to wait until that late in the day to start our Disney vacation when we'll be oh so tantalizingly close.

So my second thought was to get an earlier start, check in early (11ish), and then hit the food court for lunch and maybe swim in the pool for awhile while we wait for our room to become available (and then give the kids their nap in the room before heading to a theme park that evening). But that will only work if we can reasonably expect our room to be available by 1 or so, because again, gremlins.

So, based on your past experiences, should we go with plan A or plan B? Is it at all likely we'll have our room by 1?

If it matters, we're staying at Port Orleans Riverside, in a Garden View room, with no special requests or anything that might slow down the process.

Thanks for any feedback

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I have read that if you arrive to your resort before your official check-in window, your resort will call or text you to let you know when your room is available. My question is: what are some of your experiences with how long it took for your room to become available when you've checked in early? Here's my specific situation. I have two preschoolers, both of whom still need their daily nap or they turn into gremlins. We'll be driving in on check-in day from only two hours away, so our original thought was to put off making the drive until naptime, let them sleep in the car, and then check in close to the official check in time (3:00 ish). But I've been rethinking that, because checking in at 3 on a Saturday in August probably means long lines, right? And it also seems like a waste to wait until that late in the day to start our Disney vacation when we'll be oh so tantalizingly close. So my second thought was to get an earlier start, check in early (11ish), and then hit the food court for lunch and maybe swim in the pool for awhile while we wait for our room to become available (and then give the kids their nap in the room before heading to a theme park that evening). But that will only work if we can reasonably expect our room to be available by 1 or so, because again, gremlins. So, based on your past experiences, should we go with plan A or plan B? Is it at all likely we'll have our room by 1? If it matters, we're staying at Port Orleans Riverside, in a Garden View room, with no special requests or anything that might slow down the process. Thanks for any feedback

Our last stay at Port Orleans Riverside we had a very early flight down that put us at the resort at 10:30am.. We were prepared for leaving our carry ons with bell services & heading to DTD for brunch. Much to our surprise & delight our room was ready for us!! We had done online check in, made our room requests and knew that a long wait was a possibility. It was a great bit of pixie dust to start our vacation

By contrast, our visit previously had been at the Caribbean Beach Resort.. We got to the resort at 2:30pm & were told to expect a text message when the room was ready. After spending several hours at the pool with no message, I called the main desk from the house phone at Old Port Royale at 5:45pm - to be told we could now head to our room. We had 6:30 pm ADRs at Garden Grill at Epcot - we cut it very very close but made our ADR (not without a bit of stress)

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It's absolutely impossible to predict. I've had rooms ready far earlier than check-in time and rooms which weren't available until hours after the stated check-in time.

 

[scrapquitler]

I think that just about anything could happen. The last time we went, we checked in at about 10:30 AM (All Star Movies) and our room was already ready.

 

[Arenita]

I always check in before noon. More than half the time, my room has been ready. The most I have ever waited was about 3 hours. I usually do online check-in and they ask your estimated arrival time. I would go with Plan B.

Enjoy!

 

[MSSANDRA]

One trip we checked in at 7am and our room was ready!! Other trips we were close to four, but have never been later than that. One thought that might work if you really want to get the most from your day, Get up super early and drive to the resort arriving before park opening. Check in and leave your bags. On the off change the room is ready, go ahead and settle in. Either way, drive to the park and enjoy your morning. Have lunch and as nap time approaches, check on the timing of the room. If it is close to being ready, head back to room for a nap. If it's not ready, give the kids a driving nap. Did this plenty of times on trips. Put them in the car, turn up the air, and just drive for duration of nap. Rested kids and lots of extra park time.
Not sure where you are driving in from but if you choose this option and can do it, you might want to move your accommodations for that night closer to WDW. Once you are that close two hours is not a huge deal.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We have arrived very early a number of times and always been able to get in to our room with the understanding that we needed flexibility on our part. If we'd wanted a room in a certain place, on a certain floor a wait could have been involved. When we've told them they could put us anywhere they've always found an available room even early in the morning.

When we're staying for only one night we take the 'put us anywhere' approach. When we're there for longer in much more particular about location and happy to wait as long as it takes.

 

[Nennie]

Not a room check-in tip, but a napping tip that's worked for me.

I have my kids nap in their strollers at the parks, and then while they nap, we push them around, and/or stop to get a bite to eat. My trick to getting them to fall asleep right away is the boat rides. The boat that goes across the lake in Epcot, or the boat from Epcot to HS. Something about the vibration and white noise, but they are out like a light!

No boat ride at MK, so there I have to rely on just pushing them around til they fall asleep! Wish they had a boat there too! LOL!!!!