Really Early Check In allowed??

[Kadorto]

For our December trip the first night we're staying at POR...then switching over to VWL for the next 5. My question is...how early can I check into VWL...kind of like a pre-register thing. My 2 DS are usually asleep by 830, so what I was hoping to do was stop by WL the night before after they're in bed and register with the expectation that our room would not be ready until the normal check-in time the next day. From my past experience, checking in can take 30-45 minutes and I'm just trying to use our family time wisely. So...do you think they will let us...or is it a bad idea? As always...thank you for your input and suggestions.

 

[Beca]

I don't think this is possible. I remember reading something about how the computers have to reset (sometime in the wee hours of the morning) to make check-ins available for the day. You cannot actually check-in to a resort until it is the day of your check-in. If you checked in a day early, the computer system would have to bill you for that day.

Someone posted a while back and said they had contacted the resort to see how early in the morning the computers would be ready to accept check-ins, and they were told by the resort (OKW if I remember correctly) that a check-in before 7:30am could not be guaranteed to work. The resort said somewhere between 7:30-8:30 was the magic time for everything to be up and running.



Beca

 

[castleri]

They are definitely up by 8am as that is when I got our GV at OKW a couple of years ago Christmas week and it was ready at that time also so I was moving in by 8:30. I had left my son asleep at AKL and the rest of the group was coming in from Tampa so it really worked out well.

 

[pmcpmc]

in the morning when I was staying at BWV when I was staying last October

 

[Dean]

I was told by OKW once it was 6 am. VB told me the same thing in 1998 or 1999. Another posted on a thread with a similar question said they were told 5 am. Getting in early in the AM should not be an issue, doing so the night before will unless you want to pay for an extra night. You could leave you things with the resort or in your car. They will give you a card to check to see if your room is ready and they will tell you your room number at that time.

 

[bicker]

Back in the day, most hotels "closed the books" on the day around 2AM local time, so after that it was a matter of how long it took the computer to switch out the previous day's data and load the next day's data. That generally took at least two or three hours. While I bet the process has gotten more efficient, they're likely taking advantage of the added efficiency by keeping the books open longer from the day-before rather than opening the books for the next day any earlier.

 

[PamOKW]

You won't be able to check-in the evening before your arrival. People will still actually be checking in for that day. Early morning is your first shot at check-in.

 

[DVC-Don]

Earliest we've checked in was 7 AM at SSR, and we got our 2 bedroom immediately. Bet that does not happen often.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Dean and bicker summed it up. It used to be that 2-5AM was the 'down' time. I have heard of folks getting their room at approx. 6AM; never heard earlier than that.

 

[Kadorto]

Thanks everyone....I'll head over around 630-7a and handle check in while the boys have breakfast. Interesting to learn a bit more about how check in works...never really thought about the computers or the books having to switch out the previous days data before. Thanks again for the info...glad I asked and didn't end up wasting my time making a trip over there the night before

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

Having worked Graveyard at OKW, WL and BC, here is what happens with the computers (kind of interesting)... Computer systems go down at 2am every night (with the exception of Tuesday when they go down at Midnight). At this time the systems are refreshed and the "7 day download" (that none members always talk about, when Central reservations downloads another days non member reservations) happens... On a good day the systems are back up by 4am but there is a report that has to print out before they can check anyone in or out, otherwise it will throw the report off (on Wednesday morning it can take longer for this as Tuesday night was the earlier downtime). That is why most resorts will tell you the earliest you can check in (pre-register) is 6 or 7am... It is giving them leway for the system to come back up and/or the report to be late in printing.

Anyway, 6:30-7am is usually a good time, not to many people up yet that will be checking out and not too many people there to pre-register, kind of a slow time at the desk. You should be in and out of there pretty quickly... Have fun on your trip

 

[DisneyPhD]

We had spilt stays in the past, Fri Sat in a studio, the rest of the week in a one bedroom. Both times I woke up at 7:00 am and went down to change us. Both times it worked out very well, we were able to get a room on the same floor and it was ready right away.

I would think 5:00 would be the very earliest you could check in, 7:00 more normal.

What I would do is just get there that morning at 8:00 or so, I don't think you should have any problems and it won't take that long at that time in the morning. It will be less work then going the night before and then going back to your hotel other room. (travel time wise.)

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

It will be less work then going the night before and then going back to your hotel other room. (travel time wise.)

As posted above, the OP can't go the night before. The computer system will not allow you to check in that way. If you are booked for a reservation on say the 19th, the 19th begins when the computers come back up around 6am on the 19th... If she were to try and check in prior to the system outage (even if it was after midnight thus making it the 19th...technically) she would be told to come back in the morning or pay for the additional night.

 

[DisneyPhD]

As posted above, the OP can't go the night before. The computer system will not allow you to check in that way. If you are booked for a reservation on say the 19th, the 19th begins when the computers come back up around 6am on the 19th... If she were to try and check in prior to the system outage (even if it was after midnight thus making it the 19th...technically) she would be told to come back in the morning or pay for the additional night.

Yes I know, that was a very imfortmative post. That happened to post at the same time mine did. I just had to walk away and take care of a baby (something you will know abuot soon enough ) so mine was posted later. I never told her to check in the night before.

My point was even if you COULD check in the night before, just doing it early morning (after 7:00 am) would be eaiser anyway.

 

[Kadorto]

Thanks again for all the info....I'll head over early in the morning and check in...BTW...I'm a he..not a she. Kinda figured everyone would have known that since x-wing pilots are not girls.

 

[gamomof2]

But if you do check in at around 6 or 7 don't they go ahead and give you a room key. That way could we get into any early entry parks and/or start charging to the room?

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

But if you do check in at around 6 or 7 don't they go ahead and give you a room key. That way could we get into any early entry parks and/or start charging to the room?

Yes, you will get everything at that time except the room number (unless the room is ready, which is rare, but not unheard of). Otherwise you will have all your information, room keys, etc... They will also issue you a phone number to call back so that you don't have to wait in line again to get your room number, they will verify your info over the phone and issue the number (when it is ready).

 

[dgaston]

Some of the Rogue Squadron pilots are definitely girls, and in later novels how about Jaina?

 

[byoung]

I'll be checking in at OKW Dec11 as early as I can get there from CS.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Last Wedneday we checked in at 7:45 AM at BWV but our room was not ready till 4:00 pm. One can always hope...