Arriving from the Great White North on a Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. This means we have been traveling for most of the night. Realizing that check in isn't until 4:00 p.m would they have the potential to allow us to have our room much earlier than the norm - or are we able to book a room so say a 1/2 day rate in order to have it available to us on arrival? All ideas are welcome.
TIA!
Hi Dancin'
Sheraton will allow early check-in if your room is available, and you are always able to check-in and use the resort facilities while you wait. Even with the long hours of travel, you might be excited enough that a visit to the pool will tide you over. Note that the Bell Station will hold your luggage for you securely while you wait for your room.
There are a couple of things you can do to help the situation along. First contact the resort in advance, either with a Diamond Lane request or by phoning and indicating that you would like an early check in if possible. The resort is pretty good with guest relations and will try to accommodate you if possible. Note that you don't say when you are travelling - if it is a very busy period, their ability to help will be restricted.
Second, when you arrive for check in be prepared to take any available room and not be too picky. This obviously may lead to you getting a less desirable location, but there are no REALLY bad locations at this resort. You just may end up with a slightly longer walk to the pools, and a couple of buildings are a bit closer to the busier roads near the resort.
We often arrive at the resort around noon (10:00 arrival at MCO); and have had about a 50/50 chance of getting right into our room. But we always have a swimsuit (and sunscreen!) in our carryon, and there are great changing facilities at the pools, so a quick dip and a nap on a lounger in the sun helps pass the time.
Check out the thread on Sheraton Vistana Resort at
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3148502 where several of the Vistana regulars are happy to answer questions.
