Suggestions for very early arrival?

[Carolc]

I'm a new member, looking forward to our first DVC stay next week. We are staying at AKV.

My kids (14, 12 and 10) and I will be taking a red eye, and arriving at MCO at about 6:30am. I'm not renting a car this time, so will be taking DME straight to the resort. I've been to Orlando 4 times, but never without a car, so I'm a little nervous about logistics.

- what are the chances that they'd have a room ready at 8 or so in the morning?

- assuming that we can't get in the room yet, do you have suggestions for what to do before the room is ready? I was considering going to the pool area or going to DTD, though I don't know when the pool or shops open. I understand that AKV can store our suitcases until check in, but we'll still have our backpacks and a grocery bag with crushable dry goods - like crackers and bread (so unless they will store those, we'll be taking them wherever we go).

We are only there for two days (pre-cruise stay), and are not planning to go to the theme parks. We may go to Blizzard Beach, but I'm thinking that we'll be too tired to go the first day, so I'm leaning toward the second day.

Any suggestions for us?

Many thanks,
Carol

 

[DebbieB]

The only way a room would be ready at 8:00am is if it was empty the night before, housekeeping doesn't start that early. I arrived at AKV Kidani last month around 11:30am, the front desk cm called to see if there was a ready room but there was not. They did find one that was in the process of being cleaned and it was ready by 1:00pm. I gave them my cell phone # and they sent me a text with the room # when it was ready.

 

[Chuck S]

Bell services should be able to store your groceries and backpacks, if you want them to do so. Then you could simply take off and enjoy a park.

 

[Mahusky]

I highly doubt your room will be ready. I check in almost always (during a split stay) at 6:30 AM and have never (20 visits) had a room ready. Sorry!

But if you pack correct... Suits in backpacks or shorts... etc you can leave all.. suitcases and groceries at bell services and enjoy some pool time. catch a snooze on a lounge chair. Then wake up and Cab over to DTD for lunch....

Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[florep1]

I suggest go straight to the hotel and check in. Bell services can store your stuff including perishables. There is plenty of stuff to do at Kidani to entertain the kids till your room is ready. The community hall is a good area to chill out in. They can draw/color, play board games, play video games (there are 3 spots), foosball, pool, arts and crafts, etc. There is a posted activity list by the lobby and between Kidani and Jambo house, you can do stuff for days without going to parks. Snacks are available to Johari treasures but if you want a CS option, you'll have to go to Jambo house. Published pool opening time is 10am I believe but I think that's just when they have lifeguards, don't really know whether the pool itself closes or not as they don't have a quiet pool like some resorts.
When we were at Kidani we were lucky enough to get to our rooms early, before noon both times, but there were families that hung out in the library while waiting. There's plenty of comfortable sitting areas, just no place to lie down for a nap but I saw people taking catnaps sitting.
Have fun!

 

[crisi]

Breakfast at Boma or a character breakfast (if anything is available). Swimsuits in carryons and go swimming for a bit. Grab coffee and sit out to watch the savannah wake up.

 

[jmb910]

Our room was ready at 7:30am once at All-Star, and once at BCV, we got the room at 8:00am.

DTD opens at 9:00am or Earl of Sandwich opens a little earlier.

I would agree to go to the resort first and get checked in. By the time you get there and get everything done, it will be close to the times that everything is opening up.

Have a great trip!

 

[tomandrobin]

We checked into VWL on July 3rd at 9:30 am and our room was ready.

You just won't know until you get there. I would plan on breakfast at the resort. Pack a carry-on with bathing suits and go spend sometime at the pool!

 

[Ladygator]

We got into our 2 bedroom at BCV when we checked in at 8 am in June. We did the on-line check in and they had everything ready when we got there. Don't know if that helped or not but I would try it (it asks what time you plan to arrive)

 

[donkortajr]

Along the same lines, we are taking our first DVC trip in August arriving at SSR for 3 nights in a Grand Villa. I know there are not many Grand Villas so I curious as to what you think availability will be by late morning. We're staying at the beach the week before, so that morning we are only driving about 95 miles from Tampa
don

 

[Carolc]

Thanks so much for all your speedy replies! I am a new member and didn't realize that all that stuff is available at Community Hall (do all resorts have these activities?). Regarding the video games, are they coin operated or are they a game system (like XBOX or Wii)?

Thanks for sharing your experiences with check in, too.

 

[florep1]

Thanks so much for all your speedy replies! I am a new member and didn't realize that all that stuff is available at Community Hall (do all resorts have these activities?). Regarding the video games, are they coin operated or are they a game system (like XBOX or Wii)?

Thanks for sharing your experiences with check in, too.

Community Hall games are free, you just need to ask a CM for whichever disc you want. OTOH, games on the arcade are for a fee. DH took ds there one afternoon and he said he bought a "card" and loaded it with money but I'm not sure how much per game.

 

[Carolc]

Community Hall games are free, you just need to ask a CM for whichever disc you want. OTOH, games on the arcade are for a fee. DH took ds there one afternoon and he said he bought a "card" and loaded it with money but I'm not sure how much per game.

Awesome! I only wish DH could be with us on this trip. I bought into DVC almost sight unseen (toured a BWV unit once, though not thru DVC). He has never stayed on Disney property He'd like to know what this DVC thing is all about and what we've spent our money on. I'm liking these perks so far!

Thanks again

 

[kikiq]

My DD and I took the red eye from LA a month ago. Arrived at 6:25am and even with stopping to visit the ladies room, we were standing in the AKV Jambo House lobby at 7:30am. Checked in, wandered around the resort and deposited my DD on a couch while I took a bus to DTD. My suggestion: have breakfast at Mara or try to get in at Boma's, go out to the pool, let the kids swim or nap on the lounge chairs. I really try to stay up when I travel east and staying outside getting as much natural light as possible. It helps with jet lag.

Have a wonderful time!!

 

[DVC-Don]

You could get lucky with the room. I've checked in 4 times since 2004 at 7 AM and got into a room each time (last time was this past May).

 

[Carolc]

You could get lucky with the room. I've checked in 4 times since 2004 at 7 AM and got into a room each time (last time was this past May).

Wow, how lucky! Was it at off-peak dates? Which resorts?

Send some of your good luck my way

 

[LIFERBABE]

What day are you checking in? If its a Saturday you may a better chance. We stayed in a value studio Fri night and then checked into Concierge on Saturday morning. I went up around 7 am and the room was ready!! No one had stayed in that room the night before. Sure was nice to go from 1 to the other without waiting.

Friday and Saturday have lower occupancy because of the higher points, so sometimes rooms will sit empty. Also if you are not picky, just ask if anything is available now when you check in. I think ive read that if you dont check in online, you wont have a pre assigned room, so that could help you get into something earlier if you dont have alot of requests and requirements.

 

[Carolc]

What day are you checking in? If its a Saturday you may a better chance. We stayed in a value studio Fri night and then checked into Concierge on Saturday morning. I went up around 7 am and the room was ready!! No one had stayed in that room the night before. Sure was nice to go from 1 to the other without waiting.

Friday and Saturday have lower occupancy because of the higher points, so sometimes rooms will sit empty. Also if you are not picky, just ask if anything is available now when you check in. I think ive read that if you dont check in online, you wont have a pre assigned room, so that could help you get into something earlier if you dont have alot of requests and requirements.

We are checking in on Friday morning. I think I understand what you are saying as I hate the fact that I am using my points on Friday and Saturday night. I suppose there will be the Sun-Thur only crowd still in their rooms when I arrive.

Though I'd ideally like one that isn't a mile from the pool, I can live with the hike if it means that we'll get into the room earlier.

So how do others feel about online check in for an early arrival?

Oh, and it's my first DVC check in... will it take 'longer' anyway?

 

[toniosmom]

We were at SSR in March, checking in on a Sunday. We arrived around 11 am and our room wasn't ready until after 2pm. We had lunch and then spent the time around the pool. It was all I could do to get my son out of the pool so that we could check out our room. Luggage arrived around 4pm. We just had a lazy day around the pool and enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

[crisi]

Thanks so much for all your speedy replies! I am a new member and didn't realize that all that stuff is available at Community Hall (do all resorts have these activities?). Regarding the video games, are they coin operated or are they a game system (like XBOX or Wii)?

Thanks for sharing your experiences with check in, too.

Not all resorts have community halls. I know BWV and SSR do - and I think DVC members can use the hall regardless of if they are staying at the resort (so BCV members can go to BWV to use the hall - I think). I know BCV and VWL do not.

At least at BW - its usually pretty empty unless its a rainy day. Somehow, my kids always have something else to do at Disney than play with a Playstation...... But its a good option to have for a non-park day - particularly if it turns out to be not a good swim day.

Another thing you could do with a non-park day is to go resort touring. As DVC members you can hop (subject to blackout restrictions)....but it might just be fun to head over to B&C and get some ice cream, look at the resort, walk over to Boardwalk....head over to the MK resorts and ride the monorail. Get off at each resort and check it out. If you didn't have kids with you, a monorail drink a thon would be amusing, but with kids in tow, it might be best to limit it to a monorail look a thon. I'm willing to bet that DISers could come up with a resort touring scavenger hunt for the resorts....(Find two merry go rounds at BWVs)......