"technically" when does check in start??

marshallandcartersmo

DIS Veteran
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Jun 16, 2005
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Hi and thanks for your answers!! We're struggling the choice of with making the 15 hour drive to WDW in one stretch, putting us at check in around midnight, or stopping 1/2 way and going in two days. My question is, when can you check in and not be charged for the night before?? For example, if we check in at midnight, are we charged for that night?? What about 3am?? I'm assuming if we check in at 7am we wouldn't be charged for the night before (but I'm sure the room wouldn't be ready), but there has to be a "cut off", right?? thanks!
 
I think I remember it being 6:00AM but I'm not sure. What would you do if you checked in at 6:00AM and your room wasn't ready?? Just curious. Last time our flight arrived at 6:18AM and we did check in when we arrived at the resort (about 7:30 I think) but our rooms weren't ready and we went to the park. Bell services held our luggage of course. Our rooms were ready by 1:00PM, not sure if they gave us two of the first "ready rooms" since we checked in early or not.

Shelly
 
We have checked in at midnight and 1am, although technically the next day, we have always had a reservation for the previous date.
 
We drive from Kentucky and have done the one night stampede and we have also broken our trip into two driving days.

For the all day drive you will get to WDW tired and really not ready to do much. The next morning you will probably sleep in and be kinda sore.
For the two day trek you are more likely to not be as tired and you will probably be ready to head straight for the parks.
 

The computers switch over around 7 am. We've had to re-check-out/in a few times (once on our wedding day) and wanted to do it asap. 7 was what we were told, and it's worked every time. I doubt that if you were checking in for the first time that your room would be ready though... HTH:)
 
I've heard that the earlier you check in, the more likely you are to snag the room of your choice.

Im splitting my stay, and an thinking about waking extra early our check-in day to head over from BCV to WL to try & snag a good room.
 
kalel777 said:
I've heard that the earlier you check in, the more likely you are to snag the room of your choice.

Im splitting my stay, and an thinking about waking extra early our check-in day to head over from BCV to WL to try & snag a good room.
Others feel it is the other way around, check in LATE and most standard rooms may be full, so it increases you chances of free upgrade.

But I think it is all pixie dust.
 
The earlier you check in, the more likely you are to get the room of your choice but it may not be ready. You just get "dibs" on it, so to speak. If you can, check in at 7 a.m. but be prepared to go to the parks or for a swim while they get your room ready.
 
I usually arrive around the same time every year, approx. 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. and have yet to be taken right to my room. We always check in and then walk around because our room isn't ready. They hold our luggage and then where ever we are we call in to find out if the room is ready before we head back.
 
"TECHNICALLY" check in time is 3 p.m., check out is 11 a.m. If you get there earlier or later, you'll still get a room. If you arrive before 3 p.m., it's not guaranteed that it will be ready. Guaranteed after 3.
 
Danvers said:
"TECHNICALLY" check in time is 3 p.m., check out is 11 a.m. If you get there earlier or later, you'll still get a room. If you arrive before 3 p.m., it's not guaranteed that it will be ready. Guaranteed after 3.

When we were trying to get our rooms at CSR two weeks ago I was informed that, although check-in time is 3, rooms are not guaranteed
until 5.
In all our stays at the World, I had never heard that before. Never, ever have we had to wait as long for a room at a WDW resort (and had as many problems) as we did at CSR. Very poor first impression.
 
We have heard it before, rooms are not guaranteed until after 5:00pm. It is because some guests take advantage of requesting a late check out (1:00pm). It happens, nothing to get in a tizzy over. We just put our bags in storage and go.

Quote from NY Times Article
But another part of the equation, say observers like Deb Wills, founder of AllEarsNet.com, another unofficial Disney site, is that Disney guests have come to anticipate "magic moments" at, well, every moment. "People hear so many wonderful things they think it's going to be picture perfect," she said. Take the famed "towel animals" - towels that have been shaped to resemble wildlife - that Disney maids have been known to leave in a guest's room. What started as a surprise offering has now become a de rigueur part of the Disney experience.
I agree with her statement.
 
I've never gotten into a room any later than 5:00. It's understandable as I'm one of those who request late checkout.
 
Yes, check out time is 3:00, we were saying that even though that is the time for checkout that alot of rooms are still not ready and most have to wait until around 5:00.
 
DisneyFans4 said:
Yes, check out time is 3:00, we were saying that even though that is the time for checkout that alot of rooms are still not ready and most have to wait until around 5:00.
Thanks, I understand now. Luckily I have never had to wait that late so far. :flower:
 
I haven't either but it's understandable if the room they have you in had a late checkout which is what we always do. So I guess if you leave the room at 1:00 by the time they get there and clean it could go as far as not being ready until 5:00. It's why I don't get upset if our room is not ready. So long as they hold our luggage and just check us in, we walk around and do something and just come back when it's ready.
 
Fast Pass said:
We drive from Kentucky and have done the one night stampede and we have also broken our trip into two driving days.

For the all day drive you will get to WDW tired and really not ready to do much. The next morning you will probably sleep in and be kinda sore.
For the two day trek you are more likely to not be as tired and you will probably be ready to head straight for the parks.

we also make the 13 1/2 drive from KY. we always like to leave out early (4-5 am) and get to a cheap motel in orlando area. then check in to WDW at 7 am the next day to start the fun.
 
DisneyFans4 said:
I haven't either but it's understandable if the room they have you in had a late checkout which is what we always do. So I guess if you leave the room at 1:00 by the time they get there and clean it could go as far as not being ready until 5:00. It's why I don't get upset if our room is not ready. So long as they hold our luggage and just check us in, we walk around and do something and just come back when it's ready.
I agree, first thing my DW does is ask for a late checkout. Considering the number of guest that must ask for that, it doesn't surprise me that some rooms will not be ready by 3:00pm. We have always gotten our room by 5:00om though. We just call the number they give us and they tell us what our room number is. Some things just bother some guests more than others. Getting in my room after 3 is not one of them for me.
 
Late check out is a definite must have for us too. We always take a later flight when we leave Disney because I still want to enjoy as much as I can so I always want the room later.
 












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