Two questions about when to check-in

[keepswimming76]

Hi everyone!

We have a split stay booked. 4 nights AKL Jambo and 5 nights BLT.

On arrival day our flight gets in at 11:30. We are renting a car and plan on going to MK that afternoon. What are the advantages of going first to AKL to check-in? Should we just go straight to the park? We only plan on being at MK for 4-5 hours tops.

On our transfer day, AK has AM EMH and we plan on going there and leaving by 11. Our plan is to then go to Epcot for the afternoon. My question is if we should drive to BLT and check-in before going to EP and then taking the monorail over to EP? Or should we just go straight to EP and then drive over to BLT? I would like to check-in between our park time, but it seems that would waste a bunch of time.

Thanks in advance!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Do you plan to check-in online first for AKL? I would recommend doing that, especially if you have any room requests. For MK, you are generally better off parking at AKL and taking the bus; MK parking is the TTC and at 1PM you are likely to park in the hinterlands of the TTC. You are probably better off parking at AKL and busing; it will take the same amount of time.

As far as BLT, I would totally drive over to BLT and park there and take the monorail, or drive to Epcot. Epcot is an easier park for parking, especially earlier in the day.

 

[loves to dive]

I always drive down and when I go directly to resort #1 and check in, if my room is ready I go ahead and go check that out, if not I got to whatever park I was planning on. I just leave my bags in my car but you could certainly just leave them with BS at AKL when you check in, when you get back you can either stop by and get them or go to your room and call and they will bring them up. On move day, I'm an early riser even on vacation so I get up and go check out then drive over to resort #2 and check in. Even if I'm there around 7:30 I still go ahead and check in. Last March, we were moving from CBR to Swan and had decided to do AK on move day so we just checked out and drove to AK, did what we wanted to do then drove to Swan and checked in. I always check in on line but still go to the front desk when I get there, just to let them know I'm there and I always go down to the front desk and check out or call and check out. I don't normally like driving to the parks so I prefer to check in first and take Disney transport. Because I'm up and out so early, there have been times I've been at the park for rope drop.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Do you already have your Magic Bands? If you don't then you might need to get these from the resort to enter the parks if they have the tickets on them? We find it easier also like the PP with MK to get the bus as it goes right up to the gate and not the TTC. Also not sure if they still have the paper window display but if you do want to park and grab free parking as a resort guest if you check in you can get your parking permit. Even if your room is not ready might be easier to leave your bags with bell hop and get them delivered to your room later.

 

[nkereina]

IMO, it doesn't matter when you check-in for either of the scenarios unless you have very particular or specific room requests. When it comes to rooms, the earlier you check-in, the larger "pool" of availability there is for you to change your room to if you don't like the one assigned to you. This is more of a factor for someone arriving very late (after 10pm or so), but something to consider for anyone who's picky about their room.

And I agree with PP to complete online check-in for both.

 

[bumbershoot]

I won't leave bags in the car, so going to drop bags is essential. If you're crazy-lucky you can leave them in a room, otherwise you leave them with bell services. Safer than leaving them in the car.

And often we end up with a rental van or sub with an open sort of back, not a trunk. So it's even less safe, because the bags can be seen.

 

[keepswimming76]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think we'll take bags to bell services at AKL, go to AK and then check-in at BLT before heading over to Epcot.

 

[Sue M]

I always check in on arrival for the reasons nekerina stated. I would also not want to leave my bags in the car all day. Especially toiletries, laptops or tablets that high heat could damage.
I'd also leave car at AKL and take the resort bus to MK. Driving to MK you have to park who knows how far back. Wait for parking lot tram to take you to TTC, then wait for either the boat or monorail to take you to MK.