UPDATED (5/3) Late Arrival - should I cancel one night?

[myxdvz]

We can't do studio since we're a family of 6. We have 1 BR with an infant under 3.

Looking at that I guess having the baby, convenience probably trumps the extra cost of the room.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

It is too inconvenient to change locations - especially with a baby. It is difficult to check in and check out of rooms. Use the extra points, put your feet up and let mickey do the rest.

 

[Sandisw]

We can't do studio since we're a family of 6. We have 1 BR with an infant under 3.

Looking at that I guess having the baby, convenience probably trumps the extra cost of the room.

I would definitely keep the room. While it might be nice to save points, nothing worse then it being 2:00 and you want to relax in a room with the baby and its not ready...when we arrive late, we always get a room...I hate being without it...

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Here's another question? Do you own a lot of points?

My husband and I (with 100 points) would never use 35 points in that way. If we had 350 points, we would possibly view the decision differently.

 

[quirty30]

We can't do studio since we're a family of 6. We have 1 BR with an infant under 3.

Looking at that I guess having the baby, convenience probably trumps the extra cost of the room.

Well now that you mention all that, I'd just head to Disney. For 6 people, you probably need 2 rooms at the Hyatt...which would pretty much offset the value of your points. Not to mention all the luggage handling, etc. if you get there the next day and your villa isn't ready.

 

[myxdvz]

Here's another question? Do you own a lot of points?

My husband and I (with 100 points) would never use 35 points in that way. If we had 350 points, we would possibly view the decision differently.

No, @ 170, we don't own a lot of points, which is why I even think about this

A 2 double (+ crib request) at Hyattt can be had for $170 (prepaid).

 

[Disney Princess]

We can't do studio since we're a family of 6. We have 1 BR with an infant under 3.

Looking at that I guess having the baby, convenience probably trumps the extra cost of the room.

I would have stayed at Disney before, but knowing you have a baby and a family of 6, I would DEFINITELY stay at Disney. You'll want to have that room available for afternoon naps for sure. Getting there and getting settled is worth the 35 points to us. Good luck!

 

[myxdvz]

I would have stayed at Disney before, but knowing you have a baby and a family of 6, I would DEFINITELY stay at Disney. You'll want to have that room available for afternoon naps for sure. Getting there and getting settled is worth the 35 points to us. Good luck!

We're talking strictly the first night right? We will be staying at a DVC property (BCV) the whole time - I am just thinking about the first night because of the late arrival. Worst case scenario, we'll have a lazy park or water park day while waiting for our room.

 

[Scotch]

No, @ 170, we don't own a lot of points, which is why I even think about this

A 2 double (+ crib request) at Hyattt can be had for $170 (prepaid).

Do you have a membership with AAA or Costco? That'll get you 10% best rate. Not sure how that compares with prepaid rate for your dates.

 

[myxdvz]

Do you have a membership with AAA or Costco? That'll get you 10% best rate. Not sure how that compares with prepaid rate for your dates.

I do have both (AAA and Costco). I think strictly $ wise, it will be cheaper to stay at Hyattt. There are the intangibles though (convenience, peace of mind, already being at Disney when you wake up the next day Am trying to weigh pros and cons.

Reason for all this is I'm preparing to book our Springbreak trip at the end of the month, and 35 points is another night at BLT-Standard

 

[WDWorld2003]

My advice changes now that I know you have six people (including a baby). I would definitely just keep the room at Disney. Just not worth the hassle to move... what you save in money you'll lose in time. Use the points now and when your kids are much older you can save them.

 

[jade1]

Plus 10:30 is 9:30 to you that night.

 

[Starr W.]

I would stay with what I have. I guess I'm alone in that, but I want to get to my room, my resort, and begin my vacation!

Bobbi

No Bobbi, you are not alone. We usually arrive late and always use our points that night.

Best example was last year at VGC, checked in and was surprised with a theme park view 2br. Got into the villa just in time to watch World of Color. All I requested was a villa on a high floor.

 

[LPnerd]

I would stay with what I have. I guess I'm alone in that, but I want to get to my room, my resort, and begin my vacation!

Bobbi

but that really is 35 wasted points... we have great luck getting a room at 7am, BUT we call the DESK or go to the desk late the night before, bUT with flying in... I don't know, so many things can go way sideways , if you did go right to your disney room, then you'd be up and at the part first thing in am... right? I might even hire a car, and have them stop at the 24 hour grocery on the way in, just to have everything out of the way!
The one big problem for me at disney is it shuts down SO early. ROFL

 

[Disney Princess]

We're talking strictly the first night right? We will be staying at a DVC property (BCV) the whole time - I am just thinking about the first night because of the late arrival. Worst case scenario, we'll have a lazy park or water park day while waiting for our room.

Oh yes, just for that first night. I responded on page 1 that I would keep your 2BR, but having read about the baby, I was reinforcing my answer.

We've moved resorts (as two adults) and I hated it. Far better in my opinion to get in and get settled.

 

[JasonDVC]

I would stay with what I have. I guess I'm alone in that, but I want to get to my room, my resort, and begin my vacation!

Bobbi

This

 

[k3chantal]

Hello,

We are about 48 days into our June trip, and our arrival is about 10:30pm. It will probably be midnight by the time we get our luggages, get into the bus and check into our room.

So now I'm wondering whether I should cancel the first night, stay at the MCO Hyatt and then take the bus in the morning? Or just keep the room. Is it a waste of 35 points?

I would keep your reservation. Just the thought of having to repack from the late night before and then ride over to WDW in the morning, makes it anti climatic. I am always happiest waking up at my 'final' destination.

We live in California so we always arrive 'late' so I have done this several times.

 

[Scotch]

I forgot to say (in my earlier reply) that I'm planning to do the 1st night at the Hyatt deal this Xmas as well. We'll be flying from the west coast and we don't have a baby (my boys are in grade school). But even though we have a bigger points membership than you, I still think saving 35 (ish) points for one very late DVC night is worth it when I'm trying to stretch my DVC "dollars" for an expensive Xmas break vacation. Plus I like the idea that after a long day of travel, I can just pick up my bags at the airport and check into my room steps away (at the Hyatt) without going through the checking in for Magical Express (or rental car), waiting for the bus, waiting for potential other vacationers to get dropped off at other Disney resorts (if taking ME), etc. which could potentially add another hour or two to my already long day (which usually means at least one of my two kids would be in a crabby mood and easily set to tears over minor and unexpected stuff).

Several folks here have mentioned the pain of packing/unpacking. We've done the "night before at the airport" deal with a baby (before a Disney cruise years ago) -- and stayed at another MCO area airport hotel via shuttle (via Priceline for ~$65) -- it was fine. I don't unpack everything. I pack so that one night's change of clothing/stuff is separately sorted and easily accessible on the top of my suitcases/bags (with the baby stuff separate). It really isn't a big deal to dump everything back in the top of those suitcases/bags the next morning for the move. Now if you didn't pack that way, and had to reach to the bottom of your suitcases for a lot of stuff and your personality is such that it would really bother you to not repack your stuff "exactly right" the next morning, then yes, I'd agree that the pain of dealing with unpacking/unpacking might not be worthwhile.

BTW, you can get the Hyatt for even cheaper through Last Minute Travel, a semi-opague prepaid site. You can make it not-opague by joining its "Club" and there are codes online that would give you a free temp membership. I can't recall offhand but I can find it for you if you can't find it via a search. I think I got it via the betterbidding site (for Priceline and Hotwire tips). On LMT I've seen the Hyatt for my date (right before Xmas) for ~$110.

 

[mousestruck]

We have faced this exact scenario for the past several years and have done it both ways. Honestly, there are pros and cons to both - it really depends on what is most important to you.

We do not have a ton of points either, so at first I was more interested in saving points the first night and stayed at the Hyatt. We probably arrived around 9 or 10, and it was great stepping off the plane and into our hotel room after a long day of traveling. However, on the down side, we did not like our dinner options (either expensive sit-down at Hyatt or airport fast food), and despite our best efforts, we never got the early start we hoped for the next morning. After grabbing a muffin and catching the ME, we probably arrived at our resort around 10 a.m. and often our room wasn't ready -- meaning we didn't get to unpack until after a full day in the park.

Sooo... the last couple of years we used the extra points for a late-night check in. I have to admit that we love starting the magic right away, getting unpacked, and hitting the ground running the next day. In my opinion, the vacation simply starts sooner and it's been worth it.

That being said, should you decide to stay at the Hyatt, you can go to the Hyatt website and save a little money by purchasing a "stay certificate." Make sure you get the right category (the cheapest won't work), but it should save you a few bucks. I'd make the ressie first, tell them you're using a certificate, then purchase the certificate. They Fed-Ex it you, so you can make all the arrangements a few weeks before your trip. It's a very easy process.

Good luck with your decision... and have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Several folks here have mentioned the pain of packing/unpacking. We've done the "night before at the airport" deal with a baby (before a Disney cruise years ago) -- and stayed at another MCO area airport hotel via shuttle (via Priceline for ~$65) -- it was fine. I don't unpack everything. I pack so that one night's change of clothing/stuff is separately sorted and easily accessible on the top of my suitcases/bags (with the baby stuff separate). It really isn't a big deal to dump everything back in the top of those suitcases/bags the next morning for the move. Now if you didn't pack that way, and had to reach to the bottom of your suitcases for a lot of stuff and your personality is such that it would really bother you to not repack your stuff "exactly right" the next morning, then yes, I'd agree that the pain of dealing with unpacking/unpacking might not be worthwhile.

BTW, you can get the Hyatt for even cheaper through Last Minute Travel, a semi-opague prepaid site. You can make it not-opague by joining its "Club" and there are codes online that would give you a free temp membership. I can't recall offhand but I can find it for you if you can't find it via a search. I think I got it via the betterbidding site (for Priceline and Hotwire tips). On LMT I've seen the Hyatt for my date (right before Xmas) for ~$110.

I agree that packing for that night is essential. We often stay at POR on our first night and put our stuff in an overnight bag. Fantastic!