Very unlikely, but . . .

[Brave teacher]

My husband and I are landing this Friday evening after 11pm, and will be renting a car. We have a room reservation that starts on Saturday. We don't have a reservation for Friday, because we had planned to stay at a hotel out by the airport, but now we're likely going to head to AK very, very early for the opening day of Pandora (like being in the parking lot by 3am). So now I'm wondering (and this is a REALLY long shot) if anyone has ever checked into their resort hotel super, super early - I mean, like at 1am that day (instead of the usual 3pm check in time). I realize that this is NOT likely, but technically, it IS the day we check in, so if there was an open room, do you think they'd let us have it?

At the very least, I'm hoping we can drop off our luggage - that would be OK, right?

thanks,

KC

I can say that I have experience with this. My DH usually plays golf on our first morning in WDW. A couple of years ago, we stayed at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Disney. He drove us over to AKV-Kidani Village before he left for his tee time. He teed off at 6:52, and he wanted some time before to swing a bit.We got to Kidani around 5:50 AM and had to wait until exactly 6AM to officially check in because the system does not roll over until that time. They most certainly will not allow you to check-in. I can't answer about the bell services because I am honestly not certain about that part. They run a very bare bones staff from what we see as guests in the late night/early morning hours, and I don't recall seeing anyone at bell service at that time.

 

[scrapquitler]

a 1AM Saturday check in is a Friday room, and you'd have to pay for Friday night. You can't check in until something like 7AM and have it be a Saturday room, and there's no guarantee of it anything being ready that early.

 

[jcvalenti]

I am racking my brain for anything i would get in line at 3am for at this point in my life??....I got nothing....LOL

Ha - totally agree with that sentiment. The days of camping out for concert tickets or driving all night to get somewhere are long gone. The only good thing about hitting 40 is you get a lot better at just saying "nope - not worth it".
To each their own, though. If OP has that kind of energy and stamina - live it up ! I'd have to sleep the whole next day.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am racking my brain for anything i would get in line at 3am for at this point in my life??....I got nothing....LOL

Beatles tickets

It's not technically your checkin day at all. In the hotel business we sell nights not days. We are selling you a place to sleep. So hotel 'days' run from early morning to early morning, roughly 5 or 6 am to 5 or 6 am. That's not just Disney it's every lodging. So, you'd have to pay for the extra night.

not
I did see that the Hyatt Airport offers day rooms. And then, or course, there are those hospitality industry venues that offer rates broken down by hours.

 

[KCMiller]

OK, I get it - can't check in early. Message received (multiple, multiple times), and thanks! It always fascinates me how many folks feel like they need to respond to posts and reiterate exactly what the last couple of responses said, as if the OP might not be actually reading any other responses, especially the ones saying exactly what they are about to say. I wonder how many more folks will respond to this with variations on "'you can't check in early'?", thinking that perhaps the OP (that would be me) didn't understand or process all the other posts saying essentially the same thing...

And if the parking lots are closed (although we've been told by a few CM's that they'll be open, but what do they know?), I guess we'll find somewhere else to park and catch a few winks. We're pretty tough.

KC

 

[jtowntoflorida]

FWIW, I think it sounds fun! As adults with young children, we never get the chance to do something spontaneous without worrying about how the kids will handle it. The thing is...you guys are adults. If you get exhausted and cranky, who cares? You go to your room and sleep for the rest of the day (and night) and wake up refreshed.

I don't have any experience camping out myself, but back when DHS still hosted Star Wars Weekends, people always camped out overnight for wristbands for actor M&Gs. No one once said the parking lots wouldn't be open. In fact, I know we've entered parks before when the booths weren't yet manned, and you just get to park for free. No biggie.

Have fun!

 

[Jennasis]

Be very careful about where you choose to park for your "winks". I don't think you'll be able to do it anywhere on Disney property, and there are precious few places that would be safe to do this outside property. I know many/most Walmarts allow "boondocking" (overnight parking by truckers and RV's), so that's a possibility. If you do this (park anywhere) make sure to park CLOSE to the building and under a light and of course, lock your doors. Have a great trip!

 

[Minnesota!]

I think it sounds fun...you can sleep when you are dead. However, I would reserve a room for the night prior. After dealing with travel, the crowds, the heat, what if you go back to Pop and your room isn't ready until the 4pm check-in? (or is it 3...I forget..). I mean, a nap by the pool isn't the WORST thing in the world, but I would want a guaranteed room in that situation..

 

[Amelia :)]

I would just go and sit in a 24hr Denny's or IHOP for a couple of hours and gets lots of coffee and food

 

[jaceraden]

It's a public thread so you are going to get the same answer multiple, multiple times. Especially when you consider that the nonOP generally doesn't read the whole thread. That's forums for you. I'm sorry you didn't get the answer you were hoping for and I hope you have a great trip!

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it sounds fun...you can sleep when you are dead. However, I would reserve a room for the night prior. After dealing with travel, the crowds, the heat, what if you go back to Pop and your room isn't ready until the 4pm check-in? (or is it 3...I forget..). I mean, a nap by the pool isn't the WORST thing in the world, but I would want a guaranteed room in that situation..

Good point. So you sleep in your car a bit, go ride the ride and then....???? Sleep in your car during the middle of the day? Try to find some spot by the pool that is not too loud and get some sleep? What will you do if you don't get your room until 3 pm or later?

 

[Polydweller]

Beatles tickets
not
I did see that the Hyatt Airport offers day rooms. And then, or course, there are those hospitality industry venues that offer rates broken down by hours.

Those are not typical. Aa a hotelier, especially within the context of this thread, I'll comment on typical hotel rentals not specialty circumstances.

 

[Farro]

OK, I get it - can't check in early. Message received (multiple, multiple times), and thanks! It always fascinates me how many folks feel like they need to respond to posts and reiterate exactly what the last couple of responses said, as if the OP might not be actually reading any other responses, especially the ones saying exactly what they are about to say. I wonder how many more folks will respond to this with variations on "'you can't check in early'?", thinking that perhaps the OP (that would be me) didn't understand or process all the other posts saying essentially the same thing...

And if the parking lots are closed (although we've been told by a few CM's that they'll be open, but what do they know?), I guess we'll find somewhere else to park and catch a few winks. We're pretty tough.

KC

I was just giggling as I was reading all the responses. I'm saying to myself - they get it, no early check in.

If you decide to do it AGAINST ALL ODDS , report back!

Have an awesome trip!

 

[cruisin5]

What about getting a tent site at FW and just pulling in to sleep in your car?

 

[bumbershoot]

I did see that the Hyatt Airport offers day rooms.

Oh sure, tourist area places often do that.

And then, or course, there are those hospitality industry venues that offer rates broken down by hours.

Ew.

It always fascinates me how many folks feel like they need to respond to posts and reiterate exactly what the last couple of responses said, as if the OP might not be actually reading any other responses, especially the ones saying exactly what they are about to say.

We all have our own unique (we hope and think) ways of saying something. We all have our own experience; some of us have experience of renting a room from the night before and having a nice cozy room waiting for us, some of us have heard the experiences of others, some of us have read of honeymoon couples deciding to sleep at MCO before going to DME...we have all heard and done different things. What's the matter with getting that? Would be a seriously boring thread if there was ONE perfect answer and everyone just let the thread fall to the bottom of the page.

So you sleep in your car a bit, go ride the ride and then....???? Sleep in your car during the middle of the day? Try to find some spot by the pool that is not too loud and get some sleep? What will you do if you don't get your room until 3 pm or later?

No worries about that; they'll still be in line. Bring your sunscreen, OP!

 

[cindyfan]

Just call and pay for the extra night! Even if you want to head to AK before everyone else.... at least you can get your bags in a room, clean up and change before heading over to AK! ..... even sneak in a quick hour nap!!! You will see that the extra $$ spent on that night will be WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!

 

[Westcoastwild]

I'd pay for an extra night.

Even if you could check in early, it would be super unlikely that you'd actually get into your room that early. But storing your luggage wouldn't be a problem- I was told I could do that when I asked (my initial flight landed before 4).

I wouldn't do the fort wilderness suggestion. For one thing that's super rude to do to your "neighbors".

I have done something similar to the Denny's suggestion, and that's the best idea if you want to avoid a hotel room. A nap in the car and food and coffee would probably easily get you through the day, and Denny's or IHOP are fairly unlikely to call the cops on you.

 

[writerguyfl]

It's not technically your checkin day at all. In the hotel business we sell nights not days. We are selling you a place to sleep. So hotel 'days' run from early morning to early morning, roughly 5 or 6 am to 5 or 6 am. That's not just Disney it's every lodging. So, you'd have to pay for the extra night.

Disney is actually quite generous in allowing check-ins as early as 6am. Some hotels won't check guests into rooms until after the normal check-out time (11am or noon). Or, others will give you a room before check-in time but charge a flat fee on top of the nightly rate.

 

[Marshel]

What about getting a tent site at FW and just pulling in to sleep in your car?

The chances of getting a last minute Friday night tent space are next to nil, especially in light of current practices by some non-campers. There are less than 150 available tent spaces and 10,000+ value rooms.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I think your plan sounds fun! It may be exhausting but FUN! You only live once. Go for it!!

I would book a room for the extra night. That way you can drop your stuff off, freshen up, maybe get a 1 hour power nap, use the bathroom, brush your teeth. ALSO if AK ends up being too much for you, you'll have a room to go back to.