Want to rope drop on arrival day - where to stay the night before?

[2vets]

Is your date available during the sale? If you stayed at GCH that night you could settle in, get a good night's sleep and be ready for EE with no hassle. It might be worth it if the cost difference isn't too much compared to staying elsewhere.

It is, fortunately! It's still obscene, but a drop in the bucket considering the overall obscenity level of this stay. I don't know when I'll be back (probably famous last words, haha), so I am hemming and hawing but will ultimately probably just do it.

Edited: Gah. I did it. Ouch! But much less ouch at 4-5 am the next day.

You can check in on the app before, but you need to check in at the front desk that morning because you need the hotel keycard in order to access Early Entry (unless they have changed the process ). When you go into the park they ask to see your hotel key. You will not have a room assignment yet most likely but they will still give you a key and then they will text you when your room is ready.

Wow, THANK YOU. I would have made a classic WDW mistake and assumed my magic band could show this, but now that you've said this, I know bands are parks/rides only out here. I should have realized!

 

[Let's Get Kronk]

There are decently priced discounted duo studios at DLH for that night, also tempting since I am a solo female, and that also gets me right into the bubble the night before, despite $$. Wed is my birthday and all!

Getting a room at DLH for the night would be my vote (assuming the duo studios refers to the new DVC tower). I would imagine it's a bit cheaper than a night at GCH and then you can have one night at the brand new tower before moving to GCH. I did this on a trip in January for one night before transferring to PPH and I loved it. There's a great bar area by the tower that I utilized for a cocktail and some nibbles before bed. And if what someone else said about them transferring your luggage, it should be a pretty seamless transition while you head to the park for the day. Just my two cents....Enjoy!

 

[2vets]

Getting a room at DLH for the night would be my vote (assuming the duo studios refers to the new DVC tower). I would imagine it's a bit cheaper than a night at GCH and then you can have one night at the brand new tower before moving to GCH. I did this on a trip in January for one night before transferring to PPH and I loved it. There's a great bar area by the tower that I utilized for a cocktail and some nibbles before bed. And if what someone else said about them transferring your luggage, it should be a pretty seamless transition while you head to the park for the day. Just my two cents....Enjoy!

It is quite a bit cheaper, and very tempting. Those studios look pretty cool! I went for GCH for now, more so I can get rid of the car and not see it again until I leave, but now I'm reconsidering.

I have been afraid of luggage transfer since at WDW, it may not show up until evening, so it's a bad idea in some circumstances - I have a Napa Rose res the next night and didn't want to go in park clothes if the luggage was delayed. Sounds like it's much smoother to do luggage transfer here on the left coast?

 

[irlandaise]

It is quite a bit cheaper, and very tempting. Those studios look pretty cool! I went for GCH for now, more so I can get rid of the car and not see it again until I leave, but now I'm reconsidering.

I have been afraid of luggage transfer since at WDW, it may not show up until evening, so it's a bad idea in some circumstances - I have a Napa Rose res the next night and didn't want to go in park clothes if the luggage was delayed. Sounds like it's much smoother to do luggage transfer here on the left coast?

Well, considering that they would only have to take your luggage across the street, it does seem difficult to screw up. Not saying that it's impossible, of course...

 

[2vets]

Well, considering that they would only have to take your luggage across the street, it does seem difficult to screw up. Not saying that it's impossible, of course...

I mean, you could say the same for certain moves at WDW. And yet.....

 

[BriannaRuth]

You don't necessarily need your actual room key to get EE if you have the app since your reservation would be on there showing you as checked in. That's my memory of how it works, although it's been a couple years since I've been there. But the well-known DL guide book (not sure if I can say the name here or not) also states you can show the reservation on the app for EE.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

You don't necessarily need your actual room key to get EE if you have the app since your reservation would be on there showing you as checked in. That's my memory of how it works, although it's been a couple years since I've been there. But the well-known DL guide book (not sure if I can say the name here or not) also states you can show the reservation on the app for EE.

You could be right, we've always just checked in and showed our key card because that's what they usually ask for, but it's possible they would accept alternatives.