What the earliest you can check in?

[calypso*a*go-go]

I know the room won't be available until early afternoon...but what's the earliest you can actually check in? The reason I am asking is because we will already be @ WDW prior to our free DDP package starting on 8/26 but would like to start using the credits as soon as possible...maybe for a character breakfast that morning. Also, even if you check in early -- do the credits not kick in until a certain time? Thanks!!!

 

[Sammie]

You can check in as early as 7am. The credits are good as soon as you check in. Depending on where you are staying your room might be ready early. They will give you a number to call. If you are staying at a DVC resort I would not plan on a room until 4pm or later.

You might get it earlier but rarely are the villas ready due to longer cleaning time.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Thanks Sammie!!!

 

[maraki527]

We checked in on May 26th at SSR and our room was available right away at 9:30 in the morning.

 

[Geoff_M]

A word to consider when thinking about doing an early check-in, particularly if you're talking about getting a room in the AM... You will be given a room that wasn't assigned from the evening before. Given that generally CM clerks try to give guests the "best" room possible in the appropriate category, the rooms still open in the morning will likely be the "less desirable" ones. Unless you really need a place to crash, it might be better to have the bell desk stow your luggage, do a "pre-check-in" and go enjoy yourselves. They will give you your keys in the AM and all you will need to do later in the day is call the front desk and they will give you your room number over the phone.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I thought if you check-in and your room is not ready, then your KTTW cards would not be activated for spending privileges because the Cast Members can't tell you what your room number would be. Or is it different with the DDP credits then actually charging something to your room on your KTTW card?

 

[DisneyFans4]

I've always checked in early but my room was rarely ready due to guests taking advantage of late checkout which I do as well. I was given my room card keys and was told the room number and was told to just call later to find out if it was ready yet and that allowed me to make any charges to the room if I needed too.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I've always checked in early but my room was rarely ready due to guests taking advantage of late checkout which I do as well. I was given my room card keys and was told the room number and was told to just call later to find out if it was ready yet and that allowed me to make any charges to the room if I needed too.

Last December when my family and I were checking into our room on the Atrium Club we were told the room was not ready, but we were told it was on the Bay Lake side. However when we asked what the room number was, the Cast Member said I can't give you that information. So I am not sure how you were able to find out your room number before the room was actually ready?

 

[southcarolina4]

When ive checked in I always show up after 8 pm and its ready...I always get a room only for the first night that is seperate from my actual package...We leave South Carolina at 11am get to orlando 7 pm...get our room..grab a late dinner or snack then off to bed to sleep and be ready for the next day..its worth the price of the room not to have to worry about checking in...

I have also left south carolina at midnight and checked in at 8 am and my room was ready...I also have left south carolina ta 4pm and checked in at 1am...

I guess it depends on how bed you want your room to be ready when you arrive....

 

[byoung]

Checked in at POR in May at 8:30 am room was ready.

 

[Geoff_M]

However when we asked what the room number was, the Cast Member said I can't give you that information. So I am not sure how you were able to find out your room number before the room was actually ready?

Resort CMs have posted here that the CM knows and can see your room number at pre-check-in, but they aren't supposed to tell you because the keys you are given are already activated for the room (even if it's still occupied). Here's nothing done to your keys in their system when your room becomes ready for you.

 

[DVC-Don]

We've checked in twice at 7 AM and got our room! Surprised the heck out of us.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Resort CMs have posted here that the CM knows and can see your room number at pre-check-in, but they aren't supposed to tell you because the keys you are given are already activated for the room (even if it's still occupied). Here's nothing done to your keys in their system when your room becomes ready for you.

Oh ok now I see how that process works.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We have stayed on-site many, many times, and I have been unable to detect any pattern as to when rooms are available and where we have been placed. During recent years, we've...

had rooms ready as early as 7:30 am (AKL and up-graded from standard to savanah view) and had to wait until 4:45 pm (WL and up-graded from standard to woods view). I can't say that one resort is faster about turning around rooms though. We've also had to wait until after 4 for a savanah view room to be ready at AKL.

checked-in mid-morning at ASports and Music, gotten our rooms, and had horrible locations (despite these resorts being nearly empty).

check-in after midnight at Pop and gotten a wonderful room location.

arrived at POFQ early afternoon, gotten a ready room, and had a great location.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Last December when my family and I were checking into our room on the Atrium Club we were told the room was not ready, but we were told it was on the Bay Lake side. However when we asked what the room number was, the Cast Member said I can't give you that information. So I am not sure how you were able to find out your room number before the room was actually ready?

I guess in my case they knew already where they were going to put me but it just wasn't ready yet.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm not really concerned about what time we can actually occupy the room as we're already going to be @ WDW on a room only reservation, and then have a follow-on reservation the day free DDP starts...I was just curious about how early we could access the meal credits. I wanted to use them for an early breakfast and wanted to make sure I was planning correctly.