What time to check in at Swan?

[olive]

We will be checking in at the Swan on 1/8, a Tuesday, after a few nights at a universal hotel. We are planning on spending the day at universal /ioa, and those parks are scheduled to close at 7. Any opinions on whether to just check in after we are done at the parks, probably 8-830, or before hitting the universal parks (open at 9, and we may take advantage of the early entry at 8 that morning)? Or send my husband midday? We are spg members staying on points, if that matters. Thanks!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Personally.. I have given up attempting to figure out the way any resort does this.

As long as you're not traveling at a SUPER busy time, nor do you have a super specific room requirement, then most times you can simply check-in at whatever time you arrive. If the room is ready - great. If not, they will check your bags and you can go about your day. And since you're early January, I would suspect they could provide a room even at that early hour.

Perhaps it's my traveling patterns, time of year or just plain dumb luck, but I haven't had to check my bags and wait for a room to be ready since 2006.

My last two trips were Swan/Dolphin and each time my room has been ready regardless of my arrival time.

Your mileage may vary. Void in Tennessee and Vermont.

 

[HM]

I'd just wait until you leave the parks. I don't see a real reason to drive back and forth that morning (or midday).

 

[olive]

These are helpful - thanks! For whatever reason (conventions maybe?) the Swan and Dolphin are sold out for at least some of the days we will be staying at the Swan. We have never stayed on points, so I am a little more worried about the view. We had such a beautiful view of Epcot and the fireworks last time at Dolphin. That will be hard to beat! The points category is for a resort view (no other views are available to book on points), and it seems there is plenty of variety in what that can mean. Checking in later is definitely easiest, though.

 

[HM]

We stayed in an 8th floor resort view room that looked toward DHS and the BWVs over the waterway. It's a really great view. If you end up with that, I think you'd be happy too. We could see the Epcot fireworks from a window at the end of the hallway (watched there one night when we called it an early night).

 

[CanadianGuy]

These are helpful - thanks! For whatever reason (conventions maybe?) the Swan and Dolphin are sold out for at least some of the days we will be staying at the Swan. We have never stayed on points, so I am a little more worried about the view. We had such a beautiful view of Epcot and the fireworks last time at Dolphin. That will be hard to beat! The points category is for a resort view (no other views are available to book on points), and it seems there is plenty of variety in what that can mean. Checking in later is definitely easiest, though.

Ah now here's an interesting plan -- Go to the check-in desk in the morning and maybe they can review rooms in your category that will be vacating later in the day and assign you one of those that allows you to see what you wanna see?

Just a crazy idea.. so crazy it just might work!?

 

[Robbi]

Ah now here's an interesting plan -- Go to the check-in desk in the morning and maybe they can review rooms in your category that will be vacating later in the day and assign you one of those that allows you to see what you wanna see?

Just a crazy idea.. so crazy it just might work!?

Great idea, I'll remember this next stay, thanks!

OP. we have not had to wait for our rooms either.