What To Do After Driving All Night And Can't Check In Yet??

[happyonhorseback]

Greetings Friends!
My best friend is headed to WDW in a couple of weeks and wants to know what she, DH, and 5 children (13,11,9,7,4) should do after a 12 hour night-time drive, arriving @ 8 a.m.. They are staying at Pop Century - does anyone know what time check in is? I know WDW is very accommodating, but do you think they would allow an early check in? If not, they may be too wiped out to hit the parks, so any suggestions??
(p.s. Is she REALLY my best friend if she's not taking me with her?!!!)

 

[SleepingUgly]

This happened to us last May. We drove 14-plus hours to WDW and checked into AKL around 9 am. Our room was not ready, so we went to DTD to check things out. After lunch, we called AKL and our room was ready. This was about 12:30 pm. Your friend may want to inquire, when checking in, if she could get a room as early as possible so that she and her family can rest up. Or perhaps when making the ressie, she can ask for them to note that they will be checking in early, so maybe POP will have a room ready for them by then? Nothing would be guaranteed, but it doesn't hurt to try ...

Linda

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

We did this last January. We got there around 11 am and checked in, but our room wasn't ready until about 3. We went to get lunch and then stayed at the pool until 3. We had a 3 month old and a 3.5 year old as well, but it was fine.

 

[Skylarr29]

Last sept when staying at the wl dh and I were a little gun ho about vacation and left at 4 am lol. We arrived in kississimmi(sp?) at a little after 6 am , stopped for breakfast and then went to check in. Our room was ready when we got there at 7 am so yah know what we did lol?? we went back to bed for another 2 hours and arrived at MGM just after opening. it all depends on availibility of the rooms. There is no real way to know if your room will be ready or not when you get there but like the other poster said it couldnt hurt to have it noted on the hotel ressie!

 

[pixiedust23]

Let POP know youre there and a room might be available. If not, grab some breakfast in the cafeteria place. Bring swimsuits in a separate bag and put them on in the bathroom. Then head out to the pool and start enjoying your vacation. If I was your best friend I would call not it on watching the kids, grab some "beverages" by the pool and pass out. That is going to be one loooooooong trip!

 

[mimif1]

We did the drive all night, arrive at 6AM in May. We checked in, got our tickets and took it easy in the park for half a day. We were told at check in that our room wasn't ready, of course, but to call at noon to see if it was ready. It wasn't. We didn't get our room until 3:45. Our kids took a nap and watched a DVD in the van after we were wiped out at the park. It made for a couple of bad hours, but would I do it any different? No way. The drive is much easier on the kids (and us) if we do it while they are sleeping. I don't know why I didn't think of taking a swim in the pool. Duh!

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

I believe you can call CRO and ask for Early-Check in. With that in youre reservation they might assign you a room that will be ready at the time you check in.

We've had the luck for our room to be ready as soon as we checked in (usually before 8 am) its been the last few trips that we've had to wait a few hours.

 

[happyonhorseback]

Thanks so much for the suggestions! It sounds like she needs to request the early check in, but if that doesn't work - head to the pool!!! Also, isn't DTD just down the street from POP? If it's close, maybe they could head there for the Lego shop or some food. In any case, thanks!! :

 

[DisKim]

How about suggesting a nice character breakfast like Chef Mickey's and then heading over to the pool? We always like to begin and end our trips with a character meal.