When to check in?

[Feberin]

We're going into the park on the first day we're at Disney. I'm trying to figure out when we'd want to check into our hotel. Would you recommend doing it as a break or at night? Last time we preferred to stay all day in the parks then do a normal bedtime since my kids hate naps but I'm worried trying to check in after a full day with four exhausted kids. But I also don't want to miss too much time in the parks. We'll be at Pop and were planning on doing Magic Kingdom the first day but that could change depending on ADRs that I'm able to get that day since this would be in April. We only are going to have four days total in the parks.

 

[sponica]

I'm old school and still "check in" before going to a park...but that's because the magical express dumps me off at the hotel.

But the checking in is handled online and most of the time you should get a room assignment text (unless something doesn't work correctly).

 

[yorkieteacher]

We did on-line check in September. We had requested three rooms together, and also early check in. We went straight into MK after spending the night in a hotel in Winter Garden a few miles away. When we got to the AoA about 12:30pm, none of us had gotten a text that our rooms were ready. However, when we explained we had littles who needed naps, the great staff found three rooms (two of them adjoining) and one a few doors down for us with only a few minutes wait.

 

[Feberin]

We're driving over from another hotel in Orlando so we could be at the parks really early. Are you allowed to arrive and pay for parking at the hotel in the morning if you're staying that night?

We need adjoining rooms or close by rooms so that will complicate things a bit.

 

[Feberin]

Maybe we'll mix things up and do Epcot that day instead since I think that'll be a shorter day.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

We're driving over from another hotel in Orlando so we could be at the parks really early. Are you allowed to arrive and pay for parking at the hotel in the morning if you're staying that night?

We need adjoining rooms or close by rooms so that will complicate things a bit.

We "checked in" at BLT at 8:15 AM on our trip two weeks ago. Left the car in the parking lot after dropping off our bags at bell services and walked over to MK. There's nothing in the rules saying you can't park your car since you're already paying the ridiculous fee for the night anyways.

 

[yorkieteacher]

We're driving over from another hotel in Orlando so we could be at the parks really early. Are you allowed to arrive and pay for parking at the hotel in the morning if you're staying that night?

We need adjoining rooms or close by rooms so that will complicate things a bit.

When we went from another hotel into the parks, we had our magic bands on of course, and just showed them to the gate attendant as we pulled in. They scanned them, saw we were staying that night on property, and we were not charged for parking at the parks. We also had requested adjoining rooms. If you are going to arrive at your resort after check in time at 3, everything should be fine. We arrived earlier, and still managed to get two adjoining rooms, thanks to the great cast members in the resort.

 

[J'aime Paris]

I think you are able to "check-in" as early as 6am. Since adjoining rooms is a high priority for you, I'd go to the desk in person. You can also have the resort store your luggage at that time if you wish.

 

[sponica]

We're driving over from another hotel in Orlando so we could be at the parks really early. Are you allowed to arrive and pay for parking at the hotel in the morning if you're staying that night?

We need adjoining rooms or close by rooms so that will complicate things a bit.

Just an FYI, for Disney "adjoining" just means in the same building or near by and I feel like some of those buildings at Pop are pretty large.

Connecting means connecting.

 

[Feberin]

Just an FYI, for Disney "adjoining" just means in the same building or near by and I feel like some of those buildings at Pop are pretty large.

Connecting means connecting.

Thank you for clarifying. We don't absolutely need connecting but it would be nice. There will be 3 adults and 4 kids.

 

[sponica]

Thank you for clarifying. We don't absolutely need connecting but it would be nice. There will be 3 adults and 4 kids.

If they are separate reservations, call and make sure the reservations have a "traveling with" added to the notes. That way the room assigners will at least try to get you as close as possible.