When you arrive in the wee hours of the morning?

[WDWorBUST]

Currently our flight arrives at 1pm - but I noticed that there is a flight the night before (didn't notice it before) that arrives in Orlando a tad after midnight. Our flight has changed 3 times already and I'm really expecting it to again. The day we arrive we are doing MNSSHP so we have to be in Orlando at a decent time for our DD to get a nap in. If it changes again to a flight that won't work I was considering trying to change to that flight that arrives so late the night before/early the day we originally arive (however you want to look at it). When you do this what do you do? Our package is confirmed at paid for and includes free dining so....they wouldn't let me add a night to it would they? (there is availability I have checked for room only)
We have waffled between just using DME and renting a car and had decided against a car which leaves a cheap hotel offsite just to get some sleep out of the question. What are the odds that your room would be ready and available at 2am of your arrival day? I am really just trying to figure out if it would be worth it to add the time to our trip if it's going to cause a headache.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

My understanding is that a 2 a.m. on arrival is not considered arrival day - it would mean paying for the night before since check-in is not "officially" until 3 p.m. on the day of arrival.

Suppose you could try, but if we were checking in at 2 a.m. I would book the night before as our arrival day and be considered a late check-in. Would also let the resort know how late we would arrive, so we would not be a "no show".

Maybe someone has actually checked in at 2 a.m. and can give you an absolute answer

Good luck!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I've checked in at 1am...(close enough) and had to have a room booked for that night (technically the whole day before) and late check in for us to actually get to go to our room and sleep. Otherwise, you'd have to hang out somewhere and wouldn't be able to go to your room until your room was available.

 

[WDWorBUST]

That was my thought too....but if I have to book it separate there is that chance we would have to change rooms which would be a TOTAL nightmare since DD will really need a nap - or at least lay down to rest - to be ready for the party that night and the time between checkout and check-in is when she would need to be resting.

It probably isn't a good idea to even try....I'm just all for getting extra time in Disney even if I'm just spending that time sleeping

 

[BrianD]

We checked in at 2:00 AM. It was for the previous night. I think the switchover is somewhere around 6:00 AM. I've heard of people checking in as late and as early as 6:00 AM, if you know what I mean.

As for the Free Dining, just because you see availability for that night before doesn't necessarilly its available for the Free Dining package. If not, then just book that one night as a separate room only reservation, in which case you would have to check out and check back in later that morning.

To be honest, I would stay with what you've got. When we checked in at 2:00 AM at the AKL once, it was far less than a magical experience, especially from a CM experience, and we were just left exhausted the next day, anyway.

 

[super_crunch]

We will be arriving early in the morning. We were told that we can pre-check in starting at 8am...but we can't get to our room until 3pm.

At 8am we can pick up the park tickets, and bring in our luggage. They will store the luggage and when our room is ready, they will put our luggage in our room for us. (this is at CBR)

You would probably save yourself some stress with the reservations you already have.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

We will be arriving early in the morning. We were told that we can pre-check in starting at 8am...but we can't get to our room until 3pm.

At 8am we can pick up the park tickets, and bring in our luggage. They will store the luggage and when our room is ready, they will put our luggage in our room for us. (this is at CBR)

You would probably save yourself some stress with the reservations you already have.

We've checked in at 8:15 a.m. and pne of the best rooms we've ever had was available! Think that is rare, but it was fantastic!

 

[super_crunch]

We've checked in at 8:15 a.m. and pne of the best rooms we've ever had was available! Think that is rare, but it was fantastic!

here's hoping

They have my birthday noted in our reservation...so I can hope that they might take that into consideration

 

[WDWorBUST]

Oh...I'm sorry I wasn't clear - I didn't have a hope in the world that I would be able to get the free dining for the "add-on" night. I was just looking to see if there was availability for us to book a room only if necessary. I think the only way I would consider the night before scenario is if our flights change really drastically causing it to be an issue for us to make the party. And so far they haven't changed THAT much. Thanks for all the input

 

[MisMikiNikiLynne]

We took a red eye a few years ago and just stayed at the orlando airport hotel, very nice rooms and a good rate too! It worked out almost better for us as we got off the plane and took the elevator up to our room with 3 sleeping princesses! The next morning we loaded the girls onto DME and were able to check into our room at the POP and go right to the parks!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We took a red eye from LAX to MCO back in Jan. 05. Our flight arrived about 6 a.m. and we were at POP around 7 a.m. I figured we would have to pre-check in and then take a little nap in the car, but nope, our room was available. So we got to nap in our room, instead of the car. It was during a low season time, though, so that might make a difference.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

We took a red eye a few years ago and just stayed at the orlando airport hotel, very nice rooms and a good rate too! It worked out almost better for us as we got off the plane and took the elevator up to our room with 3 sleeping princesses! The next morning we loaded the girls onto DME and were able to check into our room at the POP and go right to the parks!

When you did this - did you have your bags go straight through to WDW or did you retrieve them and then hand carry them onto DME the next day.

 

[Hannathy]

Even with your original reservation you aren't guaranteed to get into your room until 3, Is that early enough for your DD to get a nap? Sometimes you get in earlier but sometimes not until 3. Or did I misunderstand your original post?

 

[WDWorBUST]

Actually I completely FORGOT that check-in isn't guaranteed until 3pm since we always seem to get into our room early. Of course if we don't arrive until 1pm it may be 2pm before we get to the resort - an hour of swimming might actually do good to wear her out enough to sleep for a couple of hours. I was actually worried about getting her to sleep at all from excitement - but was going to try - thanks for reminding me of the "official" check in time. I'll at least be prepared in case we aren't able to get in the room.