Very early check-in? About This Page:

[Katara81]

DH has talked me into making a nighttime drive to WDW next month. I am not all that thrilled with this plan, but I have agreed to try it. We have plenty of room in our schedule to stop in the middle of the night if we see it's not working for us, so I will give it a try once.

So, my question is, am I right in thinking that the earliest we can check in on our package stay is 6am on our arrival day? Thought I had read that somewhere. Also, if we see we are going to arrive waaay before that time (it's quite possible we will), is it possible just to go to the desk at Pop Century and book a room only rate for the rest of the night? Or if that situation arises, should we just stop at an offsite hotel and sleep a few hours?

Thanks for any info.

[Nova]

When we use to drive my Dad would stop outside Disney and we would spend the night then get to the resort early in the morning. Sometimes the room was not ready which probably may happen to you. I dont think I would want to chance getting there at night and getting a room. We just left our stuff in the car and went to the parks then came back later for our room.

[Caldercup]

It depends on when the resort's computers are restarted in the morning -- but I believe it's between 5 and 6AM. (I've read that they can still check you in, but you may have to return to the front desk later to receive some of your paperwork, etc.)

It's unlikely that a room will be ready for you, unless the resort isn't booked up and has a cleaned/prepped room available. If you don't have any room requests on file or if you've done on-line check-in, it's possible you could get a room that early.

[WDW_Fan]

You can check-in early, but there is no guarantee your room will be ready at that time. I've checked in at 10am and had a room available, then have tried to check-in and not have a room ready until 3pm. If the room is not ready, you can either leave your things with bell services or just leave them in your car and use the resort transportation to one of the parks.

[ilovedisney247]

I'm pretty sure the earliest you can check in is 6am. We had to switch rooms from a studio to a 2 bedroom at SSR last year and for some unknown reason I was up at 3am and called the front desk to see if it was possible that the one bedroom next door was available--lock off, so that we wouldn't have to move. It wasn't and she told me that the earliest I could check in for the new room was 6am.

[Sue M.]

I'd try to plan your drive to arrive around 7AM if possible. Then if your room isn't ready, you can leave your bags with Bell Service, go have breakfast at the food court, and head to a park. Or rest by the pool if you're needing a rest. If not, just plan on stopping somewhere for the night.
Sept. isn't busy, you may be lucky and be able to get your room. I checked into WL last Aug. at 8AM and our room was ready. I wasn't expecting that, and had already given my luggage to Bell Service to store!

[Wolfy6688]

I remember reading it as 6 am too, but can't find where

[Katara81]

I understand that we most likely will not actually get a room when we arrive. I think our plan is going to be what you suggest, Sue - get there, have breakfast, and head out to the parks. DD is a dream in the car, and DH and I both sleep fairly easily in the passenger seat, so this plan is not sounding wuite as bad. It will be good to get such an early jump on our first day.