Early morning check-in or drive to park?

[love disney]

Ok, just looking for some "what would you do" opinions here.

I will be at Wilderness Lodge the first day and night of my upcoming trip, just enjoying the lodge, relaxing, etc. and eating at Artist Point for dinner! The next day we switch to Pop Century (can't afford to stay at WL the whole trip unfortunately but wanted to experience it for at least one night!), and plan on hitting Hollywood Studios that day. So the question is, if these were your plans, would you drive to Pop early in the morning (and of course have already done online check-in) and catch the bus to HS (no morning EMH that day and will be there all day) or would you drive to HS and check-in to Pop late that night?

Just curious as to what you all would do in this situation.

Thanks!

 

[DVCOwner]

I would have Disney bell sever move my bags to Pop and enjoy a day at the parks. Than check in a Pop when I want to in the evening.

 

[fmingo36]

I would have Disney bell sever move my bags to Pop and enjoy a day at the parks. Than check in a Pop when I want to in the evening.

DITTO.

The more time in the parks the better.

 

[nolatron]

I like to keep my bags with my when I have a car that way they get to my room when I do and I'm not depending on the bell service (I've heard they can be slow/late on getting your bags to you).

So I'd just drop the bags in the car and hit the parks since you get free parking as a resort guest.

 

[Cotton's Parrot]

Early morning - do both

The problem with giving your bags over and not checking in is that they cannot deliver them to a room until you do. If you check in at the end of a long day it may be 2 hours before your bags join you.
That means waiting up for a knock at the door.

The problem with taking your bags with you is that at the end of a long day you will have to wait in line to check in and drag your bags in your self. Trust me, you will be tired and that makes check in and room finding and luggage dragging that much more irritating.

If you get up a little early and drive over to Pop, you can check in and leabve your bags with the bell man there. Then head over to HS and enjoy your day. When the day is over, stop by the front desk and get your room keys, maybe something to drink in the food court and head to your room. Your bags will have had plenty of time to get there ahead of you.

Unless a ME bus pulls in just before you get there, early AM check in is quick and painless. Allow for 1 hour from leaving Wilderness lodge to arrive at Pop and check in. You should have time to grab a quick breakfast to go.

 

[love disney]

Since we never have a problem waking up early while at WDW (especially me, I am sure I will be up by 5:30am, haha!) our current plan is to head to Pop about 7am, drink coffee and eat granola bars on the way over, then check-in (having already done on-line check-in to let them know we will be there very early). We figure that even if the room isn't ready we can at least be checked in and they can move the bags up once the room is ready, that way when we get back at night and are exhausted everything is already taken care of at Pop. HS doesn't open until 9am that morning, we already have tickets, so we figure by leaving WL around 7am, checking in, bus ride, etc. we should probably get there right around opening. Might be a bit rushed in the morning, but will make for a more relaxing night when we get back and are ready to sleep...at least I hope so!

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I think that going to the resort to check in is the best idea. Regardless of if your room is ready or not you will be able to get your room keys and drop off your bags. Your bags will show up in your room when you are at the park, and you won't have to worry about taking the car anywhere else with you.

 

[coltow]

Since we never have a problem waking up early while at WDW (especially me, I am sure I will be up by 5:30am, haha!) our current plan is to head to Pop about 7am, drink coffee and eat granola bars on the way over, then check-in (having already done on-line check-in to let them know we will be there very early). We figure that even if the room isn't ready we can at least be checked in and they can move the bags up once the room is ready, that way when we get back at night and are exhausted everything is already taken care of at Pop. HS doesn't open until 9am that morning, we already have tickets, so we figure by leaving WL around 7am, checking in, bus ride, etc. we should probably get there right around opening. Might be a bit rushed in the morning, but will make for a more relaxing night when we get back and are ready to sleep...at least I hope so!

Why not have your coffee on your WL balcony? It will give you a few extra minutes soaking it in.

Personally I would just hang out at WL (balcony, lobby, outside deck off lobby) until DHS is about ready to open. Then I would drive to DHS and go to Pop when done. If you do the online check in your wait shouldn't be long at all once you get there. From when we got off ME bus it took me a total 5 mns to complete the online check in process.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

Since we never have a problem waking up early while at WDW (especially me, I am sure I will be up by 5:30am, haha!) our current plan is to head to Pop about 7am, drink coffee and eat granola bars on the way over, then check-in (having already done on-line check-in to let them know we will be there very early). We figure that even if the room isn't ready we can at least be checked in and they can move the bags up once the room is ready, that way when we get back at night and are exhausted everything is already taken care of at Pop. HS doesn't open until 9am that morning, we already have tickets, so we figure by leaving WL around 7am, checking in, bus ride, etc. we should probably get there right around opening. Might be a bit rushed in the morning, but will make for a more relaxing night when we get back and are ready to sleep...at least I hope so!

This is what I would do too. I'm an early riser in Disney World, and I would just want to be checked in and done with it. It's just less stress at the end of the day knowing your stuff is in your room, and it's all ready to go. If you wake up early enough, you won't even miss any time in the parks, like you said. I think it's a good plan.