Odd question about checking in early

[sbkline]

As most of us know, official check in time is 3 PM. However, if the room is ready, they will let you check in early and get your room. I've done so as early as 9 AM. My question is, what is the cutoff time between checking in early with no fee vs checking in so early that it counts as another night? 9 AM is 6 hours earlier than official check in time, but how far out can you check in before it counts as another night? 6 AM? 3 AM? Midnight? Anyone know?

It's unlikely to affect me on this upcoming trip, but hypothetically, if we were to make good road tripping time and arrive in Orlando late at night/early in the morning, either on this trip or on some future trip, what would be the very earliest I could conceivably check in before they tack another night's fee onto my bill?

 

[love disney]

I believe that the earliest you are allowed to check in is 7am. I recently got back from a trip to WDW and some friends checked in the day after us (they got in the night before but didn't have reservations until the next day). When I went down for my 6am coffee I asked at the front desk when my friends could check in because I knew they would be there shortly to start the day with us and was told any time after 7am. Not sure if this is the policy everywhere or just at Pop Century, but thought I'd share anyway. Hope it helps!

 

[sbkline]

I believe that the earliest you are allowed to check in is 7am. I recently got back from a trip to WDW and some friends checked in the day after us (they got in the night before but didn't have reservations until the next day). When I went down for my 6am coffee I asked at the front desk when my friends could check in because I knew they would be there shortly to start the day with us and was told any time after 7am. Not sure if this is the policy everywhere or just at Pop Century, but thought I'd share anyway. Hope it helps!

Yes it does help, thank you! I would imagine it would be standard Disney policy for all resorts, but it is nice to know the very earliest we can check in. Obviously, if we make such good time that we arrive in Orlando at 1 AM or something, it would be pointless for me to pay around 200 bucks just to crash for the night at our moderate resort, when we could just shell out 40 or 50 bucks for a local Super 8 or something.

 

[TURKEY]

Yes it does help, thank you! I would imagine it would be standard Disney policy for all resorts, but it is nice to know the very earliest we can check in. Obviously, if we make such good time that we arrive in Orlando at 1 AM or something, it would be pointless for me to pay around 200 bucks just to crash for the night at our moderate resort, when we could just shell out 40 or 50 bucks for a local Super 8 or something.

It's normally 7 am. You might get someone that will do it around 6:30 or so, but that's usually the earliest.


The computer system goes down nightly between midnight and 2 am (most nights). It normally comes back up around 4 am.


When I worked at the front desk (2004-2006), if you checked in prior to the downtime, you would be charged for the night. Until about 5 am, I would tell people we would charge them. After 5, I'd tell them we wouldn't be able to check them in until after 7am.


During this downtime, no keys can be cut, balances checked, credit cards charged, receipts printed. If you have to checkout prior to 5 am or so, go down the night before and settle your account if you want a receipt.

 

[sbkline]

It's normally 7 am. You might get someone that will do it around 6:30 or so, but that's usually the earliest.


The computer system goes down nightly between midnight and 2 am (most nights). It normally comes back up around 4 am.


When I worked at the front desk (2004-2006), if you checked in prior to the downtime, you would be charged for the night. Until about 5 am, I would tell people we would charge them. After 5, I'd tell them we wouldn't be able to check them in until after 7am.


During this downtime, no keys can be cut, balances checked, credit cards charged, receipts printed. If you have to checkout prior to 5 am or so, go down the night before and settle your account if you want a receipt.

Good to know! Thanks for the info. :wave: