early check-in

[gerald72]

I understand I can pre-check in if I get to the resort early- get my passed and head to a park before check-in.
But how early can I pre-check in? I keep being told "when I get there," but suppose I roll in at 6 or 7 am? How early is too early?

[KylesMom]

We've done pre-check in at 6:30 am when driving from Illinois without problems. :mickey:

[CleveRocks]

As early as 6, definitely by 7. It all depends when the computer "resets" for the day.

[Mousemates]

:ditto:

WE've also done many pre-breakfast check-ins after driving overnight from East Tennessee...never had a problem, and once even got an upgrade...a very nice way to start the day).

[#1donaldfan]

We always check in very, very early, and once our room was available.....normally we just check in, leave everything in the car and hit a park till our room is ready....they give you a number to call n check on the room....we usually get the benefit of a full day at a park, the day we check in ......:thumbsup:

[princessjojo]

I am so glad to read that you can pre-check in that early. Our time isn't that critical, our flight arrives at 8:20 from RDU so we get to get most of a full day.

So what is the earliest anyone has been able to actually check-in?

[Bri]

in 2005 we arrived to POFQ at around noon and we got into our room right then, and our bags were already there. we go during the value season so i think since the rooms aren't all booked, they can get you in earlier. also in 2006 we got there well before the 3pm check in time, and we also got in our room then too.

[TheRustyScupper]

As early as 6, definitely by 7. It all depends when the computer "resets" for the day.

1) The mainframe computers are usually back and ready by 4:00am daily.
2) Unless there is an unforeseen upgrade glitch.
3) But, you can't check-in until 6:00am.
4) Before 6:00am is considered the night before.

NOTE: Some folks used to drive and arrive at WDW about 5:00am and check-in. They would get some sleep and then hit the parks. They basically got a night free. WDW stopped this about 4-yrs ago.

[kathiep]

In 2006 we had arrived a lot earlier than expected - the evening before our check in date. We ended driving straight through. So we opted for a night on international drive.

We were eager to get started the next morning so we were at CBR looking only for our park tickets by 9am. We got quite a surprise to find out that not only was a room ready but they updgraded us.

We didn't get so lucky in 2007. We had done a room only for the first night since we weren't sure when we'd be arriving and couldn't get into CSR where we were staying for our entire trip. So we were at OKW. We had to go to CSR to get our park tickets and the CM didn't have a room for us at 7:30am because we had a specific request. At which point I indicated we could be flexible if something was ready. I don't think she processed the "if something was ready part" because a room wasn't ready and when we returned from the parks, we found we didn't get our request :(

[2Epcot]

On two different trips I was able to check in before 8:30am and rooms were ready on both occasions ... sometimes you get lucky. :mickey:

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

There is no problem checking in early, and we've had some luck with our room actually being ready.

On our last trip we checked in at 11am, and one of the two rooms were ready. It was nice to be able to get some stuff out of the car!

[katzctkpt]

I think the earliest check in for us has been 7 am and our room was ready. That happened only once so far. Wish it had been every time. We generally sleep at a hotel off I-4 so we're up and ready by 6:30 am.