Early Check-In at Disneyland Hotel

[GatorChris]

How early can you check in to DLH? I don't mean when can I get in the room. I would imagine that being around 3pm. I'm just wondering if I grab a hotel on the trip down the night before and then just drive a few hours into Anaheim, can I check in around 10am or so? I'm hoping they can keep my luggage in a particular spot while we go to the parks and then they can call when the room is ready.

 

[ImSoExcited]

We've done this. They just hold all your stuff and text you when your room is ready. I've had friends do this at like 7am with no issues.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

You can check in as early as you want. Just leave your bags with bell services and they will safely store them until you need them. The earliest we have checked in was 8:00 am, but I've read people going as early as 6

 

[Sherry E]

How early can you check in to DLH? I don't mean when can I get in the room. I would imagine that being around 3pm. I'm just wondering if I grab a hotel on the trip down the night before and then just drive a few hours into Anaheim, can I check in around 10am or so? I'm hoping they can keep my luggage in a particular spot while we go to the parks and then they can call when the room is ready.

10:00 a.m. will be fine, I'm sure. I haven't stayed at the DLH in many years, but if the DLH check-ins are handled in the same way that the GCH and PPH check-ins are handled, you can check in (get your paperwork taken care of, etc.) as early as 6 a.m., or possibly even earlier than that. (I think that 6 a.m. is when the reservations system resets for the new day.) If you're lucky the room might be ready, but if not then they will get your number and text or call you when the room is ready. They may ask you if you want to be notified in case a different room (not the one assigned to you) opens up as well, or just wait until your room opens up.

You can leave your bags at the Bell Desk.

 

[DharmaLou]

We arrived at about 10:45 two weeks ago (ack, can't believe it's been that long!!) and they had a room ready for us. I wouldn't expect that to be the norm, but it's possible. As for checking in and leaving luggage, you can go as early as need-be. They will text you that your room is ready. On our check out day, I passed a family who just received a text informing them that (they read it aloud).

 

[MommyJKM]

DLH should be the same at GCH. They will check you in and give you your room assignment and keys as early as 6am, then text or call once it's ready.
You can leave all of your bags with the Bellman. If we fly in early we have a separate bag ready with a change of clothes/refresher items and use the restroom to change then leave all the bags until the room is ready.

That way you can go straight to your room and call down for your bags to be delivered from the Bell Desk. We like to do that because you're tipping the Bellman anyway so you might as well have the bags delivered.

Keep in mind if you do a Vons delivery they will hold your stuff and store your refrigerated items but we usually have the delivery window after 3pm because if you get a nice enough CM/Bellman who signs for the delivery you can ask them to deliver to your room (unless there is alcohol). So it's all waiting when you arrive!

 

[GatorChris]

We've done this. They just hold all your stuff and text you when your room is ready. I've had friends do this at like 7am with no issues.

Wow! 7am!?! Don't think we'll be doing that, but this is exactly what I wanted to know. Grab a hotel on the way down, check-in and enjoy a whole day at the park without paying for another night at Disney rates. The downside being that I'll have to load/unload the van twice.

 

[dsneygirl]

You can check in as early as you want. Just leave your bags with bell services and they will safely store them until you need them. The earliest we have checked in was 8:00 am, but I've read people going as early as 6

On our 2012 trip we were coming in on a red eye from Aulani. We checked in at 7am and our room was ready! (must have been empty) we were at DCA by 8 for early entry. About 1 we all passed out in the room, lol.

 

[bumbershoot]

The computer systems switch over to the next day at around 6am. We checked into PPH around that time during one stay; arrived late at night, pricelined and got the Hilton, left there at around 5:45 to drop bags off at PPH, get all the checkin stuff done, park, and be ready for early entrance.

 

[Rubygoose]

We did a split stay in August, starting at Hojo and switching to DLH. We switched on a Sunday at 7:30am. DH dropped our luggage with the bellman and returned our rental car to Alamo in DTD while I checked in. The kids watched the classic Mickey cartoons while I waited in line. When I got checked in, our room was actually ready, but since DH already stored our bags, we just headed into the park and made it to EMH at 8am. It was nice to know that we could head up to our room whenever we were ready. When we checked out on the Thursday, though, others who were checking in did not have their rooms ready as early.

 

[hjgaus]

Wow! 7am!?! Don't think we'll be doing that, but this is exactly what I wanted to know. Grab a hotel on the way down, check-in and enjoy a whole day at the park without paying for another night at Disney rates. The downside being that I'll have to load/unload the van twice.

Extra Magic Morning Hour is the ONLY reason why we do EARLY (6:30am or 7:30am) check in !!

Although it's the LONG wait for the villas most of the time that makes it tougher but we try to make the most of the day OR we could drive
20 minutes back home to wait it out. Usually not needed but an okay option!


As soon as we get in the villa then a decent half hour to hour nap helps everyone gear up for a few hours into the evening!

Most of the time all this would be for a 1 night reservation!!
Enjoy your time at DL!!

 

[Iceman93]

The other handy thing is that, even before your room is ready, they will give you your room keys that you can use for charging throughout the resort. You can also start having purchases delivered back to the hotel immediately. And with your room key in hand, you can use the DCA entrance through the GCH!

 

[TheDoleWhipper]

You can technically check in anytime you want. Although your room probably won't be ready at 10 am, they usually send you a text when your room is ready. Oftentimes, the text comes early (like around 2 pm) but sometimes, it does not come at all! But your room should be ready by 4 pm AT THE LATEST.

 

[cherice95403]

We have checked in at the Grand at 6am several times...just did it last weekend. We get checked in (no room assignment) with our room keys and head right over to the entrance for magic morning. This past week our room was ready at 12:30pm.