• On Feb 8, 2020
    Christina from WI Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Is it better to reserve the hotel so check in is the day before the park visit, or the day of the park visit?

    Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Christina! Thank you for bringing your first question to us!

    I am happy to hear that you are considering being our Guest during your upcoming visit. Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel can enjoy several great benefits, but what I really appreciate is being immersed in Disney magic during my whole stay!

    I personally prefer to arrive at my Disney Resort hotel the day before I start visiting the theme parks. Since I am an international visitor, I need to travel long hours to arrive in the United States, so I prefer to relax and rest on the day of arrival. I guess other Guests who need to face long travel hours or take more than one flight may feel the same way, but I have friends who can catch an early morning flight and arrive at Orlando International Airport just in time to drop their luggage at their hotel and head for the theme parks.

    I believe that if you are traveling with children or visiting with a multigenerational group, it is better to arrive the day before your first theme park visit to have time to unpack and rest. I usually give my daughter an early dinner and put her to bed earlier so the next morning she is full of energy and ready to enjoy the theme parks. Another great thing about arriving the day before is that I can take my family for a nice early dinner at Disney Springs or enjoy the hotel pool.

    Don’t forget to check in online and have your MagicBand with you in case you decide to arrive on the day of your first park visit. You will be able to leave your bags with Bell Services at your Disney Resort hotel and immediately go to the parks. You will receive a message with your Guest room number whenever it is ready, so when you return later in the day you can take your bags and go straight to your room. In addition, if you feel tired you can always go back to your Disney Resort hotel for a midday break. This is especially important if you had to wake up very early to travel, and you will feel rested to enjoy the nighttime spectaculars at the parks later in the evening.

    It was a pleasure answering your question, Christina! I really hope this helps you while planning and that you stop by once again real soon as you plan your visit.

    Best magical wishes,
    Thiana
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Meet the Panelist: Thiana, Brazil

My name is Thiana and I am a German-Brazilian sworn translator from beautiful Brazil. I am happily married to my prince charming and the proud mother of two lovely princesses. When I am not busy with work or family, you can catch me reading, running, listening to music, or planning our next Walt Disney World Resort visit. I hope to help you plan a magical Disney vacation that will be filled with wonderful memories.

Learn More About Thiana

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