Hey there, hi there, ho there! You’re as welcome as can be here at planDisney, Jennifer!
It sounds like you have a magical New Year’s trip on the horizon! I travel to my happy place often during that time of year too, and thanks to unpredictable winter weather, I’ve definitely had my fair share of late-night arrivals. Thankfully, our Disney arrivals don’t turn into pumpkins like Cinderella’s!
If you’re anticipating a delay, the best thing you can do is call and speak with a Disney
Resort Hotel Reservations Cast Member. While the resorts themselves don’t take direct calls, the main reservation line can assist you and will note your late arrival on the reservation. You’ll still be charged for your first night, but there’s no penalty for arriving late. Disney Resort hotels have 24-hour front desks, and it’s completely normal for guests to check in at all hours of the day (and night!).
Also, if you haven’t already, I highly recommend completing Online Check-In through your
My Disney Experience app. With
Direct-to-Room service, you can skip the front desk altogether and head straight to your room once it’s ready, even if you arrive well after dark. During the check-in process, you can enter your expected arrival time and opt in for a text or app notification when your room is ready.
And if you’re planning to follow Sleeping Beauty’s advice and catch a few extra ZZZs the next morning, you might want to consider
Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Since you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you’ll be able to make your selections up to seven days in advance, giving you the flexibility to plan your day around a more relaxed start.
I hope this helps, Jennifer! Wishing you a trip filled with magic and a smooth arrival, whenever you get there!
See ya real soon,
Eean