Hi Betsy,
Welcome to planDisney!
Let the countdown begin! You have less than a month until your arrival to the Walt Disney World® Resort! I do highly recommend that you do
online check-in prior to arrival. We always do so, even when we plan to drop our bags with Bell Services and head to the parks. Once we have done online check-in, we get notified via text message and/or email when our
Disney Resorts Collection hotel room is ready. We can then head to the room!
If you submitted room requests in the online check-in process, I do suggest that you double-check your room assignment when you get that text message or email. If the room assignment does not match your request(s), feel free to call the number in the text or email or stop by the front desk to ask about your requests. Although requests are not guaranteed, we always ask to be sure the staff saw the request.
In considering your plans, think about the number of park days you have planned. If you are not planning to visit a theme park on your arrival date, you can enjoy the resort or visit Disney Springs. From time to time, we will make an
advanced dining reservation at the resort hotel and this helps us to pass the time until our room is ready. I love enjoying a character meal while waiting. So, if we are checking in to Disney's Contemporary Resort Hotel, for example, I will make a dining reservation for Chef Mickey's and we will enjoy a meal there.
Betsy, if you do not want to venture to the parks or Disney Springs, just enjoy the resort amenities. Honestly, we always take a few minutes just to sit in the lobby and regroup. It's nice just to relax and appreciate the fact that our vacation has begun! Final tip - if you have not yet considered
Memory Maker, I recommend it. We have absolutely loved having access to the digital downloads of all of our photos taken with
Disney PhotoPass® Service photographers!
Magic and memories,
Donyell