Hey, Howdy, Hey, Alyson!
Welcome to planDisney and thank you for moseying by with your questions. Yeehaw! Alyson, it looks like your magical Disney vacation is just around the corner! Soon you'll be kickin' up your boots in Disney's Hollywood Studios and reaching for the sky on Slinky Dog Dash.
Alyson, I just double-checked with Cast Members, and unfortunately, you can't use your Disney Gift Cards at the
Side Show Game Arcade at
Disney's BoardWalk Inn or for the BoardWalk carnival-style games. However, you can use them at almost all dining and merchandise locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. So I do recommend using your Disney Gift Cards to grab some delicious grub and cowboy-strength coffee at the
BoardWalk Deli or for one of those yummy BBQ Brisket Melts from my favorite quick-service spot,
Woody's Lunch Box.Now, Alyson, for getting access to your room earlier than 4:00 p.m., the best way to alert the hotel of your arrival time is to complete the
Online Check-in on the My Disney Experience app. In my experience, our room is often ready earlier than that time.
Be sure you can receive text messages from Walt Disney World Resort, as that is the quickest way to be notified of your room number when your room is ready. Once you have your room number, you can go straight to your room without having to visit the Front Desk. Then, you can call Bell Services to deliver your luggage - they can round up those suitcases faster than Woody can round up cattle!
You can also speak with the Front Desk Cast Members when you arrive to inquire again about getting into your room earlier, and they will do everything they can to accommodate your request. However, sometimes, there is a snake in the boot and they are unable to get you into your room before that 4 p.m. time.
My recommendation is to pack your swimsuit in your carry-on bag, check your luggage with Bell Services, and spend some time enjoying that fun watering hole, the
Luna Park Pool! You can also kick up your boots and take a little mid-day shut-eye on a lounge chair.
I hope this helps you, Alyson. If you have any other questions, don't be a stranger. Gallop back over here to see me because you've got a friend in me!
Happy Trails!
Keri