Hiya Lindsey! Welcome to planDisney!
I'm so excited to hear that you'll be visiting the
Walt Disney World Resort early next year! You have so much to look forward to on your visit! Between the attractions, experiences, dining, and so much more, you are in for a magical stay!
Living just a few states away myself, we typically drive instead of flying. Most of the time, our Disney Resorts room is not ready yet so we end up going directly to the parks. You'll be happy to know that regardless if you have checked in to your resort or not, your park tickets and Dining Plan will begin on this day. You can head directly to the first park you plan to visit and enjoy your arrival day.
One feature that I suggest utilizing is the
Online Check-In service before arriving for your stay. You can start that process now by opening up the My Disney Experience App on your mobile device and selecting "Resort Hotel." There will be a blue button that reads "Start Check-In Now." Tap on this and follow the steps to complete the process. This way, on your arrival day, you will be notified through the app or by text message to the phone number you provided when your resort room is ready. You can use the
Direct-to-Room Service and go straight to your room when you arrive back from the park. You won't need to stop by the front desk at all. This added feature makes it very convenient for Guests when arriving at their Resort hotel.
I'm happy you are using one of the
Dining Plans on this trip. It's great knowing that many of your meals (and snacks) are already accounted for and it helps provide an all-inclusive nature to your stay. This way, when your little one is in need of a Mickey bar, it's already included with your plan.
Lindsey, I hope this information helps you plan for your upcoming visit!
Stop back and see us again at planDisney! We'll be happy to help with any questions that come your way.
See ya real soon!
Greg