Hey there Trisha and welcome to planDisney!
If
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is where you've set your sights for your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation, then my goodness you're in for a treat! I just stayed there for the first time in December and it was absolutely stunning. Nothing can prepare you for seeing a giraffe or a zebra from your window. Now of course nothing feels very magical when your toddler is sleepy and cranky. I'll let you in on one of the best-kept not-so-secrets in my Walt Disney World tool kit.
Did you know that
Disney Resorts Collection hotels offer
Online Check-In Service? Right there in your
My Disney Experience app where your hotel reservation is listed on the home screen, tap Start Check-In Now. You should see a section labeled Your Resort Arrival. In that section, you can let your hotel know what time you expect to arrive. You can add that little bit of info super far in advance. On your arrival day, you'll get a little notification to let you know your room is ready and what number it is. At that point, you won't even need to stop at the Front Desk, just use your
MagicBand or phone to
unlock your door. While standard check-in is 4 p.m., in my personal experience, my rooms have generally been ready based on the arrival time I listed. While this isn't an absolute guarantee, especially when it's a super busy time, I've always had ample amounts of pixie dust in these situations.
Pro-tip: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge has one of the coziest lobbies I've ever seen. Squashy armchairs and couches abound. There's even an indoor firepit over in the corner with chairs for gathering and getting comfortable! If your toddler is anything like my goddaughter was at that age, a little fireside rocking will have that little one out like a light in your arms in no time. Careful though, you just might fall asleep yourself!
Trisha, I hope I've been able to help you today. If you have any other questions,
come back to see me again! Happy planning!
Taylor