If you’ve already booked your Disney Resort stay, the hardest part is done. This guide will help you know what to expect from the moment you arrive to the time you check out.

Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, this will help you feel prepared and confident from start to finish.

Before You Arrive

Online check-in opens 60 days before your trip in the My Disney Experience app. Completing it ahead of time lets you skip the front desk and go straight to your room once it’s ready. You’ll get a text or push notification with your room number, and you can use your phone, MagicBand, or MagicMobile pass to unlock the door. Read more about online check in here!

If you’d rather check in with a Cast Member, you can always stop by the front desk. They can answer questions, give you a park map, confirm room requests, and make sure everything is set for your stay.

What to Know Before Making a Room Request at Your Disney Resort

If you have a specific vision for your Disney stay, maybe a certain view, floor, or proximity to the pool, you might be thinking about making a room request. Learn more about room requests here.

Arrival Day

When you arrive at your Disney Resort, Bell Services can hold your luggage if your room isn’t ready yet. You’re free to explore, grab lunch, or head straight to the parks. Once your room is available, you’ll get an alert.

Head to the front desk for a park map and any celebration buttons you want to pick up!

If you’re doing a split stay between two resorts, Bell Services can also transfer your bags for you , you don’t need to handle them yourself.

Your arrival time plays a big role in how to plan your first day. If you’re getting in late, consider keeping things simple with a resort dinner or relaxing by the pool. If you arrive early and have a park ticket, it’s easy to spend a few hours soaking up the magic right away.

How to Unlock Your Room Door

Once your room is ready, you can skip the front desk and go straight to your room. Disney makes it easy to unlock your door in a few different ways:

MagicBand or MagicBand+: Just hold your band up to the Mickey-shaped sensor on your door until it lights up green.
Key Card: If you stop by the front desk, you can request a physical key card to use instead.
My Disney Experience App: You can unlock your door right from your phone. Open the app, tap your resort reservation, and select Unlock Door. Then hold your phone near the lock to open it.

During Your Stay

Housekeeping (Mousekeeping)

Disney provides housekeeping every other day at most resorts, with Deluxe Resorts receiving daily service. You can expect fresh towels, trash removal, and light tidying. .

If you need extra towels, toiletries, or other supplies, you can call from your room phone or use the app to make a request. Rooms are always cleaned thoroughly before each guest arrives, so you can relax knowing your space has been prepared for you.

If you’d rather skip housekeeping, you can opt out by letting the front desk know or hanging the “Room Occupied” sign on your door.

If You Have an Issue with Your Room

If something in your room isn’t right, contact the front desk right away. Whether it’s a maintenance issue, noise concern, or location problem, Cast Members are great at fixing things quickly. Sometimes they’ll send a repair tech, and other times they can move you to a new room if needed.

Bell Services and Luggage Help

Bell Services can help in several ways during your stay. They’ll move your luggage between resorts if you’re doing a split stay and hold items while you go to the parks. If you’re unsure what to do with your bags, this is the team to ask.

They’re also your best point of contact if you need help figuring out what to do with your luggage before check-in or after checkout.

Room Charges and Holds

When you check in, Disney will place a temporary hold on your credit card for potential charges, usually around $100–$250 depending on your resort. You can view your detailed charges anytime in the My Disney Experience app.

Grocery Delivery & Beverage Mugs

Ordering groceries to your resort can save you both time and money, and a refillable resort beverage mug can keep your family happy all day long! Click here to read more about both groceries and beverage mugs.

Transportation & Parking

When staying on site, resort parking is FREE! So is transportation to all of the Disney parks + Disney Springs. Click here to read more about park transportation.

Departure Day

Checkout time at Disney Resorts is 11:00 a.m. You don’t have to stop by the front desk unless you have questions or need to settle a balance. Mobile checkout in the app makes it easy to leave whenever you’re ready, and your final receipt will be emailed automatically.

If you have a late flight, Bell Services can hold your luggage while you spend a few more hours enjoying Disney. Many families spend their last day at the pool, having breakfast with characters, or visiting Disney Springs for a little shopping and one last treat.

Arrival and Departure Day Tips

Your arrival and departure days can be some of the most relaxed and memorable parts of your trip if you plan them well.

Think about how long your trip is and what time you’ll be arriving or leaving. If you’re coming in late, consider keeping things simple with a resort dinner or a quiet evening swim. If you’re arriving early, you might spend a few hours at Disney Springs, enjoy your resort pool, or even visit a park if your schedule allows.

If you have a late departure, you can store your luggage with Bell Services and make the most of your final morning. Many families enjoy brunch, spend time at the pool, or explore nearby resorts before heading home.

Here are some of our favorite things to do on arrival or departure day:

Visit a Water Park on your check-in day, using your water park perk (2025-2026)
Relax by the pool and settle into vacation mode.
Each Disney resort has daily activities like crafts, trivia, and movie nights.
Visit Disney Springs for shopping or dining.
Watch Magic Kingdom fireworks from outside the park, like from the Polynesian beach.
Enjoy a character meal at a nearby resort. This is a great way to say goodbye on your check out day!
Explore your resort or nearby ones by taking the monorail or Skyliner.
Watch the fireworks. You don’t need a park ticket to catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. You can watch from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the Grand Floridian, or the beach outside the Contemporary.

Final Thoughts

Disney makes resort stays smooth and stress-free, especially when you know what to expect. From mobile check-in to friendly Cast Members and helpful Bell Services, everything is designed to make your stay comfortable.

If you booked through us, you’ll have support before, during, and after your vacation. We’re here to help with check-in, requests, and anything else that comes up, so you can focus on enjoying the magic.

Disney Resort Stay Guide: What to Expect from Arrival to Checkout