9 Check-Out Mistakes You’re Making at Your Disney World Hotel

Tomorrow you check out of your hotel in Disney World. Are you all set to go?

We know you’ve got a whole checklist to make sure you’re all set to check out of the hotel and be ready for the airport. All of that can get downright overwhelming. So, let’s talk about the mistakes you could be making as you’re checking out of your Disney World hotel so that you can avoid them like a pro!

Not Learning About Late Checkout Rules

Not ready to leave the magic behind, quite yet? Before you check out, make sure to reach out to the Front Desk and talk to the Cast Member to request a late checkout beyond the normal 11 AM time.

The Cast Members do their best to try to accommodate those requests but keep in mind that it’s not a guarantee, so be flexible and see what they can do for you.

Forgetting Snacks in the Fridge

This one’s happened to us more times than we can count. As you’re grabbing all your luggage and family members and before you head out the door, take a moment to double-check your hotel fridge.

Sometimes we end up storing some leftovers or that one delicious treat we’ve forgotten about. Don’t let them go to waste!

Not Dropping Off Your Bags at Bell Services

If you’re planning on going to the parks on the same day you check out, we would highly recommend that you connect with Bell Services at the hotel and have Disney hold your luggage while you enjoy your last time at Disney Springs or the pool before you have to leave.

It may sound like a small thing, but since they already offer the service for you to use, why worry about lugging your bags around with you everywhere you go? As we said, do yourself a favor, drop off your luggage with Bell Services early in the day, and be stress-free.

Not Grabbing a Bite to Eat Before Heading to the Airport

The last thing we want to have happen is for you to head out to the airport on an empty stomach. You don’t want to be “hangry” as you leave Disney World.

Make sure to grab a bite at one of the hotel’s eateries or maybe a restaurant at Disney Springs — it’ll definitely beat airplane peanuts any day (if they even offer you any).

Not Pre-Scheduling Your Ride to the Airport

If you weren’t aware, you can pre-schedule your ride to the airport on rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft. This is where you can schedule those rides ahead of time! No sense in trying to find an Uber the morning of. Let’s cut out that unnecessary stress.

Here’s how to do it in the Uber app. Head into the app and on the homepage hit the “Reserve” button. You can schedule these rides up to 90 days in advance and cancel them up to 60 minutes in advance without penalty or extra charge.

Once you schedule a ride, a driver should be assigned to you in advance, which is super helpful so you know what vehicle to expect.

What about once you’ve made it to the airport?

Not Purchasing TSA Pre-Check

We would recommend purchasing TSA Pre-Check because, with it, you will not have to remove liquids, take large electronics out, or take your shoes off when you go through the security checkpoint. All you will have to do is send your bags through, walk under the security machine, and that’s it!

To get TSA Pre-Check, head on over to the TSA website and apply there. You will have to schedule an in-person appointment that includes a background check and fingerprinting. It costs $78 for new enrollment or in-person renewals and $70 for online renewals. Once you’ve been approved, you will get a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that you can add to any flight reservation. The great thing about it is that your Known Travel Number will last for 5 years and afterward, you can renew online and pay the fee again.

Although it is an additional cost, it takes a ton of stress away from the traveling experience. But what if you just want to skip the regular line altogether?

Not Planning to Skip the Security Line

There is a way to skip the regular security line at Orlando International Airport and it’s called MCO Reserve!

This program allows you to pre-register for a time slot to go through an exclusive, and shorter, MCO Reserve security line. The reservations open up 72 hours before your flight. You will have to be speedy though, as the limited spots for this fill up very quickly.

We recommend setting up a reminder or alarm on your phone before your vacation starts, so you don’t forget to do this during you trip!

Not Charging Up Your Devices

We know that you’ve been keeping those devices topped up on juice throughout your trip, and that’s been great because the My Disney Experience app can drain batteries like a beast, but there’s no reason to stop that good habit!

The last thing you’ll want to do is get to the airport and have zero power. This would be the worst especially if you’re using different apps to monitor your flight status or checking on your rideshare. Best to just make sure everything’s topped off before you hit the hay!

Not Booking A Bounceback Deal

We don’t want you to forget to do this since we know that stays at Disney World can be pretty pricey, so if there’s a way to save some coin, you better believe we’re letting you know about it! Recently, we shared that bounceback deals would be returning to Disney World’s hotels and we just had to share a reminder about it so you wouldn’t forget!

What’s a bounceback deal? Good question! Essentially, these are promotional offers that are generally offered to guests at Disney World hotels if that guest books a future vacation within 7 days of their current hotel stay.

Discounts on future hotel stays will range from 25%-35% off. Here’s a quick breakdown of how that works out:

• Save up to 25% off at Value Resorts
• Save up to 30% off at Moderate Resorts
• Save up to 35% off at Deluxe Resorts & Deluxe Villas

Here’s a look at the dates for which guests will be able to book their bounceback offer in 2024:

• January 7-10, 2024
• January 15-18, 2024
• January 21-25, 2024
• January 28 – February 1, 2024
• February 4-8, 2024
• February 11-14, 2024
• February 19-22, 2024
• February 25 – March 16, 2024
• March 31 – May 23, 2024
• May 27 – August 29, 2024
• September 2-30, 2024
• October 27-31, 2024
• November 25-27, 2024
• December 1-24, 2024

If you want to take advantage of the deal, you’ll have to book the reservation over the phone, and it has to be booked within 7 days from the date of checkout. To book, dial extension 8844 from an in-room phone, call 407-934-7639, or contact a travel agent like MouseFan Travel to book a new reservation.

So, if you’ll be in Disney World soon or are there right now, be aware of the return of these bounceback offers and see what could work best for you.

Those are just a couple of the mistakes that we don’t want you to make when you check out of your Disney World hotel.

In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

4 “Rules” You Should Break at Disney World Hotels