Annual pass activation question and advice

[denapoli]

I just realized that the day (Sunday 11/28) we will be arriving at Disney (we will be coming from Universal) is an early entry day at the MK. I'm nuts, I want to make the early entry with my daughter (I'll leave my DH and son (6 1/2) early that morning at the hard rock hotel and get them later. I know they will never want to get up that early to make it over there. Besides it will be my son's first trip to US so I think he will want to spend another day there with my husband. We are checking into the Poly on the 28th. I also have to activate my annual pass. I have to be checked in I believe to get the early entry hour. I guess I'm thinking out the logistics of this out loud right now. What time do the ticket booths open? I remember it taking almost an hour to stand in line to activate my AP the first time I had it. I'm thinking maybe I should take a ride over the night before by myself. I saw that the MK hours posted are until Midnight on the 27th (the Sat after thanksgiving). I will also have to checkin at the Poly even earlier on this morning to make the early entry. I really want to go alone with my 3 1/2 year old daughter and do all the things over and over and over again as much as possible like I did with my son when he was at this age. (My 6 1/2 year old won't let me go on these rides such as Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo, etc - time flies!! He feels he is too old for these things now -- so sad!!) My daughter has been dreaming about this trip and seeing Cinderella for such a long time now. Any advice or suggestion on how I can manage this early morning feat!!

 

[DisneyWisher]

My advice.

Don't go the night before, you would be wasting a day on your AP. Check into the Poly then take the monorail over to Magic Kingdom. You might also think about valeting your car. Since that is a busy weekend it might be hard finding a parking space. Once at MK on the far right side of the turnstiles you will find Guest Services. You can activate your APs there. I doubt the line there will be as long as the line at the TTC. Since in order to be at MK you have to show your room key for early entry.

Last year I thought I had to have my AP activated in order to get into MVMCP. I was thinking they did it kind of like e-ride nights. When I entered for MVMCP they didn't even ask for both just the MVMCP pass. I'm going 2 weeks ahead of schedule this year because I wasted that first day. (I never renew, I will just buy my APs next time we go).

Good Luck,
Shirley

 

[LeftCoaster]

I think you need to plot out all that this entails. I can easily picture this becoming a nightmare.
I think you'd need to be able to leave Universal by 6 a.m. It'll take a good half hour to get to Disney and parked at the Poly. Then, you need to check in, go back to the car to put your parking pass in, then go over to MK, activate your AP, and then it should be about time for EMH to begin. Remember, even if you're checking in tha early, there's no guarantee that you'll have a room before 3 p.m. What do you do if your daughter needs a nap before then? (Insert HOP joke here)
What will you be doing with your luggage? Will you have your husband and son pack up for you in the AM when they get up and then have it stored at the resort? If your husband doesn't pack up for you in the AM, then you'd have to get up even earlier to pack before you leave.

 

[denapoli]

I know what your saying, just get up real early sounds great now, of course I'm sure we'll be up late the night before just because we are on vacation. If I can just discipline that one night and morning I think the effort will be worth it to make it to the MK EMH. As far as naps go I would probably only be there about 3-4 hrs if I can make the EMH, I'll also have my stroller for my DD. Do I really have to go back to the car to put the pass on my windshield? Do you think the valet might do it for me? What time do the monorails start running if the EMH starts at 8am? Another concern I have is that if I rely on the times that the monorail starts there will probably already be a line at guest services to activate my AP ( I wish they had a separate line for AP!) Last December 23rd I was at the contemporary and it was EMH day for the MK. the official opening time for the park was 8am I guess because it was so close to Xmas week. So the EMH was actually 7am. The monorails hadn't started running yet. But of course at the Contemporary I was able to walk, so I was able to get to the MK at 6:30 am and there was a ton of people already there and a line at the ticket booths!! I couldn't believe it.

 

[lisareniff]

I'm wondering about this type logistic thing myself. We will be arriving in Orlando around 5pm and staying at AKL and want to do EMH at MK the next morning.

What time do the Guest Relations Offices open and close at the parks? Also Downtown Disney?

It would probably be smart to do it the night before but we will be tired. I don't want to miss out on EMH getting the AP activated.

 

[LeftCoaster]

You wouldn't "have" to put the parking pass in your car but, what are you going to do with it and the paperwork they give you? Are you going to want to put it in the stroller with all of your other stuff you have?
Hopefully, someone will be able to answer about monorails & guest relations for you. Because, if you get delayed then you've wasted your time by getting there so early.