Annual Passes pre-linked to Magic Bands, how to activate?

[andrewilley]

We've got Annual Passes already pre-purchased and linked to our MDE accounts, and thus to our new magic bands, all ready for when we arrive at WDW next month. I don't have any physical vouchers as such, but they are connected fine and have allowed us to make FP+ bookings, etc.

We won't be arriving from the UK until about 7pm (midnight our time) so we won't be wanting to visit any parks or DTD on our arrival evening. We have an 8am breakfast booked at Be Our Guest the next morning, so can we just take the bus and walk straight into the MK using our magic bands (and thus automatically trigger the start of the one-year period on the APs) or are we going to have to go to Guest Relations first to activate the passes before entering? We don't want to have to backtrack to the TTC obviously!

Hopefully we'll be able to go straight in, and then go to a Guest Relations location later in the day to get our physical APs when we're not in such a hurry.

If we do need to pre-activate them I'll probably want to do it the night before to save time, by driving over to the nearest Guest Relations location (probably Epcot). If I do this, can I activate all three of our APs while I'm there (i.e. mine, DW and DD) or will all three of us need to be present? The others really won't want to move again once we've got to the hotel.

Or any other suggestions as to the best way to do this? Thanks.

Andre

 

[newdeal]

You have to go to guest relations to activate them, and bring your ID because they will ask for it. You don't have to go to the TTC there is a guest relations booth on the right hand side just before you enter the magic kingdom. I am not sure if everyone needs to be present but I think that all adults do need to be present so they can check your ID

 

[Robo]

You have to go to guest relations to activate them, and bring your ID because they will ask for it. You don't have to go to the TTC there is a guest relations booth on the right hand side just before you enter the magic kingdom. I am not sure if everyone needs to be present but I think that all adults do need to be present so they can check your ID

Yes. Everyone 18 years and older needs to be present and show a legal ID.

MK's outside-the-park Guest Relations is at #9 below.

 

[andrewilley]

Bum, I was hoping I could sort it out the night before, but the rest of the family won't want to move once we've arrived at the resort.

Is it very quick if we do it in the morning, as we really don't want to waste more than a couple of minutes - and we certainly don't want to mess around queuing at a guest relations window at 7:30am (would they even be open that early?).

Andre

 

[Robo]

Bum, I was hoping I could sort it out the night before, but the rest of the family won't want to move once we've arrived at the resort.

Is it very quick if we do it in the morning, as we really don't want to waste more than a couple of minutes - and we certainly don't want to mess around queuing at a guest relations window at 7:30am!

The outside MK booth will be open by about 7:30AM.
Arrive early, say 7:15AM, and be early in line.

Sorry, but your plans have kind of painted you into a corner.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Are you at a Disney resort? Can they not activate them where the tickets are sold, at the resort?

 

[Robo]

Are you at a Disney resort? Can they not activate them where the tickets are sold, at the resort?

Nope. Nothing regarding APs can be done at a resort.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

It's a tough one. It's either gonna be a late night or an early morning.

Me, I'd personally err on late night. Going to bed knowing tix were all set to slide on in is how I roll. It's nice to think you could make it by 7 or 7:15 am but mornings can be funny and sometimes things do NOT go as planned (bus delays etc).

If you didn't have any reservations or FPs, if may not matter. You will need to round up the masses really early, and time change may be on your side early, maybe even leave by 6:30. Or don't check into the hotel, push right to a counter, get it activated, and then go to bed? Staying later the first night might help you get adjusted to the later nights so you don't miss Wishes etc or late night activities?

It's Disney.... Time to pummel the body. Lol our 4 park hopping day on Thursday I think tried to kill us all. We weren't tired, but our bodies were falling apart! Lol

 

[newdeal]

it takes around 5-10 minutes to do from my experience. Might be quicker as we had DVC annual passes so they needed to check our DVC card also