Best time (least busy) to visit a theme park ticket window to activate a new AP?

[lovethattink]

Didn't know there was one at the International Gateway! Where abouts is it there?

 

[dizneegirl]

Is there a difference between ticket windows and guest services for AP activation? Can APs be activated at either? Is ticket window usually a better choice than guest service window?

What's the longest wait assuming we have to arrive at MK at a poor time (9-9:30am)?

I would assume you could activate them at either. We choose to use the ticket windows (unless we're visiting Disney Springs before we want to enter a park - then we've used their Guest Services) simply because there are usually more of them open with much shorter lines (if any, depending on time of day). It's a fairly quick process.

Can't say for sure re: wait times. It all depends on how long the lines are when you arrive, which can vary by day. Could be 10 minutes to take care of, could be a half hour in line or more... If you see a ticket window open with a short line at TTC when you arrive (assuming you're there first), jump in.

 

[♥ Mandi ♥]

Didn't know there was one at the International Gateway! Where abouts is it there?

Past the Skyliners, prior to bag check - all the way over to the left.

 

[elgerber]

Past the Skyliners, prior to bag check - all the way over to the left.

When I went last fall, I had to go through bag check to get there.

 

[musicguy856]

When I went last fall, I had to go through bag check to get there.

I remember it being past bag check as well.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Has anyone activated their APs during early entry at any of the parks?? I am going to do a quick trip to activate my AP and won't land at MCO until 10:30 PM so won't have an opportunity to activate it the night before...

 

[kylenne]

Has anyone activated their APs during early entry at any of the parks?? I am going to do a quick trip to activate my AP and won't land at MCO until 10:30 PM so won't have an opportunity to activate it the night before...

I don't know if Guest Relations will be open during EE, at the parks they are usually only open during the regular park hours.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

I don't know if Guest Relations will be open during EE, at the parks they are usually only open during the regular park hours.

Thanks! I let me pass go last year but am a creature of habit so early entry is my spirit animal ;-)

 

[kylenne]

Thanks! I let me pass go last year but am a creature of habit so early entry is my spirit animal ;-)

I hear you! I did the same but upgraded my hopper ticket for our trip the day APs came back so luckily I don't have to activate. I think your best bet will probably be Epcot at the IG, there's never anyone at that window. It's to the left of the tapstiles.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I don't know if Guest Relations will be open during EE, at the parks they are usually only open during the regular park hours.

Guest Relations are open whenever the parks are open so they will be open during ETPE.

In the past we had Canadian Resident discount tickets. Our first day was a day when MK was open early for resort guests (2019) and had to visit GS to activate our tickets. The windows were all open.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Guest Relations are open whenever the parks are open so they will be open during ETPE.

In the past we had Canadian Resident discount tickets. Our first day was a day when MK was open early for resort guests (2019) and had to visit GS to activate our tickets. The windows were all open.

That's good to hear! I think I am going to go to Animal Kingdom then on my first day since my #1 priority there is Nomad Lounge when it opens

I hear you! I did the same but upgraded my hopper ticket for our trip the day APs came back so luckily I don't have to activate. I think your best bet will probably be Epcot at the IG, there's never anyone at that window. It's to the left of the tapstiles.

Originally that's what I was thinking - that IG at Epcot since I am staying at the Dolphin.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Question for those suggesting Disney Springs. If you activate it at DS but then don't go to a park that day, are you not using up one day of your pass? I understand people don't visit the parks every day of their AP but for those who intend to use it at the beginning for one trip and end for a different trip, (e.g. Jul 1 - 10, 2023 then a second trip at the end Jun 20 - 30, 2024) would you not be shortening your pass by a day?

Does the clock start on the day you activate your pass, regardless if you visit a park or not?

Might be something to consider for guests trying to use their passes for trips at the beginning and then end of their pass year.

The activation definitely isn’t what triggers the clock, it’s the first tap in. I once had one activated (unbeknownst to me) for my aging in 3 year old several months in advance of our first tap in, by guest services. The clock still didn’t start ticking until we tapped in.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

So here's a follow up question for you. I got an email from Passholder Services that said

"For your first visit, you can go straight to park entry if you follow these 3 steps!"

Which details making a park pass reservation, ensuring Magic Mobile is set up. I was a previous passholder so they have a photo on file.

Has anyone skipped a ticket window and gone strait to the entrance and bypassed the ticket windows?

 

[CarolynFH]

So here's a follow up question for you. I got an email from Passholder Services that said

"For your first visit, you can go straight to park entry if you follow these 3 steps!"

Which details making a park pass reservation, ensuring Magic Mobile is set up. I was a previous passholder so they have a photo on file.

Has anyone skipped a ticket window and gone strait to the entrance and bypassed the ticket windows?

I’ve seen multiple reports that this works.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

I’ve seen multiple reports that this works.

I'm going to give it a try and will report back. I am going to Animal Kingdom and since my #1 priority is Nomad Lounge I'll have some leeway in case it doesn't work.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Just to report back - I was able to go straight to the Turnstile this morning in Animal Kingdom for early entry. I DID double check with a Guest Services (Plaid) Cast Member - he scanned my band it showed my ticket as active.

As I was leaving Animal Kingdom, I stopped at Guest Services to get a plastic Passholder card to use as back up when I don't have my Magic Band (and to show in shops for AP Discounts)

Note: this may not work for new passholders. But if you got an email with instructions on how to go straight to the park and have set up Magic Mobile, you should be ok.

 

[only hope]

We are new passholders (have had them many times in the past) and our emails said we can go straight to the entrance. Our Florida residency was verified during the purchase process.

 

[lovethattink]

We are new passholders (have had them many times in the past) and our emails said we can go straight to the entrance. Our Florida residency was verified during the purchase process.

Ours said the same when we renewed. But we still went to GS for hard tickets. Because if phone is down or out of battery, it’s always good to have a back up for discounts.

 

[only hope]

Ours said the same when we renewed. But we still went to GS for hard tickets. Because if phone is down or out of battery, it’s always good to have a back up for discounts.

We’ll be getting hard tickets at some point our first day. We have lots of magicbands though so don’t need to use our phone for entry.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Hmm, curious. Do plastic cards work the same way as MBs for ride photos?

Thought if it as when we were in DL last year we got ride photos yet only had paper cards, not MBs.