Best way to activate tickets/AP on first day

[losfp]

Hi guys, just wanted a bit of advice on our first day coming up in September.

My plan is to get a transfer from Universal to the Grand Californian early in the morning so we can check in and then hopefully use early entry on that first day. The problem is that on previous trips we've always arrived late in the day and exchanged vouchers etc at the ticket booths immediately so that we can easily make rope drop on our first full day without having to worry about ticket booths.

Now that we're going to arrive early in the morning, what's the best way to sort these out with minimal fuss on the morning? Will the ticket booths be open before early entry? Can one of us line up to get the tickets and the others line up at the gates? I'm not even sure if we can just go directly to the gates (I might have to check our 10 day passes from last time, I'm almost certain they didn't have a barcode or anything and had to be exchanged at a booth)

We will likely have: 3 x 10 day passes that we'll buy in Australia before coming over, and 1 AP for my wife, who is coming back in March next year for her birthday.

 

[Mome Rath]

Adding to the question; can you get tickets redeemed and get pics done AT the Grand Californian if you have a room there? or does it have to be done at the gate?

 

[Niltiac]

I'm not sure if the 10 day Australian tickets are any different, but generally if you buy your tickets directly from Disney you can take the vouchers directly to the turnstyles. They will give you a physical ticket, take your picture, and have you write your name kn the ticket. It only takes a minute. So there's no need to go to the ticket booths. For your wife's AP, they'll give her a temporary 1-day ticket, and then you can go to the ticket booth any time later in the day to get the official AP. That said, I think some people do have to go to the ticket booth if they purchased from a third-party vendor. Look at your vouchers when you get them, I believe they say right on them if you can take them to the turnstyles.

As for exchanging the voucher at an on-site hotel, I haven't tried that but I think I've seen others report that you can do that. Try asking at check-in.

 

[Angrose]

Adding to the question; can you get tickets redeemed and get pics done AT the Grand Californian if you have a room there? or does it have to be done at the gate?

You can get your tickets at the hotel, but the photo is done at the gate.

As for exchanging the voucher at an on-site hotel, I haven't tried that but I think I've seen others report that you can do that. Try asking at check-in.

You can exchange a voucher at the onsite hotels. I've done it a few times.

 

[losfp]

Thanks guys, I'll try at check in, in that case. Otherwise it'll just have to be the booths