Check in process for Annual Passholder discount?

[jlnten17]

We reserved a room at The Polynesian at the AP promotional rate. It is stated we need to show our AP card. I did complete online check in, will we still get a room ready text? Can we go straight to the room and show the card later in our stay? We just purchased our annual passes and have nothing to show for them (need to pick up at will call) and really wanted to go straight to the resort rather than stopping off at Disney Springs or one of the parks first to pick up the AP. If we will be unable to get into our room without the AP card would you recommend stopping in Disney Springs or taking the monorail to the MK and right back to the Poly? (which is faster/less hassle)? We will be flying into Sanford and renting a car from there. Thanks!

 

[dansdad]

We reserved a room at The Polynesian at the AP promotional rate. It is stated we need to show our AP card. I did complete online check in, will we still get a room ready text?

Maybe. Not everyone who does Online Check In gets to Bypass The Front Desk, and that has nothing to do with booking with an AP Rate.

Can we go straight to the room and show the card later in our stay?

Yes.

We just purchased our annual passes and have nothing to show for them (need to pick up at will call) and really wanted to go straight to the resort rather than stopping off at Disney Springs or one of the parks first to pick up the AP. If we will be unable to get into our room without the AP card would you recommend stopping in Disney Springs or taking the monorail to the MK and right back to the Poly? (which is faster/less hassle)? We will be flying into Sanford and renting a car from there. Thanks!

You don't have to show your AP when you check in. But they will most likely ask you to stop by the Front Desk once you do pick them up and show them.

 

[porschegrl]

We reserved a room at The Polynesian at the AP promotional rate. It is stated we need to show our AP card. I did complete online check in, will we still get a room ready text? Can we go straight to the room and show the card later in our stay? We just purchased our annual passes and have nothing to show for them (need to pick up at will call) and really wanted to go straight to the resort rather than stopping off at Disney Springs or one of the parks first to pick up the AP. If we will be unable to get into our room without the AP card would you recommend stopping in Disney Springs or taking the monorail to the MK and right back to the Poly? (which is faster/less hassle)? We will be flying into Sanford and renting a car from there. Thanks!

I agree with @dansdad, and I'll add one more "your mileage may vary" tidbit: You may or may not ever need to stop by the front desk to show them your AP.

I booked our last stay on an AP discount, with only an AP voucher in hand. I got the straight-to-room text. We dropped our bags in our room and headed to MK to activate our APs. At no point during our 14-day stay did we need to show anyone at the BC our APs. So I guess it all just depends!

 

[jlnten17]

Thank you both! This is a relief. We will just head straight to the resort to relax for a bit and pick up our passes later that evening at Epcot as planned.

 

[peteykirch]

Glad I stumbled upon this as well. I was figuring we'd have to drop our bags off at Bell Services, then go to the parks to redeem our voucher, then return to check in.

 

[AngiTN]

I've had 12 resort stays since having an AP. Not a single time have I had to show them my AP. The only time we haven't gotten a straight to the room text was when our room was downgraded at CSR. Every other time, we get it. I always make sure our PIN and Credit card are stored and in all our stays, that's never been an issue. I believe, as long as there is no glitch with your info and you are getting what you booked, or better, you'll get the text.

Even if I do opt to go to the front desk, something I sometimes do if there is no line when I arrive as I like interacting with the staff, no one wants to see the AP.

 

[jlnten17]

I've had 12 resort stays since having an AP. Not a single time have I had to show them my AP. The only time we haven't gotten a straight to the room text was when our room was downgraded at CSR. Every other time, we get it. I always make sure our PIN and Credit card are stored and in all our stays, that's never been an issue. I believe, as long as there is no glitch with your info and you are getting what you booked, or better, you'll get the text.

Even if I do opt to go to the front desk, something I sometimes do if there is no line when I arrive as I like interacting with the staff, no one wants to see the AP.

Thank you! Downgraded though?! I will keep my fingers crossed for the text! I don't expect or anticipate an upgrade but a downgrade wouldn't be a very magical start to vacation. I feel bad for you even though its long over.

 

[scrapquitler]

We reserved a room at The Polynesian at the AP promotional rate. It is stated we need to show our AP card. I did complete online check in, will we still get a room ready text? Can we go straight to the room and show the card later in our stay? We just purchased our annual passes and have nothing to show for them (need to pick up at will call) and really wanted to go straight to the resort rather than stopping off at Disney Springs or one of the parks first to pick up the AP. If we will be unable to get into our room without the AP card would you recommend stopping in Disney Springs or taking the monorail to the MK and right back to the Poly? (which is faster/less hassle)? We will be flying into Sanford and renting a car from there. Thanks!

I used an AP rate at Pop last year for two trips, and never showed my AP. In fact, I never went to the lobby at all during my entire stay. I think they were able to see my AP listed in my MDE account.

 

[AngiTN]

Thank you! Downgraded though?! I will keep my fingers crossed for the text! I don't expect or anticipate an upgrade but a downgrade wouldn't be a very magical start to vacation. I feel bad for you even though its long over.

Thankfully, in all our many stays, it's only happened once. It's not magical, you are right. I'd say your odds are small of it happening.
I love getting that room text, I have to say. Last 2 trips, I got it while still sitting at my desk at work!

 

[jascm]

My last trip I had to check in at the front desk and show my AP(Coronado). The three trips prior(ASMusic) I went straight to my room. Wasn't a huge inconvenience, they actually had a room ready for me after I had already gotten a text saying it wasn't available yet.

 

[bumbershoot]

Disney (and Universal) understands that you don't always have the AP in hand at checkin. So even if they did need you to show it, they don't require it that first moment. That's never a worry to have.

 

[Jedimike]

I don't have an AP yet, but plan to purchase one before my trip. Can I still make an AP-discounted room reservation, as long as I buy the AP prior to my arrival?

 

[AngiTN]

I don't have an AP yet, but plan to purchase one before my trip. Can I still make an AP-discounted room reservation, as long as I buy the AP prior to my arrival?

Yes. You will have to call to get the rate though. Without an active AP in MDE you won't have any way to see the AP discount rooms when you pull up available rooms.

 

[TJA]

So do you guys still get actual AP's to show? Ever since Magic Bands have been in use, we no longer have any type of AP in hand (just our Magic Bands). Meaning everything is in our MDE account and we have no paper proof. I've been an AP holder for 13 years, but we renew online each year, so maybe that's the difference. I don't have a voucher or need to initiate our AP's because they just keep continuing on.

 

[AngiTN]

So do you guys still get actual AP's to show? Ever since Magic Bands have been in use, we no longer have any type of AP in hand (just our Magic Bands). Meaning everything is in our MDE account and we have no paper proof. I've been an AP holder for 13 years, but we renew online each year, so maybe that's the difference. I don't have a voucher or need to initiate our AP's because they just keep continuing on.

Yes. I can't get any discounts at the stores without showing the AP. Only a very few CM accept the MB as proof. Most tell me they must see the card and my ID too.
I renewed online but went to the ticket office and got physical AP on our next trip

 

[smiths02]

I was going to say that we didn't have to show our AP...but looking back, we used a general discount (offered first to Visa card holders) for June 2015 and Feb 2016

For June 2016, it looks like we had AP for the first part of our stay and Bounceback for the second part...then when the Summer Awakens came out we applied that to our first stay and kept bounceback for the latter part.

Not sure what I'm offering, but just seeing that APs didn't really give us great room discounts at all.

I do agree with AngiTN, though, I had to show the AP card every single time AND my ID to get merchandise discount. I think one CM did let us get away with it once (the purchase was like $5) on our first day because I genuinely left the card in another bag.

 

[HopperFan]

I cant even remember the last time I had to show my AP at the hotel. Remember everything about you is connected on your MDE, so the computer can make the connect that you have an AP or not.

Agree you MUST have a card for discounts, they will not look that up.

 

[jlnten17]

Travel agents can book online with the ap rate and then you can order the ap at your leisure. I also booked room only which significantly lowers the deposit that must be paid prior to our arrival. We put like $500 down and will pay the other 1500ish upon arrival.

 

[TJA]

Two years ago, we got gold cards with our AP magic bands, but last year we did not get the gold cards. So I have just been using the old gold card to get store discounts (along with my drivers license too), and I also used the gold card for mini golf discount. Otherwise, I don't ever have any other type of AP "cards" or anything to show.

 

[HopperFan]

Two years ago, we got gold cards with our AP magic bands, but last year we did not get the gold cards. So I have just been using the old gold card to get store discounts (along with my drivers license too), and I also used the gold card for mini golf discount. Otherwise, I don't ever have any other type of AP "cards" or anything to show.

You should go to the Guest Relations and get an AP Card.

The Gold Cards do have expiration dates printed on the back and if yours are expired the CMs should not take them.