Checking Into Resort With Unactivated AP

[donnajz]

I've been told you need to have an activated AP in order to check into your resort.
I'm positive a few years ago I checked in, and then had the AP activated at the park.
What has been your experience?

 

[erionm]

If they ask at checkin and you have not yet activated the pass, they are supposed to give you 24 hours to do so.

 

[Robo]

1. I've been told you need to have an activated AP in order to check into your resort.
2. I'm positive a few years ago I checked in, and then had the AP activated at the park.
What has been your experience?

1. Absolutely not true.

2. Use ON-LINE check-in via your MDE account and you likely will never have to show anyone an AP at all.
Your MDE files will show when you activate the AP.

 

[donnajz]

Maybe I should have been more specific, I am getting a room only AP discount. Does that make a difference?
It would be great if we didn't have to waste time going to Disney Springs to have it activated.
The cast member I made my room reservation with is the one who told me it must be activated in order
to check in.

 

[mustlovecats]

We did this last week. We stored our carry on bags with bell services, went to the parks and upgraded to our annual passes. We went back to the resort and checked in later that evening. Our bags from DME were already delivered to our room, we did not have to wait an additional three hours to receive them.

We did online check in but I did not get a text with my room number, I'm guessing they wanted to verify our passes.

 

[donnajz]

We did this last week. We stored our carry on bags with bell services, went to the parks and upgraded to our annual passes. We went back to the resort and checked in later that evening. Our bags from DME were already delivered to our room, we did not have to wait an additional three hours to receive them.

We did online check in but I did not get a text with my room number, I'm guessing they wanted to verify our passes.

As long as they will store/deliver our carry on bags, that would work. We could just make our way to the park and have them activated there.

 

[bumbershoot]

The cast member I made my room reservation with is the one who told me it must be activated in order
to check in.

That CM doesn't work at the parks, or the resorts. Isn't likely in Orlando and might not even be in Florida. They have NO idea how it works.

Go, check in when you're there. Ask the CM there in front of you at the resort when they need to see the AP. They will tell you.

 

[Dis703]

Twice now we've used the AP discount before our APs were active. Both times we were able to check in and were given 24 hours to return with the activated AP.

 

[Regan117]

I've never once been asked to show my AP when checking in. But if the ask, your voucher should be sufficient at check in.

 

[Babsy]

No problem checking in and then activating the AP. Check in, go to the park and activate your AP and enjoy!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm with @Regan117, have never been asked to show my AP when staying with an AP discount. The rules/notices do say you need to, but has never happened to me.

 

[AngiTN]

Maybe I should have been more specific, I am getting a room only AP discount. Does that make a difference?
It would be great if we didn't have to waste time going to Disney Springs to have it activated.
The cast member I made my room reservation with is the one who told me it must be activated in order
to check in.

Nope, no difference at all.
Had about 20 Resort stays with my AP. Not once have I had to show them my AP. As Robo said, they see the AP in MDE, I book the room in MDE, with the AP rate. You can't see the AP rate without an AP. So no problem.

 

[AngiTN]

We did this last week. We stored our carry on bags with bell services, went to the parks and upgraded to our annual passes. We went back to the resort and checked in later that evening. Our bags from DME were already delivered to our room, we did not have to wait an additional three hours to receive them.

We did online check in but I did not get a text with my room number, I'm guessing they wanted to verify our passes.

I think you are misunderstanding things.
The bags get to the resort about 3 hours after you do. Not 3 hours after you get a room. So they should have been in your room when you returned later that evening, waiting on you.
I know it's unrelated to this subject but someone could search and find this and be confused by this statement. Bag delivery is confusing enough as it is

 

[JackieT1182]

I just did this on Saturday. I had an AP room discount, and I only had 7 day tickets that I upgraded to APs once I got to Epcot. I did online check in, and even though I did not have my AP until later in the day, I still got my room ready text and was never asked to see the front desk.

 

[DisneyNut815]

Just did this 1/28/17, checked into AKL with an AP discount before we activated our APs. The AP Vouchers were linked to MDE. They never asked to see the APs. Enjoy your vacation.

 

[WEDWDW]

I have used the AP Discount over 30 times since 2003-never been asked to produce an AP both before and after the arrival of MDE.