Do I have to stop at desk to activate ddp?

[eeyoresmom]

I did online check in for our stay at SSR next month. From what I've read only about 50% of guests have gotten the "skip the desk " text with their room number. We are arriving at SSR around 11 am. If I haven't gotten the text can we just hop on an epcot bus and will our dining credits be activated on our bands? We have a dinner adr at Tuttu Italia so want to be sure.

 

[LaBelleVie]

We've never checked in at the desk, and have never had an issue with the dining plan. We've never tried to use our credits before check-in though, but I think you'd definitely be fine for dinner.