First Day at HS before checking into hotel

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

I know that if you check-in online, you are supposed to be able to enter the parks without issue (without physically going to your hotel and checking in). However, with 7 people in our group, we have had at least one of us have issues with a ticket on the first day on a couple of different trips, for whatever reason. Sometimes, the person at the tap can call someone over, and other times they have pulled us out of line to fix it. Sometimes it is fixed quickly, and other times it takes several minutes. So, if we go to HS our first day, we want to get there early and get a BG and rope drop a ride, so every minute counts. Is there any way or anyone at the park who can check to make sure everything is ready to go, or do we just have to cross our fingers and hope for the best? TIA!

 

[mnasf]

I understand what you are saying and I'm not sure. If it were me I'd be one of the first at the gate way before opening. They will probably hold you at some point in the park, but you want to make it to that area I'm sure. If you're one of the first, and they stop you because of a problem, you'll still beat a lot of people. Or do a character breakfast before the park opens.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

I agree with the above. I always worry that my finger will have ‘changed’ between visits and I will be the person holding up the tapstile. I have found that if I am first at the tapstile and explain my dilemma, the CMs will offer to scan me and my party before park opening. They won’t let us in of course, but the will check that my finger is ‘okay’ and then waive me through when the park opens.

 

[BobbyDukes]

Other than waiting to tap your bands I really have no idea. You are trying to ask a cast member prior to using your tickets if there will be a problem. I can only imagine what they will say.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

While this can change, DHS tapstyles have been opening around an hour before scheduled park opening. If there early, you have a large window in which to deal with ticket problems. All you need to do for a Boarding Group is to be inside the park at scheduled park opening time.... so plan your arrival with enough timing cushion where you feel comfortable.

Keep tabs of the latest DHS opening procedures prior to your trip in case things have changed materially.

 

[subtchr]

I agree with the above. I always worry that my finger will have ‘changed’ between visits and I will be the person holding up the tapstile. I have found that if I am first at the tapstile and explain my dilemma, the CMs will offer to scan me and my party before park opening. They won’t let us in of course, but the will check that my finger is ‘okay’ and then waive me through when the park opens.

Your biometric finger scan is not saved between visits, if it is a new ticket. It is reset with each new admission media. The OP is asking about the first visit with a ticket that is part of a vacation package. He is saying that sometimes they have issues with all the tickets being activated.

To the OP, I’d arrive early, as suggested, and ask a cm with an iPad if they would scan your bands to ensure you all have valid tickets linked.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Your biometric finger scan is not saved between visits, if it is a new ticket. It is reset with each new admission media. The OP is asking about the first visit with a ticket that is part of a vacation package. He is saying that sometimes they hsve issues with all the tickets being activated.

To the OP, I’d arrive early, as suggested, and ask a cm with an iPad if they would scan your bands to ensure you all have valid tickets linked.

Ah sorry. I was confused. I have an AP, hence my worry.

 

[subtchr]

Ah sorry. I was confused. I have an AP, hence my worry.

No problem. Have you ever had this issue with an AP? I haven't, but maybe I've been lucky!

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

No problem. Have you ever had this issue with an AP? I haven't, but maybe I've been lucky!

Not at WDW, but at UOR, RDing Hagrids. Luckily my ‘children’ were at other tapstiles and I had ID on me, so CMs could reprogramme everything, but it took important minutes! And I felt the hate of the people stuck behind me! I didn’t queue jump and I ‘walked extremely quickly’ to the ride and my ‘children’ were very polite and waited at the end of the queue for me to catch up. Stuff of nightmares .

 

[JaxDisney2020]

Thanks for the heads up, this is very helpful

 

[Kaadk]

Your biometric finger scan is not saved between visits, if it is a new ticket. It is reset with each new admission media. The OP is asking about the first visit with a ticket that is part of a vacation package. He is saying that sometimes they have issues with all the tickets being activated.

To the OP, I’d arrive early, as suggested, and ask a cm with an iPad if they would scan your bands to ensure you all have valid tickets linked.

Are you sure about that? Last time we went (Spring of '19), on our first trip into a park, my DD didn't use the same finger she had on our previous trip a couple of years before (Summer of '17) and the turnstile beeped red on her. She tried a couple of different ones and they all didn't work. They had to call one of the managers over to reset her finger information. So, yeah, I had expected since it was a new trip, new tickets, new magic bands, etc... that it wouldn't be the same biometrics, but nope, not the case.

 

[subtchr]

Are you sure about that? Last time we went (Spring of '19), on our first trip into a park, my DD didn't use the same finger she had on our previous trip a couple of years before (Summer of '17) and the turnstile beeped red on her. She tried a couple of different ones and they all didn't work. They had to call one of the managers over to reset her finger information. So, yeah, I had expected since it was a new trip, new tickets, new magic bands, etc... that it wouldn't be the same biometrics, but nope, not the case.

Yes, I am sure. This is from the privacy section of the Disney website (capitals are my emphasis). No idea why your daughter’s did not automatically reset with first entry with that ticket.

The system, which utilizes the technology of biometrics, takes an image of your finger, converts the image into a unique numerical value and immediately discards the image. The numerical value is recalled when you use Ticket Tag WITH THE SAME TICKET to re-enter or visit another Park. Ticket Tag does not store fingerprints.