going directly to parks with on-line check-in

[Cookie Princess]

We have always gone to our resort hotel to check-in and then gone to one of the theme parks. This year we have an early flight in to Orlando. Have people had success going directly to a theme park with their magic band and then going to their hotel later in the day when their room will be ready?

 

[cruisin5]

Yes, online check-in makes what you want to do very easy.

Are you taking DME? If so, you will be dropped off at your hotel but can proceed directly to the park from there.

 

[roydavid7771]

We do that every time we go down! My only word of caution would be that you should take full advantage of a day at the parks or else it's a waste of money. Two or three attractons isn't worth a full day's admission. But if you're an AP like we are, then the sky's the limit!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We also do this every year. We dump our carryon at bell service and lit out.

 

[glocon]

Your magic band should work at the parks even if your room is not yet ready. We went from off site to Epcot last year, got a text our room was ready later in the day then went straight to our room never going to the check in counter ever the whole trip.

 

[kmb584]

This is what we do.

We take DME to BLT, get changed in the lobby restroom, take our carry-on bags to bell services and then head out to whichever park I've made FP+ for! Our flight lands at MCO ~8:30 am and we're usually inside a park's gates no later than 11:30 am. We don't spend the entire day (we take a 5:45 am flight which means we're out the house by 1:00 am to drive to the airport ), but do get around 5-6 hours of park time before heading back to the resort!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If you are taking DME you will not be dropped off at a theme park.

Also if you will have carry on luggage I'd suggest not bringing it to the parks.

Your room may also be ready when you arrive.

If you have a vehicle that you can take directly to a park and leave your carry on luggage in then sure going directly to a park would not be a problem.

 

[Wicksleigh]

It's been my understanding that going right to the parks is great, as everyone else had already said. We did this for the first time on our last visit (we drove into the Boardwalk early morning and then hopped right on the bus to MK for opening). Our MBs let us in the park with no problem, but when we tried to make our first food purchase for breakfast our MBs were not accepted. I ended up having to get out of line to try to call the front desk from the park (not an easy task) and let them know we were in the park and trying to charge to our room...they did something on there end and then we were good to go. I'm still not quite sure what the issue was...we had completed online check-in and I've used the same pin for charges on my MB for years...I think I got the impression that the earliness of the day had something to do with it maybe. Just something to be aware of....make sure to have a backup form of payment (taught us a lesson about trying to travel TOO light in the parks )!

 

[rosiebean]

We do that every time we go down! My only word of caution would be that you should take full advantage of a day at the parks or else it's a waste of money. Two or three attractons isn't worth a full day's admission. But if you're an AP like we are, then the sky's the limit!

Really?

It was pocket change (maybe $7) for me to go from a 6 day ticket to a 7 day ticket in February using Undercover Tourist. Buying through WDW in past years had a similarly low markup for adding a day. When arriving earlyish (before 6), I've often added an extra day so that I can go to a park upon arrival, even if it's just for dinner. The Mouse makes it ridiculously easy and cost effective to add on an extra day (or two or three) to your trip. It's not really a full day's cost of admission given how their multi-day pricing works.

To answer the OP's question, it's really easy to go the parks after arriving, but not necessarily 'directly'. I usually fly and take ME to my resort and check my carry on items with bell services, head out to the parks and come back later after I've been texted a room assignment. As someone mentioned, when flying and using WDW transportation, there really aren't options for going directly to the parks (I imagine you could just taxi or Uber, esp if you had very light carry ons that you could bring into the park). In any case, heading to the parks without going to a resort desk to check in is really easy to do.

 

[Tallis]

We always head for the parks before unpacking into a room or setting up in a Fort site. The only exception is if we are checking in on a weekend, as we have weekday only Annual Passes.

 

[MainMom]

We do that every time we go down! My only word of caution would be that you should take full advantage of a day at the parks or else it's a waste of money. Two or three attractons isn't worth a full day's admission. But if you're an AP like we are, then the sky's the limit!

It’s all a matter of opinion. We usually don’t get to a park until 3-4 on arrival day. We choose Epcot and knock out a tier 1 and a couple of other rides, take some pics, soak in the atmosphere and the head back to the hotel and get ready for our first full day. Money well spent for us.

 

[trixiedust23]

Added an extra day to our tickets so we could go on arrival day - $43 total for 4 of us. Planning to go to MK, see the castle and ride a few rides!

 

[lovewdwdvc]

I think you have to check in if you are going to use a Disney meal plan.

 

[nkereina]

I think you have to check in if you are going to use a Disney meal plan.

I believe that if you complete on-line check-in, that will be acceptable to activate the dining plan.