Late arrival with AP voucher

[Granny]

We have an AP voucher and used it to get an AP rate at OKW for July 29-August 5. That's all well and good, but now I realize that we won't be getting to WDW until fairly late on the 29th. And I can't check in at OKW and get the rate unless I have an activated AP, right?

But I won't be able to activate it until Guest Services opens at the parks the next morning.

Does anyone know the Guest Services hours and how late they're open? And is the one in Downtown Disney open later maybe (I hope!)?

We are driving in from St. Louis and usually arrive around 9:00 in the evening. We could probably leave earlier if we have to, but that current schedule means we leave about 5:00 in the morning as it is.

My fall back plan would be to leave the previous evening and spend a night in a hotel on the road, then get to WDW before Guest Services closes. But I was hoping that one of the on-site GS would be open later so we wouldn't have to do that.

Appreciate any input or suggestions!

 

[cherylp3]

Intercot has Guest relations at the Marketplace closing at 11pm.
http://www.intercot.com/themeparks/downtowndisney/default.asp

I would also check with OKW front desk, in the past I have read that people are able to check in with the voucher and then being asked to produce the AP within 24 hours.

 

[Granny]

Cheryl...that's exactly the information we needed and the hours should work well for us! Thank you so much.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I had the same problem. I was driving to Disney in January, intending on renewing my AP at DTD before check-in. I hoped to get to Disney around 9:00 pm, and DTD closed at 11:00, so I thought I would be OK. My AP expired just days before. But on the drive, I encountered this scary site:

About a minute in front of me on I-95 south of St. Augustine, an oil tanker crashed and blew up (driver did get out and was OK! ) but obviously traffic came to a halt for a long time! I was stuck for 90 minutes, then finally was told to drive north on southbound I-95 in the grass (and around stopped 18 wheelers) to get to a break in the median so I could get to I-95 north. Very scary driving, but I finally got out of there! Added about three hours to the trip, and I arrived at midnight at POP. No time to activate my AP! Fortunately for me, the CM never asked to see my AP, so there was no problem!! But I was lucky as they sure could have asked! I was so grateful since I was so tired and just wanted a nice bed to relax in!

But renewing at DTD is great, since you don't have to pay to park and little hassle getting in and out.

 

[cherylp3]

You are welcome, I believe the Marketplace Relations is by team mickey.

Also, I don't know what time you'll hit the central FL area, but if you want to avoid I4 you can take the 429 which has an exit by Disney.

 

[Granny]

HugsforEeyore...that's quite a story. I know that during a 16 hour drive I can run into anything, so I never quite count on the timing. The DTD guest services hours should give me a good cushion.

Cheryl...more good tips...thanks!

I think we usually come down the turnpike and come in on I-4 around Universal Studios. At the time of evening we come in, we've never run in to much traffic on I-4. I'll recheck the itinerary and adjust per your suggestion. I've learned never to ignore a hometowner's driving shortcut insights!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

HugsforEeyore...that's quite a story. I know that during a 16 hour drive I can run into anything, so I never quite count on the timing. The DTD guest services hours should give me a good cushion.

Cheryl...more good tips...thanks!

I think we usually come down the turnpike and come in on I-4 around Universal Studios. At the time of evening we come in, we've never run in to much traffic on I-4. I'll recheck the itinerary and adjust per your suggestion. I've learned never to ignore a hometowner's driving shortcut insights!

Have a great trip! I hope you don't encounter any delays as scary as the one I saw!! (Fortunately everyone was OK). I was so glad the CM at check-in never asked for my new AP, as I was so exhausted at the time, and probably looked quite frazzled too by then! I also had the $49 dollar AP rate at POP, and didn't want to lose that!

 

[Disneyhappy]

I called Disney this week to see if I could get our vouchers activated at DTD so we wouldn't have to do it the next morning at the parks. I was told that DTD guest relations can not activate the vouchers and it must be done at the parks. Sounds like I may have been given misinformation. We are leaving today for a non-park stay at OKW and I will have to check at DTD while we are there. I would much rather activate at DTD if possible since we are taking the kids to DQ our arrival day.

 

[Granny]

Disneyhappy...thanks for that information. I guess I'll call too and see if I get a different answer!

I really don't want to pay rack rate for the first night!

 

[mmmears]

In April, we checked in at the YC late, around 9:30 or 10:00pm. The CM looked at our AP voucher, gave us the AP rate, and told us to just activate the pass in the morning. Technically EPCOT was still open, but after a 5 hour flight and travelling all day, she said to just wait. I wouldn't worry about not getting the AP rate for the first night -- lots of people check in too late to activate passes (we did on another trip as well).

 

[Lesley]

We've already checked in without even having vouchers....we arrived very early before any Guest Relations was open to buy the AP's we were buying, but we needed our room keys to get into the emh at the park we were going to that morning.

We were allowed to check in on the agreement that we'd bring back the AP's to show later in the day.

I've also checked in with just vouchers and not been asked to bring back the activated AP.

 

[CarolMN]

I called Disney this week to see if I could get our vouchers activated at DTD so we wouldn't have to do it the next morning at the parks. I was told that DTD guest relations can not activate the vouchers and it must be done at the parks. Sounds like I may have been given misinformation. We are leaving today for a non-park stay at OKW and I will have to check at DTD while we are there. I would much rather activate at DTD if possible since we are taking the kids to DQ our arrival day.

You were definitely given misinformation. Last December (2005), My DH & I activated our AP vouchers at the Downtown Disney Guest Relations booth in the MarketPlace. They were even the DVC-discounted AP vouchers, so we had to show our blue member cards in additon to photo ID.

The CMs at DD were very friendly and professional. At DD GR, you are less likely to run into a line than at the GR booths at the parks. If there is a line, there are seldom grumpy people behind you chomping at the bit to get into a park and making nasty comments because your transaction is taking more than 90 nanoseconds to complete.

Granny - As you know the OKW CMs are among the best. As long as you have your voucher in hand, I wouldn't worry for even a second that you will have a problem at check in. The very worst case is that the CM will make a note in your file and tell you to activate the pass and then come back to show them the "real" AP later. Many have checked in with only a voucher in hand. So no worries.

Best wishes -

 

[Granny]

mmmears, Lesley & Carol...thanks for the reassurances. And you're right Carol, I figured that this cannot be a unique situation among AP room discount guests and it wouldn't behoove Disney to make it difficult.

After all, if it were known to be a problem, we'd probably spend the first night off site and Disney would lose a night of room payment.

But it's always nice to hear from such seasoned veterans.

And you're right, Carol, we've found the OKW CM's to be very friendly and understanding.