On-line check in then straight to parks?

[yorkieteacher]

I want to make sure I am understanding everything correctly, as we have never followed our current plan on previous visits. We will be arriving by car to Orlando the night before we are to check in to the AoA resort, and staying in an off site hotel just for that night, as we usually do. We have done on-line check in, listing a 9am arrival time. Rather than going straight to the resort as we usually do, we are considering going straight to a park as we have our magic bands. Will we have to pay for parking at the park? Will the resort still text us when our rooms are ready? Finally, do you think we stand a better chance of getting into a room earlier if we check in at the resort first? From previous posts, it sounds like we could have wasted lots of time from following our habit of stopping by the front desk upon arrival even after using on-line check in.

 

[shu24]

My last 4 visits I went directly to a park. I was texted room assignment later in the day. Last year it wasn't until 5ish before my room was assigned, so it may benefit you to go to the front desk if you need to get into the room early. The time that I received the room text was all over the place across those 4 visits so I'm not sure what the magic formula to get an early text is. One time I had the text on the bus before I even made it into EPCOT. I always get as early a start as possible, so it would have been before 9am. My other 3 visits I was well into my day in the park before I got the text. I have never driven, hopefully someone else can answer your question about parking.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

You shouldn't be charged for parking. If you are, the front desk at your resort can reverse the charge later.