Online Check / can you go straight to park with magic bands?

[october4mom]

Maybe I am missing this in post I have read, but I am slightly confused as to whether the online check in impacts admission to the parks.

Okay so we have visited disney several times, but on this trip we are most likely leaving a day earlier than originally planned. We will stay close to disney the first night and want to go straight to the parks when we arrive and then go back and get our room, etc.

We already have our customized magic bands and I have picked fast pass+ options. When we go to the gate for MK will we have a problem since we have not visited the hotel as yet?

Thanks

 

[wolf29]

We attempted this during our trip this past August. The Bands need to be activated for admission so you will need to either go to your resort or go, as we did, to Guest Relations and have them call the Resort and verbally check you in. We simply stopped by our resort's front desk later and got our room# and key cards. The Guest Relations stop took about 10 minutes, quicker than driving to our resort first.

 

[mum2four]

Maybe I've missed something through all the magicband discussions, but, really, what is the point of sending the magicbands to guests at home before they arrive at the resort? Is there a purpose to that, or is just another thing I have to remember to pack?

 

[circus4u]

If you are flying in and using the Magic Express, you will need your Magic Bands to check in for the bus. They also scan the Magic Band when you get on the bus, so if you pack them, put them in your carry on luggage.

 

[kirby428]

Remember the only thing the MagicBand does is send out a number. The number is used to link to a Disney account linked to resorts which have arrival and departure dates. Show up sooner and a CM must go into your account and tell the MCP that you need to use your park ticket BEFORE that arrival date on your resort booking. Bet you didn't see those Mickey ears on that red MCP in TRON the 1st did ya. Sure it blew up but they found all the BITS and + more.

 

[october4mom]

Okay so the way I understand it, the online check in does not save time for this. It simply saves time at the hotel. IF we plan to arrive at MK early our first day, it seems we should plan on stopping by guest relations, enjoying ourself at the park and checking into our hotel mid afternoon before returning to the park for the evening.

Thanks