Online Check-in & Arriving at Resort

[Beth]

Hello everyone!

If you check-in online prior to arrival and have received your text indicating that your room is ready, will your Magic Band work in the resort's un-manned entry lane (the one with the gate,) or do you first need to go through the "guardhouse lane" and show your ID to the guard?

Thanks!
~ Beth

 

[erionm]

Your MagicBand will open the gate.

 

[BillPA]

Let's just say your band "SHOULD" work on the gate, it SHOULD also open the door to your unit but that has not been my experience. About 1/2 the time it did not work for either without going to the front desk and having them do their thing to get it corrected.

 

[disneynutz]

Your MagicBand should open the gate.

Bill

 

[Beth]

Thanks everyone - I hear ya' loud and clear.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Your MagicBand will open the gate.

That's personal experience or theory? I thought the band had to be used on the room first before it would work on any other access. I've always preferred to not risk it and just go to the lane with the guard when arriving.

 

[johnsgrl]

We tried this out at the end of April, I felt really silly that I had not tried it before. We received our room text about a half hour before we got there, and decided to try going through the returning guest side rather than our norm of going to the guard and letting them know we were checking in. It worked! Nope, didn't save us more than a second or two, but it was nice to know it was an option. I will try it again this weekend and see if I can go 2 for 2!

 

[Deb & Bill]

That's personal experience or theory? I thought the band had to be used on the room first before it would work on any other access. I've always preferred to not risk it and just go to the lane with the guard when arriving.

I've been told you must use the magic band on the door before it will open the gate for entrance to the parking area.

 

[erionm]

That's personal experience or theory?

Experience

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Experience

Thx! I'll just have to give it a try next time!

 

[RellingTwin]

Don't you need a parking pass for the car when you first get there?

 

[com_op_2000]

Don't you need a parking pass for the car when you first get there?

With MBs they no longer give out parking passes unless you specifically ask for one at the front desk.

 

[MooseBucks]

Hello everyone!

If you check-in online prior to arrival and have received your text indicating that your room is ready, will your Magic Band work in the resort's un-manned entry lane (the one with the gate,) or do you first need to go through the "guardhouse lane" and show your ID to the guard?

Thanks!
~ Beth

It should work on the gate and it should also work to open your room door without ever having to go to the front desk. Huge time saver but I also view it as a risk on Disney's part. What if I just sent my kids to Disney and they didn't have someone over 18 in the room?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

With MBs they no longer give out parking passes unless you specifically ask for one at the front desk.

I have continued to receive parking passes at the gate every time. PVB, VGF, AKV, BWV..... The last time was April.

 

[com_op_2000]

I have continued to receive parking passes at the gate every time. PVB, VGF, AKV, BWV..... The last time was April.

I have not received a parking pass at any of my stays since the end of '15.
I have stayed at SSR, AKL-(J & K), BWV, Poly, and BLT.

 

[bumbershoot]

That's personal experience or theory? I thought the band had to be used on the room first before it would work on any other access. I've always preferred to not risk it and just go to the lane with the guard when arriving.

It hasn't been true for me at all, that you have to use the band (or rfid card before the switchover). I remember when they were using the cards just prior to the bands and we were called to be told our card wouldn't work and to come back to get new ones. At our leisure we went back, using the card to get into the lot. Which they thought was impossible. If we hadn't been in Paddock I would have sent someone to the room before getting the cards replaced just to see. Because they were wrong about the gate, so...

With MBs they no longer give out parking passes unless you specifically ask for one at the front desk.

Except for at the resorts that are still giving parking passes.

 

[TinkHappy]

How does that work with parking at the parks if you don't have a parking pass from your Disney Resort hotel?

 

[erionm]

How does that work with parking at the parks if you don't have a parking pass from your Disney Resort hotel?

The CM at the parking booth can scan your MagicBand/Card to verify you are entitled to free parking (either room reservation or AP).

 

[Simba's Mom]

Your MagicBand should open the gate.

Bill

DH is going to be very grateful that you pointed that out to me. Whenever we go, he always goes to the side with the security guard and shows him ID-meanwhile I've been yelling at him to just go to the unmanned side and use his MB. Maybe he's saving himself backing up and having to see the security guard anyways!

 

[TinkHappy]

The CM at the parking booth can scan your MagicBand/Card to verify you are entitled to free parking (either room reservation or AP).

Thank you! That makes complete sense. This is our first time with the Magic Bands, so I'm a little nervous.