Online Check-in questions

[Kerryg1]

My wife & I are headed to WDW in June to celebrate our 25th anniversary... first trip in 6 years!! So, the last few times we used the online check-in, we still had to go to the front desk when we arrived, leave our bags to be delivered when our room became ready, get our passes and other info, and then finally go hit the parks. Honestly, some of our WORST experiences have been with sitting around the lobby waiting for something at check-in.

We're driving our own van to WDW because my wife is in a motorized wheelchair, which means we have reserved an accessible room at Port Orleans Riverside. Never used the Magic bands before, but if I understand right, we will receive our bands in the mail before we leave. We have also been using the My Disney Experience app and web site to reserve our dining preferences (we have MYW + Dining passes) and our Fastpasses, and I read that the app will let us know when our room is ready, and what room number we have.

So, here's the questions:
1.) do we even need to go to the check-in desk at POR?? Can't we just drive directly to the MK, and use our magic bands to enter the park and start using our Fastpasses and dining plan? And then, head to the POR once we get notification about our room?
2.) since the DDP now includes the refillable mugs, how would we get our mugs if we did that?

Thanks for the help!!

 

[buzznina]

My wife & I are headed to WDW in June to celebrate our 25th anniversary... first trip in 6 years!! So, the last few times we used the online check-in, we still had to go to the front desk when we arrived, leave our bags to be delivered when our room became ready, get our passes and other info, and then finally go hit the parks. Honestly, some of our WORST experiences have been with sitting around the lobby waiting for something at check-in.

We're driving our own van to WDW because my wife is in a motorized wheelchair, which means we have reserved an accessible room at Port Orleans Riverside. Never used the Magic bands before, but if I understand right, we will receive our bands in the mail before we leave. We have also been using the My Disney Experience app and web site to reserve our dining preferences (we have MYW + Dining passes) and our Fastpasses, and I read that the app will let us know when our room is ready, and what room number we have.

So, here's the questions:
1.) do we even need to go to the check-in desk at POR?? Can't we just drive directly to the MK, and use our magic bands to enter the park and start using our Fastpasses and dining plan? And then, head to the POR once we get notification about our room?
2.) since the DDP now includes the refillable mugs, how would we get our mugs if we did that?

Thanks for the help!!

1) Yes you can head straight to the park with your MB and use your FPs and DDP. But, the bad part is that you may not even get a text they are not consistent yet I would first drop off your bags at POR.
2) You pick up your mugs at POR FC, and in case you did not know they are only good at resorts and not at the parks.

 

[spiceycat]

I think (not sure) that you still have to use the magic bands on your door at your resort before you can use them to buy anything. Now that was a few years ago and they could have fixed that problem.

 

[Pkltm]

We got our mugs and had lunch last year as soon as we got to the resort, we did not visit the room

 

[Tigger's ally]

Here's is what we do.

1. drive to our resort
2. dump bags at luggage desk
3. I go check in quickly while wife shops.
4. We hit the busses and go to the parks.
5. I have always gotten a text when I have checked in briefly at the front desk.
6. We head back to resort and drop off near our van.
7. drive to our room and call for our luggage.

I have done the above even though I have done on line check in. Yes, I know it is not necessary but to me it streamlines the process because I am not waiting for a text that may not come.

EDIT- I think the one thing I left out that might make me different is we always spend the night before in a DS hotel and go to our resort early in the morning. Hence, I never have to wait at check in line as it is usually walk right up and a CM helps me immediately.

 

[buzznina]

If you receive your MB in the mail, then they are linked to your tickets and DDP and are ready to use for that. You will need a room to be able to use the MB to charge to your room though.

 

[bumbershoot]

Honestly, some of our WORST experiences have been with sitting around the lobby waiting for something at check-in.

What were you waiting for? When checking in there should be no waiting around, other than simply being in line.

get our passes and other info

Passes?

I read that the app will let us know when our room is ready, and what room number we have.

You *can* get that info. Doesn't mean you will. I haven't yet. Well I suppose I didn't check MDE when we finally got a room text. But since we had checked in at the front desk (nothing better to do and needed to stash bags anyway), and the text had the number, it didn't feel that neat lol.

 

[scrapquitler]

My wife & I are headed to WDW in June to celebrate our 25th anniversary... first trip in 6 years!! So, the last few times we used the online check-in, we still had to go to the front desk when we arrived, leave our bags to be delivered when our room became ready, get our passes and other info, and then finally go hit the parks. Honestly, some of our WORST experiences have been with sitting around the lobby waiting for something at check-in.

We're driving our own van to WDW because my wife is in a motorized wheelchair, which means we have reserved an accessible room at Port Orleans Riverside. Never used the Magic bands before, but if I understand right, we will receive our bands in the mail before we leave. We have also been using the My Disney Experience app and web site to reserve our dining preferences (we have MYW + Dining passes) and our Fastpasses, and I read that the app will let us know when our room is ready, and what room number we have.

So, here's the questions:
1.) do we even need to go to the check-in desk at POR?? Can't we just drive directly to the MK, and use our magic bands to enter the park and start using our Fastpasses and dining plan? And then, head to the POR once we get notification about our room?
2.) since the DDP now includes the refillable mugs, how would we get our mugs if we did that?

Thanks for the help!!

You can hit the parks, then just go straight to your room when you get to the resort. You don't need to pick up passes/tickets, they are linked on your MB, you just scan your band and finger swipe at the park entrance. If you need to go to the front desk the room ready text will tell you that you need to go to the desk. I've never had to go to the desk.

2. You go to the food court and get the mug and they know that it's included in your dining plan when they scan your magic bands at the register.

 

[writerguyfl]

2. dump bags at luggage desk

It's important not to skip this step...particularly in June. Vehicles become ovens in the Florida sunshine. Toiletries like make-up and deodorant will melt.

 

[gillep]

If you receive your MB in the mail, then they are linked to your tickets and DDP and are ready to use for that. You will need a room to be able to use the MB to charge to your room though.

We have absolutely been able to charge to our room using our MB prior to our room being ready. We always do online check in, drop off our bags at the resort, head to the parks and use our MB to enter the parks and charge all of our purchases while we wait for our room to be ready.

 

[buzznina]

Thanks for the update, the one time we were told by a CM we couldn't We do not have to worry about it anymore since now we always arrive real late so we know our room will always be ready. LOL

 

[gillep]

Thanks for the update, the one time we were told by a CM we couldn't We do not have to worry about it anymore since now we always arrive real late so we know our room will always be ready. LOL

Very welcome! We, on the other hand, take red eye flights from CA so we are often at WDW by 8am and ready to go long before our room is ready!