Online Resort Check in required

[caisland]

Seeing on other sites that Disney is going to require online resort check in and you can go direct to your room.
This works for USA who get their magicbands. I wonder what plans they have for international.
Maybe this is just an interim step?
Will the phone app be able to open the door? Still need bands for parks and food.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Not everyone is connected. Many are not online at all nor have smart phones. There will be a need to allow in person check in or some modifications

 

[Meglen]

Seeing on other sites that Disney is going to require online resort check in and you can go direct to your room.
This works for USA who get their magicbands. I wonder what plans they have for international.
Maybe this is just an interim step?
Will the phone app be able to open the door? Still need bands for parks and food.

The app can already open the door. Maybe they will leave your magic bands in the room? For people not connected... Maybe it's time? I can see people who are able to use mobile not using it to go to the desk like they do now leaving folks who don't have smartphones to sit longer.

 

[Jess.stw]

Its so weird...my September Beach Club reservation says "Online check on required" on the home screen but when I click on it it pitches the advantages but doesn't say required then when I go back to the home screen it says it is available to check in now...but the required message is gone. Happens that way every time I back out and go back on.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Can you use old magic bands that would already be linked to you room?

 

[caisland]

I could live with the magicbands being left in the room. For the returning guests we know the process. Newbies will need some help finding their way to their room.
Boards like this more important than ever for research

 

[carol48b]

Can you use old magic bands that would already be linked to you room?

Not an expert, but I've been warned that the batteries do wear down so you're band may not work after 1st year

 

[carol48b]

I think they will always have a check in desk for those who don't have bands or cell phone apps. But, for the rest of us, it is really easier to just walk to your room from the bus. The buildings are fairly well marked.

 

[isabellea]

Not an expert, but I've been warned that the batteries do wear down so you're band may not work after 1st year

The battery that wears down is for longer range than touch. For example, photos from attractions or guest tracking. For the functions that require touching (FP+. opening room door, pay, etc.) they are still functional.

 

[ABCanada]

Can you use old magic bands that would already be linked to you room?

Not an expert, but I've been warned that the batteries do wear down so you're band may not work after 1st year

We have used ours after more than a year, no issues.
I think we even used one that was more than two years old.
If I remember correctly they said they should be okay for up to two years. (I would think that means 2+ years.)

 

[isabellea]

We have used ours after more than a year, no issues.
I think we even used one that was more than two years old.
If I remember correctly they said they should be okay for up to two years. (I would think that means 2+ years.)

We used magic bands they were over 3 yo before. I just make sure one of us has a new one so we don't miss any ride photo.

 

[johnsbelt]

The app can already open the door. Maybe they will leave your magic bands in the room? For people not connected... Maybe it's time? I can see people who are able to use mobile not using it to go to the desk like they do now leaving folks who don't have smartphones to sit longer.

The app can be setup to open the door but when we were at AK in Jan, my phone worked less than half the time. I would never depend on it for my main method to get my magic bands.

John

 

[Donald - my hero]

we were in Disney for 3 weeks in January. Not once did the phone app work and I had to go to the front desk about every 3 days to get the dang bands reset. Our room was literally the furthest from the lobby (stayed at POFQ and we were in the last building before the bridge to POR) so it got a tad annoying. Every time I went there was a long line but it got to the point where someone recognized me and would just take them all to reset. Eventually they actually came and replaced the lock mechanism!!

yes old bands work, we had some that were 6 years old and they worked more consistently than the new ones! I think they're just hoping to get the majority of guests to use direct to room to cut down on people in the lobby. Also I've only seen one screenshot of this that's been used on multiple platforms so it's not written in stone yet.

 

[carol48b]

The battery that wears down is for longer range than touch. For example, photos from attractions or guest tracking. For the functions that require touching (FP+. opening room door, pay, etc.) they are still functional.

Good to know!

 

[manning]

The band will always work when you have to make direct contact with a reader IE when you enter the park, open the room door or make a purchase. The part that requires a battery is for the transmitter IE if you want a picture of yourself on a ride.