Parking at park, day of arrival, before check-in

[wdw&sonny]

True, but even if you work around the parking fee, you still need to check in at your resort to activate your dining credits. There's currently no way around that.
BTW- If you get to the resort to check in by 7am, that should still get you to a park for rope drop even on an EMH morning.

We are arriving at 9:00 at MCO. We were hoping to make the 11:00 Nemo show...just the usual tight schedule planning to get as much done as possible. No reason we can't go-other than it's dumb to need to.

It just seems unbelievable that I should have to go to the resort to have the parking, tickets, dining "activated". Why there? Why at that one electronic location? -when the MB could just be scanned at the parking lot to alert the 'system' that "I'm here". Inefficient, unproductive, pointless to make 2 trips to the resort.

But, sounds like that's the way it works for now...so I guess we'll have to rearrange our plans to stop by that particular electronic portal to be handed a piece of decorative cardboard.

What would happen if- and I imagine it does happen-- to those who don't scour these forums--if we just went to the park, went to our ADR and told them we were on the DDP? would we have to pay OoP and then get reimbursed?

 

[cuchu2005]

You may find the answer at the 'throwaway night' thread. If I remember correctly there's people not even checking in and still able to scan the MBs for parking.

I suggest you scan that thread or ask the question over there.

Mx

 

[POOHsie]

Thanks for all the info.

I didn't even think about the dining credits. We are (were) planning on going straight to park. Do you mean if I did that, before stopping at resort, my dining credits would not be available?

Having to physically go to the resort seems very inefficient and counter intuitive to all the hype with On-line check-in, MB etc. Shouldn't my package just automatically be activated (parking, dining etc.) since I already paid for those days? What's the purpose of the on-line check-in then? And how long in advance can I do this?

All the hoopla about online check-in and MagicBands never included the idea that you could arrive in Orlando and start enjoying the parks, etc. without checking in, if you had bought tickets and dining thru a resort stay. If your MagicBands had tangible value (tickets, parking, dining) prior to check-in, then a stranger (or loved one, or the guest himself) could pilfer them, use or sell them, and the guest could then cry "MBs stolen - items of value need free replacement by Disney." In that case, I don't think Disney would mail MBs to guests ahead of their trip. Too insecure, and no protection for Disney or for guests' vacation expenditures $$.

Disney starts new things slowly, and online check-in is such an example (IMO). It's pointed out in the tiny print that online check-in is so a guest can pre-record certain info that is always asked at check-in. Thus check-in is speeded up. But it was never meant to mean REPLACE the check-in step.

Good news about online check-in. This past summer, certain Disneyworld resorts asked some guests (by invitation) to do a more-extensive online check-in form. This check-in asked what time the guest would be arriving, and other details. When the guest arrived at the resort, a CM met them in the arrival area with an ipad, had the guest show photo ID, then a few questions were asked, and the guest was allowed to proceed with their day. All this did not involve visiting the front lobby, and the transaction was very quick. Posters here who did check-in this way were positive about the experience. There is hope that this program expands in the future. You might ask, "then why can't this be done at one of the parks?" I think the biggest reason right now is, the money transactions you made for tickets, dining, hotel room, and resort amenities like free parking, were done with WDTC (Walt Disney Travel Company), the branch of Disney that handles resort operations. WDTC bought the tickets from Disney Parks, WDTC paid for the dining, and WDTC manages the rooms and the resort amenities. Disney Parks (the theme parks and water parks) aren't responsible for any of these money transactions. So it isn't their duty to get involved in guest resort stays, underlying resort stay issues, or making sure those resort-related transactions are secure for the guest and for Disney.

We are arriving at 9:00 at MCO. We were hoping to make the 11:00 Nemo show...just the usual tight schedule planning to get as much done as possible. No reason we can't go-other than it's dumb to need to.

It just seems unbelievable that I should have to go to the resort to have the parking, tickets, dining "activated". Why there? Why at that one electronic location? -when the MB could just be scanned at the parking lot to alert the 'system' that "I'm here". Inefficient, unproductive, pointless to make 2 trips to the resort.

But, sounds like that's the way it works for now...so I guess we'll have to rearrange our plans to stop by that particular electronic portal to be handed a piece of decorative cardboard.

What would happen if- and I imagine it does happen-- to those who don't scour these forums--if we just went to the park, went to our ADR and told them we were on the DDP? would we have to pay OoP and then get reimbursed?

Yes.

If you're arriving at MCO at 9am, then renting a car, then a Nemo show at AK at 11am, that plan seems very tight and weather may slow down your travel from MCO. You should try for a later Nemo show.

Hypothetically, if you arrive for an all-inclusive stay at a resort somewhere in the Caribbean, do you start eating, drinking and using the amenities without checking in first? [I don't think so.]

 

[linzbear]

We are arriving at 9:00 at MCO. We were hoping to make the 11:00 Nemo show...just the usual tight schedule planning to get as much done as possible. No reason we can't go-other than it's dumb to need to.

It just seems unbelievable that I should have to go to the resort to have the parking, tickets, dining "activated". Why there? Why at that one electronic location? -when the MB could just be scanned at the parking lot to alert the 'system' that "I'm here". Inefficient, unproductive, pointless to make 2 trips to the resort.

But, sounds like that's the way it works for now...so I guess we'll have to rearrange our plans to stop by that particular electronic portal to be handed a piece of decorative cardboard.

What would happen if- and I imagine it does happen-- to those who don't scour these forums--if we just went to the park, went to our ADR and told them we were on the DDP? would we have to pay OoP and then get reimbursed?

They would scan the MB, see that it doesn't have dining credits on it, talk to the table and call the resort they're staying at. It would eventually get worked out, but would definitely waste a lot of time.

Online check-in is not in any way for the visitor's convenience. It is entirely for Disney and room management. They need you to check in at the resort so that they know you're physically there, and they need to check your ID so that someone isn't trying to impersonate you (what you're suggesting would make it ridiculously easy for a baggage handler to swipe a box of magic bands, go to the parks, get free parking, use the theme park entries to get in the park, and then get a counter service lunch before anyone has noticed anything's amiss). Parking lot attendants are not trained to check IDs, and they likely never will be.

 

[POOHsie]

And on a related note, to my question above (and to bump this thread), if the MB is supposed to replace the need to carry cash and credit card, can't you pay parking with it?

You can pay for almost any Disneyworld item with a MagicBand, if you've set up room charging with a CC upon check-in at your resort. (You can't pre-pay with a cash deposit for room charging.) If you already set up CC charging on your MB then you already had free parking and have no need to pay for it. People with MagicBands who are not Disney resort guests can't set up charging privileges.

 

[goofyrabbit]

so then does that mean since I have already booked my fast pass tickets, they are not active until I check in also. I was hoping to take advantage of EMH and rope drop before checking in. I have already paid for my stay so I thought that was part of the luxury of staying on site and making your fast pass plus arrangements.
Also, since my DH will be driving in and me flying in, can he check in and get all of our bands with out me present?

 

[POOHsie]

so then does that mean since I have already booked my fast pass tickets, they are not active until I check in also. I was hoping to take advantage of EMH and rope drop before checking in. I have already paid for my stay so I thought that was part of the luxury of staying on site and making your fast pass plus arrangements.
Also, since my DH will be driving in and me flying in, can he check in and get all of our bands with out me present?

You can't enter the parks for morning EMH if you haven't checked in. Later in the day, you could be in the parks and stay for late EMH, but you couldn't ride any rides. The CM would scan your MagicBand and it would tell them you aren't a registered Disney resort guest.

Your FP+ bookings should work. If it's 1-3 days before check-in, you can get your tickets at Guest Relations at the front of the parks, with photo ID and your resort info that they will confirm. You can't get your dining or parking pass, though.

You aren't able to use your resort amenities (dining, free parking, EMH) until you check-in in person and show photo ID. Your MagicBands aren't secured when they're mailed to you. Anyone could get hold of them and use them or sell them. That's why they aren't "activated" until you check-in and show photo ID. Your DH should be able to check-in and get the MagicBands set for all of you. Everyone doesn't need to be there. If you are arriving by plane, and taking a Magical Express bus, the bus will take you to your Disney resort. So why not go ahead and check-in.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I haven't read all the replies but just wanted to tell you our experience this past June. We had a throwaway campsite with a party of 10. We had 3 cars. I did the online check in and never went to the resort. On our check in day we were able to park 2 cars for free by scanning our MBs, the other driver forgot to tell them we were resort guest and paid, and the check-out day we parked 3 cars for free by scanning our bands.

So for us, yes, we were able to park for free doing online check in without going to the resort first. That was us and that was June so take it for what it is worth!