Slight panic--was just told by CM that AP must be validated before checking in

[DizMe]

to the hotel to get my AP7 rate. I had read several times that you can add the AP to your reservation, which I did, but I didn't realize it had to be validated before you could check in. Our flight arrives SNA at 7:40 PM on Fri, Oct 17. If all goes well, that gives me time to run to the park and validate my AP, but meanwhile my family (5-year-old twins, 8-year-old and dh) must wait for me in the GCH lobby with our luggage? We didn't plan on going to the park that evening so they don't have hoppers that cover it.

Should I try calling back and speaking with another CM? Has anyone had experience with doing this?

 

[Sherry E]

to the hotel to get my AP7 rate. I had read several times that you can add the AP to your reservation, which I did, but I didn't realize it had to be validated before you could check in. Our flight arrives SNA at 7:40 PM on Fri, Oct 17. If all goes well, that gives me time to run to the park and validate my AP, but meanwhile my family (5-year-old twins, 8-year-old and dh) must wait for me in the GCH lobby with our luggage? We didn't plan on going to the park that evening so they don't have hoppers that cover it.

Should I try calling back and speaking with another CM? Has anyone had experience with doing this?

It never hurts to contact another Cast Member, but that seems to make sense to me, that they would need to see a fully validated AP before applying any discounts or giving you the AP7 rate. You could always just leave your bags in the GCH with the Bell Desk, leave your family either at the hotel or in DTD, and then just run over, get you picture taken, get your pass and run back to meet them, then go back to GCH. It shouldn't take too long at that hour of the night, but if they are wandering around DTD, at least they will have stuff to do or eat while they wait for you. I think I will get an AP for myself in October, but my friend with me will not be getting one and she will have to wait for me at our hotel or in DTD while I run in to DL and do the same thing.

 

[DizMe]

I just put in a call to AAA to see about upgrading the fam to 5-day hoppers . When I originally bought the hoppers, our flight wasn't scheduled to arrive until 9:00 PM, but it was changed to an earlier time. Now assuming all goes well (and I'm hopeful--it's only a 1+ hour flight on Southwest), we should get to the hotel by 8:45, which means we have from whatever time we actually get into the park until midnight. However, I don't know how awake the kids will be and I don't know how alive dh will be (they all have school/work that day before we leave). Hmmm...maybe it *would* be better to leave them in the lobby...it's just too bad I can't linger in DL

 

[bumbershoot]

Since, as far as I know, you can actually BUY an AP at the front desks, to go along with an AP rate, and since those won't be validated, I think maybe the CM doesn't know what they are talking about.

If I were in your shoes I would be prepared to head over to DL to get it taken care of (which will involve a picture etc), but 99.99% of me would not expect to have to do that.

 

[pumpkin5156]

Since, as far as I know, you can actually BUY an AP at the front desks, to go along with an AP rate, and since those won't be validated, I think maybe the CM doesn't know what they are talking about.

If I were in your shoes I would be prepared to head over to DL to get it taken care of (which will involve a picture etc), but 99.99% of me would not expect to have to do that.

I agree. I would not worry about this, but maybe call another CM just to make sure. I worked at a hotel before and we were able to change the rate at any time during a person's stay, so it shouldn't be a problem to get it validated after you check in and then they will change the rate for you.

Good luck and don't worry!

 

[Queenbillabong]

I would phone the front desk and explain to them. They can put a note on your reservation that you have to validate your AP after you arrive, so you have time to check in, then go to the park to validate, rather than drop off luggage, do the mad dash, then run back. I have found them to be quite helpful.

 

[lisah0711]

If you buy your AP ahead of time maybe they will take your voucher, even though it hasn't been turned into an AP yet. I am sure you are not the first person that has had this issue. I would call again to see if you get a different answer.

 

[thomas998]

In the last 3 of 4 stays they didn't even bother to check my AP pass when I checked in only once did they do it. I've heard that if you don't have it they will charge you the higher price but then if you get it activated/validated that day you can then have them put the discount back on... there is a good chance they will never ask to see it.

 

[KCSunshine60]

Hi - I just did this a couple weeks ago. I reserved at the DLH using AP7. And, I added one Annual Pass to the reservation. Since the AP was on the reservation, they gave me the discount. They gave me the voucher to use to get the AP on mainstreet. I had to go that same day to have it validated at mainstreet. But, I bet that if you get in too late, they'll let you do it the next morning. They did not make me show the validated AP again later.

 

[DizMe]

Thanks, everyone!

I called back and spoke with a very nice CM named Tawny. She told me that as long as it's on my reservation, I will be able to check in no problem. She said that as long as I don't cancel the AP on my reservation between now and then (and show up without one), the rate will be honored. As she said, you are going to be paying for the AP anyway--if you don't validate it, it doesn't hurt the hotel any.

Whew!

 

[Hester]

Yeah... I wouldn't worry about it. It would seem that paying for the AP, regardless of if you have the actual photo ID yet, should be what matters. (Although they may need the AP number to type in the computer to validate the rate???) I'm sure they'll work with you, as this is probably a very common thing and they surely must be reasonable about it. I'd ask for the manager upon check in if they gave you huge problems about it.

 

[DizMe]

Yeah... I wouldn't worry about it. It would seem that paying for the AP, regardless of if you have the actual photo ID yet, should be what matters. (Although they may need the AP number to type in the computer to validate the rate???) I'm sure they'll work with you, as this is probably a very common thing and they surely must be reasonable about it. I'd ask for the manager upon check in if they gave you huge problems about it.

Ah--good point about the AP number! I hadn't thought of that. It does seem that it would be pointless to purchase an AP for your trip and not validate it during the stay, so I imagine they won't worry about it too much. I mean, I suppose they could always charge the credit card for the difference if I never got around to validation!