Staying at another resort first night - when does dining plan start?

[Cando86]

We will be staying at another Disney resort (hopefully AKL) for our first night separate from our package reservation. We would be staying at AKL on Thursday night. That first night we won't have the dining plan - it doesn't start until we check-in at All-Star Sports on Friday. Will we be able to use the dining plan starting the morning of that Friday? Or do we have to formally check-in (even if we do online check-in?) for it to begin working?

Thanks so much for any help!

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

Online check-in should be all you need to start the plan; however I'm not sure if you'll need to formally check out of the other resort first.

 

[jenjersnap]

I have always had to formally check in but our last trip was in November (and, yes, you have to be checked out of the first hotel as well).