Uh oh! We don't support IE due to its failure to integrate new web standards.
For the best browsing experience, please use

More Info →

  • Podcast
  • Become a WDW Prep Patron
  • About
  • Get a Quote
  • Things We Recommend
  • Contact
  • Search
MENUMENU
  • Crowd Calendars
        • January Crowd Calendar
        • February Crowd Calendar
        • March Crowd Calendar
        • April Crowd Calendar
        • May Crowd Calendar
        • June Crowd Calendar
        • July Crowd Calendar
        • August Crowd Calendar
        • September Crowd Calendar
        • October Crowd Calendar
        • November Crowd Calendar
        • December Crowd Calendar
  • Parks
        • Magic Kingdom
        • Epcot
        • Disney World Tickets
        • Hollywood Studios
        • Slinky Dog Dash
        • Animal Kingdom
        • Typhoon Lagoon
        • Blizzard Beach
        • Disney Springs
        • Featured: Planning Tips for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
  • Resorts
        • On-Site
        • Off-Site
        • Disney World Value Resorts
        • Disney World Moderate Resorts
        • Disney World Deluxe Resorts
        • Disney World Villa Resorts
  • Dining
        • Dining Basics
        • Disney World Dining Plan Satuli Canteen
        • Disney Dining Plan
        • Animal Kingdom Disney World Dining Plan
        • Our top Table Service restaurants
        • Our top Quick Service restaurants
        • Guide to all Disney World character meals
        • Best restaurants for fireworks views
  • Planning and Tips
        • 6 Step Planning Process
        • Disney binder planning workskeet
        • Planning Basics
        • Big Thunder Mountain exterior
        • What is coming to Walt Disney World in 2021 (and beyond!)
        • Disney Movie Magic
        • Trip Planning for Families
        • Special Needs
        • Money and Shopping
        • Downloadables
  • 2021 Planner
        • Mask tips for Disney World trips
        • Cast Member with a mask
        • Step-by-step guide to the Disney Park Pass System
        • Disney Park Pass choose day
        • Where to find characters right now
        • Joy
        • 13 ways Disney World planning has changed
        • How to tour Disney World right now
        • Budgeting for food (without using the Disney Dining Plan)
        • Mask-Free Relaxation Stations (w/maps & comparisons)
        • Choosing when to visit in 2021
        • Where to dine outdoors at Walt Disney World
        • How transportation works now
  • Mobile
      • Podcast
      • Become a WDW Prep Patron
      • About
      • Get a Quote
      • Things We Recommend
      • Contact
      • Search

How to check-in online at Disney World (so you can get to the fun faster!)

Share on pinterest
PIN
Share on facebook
FB
WDW Prep School → Disney World Resorts → Featured → How to check-in online at Disney World (so you can get to the fun faster!)
  • Heather Thomas
  • June 7, 2019
  • September 16, 2019
online check in at Art of Animation

On arrival day, will you have to check-in before you go to the parks?

Sometimes, but you don’t have to do it in person.

It is not unusual for people to want to hit the parks as soon as they arrive (including us!).

However, to do that you’ll need to make sure your tickets (and Disney Dining Plan if applicable) are ready to go and activated.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

In this article (click for table of contents)

  • Packages vs. Room Only reservations
  • In-person check-in
    • What about declining housekeeping services?
  • Online check-in
    • My Disney Experience
  • Notifications
  • Unlocking your resort room door
  • Bottom line: whenever possible, opt for online!

Packages vs. Room Only reservations

  • If you have booked a Disney World Vacation PACKAGE – meaning you purchased your room + tickets or room + tickets + dining plan – you’ll need to check-in before you go to the parks. If you don’t check-in before you go to the parks your tickets and your dining plan will not work.
  • If you have a ROOM ONLY reservation, you do NOT need to check-in before you go to the parks. Since your tickets aren’t attached to a room, they are already “activated” and you can head to the parks whenever you are ready.

When it comes time, checking in can look like a couple of different things:

Guest check in and registration

In-person check-in

This is best for people that forgot to do on-line check-in, people that have super-specific room requests that they want to follow-up on, and people that are already going to be at the resort dropping off their bags with Bell Services (but honestly we’d still do online even if we were dropping off bags).

If you did not or could not have your MagicBands shipped to you, you’ll also need to do in-person check-in so that you can pick those up.

In-person is also good for people that want to do anything other than have 1 credit card attached to their account (but if you don’t need to do that immediately you can always add it later).

What about declining housekeeping services?

People that opt to decline housekeeping services (for the promotional gift card offered with the “Service Your Way” program) will need to visit the front desk to do that – but you don’t have to request it immediately upon arrival or even at check-in; anytime that first day (for the maximum gift card allowance) works.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

In-person can be thought of as the traditional way of checking in.

You go inside and find the counter. Maybe wait in-line for a bit and then give the person working there your information.

They do that type type type thing on their computer. (Why do they have to type so much?! Hotel desks and airline check-in counters BOTH. So much typing! Makes me nervous.)

After all the clicking and the typing they give you some maps and maybe a flyer or 2 and then send you on your way.

Even if check-in time isn’t “officially” until 3 or 4 pm, you can still go ahead and check-in before then.

Your room may not be ready – but you’ll be “officially” checked-in and Disney will (barring any glitches) text you your room number when it is ready to be occupied. And, as long as you have your MagicBand or a cell phone on you, you shouldn’t have to go back to the counter.

Polynesian Lobby

Online check-in

This is best for people arriving during peak check-in and out times (you can avoid the regular counter lines this way), and for people who want to get to the action the fastest.

My Disney Experience

Online Resort Check-In is done through My Disney Experience and can be completed either on a computer:

Online Check In My Disney Experience desktop

 

or with a cell phone or tablet:

My Disney Experience online check in on phone

When you do online check-in, if you know you’ll want to head to the parks as soon as you can make sure you select a check-in time that is before the time you think you’ll be headed to the park.

If you don’t have a check-in time selected that is before when you want to go to the parks your tickets and dining plan may not be activated and then you’ll possibly run into some snags when you get to the gates.

Check in times available

Sure, they’ll be able to help you there but it will slow you down.

Again – checking in early online does not mean your room will be ready at the time you select. 

Rooms are sometimes ready earlier than the official check-in time (which is typically 4 pm) but that isn’t ever a guarantee.

But, if you need to use your tickets or Disney Dining Plan, your room doesn’t have to be “ready” for your package to be activated – you just have to be checked-in.

Notifications

If your room wasn’t ready when you checked in (if you did in-person check-in) OR if you did online check in, you should get a text message with location information in it when your room is ready.  

Note: if you plan to check-in at the front desk, make sure you confirm your contact information with the Cast Member there and if doing it online, make sure you enter in your correct contact information into My Disney Experience or else your notifications will not work.

Enter info into My Disney Experience

Unlocking your resort room door

When your room is ready you’ll just use your MagicBand to enter your room when you get back to your resort.

You can also use the MyDisneyExperience app on your phone to enter.

Unlock door with My Disney Experience

Bottom line: whenever possible, opt for online!

Our recommendation is to, whenever possible, use Online Resort Check-In. You can always follow-up at the desk if you have any questions or issues but checking in on-line saves you time AND gets you out into the fun faster.

If you DO need to visit the counter (to do things like add an additional credit card for charging), try to pick an off-peak time like early morning or late evening.

Art of Animation cars section motel sign

Read this next

Popular Related Articles

Related Posts:

  • 2019 & 2020 Disney Dining Plan (cost, best credits, and is it worth it?)
  • 100+ tips for your Disney World trip
  • How to get the Disney World resort room you want
  • Guide to all character meals at Disney World
  • How does a split stay at Disney World work (and is it worth the hassle)?
  • Complete guide to flights for your Disney World trip
  • How MagicBands at Disney World work
  • Disney World VIP Tour Guides (cost, tips, + a review)

In this category

More Tips and Tricks

  • Disney World Resorts

Ready to book a trip for 2021?

The team at Small World Vacations is ready to help get you started.

Get a quote now

3 Comments

  1. April January 12, 2020 Reply

    Checking in in-person can pay off – I took an overnight flight, got to my resort at about 6:30 am – they found me a room already available so i could refresh myself after 2 separate flights and being up nearly 24 hours with only a short nap, and i was still at Magic Kingdom shortly after opening.

  2. Tracy September 16, 2019 Reply

    Hi! Can you activate tickets and dining at the MK entry ticket desk? We will do rope drop on our check in day. Thank you!

  3. Ann C August 13, 2019 Reply

    Do they still require a parking permit? We are driving down in December (UGGHHH – but it is still DISNEY!!), and it will be late when we arrive…..

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Start here

  • Crowd Calendars
    • January Crowd Calendar
    • February Crowd Calendar
    • March Crowd Calendar
    • April Crowd Calendar
    • May Crowd Calendar
    • June Crowd Calendar
    • July Crowd Calendar
    • August Crowd Calendar
    • September Crowd Calendar
    • October Crowd Calendar
    • November Crowd Calendar
    • December Crowd Calendar
  • Parks
    • Magic Kingdom
    • Epcot
    • Hollywood Studios
    • Animal Kingdom
    • Typhoon Lagoon
    • Blizzard Beach
    • Disney Springs
    • Featured: Planning Tips for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
  • Resorts
    • On-Site
    • Off-Site
    • Disney World Value Resorts
    • Disney World Moderate Resorts
    • Disney World Deluxe Resorts
    • Disney World Villa Resorts
  • Dining
    • Dining Basics
    • Disney Dining Plan
    • Our top Table Service restaurants
    • Our top Quick Service restaurants
    • Guide to all Disney World character meals
    • Best restaurants for fireworks views
  • Planning and Tips
    • 6 Step Planning Process
    • Planning Basics
    • What is coming to Walt Disney World in 2021 (and beyond!)
    • Trip Planning for Families
    • Special Needs
    • Money and Shopping
    • Downloadables
  • 2021 Planner
    • 13 ways Disney World planning has changed
    • Mask tips for Disney World trips
    • Budgeting for food (without using the Disney Dining Plan)
    • Step-by-step guide to the Disney Park Pass System
    • Choosing when to visit in 2021
    • How to tour Disney World right now
    • Mask-Free Relaxation Stations (w/maps & comparisons)
    • Where to dine outdoors at Walt Disney World
    • Where to find characters right now
    • How transportation works now
  • Mobile

More Goodies

  • Podcast
  • Become a WDW Prep Patron
  • About
  • Get a Quote
  • Things We Recommend
  • Contact
  • Search

I just got back from a five night stay at Coronado Springs and had the best time! Even though I went during the busy season I barely waited in any lines and was able to do everything I wanted!

Jonathan C.

Meet us there


IG

FB

PI

TW

YT

EM

WDWprepschool.com is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with, the Walt Disney Company.

PRIVACY POLICY

© 2021 PREP SCHOOL PRODUCTIONS, INC.

WDW PREP SCHOOL ON INSTAGRAM​

It. Is. Time. 🦁 Festival of the Lion King retur It. Is. Time. 🦁 Festival of the Lion King returns this summer!

It’ll be in a modified form for safety purposes. No specific reopening date given, but so happy the list of things to look forward to keeps growing. 🙌
Officially closed for refurbishment (no reopening Officially closed for refurbishment (no reopening date available yet).

Now can we work on getting women included in the sequel?
Anybody else fall in love with the Hollywood Studi Anybody else fall in love with the Hollywood Studios decor and want to have these vintage Christmas ceramics at home? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Here’s how.

For original vintage pieces, search “Lefton Christmas ceramics” or “Napco Christmas ceramics.” These often run you $100+ and can usually be found on Etsy, eBay, and other resale stores.

For less expensive replicas, check out VermontCountryStore.com which has a small - but more affordable - collection, including the trio of candy cane girls.
It appears the Frozen promenade (cavalcade) is out It appears the Frozen promenade (cavalcade) is out at Epcot, and random popups of Anna and Elsa in Norway are in.

They haven’t been appearing as reliably as Alice, Mary Poppins, Joy, and Winnie the Pooh, but be sure to be on the lookout when passing the Royal Sommerhus in Norway where they might just show up.
Load More... Follow on Instagram