Morning EMH on arrival day?

[Rasstuss]

So we will be driving to Orlando and our first night will be staying off property, just a place to crash after a 9-10 hour drive. The plan is to hit the parks first thing the next morning with a mid day break to check into the room at some point. Our first day was going to be at EPCOT because we have a Lunch ADR at Akershus (which I am actively trying to push back to dinner if I can). However last night I was watching some ride videos of Slinky Dog with my daughters and they both said "that is the first thing I want to ride when we get there". Looking at the calendar HS does have EMH that morning. My question is if we haven't "checked in" yet would we be eligible to go in for EMH? I know there is online check in but can it be done that early?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Did you buy a package or did you book your room and tickets separately?

I might be mistaken, but I think you might need to go to the resort to check in first to activate your park tickets regardless of whether you're going to an EMH park or a "regular" park. In other words, you need to go to your resort even if you keep your plan to go to Epcot.

Honestly, I think it would be worth the few extra bucks to ditch the off-site hotel and extend your on-site stay by a night. The hassle of changing resorts isn't worth it.

 

[JohnD]

So we will be driving to Orlando and our first night will be staying off property, just a place to crash after a 9-10 hour drive. The plan is to hit the parks first thing the next morning with a mid day break to check into the room at some point. Our first day was going to be at EPCOT because we have a Lunch ADR at Akershus (which I am actively trying to push back to dinner if I can). However last night I was watching some ride videos of Slinky Dog with my daughters and they both said "that is the first thing I want to ride when we get there". Looking at the calendar HS does have EMH that morning. My question is if we haven't "checked in" yet would we be eligible to go in for EMH? I know there is online check in but can it be done that early?

Yes. You can make use of morning EMH because Disney will have a record of that being your check in day. It's not dependent on when you check in to to your room. It's the same principle of if your room isn't ready you will receive a text about it while you go straight to enjoy the parks. As long as you have some form of park admission for the same day, you'll be fine.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yes. You can make use of morning EMH because Disney will have a record of that being your check in day. It's not dependent on when you check in to to your room. It's the same principle of if your room isn't ready you will receive a text about it while you go straight to enjoy the parks. As long as you have some form of park admission for the same day, you'll be fine.

I don't think that's right if they booked as a package. I was under the impression that the MYW package still had to be "activated" in the system. I think what you're describing only works after you get that text message about your room being ready (or after you visit the front desk, whichever comes first).

 

[Rasstuss]

Thanks for the input from both of you. I will look into it further and find out for sure.

 

[Minnie Mum]

If you're staying off-site that first night, just drive in a little earlier the next morning and check into your resort. At that time of day it will just take a couple of minutes. We have checked in as early as 0700. Then you can hop on the bus or drive to DHS.

 

[JohnD]

I don't think that's right if they booked as a package. I was under the impression that the MYW package still had to be "activated" in the system. I think what you're describing only works after you get that text message about your room being ready (or after you visit the front desk, whichever comes first).

I dunno. I've entered parks plenty of times before my room was available. Then again, I'm an AP. But my MB still registers as admission media in addition to have a resort reservation. I'm thinking that if they had their MBs mailed to them ahead of time and they tapped their MBs at the gate, then it would show they have both admission media and that day is their check-in day. Even though they don't have a room, it would be unfair to deny them EMH.

 

[DisneyJoe]

I dunno. I've entered parks plenty of times before my room was available. Then again, I'm an AP. But my MB still registers as admission media in addition to have a resort reservation. I'm thinking that if they had their MBs mailed to them ahead of time and they tapped their MBs at the gate, then it would show they have both admission media and that day is their check-in day. Even though they don't have a room, it would be unfair to deny them EMH.

It SHOULD work that way, and mostly does, but we know many with tickets and MYW dining that don't work unless they have checked in at the front desk of their resort first. They can usually resolve the ticket admission and confirm the fact they have a resort reservation at Guest Services at the park, but for the dining plan, in many cases they need to pay out of pocket and then resolve with the front desk later.


Typical Disney IT and inconsistency.

 

[JohnD]

It SHOULD work that way, and mostly does, but we have had many clients with tickets and MYW dining that don't work unless they have checked in at the front desk of their resort first. They can usually resolve the ticket admission and confirm the fact they have a resort reservation at Guest Services at the park, but for the dining plan, in many cases they need to pay out of pocket and then resolve with the front desk later.

We always tell our travel agency clients to check in with the front desk first to avoid these type of issues, even though things should work the way you think they should with online check in etc.

Typical Disney IT and inconsistency.

So, fair warning. If they intend to do EMH, they better get to the park extra early so that they can resolve any issues at Guest Services, assuming they're open before EMH.

 

[JenDud]

Last year I stayed offsite the night before. The next day we went to the resort to check in early (8am)and make sure our magic bands were active. I was pleasantly surprised when they told me that my room was already available. So we moved all our things to the room before heading to Hollywood studios for the day.