Hi Christy and welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I’m happy to see that you have a trip in the works for this October! Autumn is a great time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort!
I’m happy to report that yes, you can use the online check-in service when staying at any Walt Disney World Resort hotel. You can even begin the online check-in process 60 days before your vacation via your My Disney Experience account. You can also check in using your My Disney Experience app with just a few quick taps on your smartphone!
Christy, there are a few things you should know about your arrival. Check-in time for Disney Resort hotels is not guaranteed until 3:00 p.m. For guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resort Villas, check-in time is 4:00 p.m. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy time at any of the Disney theme parks if you arrive early!
You can always leave your luggage with Bell Services if your room is not ready. When it does become available, your luggage will be delivered to your room and you will receive a text or email with your room number.
MagicBands linked to your account will serve as your room key and they can also help you utilize other
benefits of being a Disney Resort hotel guest.
I did online check-in during a recent stay with my family at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort, and my family and I drove to the Magic Kingdom Park before our check-in time. A Cast Member at the parking entrance scanned my band to confirm that I was a Disney Resort hotel guest, and I wasn’t charged the parking fee. There was no need for me to visit the front desk of our hotel the whole trip!
I hope this information is helpful to you as you continue your planning. Please feel free to stop by again with any other questions you may have!
Veronica