Hiya Darren!
Welcome to planDisney! I am a new Disney Incredi-Pass holder and I had a chance to use these benefits just like you want to! The deal to save up to 35% off rooms for most nights between March 25, through July 7, 2024, is a great deal. I can't see it on the
Australian Walt Disney World website but I can see it on the
US site.
Regardless, once your Annual Pass is linked to your
My Disney Experience Account and you use that account to purchase a Resort stay with the Annual Pass discount then it does not need to be activated yet. However, you may need to show an activated pass when you arrive at the Resort to keep this rate. I purchased my Annual Pass last May but did not get to the Parks till August. I booked a lovely stay at
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort at the Gran Destin Tower using the Annual Passholder discount. I had completed online check-in before I arrived so once I reached my Resort the timing worked out beautifully as I had already been assigned a room and headed straight there to drop off my luggage and rest. If my room wasn't ready I would have left my luggage with Bell Services and could have used the Resort amenities like the pool. However, what I did soon after I arrived was head to the Disney Ticket Center at
Disney Springs. This was important as the fine print for these room discounts states that "Passholder must present a valid Walt Disney World Annual Pass at check-in." So, I dutifully activated my Annual Pass and then headed to dinner with my family to
T-REX ™ where I used my pass to get a discounted meal! I survived the meteors and dinosaurs as a proud Disney Annual Passholder and found that my pass had an expiration date of 365 days from that day. This was evident in the My Disney Experience Mobile App right away. Just so you are aware, you can activate your pass at the Disney Ticket Center and any of the Will Call ticket booths in front of any of the theme parks. Just bring your valid photo ID and proof of purchase such as your receipt in your email to make things go smoother.
I found that I did not need to show my Annual Pass to any Cast Member after I did this but since my Annual Pass which is linked to the room reservation now shows an "active pass" I knew I had fulfilled all the requirements to keep this discounted rate. I don't want you to lose your discounted room so please activate your Annual Pass shortly after you arrive so that you can keep all of the benefits!
I hope this helps and you have a fabulous time!
Happy Planning!
-Nimmy