Hi Ralph! Welcome back to planDisney!
I'm so excited for you to visit the Walt Disney World Resort, especially during the month of December. It is easily the most magical time of the year! The holiday decor throughout the parks will fill you with cheer, while the tasty holiday-themed treats will satisfy that "rumbly in your tumbly." I have a few personal favorite activities in December at Walt Disney World, including the
Disney Very Merriest After Hours Event and the
Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs. Be sure to check them out to add a little extra pixie dust to an already memorable vacation!
Ralph, if you're asking about checking into your
Disney Resort Hotel, this part of the process is not automatic. You'll either need to check-in at the front desk upon arrival or use
Direct-to-Room Service to check-in online using the
My Disney Experience App. Direct-to-Room Service is one of my all-time favorite Walt Disney World time-saving strategies. Since it looks like you'll be traveling a long way to make these magical memories, I'd suggest checking into your Disney Resort Hotel before you even board your plane! You can check-in online days or even weeks in advance, inputting your arrival time on the app. When your room is ready, the app will send you a notification with your room number and you can head right there, bypassing the front desk!
If your question was more geared towards checking into the theme parks during your stay, you won't have to do too much ahead of time either. The My Disney Experience App houses all your plans and knows when you'll be on property with park reservations, so as long as you have something to scan at the entrance, you're all set to go. To scan into the park, you'll need
MagicBands, Admission Cards or
Disney MagicMobile Service at the ready. Which you choose is a matter of preference, but I usually go with MagicBands or the Disney MagicMobile Service to avoid waiting at the ticket window for an Admission Card. You will then use your MagicBand, Admission Card or cell phone to scan into any attractions you reserve if you choose to purchase
Disney Genie+.
Ralph, I hope this leads you in the right direction today to continue planning this magical stay. If I can provide any further clarification, please feel free to
reach back out to me directly. I'm happy to help you with any other questions that arise!
Hakuna Matata,
Ashley