WDW Resorts - Can you get in to sightsee without a reservation?
- Thread starter stratasfan
- Start date
Most will let you park there and visit. Sometimes the ones on the Monorail line request a reservation because people try to park there to avoid paying for MK parking, but usually it's not an issue.
Feel free to reach out with any questions. I'm literally in the Orlando Airport to ho home after being at WDW the last few days.
Feel free to reach out with any questions. I'm literally in the Orlando Airport to ho home after being at WDW the last few days.
stratasfan
Local Kevin Specialist and Frozen Nut
Our Aunt told us you can't get in, but not sure she wasn't thinking of the 2020/2021 stuff. We want to be able to go to the resort, park, and see the resort itself. Even paying the parking isn't huge. So . . . you think we could go to the Polynesian or Animal Kingdom Lodge and park and just spend time at the Resort?
BTW . . . did you have fun? Get any pin trading?
stratasfan
Local Kevin Specialist and Frozen Nut
Oh, that's a thought! They'd let you get off without a reservation, too?
stratasfan
Local Kevin Specialist and Frozen Nut
OK . . . a few people have told us that now that they no longer charge parking at Resorts, that you can't get in unless you have a Room or dining reservation. And Mom can't ride a bus or monorail due to health issues (severe claustrophobia and severe car sickness).
stratasfan
Local Kevin Specialist and Frozen Nut
No apps. We're the old-fashioned kind - no mobiles.
stratasfan
Local Kevin Specialist and Frozen Nut
Late March or April. Sort of depends when we can afford plane tickets!
But that's when we'd like to go. It is the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge that we'd really like to see.
Sis and I are thinking we'd love to do the boat. Not sure Mom can make it on a 15-20 minute ride, but we'll see. Sis and I are thinking we'll at least do the boat and we really want to see Riverside! I want to see Riverside Mill!
We can walk to Saratoga Springs, so are thinking of that.
But, it is the Polynesian and AK Lodge that we are really trying to work out!
Sis emailed Disney Guest Services and is asking. Maybe they'll answer! We want to go in and see it and take some pictures. And the gift shops and squished pennies! We have severe dietary restrictions, so can't really eat at places, which changes sightseeing a lot, actually.2 of our favoritesLate March or April. Sort of depends when we can afford plane tickets!
It is the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge that we'd really like to see.
Sis and I are thinking we'd love to do the boat. Not sure Mom can make it on a 15-20 minute ride, but we'll see. Sis and I are thinking we'll at least do the boat and we really want to see Riverside! I want to see Riverside Mill!
We can walk to Saratoga Springs, so are thinking of that.
But, it is the Polynesian and AK Lodge that we are really trying to work out!
if it happens to be between April 5-16 let us know!!! We will be there maybe we could do some in person trading Keeping in mind that I haven't been to WDW since January 2020 and I'm not familiar with their newest policies (but I am very familiar with WDW in general as I used to go multiple times prior), I would guess the following:
It's very easy for Disney to manage guest access to the resorts at the security kiosks. If you have a room key/magic band/valid QR code on your mobile device, you can scan yourself into the resort. If you don't, but you do have a valid reservation at that given resort, security will have your name on a list and happily will give you access - and, from what I understand, deny you permission to park if you don't. Plus, I seem to remember that resort guests frequently complained that they never had any parking left when they came back to their resort, so maybe Disney is trying to limit cars to guests staying/dining there?
I would guess that Disney is NOT going to check 'valid' access to resorts if arriving on their transport. Have you ever utilized their transport? At times, I would say it's like the running of the bulls, except the running of the bulls is more organized and everyone is fleeing in the same general direction. With masses of people attempting to both enter and exit the given method of transportation at the same time, there is no practical way for a cast member to corral everyone and verify that they have a 'valid' reason to be visiting that particular resort that day and time. At least, not without creating a bigger mess than it's worth.
I think their biggest concern, as stated above, is making sure that guests aren't using the resorts' free parking to avoid paying for parking at the parks. If I remember correctly, this was both why Downtown Disney, now Disney Springs, both used to charge for parking and never offered direct transportation to the theme parks, just resorts. Disney wanted to discourage guests from parking there instead of the theme parks, and since parking wasn't free, there was no reason to.
However, even with your dietary restrictions, you really might be surprised at how accommodating Disney can be. I've gone out to eat with friends with some of the most astonishing - and serious - food allergies that Disney was cheerfully able to accommodate. I would legit be surprised if they couldn't work with you. If you know exactly where you want to eat, reservations are better - but I think even counter service dining can accommodate dietary restrictions. After all, resort guests have to eat - and not everyone wants table service for every single meal.
It's very easy for Disney to manage guest access to the resorts at the security kiosks. If you have a room key/magic band/valid QR code on your mobile device, you can scan yourself into the resort. If you don't, but you do have a valid reservation at that given resort, security will have your name on a list and happily will give you access - and, from what I understand, deny you permission to park if you don't. Plus, I seem to remember that resort guests frequently complained that they never had any parking left when they came back to their resort, so maybe Disney is trying to limit cars to guests staying/dining there?
I would guess that Disney is NOT going to check 'valid' access to resorts if arriving on their transport. Have you ever utilized their transport? At times, I would say it's like the running of the bulls, except the running of the bulls is more organized and everyone is fleeing in the same general direction. With masses of people attempting to both enter and exit the given method of transportation at the same time, there is no practical way for a cast member to corral everyone and verify that they have a 'valid' reason to be visiting that particular resort that day and time. At least, not without creating a bigger mess than it's worth.
I think their biggest concern, as stated above, is making sure that guests aren't using the resorts' free parking to avoid paying for parking at the parks. If I remember correctly, this was both why Downtown Disney, now Disney Springs, both used to charge for parking and never offered direct transportation to the theme parks, just resorts. Disney wanted to discourage guests from parking there instead of the theme parks, and since parking wasn't free, there was no reason to.
However, even with your dietary restrictions, you really might be surprised at how accommodating Disney can be. I've gone out to eat with friends with some of the most astonishing - and serious - food allergies that Disney was cheerfully able to accommodate. I would legit be surprised if they couldn't work with you. If you know exactly where you want to eat, reservations are better - but I think even counter service dining can accommodate dietary restrictions. After all, resort guests have to eat - and not everyone wants table service for every single meal.